How to Make Your Own Laundry Powder – Scientific Adventures in the Kitchen

Lena and Petya were sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the empty bowl. The kitchen was filled with various ingredients, but for their experiment today, they only needed a few simple things. This time, they weren’t just making any household product, they were going to create their very own laundry powder!

— Today we’re not just making something useful, we’re making something really needed! — said Lena, looking at the ingredients they had gathered. — This will be our very own laundry powder. And the best part is, it will be completely natural!

Petya raised his eyebrows in surprise:

— Natural? How is that possible? I always thought you had to use chemical products for laundry.

Lena smiled and started explaining:

— Actually, many chemical laundry products contain substances that can be harmful to both us and the environment. But with simple ingredients like baking soda, citric acid, and soap, you can make a safe powder that will clean clothes just as well!

Of course, Petya was intrigued. He always loved doing experiments and couldn’t wait to get started.

— Then let’s get started! What ingredients do we have? — he asked.

Lena pulled a package of baking soda, a jar of citric acid, and a piece of soap, which was already a bit melted. She placed all these items on the table:

— We need to mix these three ingredients in certain proportions. Baking soda will act as the cleaner, citric acid will help remove stains, and soap will give the powder a pleasant smell and additional cleaning power.

Petya looked closely at the ingredients:

— How much of each do we need?

Lena explained step by step:

— We need two tablespoons of baking soda, citric acid, and grated soap. We’ll mix all of that in a bowl, then add a little water to get the right consistency.

— Got it! Let’s start with the baking soda. It’s so white and fluffy, like snow, — said Petya, reaching for a spoon.

After the baking soda was added to the bowl, Petya took the citric acid. He carefully read the instructions on the packaging about how much powder to use per load:

— It says that citric acid helps soften the water and gives the powder extra cleaning properties.

Lena nodded:

— Yes, citric acid is very effective for removing stains and cleaning, especially on white clothes. It also helps dissolve the soap, making the powder more effective!

Next, Lena grated the piece of soap. It had to be soft and not too hard so that it would dissolve easily in the mixture. The soap would not only give the powder cleaning power but also a pleasant smell.

— Now, let’s add this soap to our mixture, — Lena said and began mixing everything gently with a spoon.

Petya was amazed:

— This is so simple! Do you think we’ll end up with a powder that really works?

Lena smiled:

— Of course! All the ingredients work together, and they complement each other perfectly. Now we just need to add a little water to make the mixture easier to use. But it’s important not to add too much water, because the powder could end up too thick and won’t work properly in the washing machine.

A uniform mixture was starting to form in the bowl. Lena carefully added a couple of spoonfuls of water, and soon the whole mass had the right consistency.

— There we go! Now we can transfer our powder to a container with a lid and store it until we need to use it, — Lena said, showing off the finished product.

Petya looked at the finished powder with interest:

— It looks just like regular store-bought laundry powder! Even the smell is nice — so fresh!

Lena nodded:

— Yes, this is our natural laundry powder! And it can be used for washing not just clothes, but also for cleaning other things. For example, cleaning carpets or even washing dishes. Baking soda, citric acid, and soap are versatile ingredients that help clean everything around us!

Petya, who had taken some of the powder, thought for a moment:

— Can we use it in the washing machine? Lena, you said it would work just as well as regular powder?

Lena nodded affirmatively:

— Yes, of course! In the washing machine, this powder will work just as well as chemical detergents. It helps remove even tough stains and doesn’t leave behind a chemical smell, which is really important for our skin and health. Plus, thanks to the baking soda and citric acid, it doesn’t damage fabrics and helps maintain the brightness of colors.

The kids were very pleased with the result of their experiment. They understood that with this powder, not only could they keep things clean, but they were also protecting the environment. After all, using natural ingredients helps reduce the amount of harmful chemicals in nature.

— Awesome! Now we have not only an eco-friendly laundry detergent, but also something to be proud of! — said Petya, looking at his bowl of powder.

Lena agreed:

— Yes, and the next time we need more powder, we can easily make it again!

Now, Lena and Petya not only had useful knowledge but also a great homemade laundry powder. They were proud of having made something with their own hands while using safe ingredients for the environment. And many more experiments in the kitchen awaited them!