DIY Archives – It is Josie

How To Make Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent

by Josie | Nov 27, 2019 | DIY

If you have a family member who struggles with eczema during the cold months you know what I’m talking about. My daughter’s skin flares up during the colder months and I’ve learnt over time that I need to change not only what we eat but also the washing detergent I use in the laundry. This is because most ordinary detergents contain toxic substances which could potentially be harmful.

In the past, I have purchased a particular brand of hypoallergenic laundry detergent from Amazon. Unfortunately, it was out of stock when I needed it and the few in stock were quite pricey. I needed something more affordable because hypoallergenic detergents are often more expensive than the ordinary ones.

My recommendations for hypoallergenic detergents you can buy.

I researched for a DIY hypoallergenic detergent recipe and I found one which I love. I wanted one which would be gentle on the skin without compromising on performance. I narrowed down to this particular recipe which requires just three ingredients with the fourth which is optional.

Castille soap which is the purest form of soap

Washing Soda ( also known as soda crystals, sodium carbonate and soda ash) is alkaline in nature.

Bicarbonate of soda which is very similar to sodium carbonate and also alkaline in nature.

Lavender essential oil is used for the scent but it also offers disinfectant properties.

DIY Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

2 bars of castile soap (about 113 gms each)
2 cups of washing soda or soda crystals
2 cups of bicarbonate of soda
60 drops of lavender essential oil or lemon essential oil (optional)

Instructions

Grate the soap finely using a hand grater or a food processor.
Add both the washing soda and bicarbonate of soda into the grated soap and mix well.
Add the lavender essential oil and stir well until it is all well mixed.
Transfer into a glass jar because it is safe to use with essential oils.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to a wash load depending on the amount and stains in the laundry.

A few other recipes I came across had borax as an additional ingredient which is meant to help brighten whites. Borax is a natural product which has been questioned if it is safe to use in hypoallergenic detergents. I decided to omit it as I was not fully convinced if it would be safe for my daughter’s skin.

This detergent really washes well for everyday load, however, I find that I need to pre-soak the stained whites to get them clean.

How To Dye Your Denim Clothes

by Josie | Oct 2, 2019 | DIY

If you are anything like me, I bet you have those items in your wardrobe that you are still holding onto but do not look as good anymore because they have faded. Don’t despair for help is on its way. If you know me at all, you probably know I am quite a slim woman and I have often struggled to find perfectly fitting clothes on the high street here in the UK. I have often had to alter a number of items I have bought or found better fitting ones from the not so cheap stores. And it is for this very reason that I embarked on a journey of a me-made wardrobe.

Although I have been fortunate enough to have the resources to make most of the clothes in my current wardrobe, there are some items that I still buy from the high street. This is because some garments either require some techniques to make which I have not yet acquired or it is simply cheaper to buy than make them. In my case, these are often pieces of denim ranging from jackets to jeans.

In this post, I would like to share with you how I dyed my sleeveless denim jacket. This is a ready to wear(RTW) jacket I bought about 8 years ago before I ever sewed any I wore. I had gone ahead and altered it for a perfect fit, however, it faded and did not look nice anymore. It was in need of some TLC to bring it back to life after four years of no wear.

Items required for dyeing a cloth

1 pack Ritz dye (denim blue) The amount to use depends on the weight and how dark you would love your item to be.

1 cup of Salt
Protective gloves
Bucket or sink
Hot water
Mixing rod ( as the water is very hot)
The clothing item to dye (of course)

Steps

Fill your bucket or sink with boiling water, enough to cover the item when submerged.
Mix the dye in the water. I prefer to mix it in a small container first before pouring it in the large bucket.
Add the cup of salt and mix it thoroughly in the dye solution.
Submerge the clothing item into the dye solution for at least 20 mins or longer (depending on the shade you are going for). It is recommended that you keep moving the cloth while it is in the dye solution for even dyeing.
When happy with the colour attained, remove the item from the dye solution and rinse it under running water until the water runs clear.
Place the item in a washing machine on a gentle cycle with a small amount of detergent.
Remove from the machine and hang to dry. You should avoid hanging it in direct sunlight to avoid colour loss.

Conclusion

I love how my jacket turned out and it has since had loads of wear during the summer. I have done the same to my black jeans in the past and the results have been spectacular. You should have a go at dyeing your faded clothes and enjoy your new garment. Thank you for stopping by!