laundry water and garden

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Is there anyone that has used laundry water in the garden If so dose it leave a soapy tast to the veggie . thank you for your help.

Lisa

-- Lisa Miller (ljmill35@aol.com), June 01, 2001

Answers

Dear Lisa,

You don't mention if the water is going directly on the plants or draining into the beds. Either way, there should be no soapy taste since the roots take up most of the water and the soil will act as a filter. Be careful of the laundry soap You use though. Many (most?) soaps will overload the soil with phosphates and other chemicals that can have adverse consequences.

If You're real concerned, a home-made filter between the washing machine and the garden will work. Run the water from the machine into a receptacle large enough to hold several gallons with a drain out the bottom. Starting at the bottom, fill the receptacle with layers of gravel, sand, charcoal, and hay/ straw/ grass at the top. Then just run a hose from the drain to the garden. This is pretty low-tech, but should do the job.

If You need help, let me know.

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.


I do that all the time... Since I wash in a sink instead of having 'real' plumbing for it, there is a lot of soap in the water. No. It doesn't leave a soapy taste... Veggies should be rinced before eating anyway, and the soap will help protect from pests... Some even recommend spraying plants (houseplants, too) with soapy water. Just don't use bleach!!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), June 01, 2001.

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