An autumn clean with cleansing plants

Nature and its botanical treasures

Nature knows how to nourish and heal, but it also has the power to keep your home clean. These botanical treasures can replace many industrial cleaning products, offering a highly satisfying, eco-friendly and cost-effective solution.

Tell us more about... Saponin

The key component responsible for this marvel is called saponin, an emulsifying and detergent molecule that creates a lather on contact with water. Saponins are a veritable chemical weapon in a plant’s defence system. They possess powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties, whilst effectively repelling herbivorous insects. Their ability to perforate cell membranes explains their toxicity when injected in large quantities.

Their cleaning power is, in fact, merely a side effect of this formidable survival strategy. These molecules act as natural surfactants. During washing, dirt is trapped in the water, making it easier to remove. However, an essential environmental precaution must be taken: these compounds are haemolytic and toxic to cold-blooded organisms. For example, washing water containing high levels of saponins must under no circumstances be poured into a pond or aquarium, as this would threaten aquatic life. The term ‘biodegradable’ does not in any way imply that the substance is harmless at high concentrations.

For domestic use, it is therefore an attractive alternative to commercial washing powders, particularly suitable for delicate laundry. Indeed, museum conservators have long favoured it for restoring antique tapestries and cleaning precious silks. Its near-neutral pH and gentle nature prevent colours from fading, unlike conventional alkaline soaps.

How to prepare your natural laundry detergent

To prepare your laundry detergent, harvest the rhizomes, taking care to leave some in the ground to ensure the plant’s survival. Cut them into pieces, dry them, then grind them into a powder for optimal extraction of the saponins. You can also make a simple decoction using 15 grams of rhizome per litre of water.

As for climbing ivy, it is often touted as the star of homemade laundry detergents; however, this reputation deserves to be qualified. Recent botanical analyses show that the actual saponin content of ivy remains fairly low compared to soapwort. Its effectiveness is thought to stem more from its mechanical action during the machine wash cycle and its slightly alkaline nature.

Soak around fifty mature, chopped leaves in 1 litre of water. Boil the mixture for 30 minutes, then strain the liquid, which will keep for about 1 month in the fridge.

Effective on fabrics and...

To preserve the brightness of white fabrics against the dark colour of this decoction, add a tablespoon of sodium percarbonate directly into the drum, or alternatively, use it only on coloured laundry. As the scent of ivy is very neutral, once dry, the laundry would benefit from being spritzed with a pleasant fragrance using essential oils, or, for a gentler option, a little homemade hydrosol.

And what about the washing-up?

Forget Himalayan soapnuts and turn to a more local ‘nut’ – the horse chestnut, whose fruits are packed with saponins. The horse chestnut is not a true nut, but a seed – and a toxic one at that – due to its high content of aescin, a compound used in herbal medicine to promote venous circulation and relieve heavy legs, a discomfort often soothed with macerates or fresh oils.

To replace dishwasher tablets, simply crush five to six horse chestnuts in 200 ml of hot water. After leaving it to stand for 30 minutes, the liquid will turn milky; strain it to obtain an excellent degreasing agent. To stock up for winter, dry the crushed horse chestnuts and rehydrate them as needed.

You can also freeze the concentrated liquid in ice cube trays for quick and convenient everyday use. This produces genuine dishwasher tablets that are locally sourced and eco-friendly.

And what about white vinegar?

White vinegar, for its part, remains a must-have. Produced through the fermentation of alcohol, it removes limescale, disinfects, kills mould and neutralises odours. Its only drawback is its characteristic sour smell. To remedy this, aromatic maceration is ideal. Add citrus peel, lavender, mint or fir needles to the bottle of vinegar. After two weeks of infusing, the acetic acid will have extracted the aromatic compounds.

You can take it a step further by making your own apple cider vinegar. Place the peelings and cores in a large jar, add a spoonful of sugar, cover with dechlorinated water, then pour in a little unpasteurised vinegar. Cover with cheesecloth and leave to ferment at room temperature, in a dark place, stirring daily. After several weeks of patience, you’ll end up with a ‘live’ vinegar, ideal for household use or for restoring shine to your hair.

The strength of these preparations

The strength of these preparations lies not so much in their effectiveness, but in the alternative they offer to ease the strain on both your wallet and your ecological footprint, whilst enjoying the pleasure of working in harmony with Mother Nature.

Many thanks to our health partner, Maud Simonelli, for her latest contribution to the blog.

The right address: Equilibre et Vous, 1026 Route de Nîmes, Uzès. Contact: equilibreetvous.naturopathie@gmail.com, Tel: 06 11 71 15 86.