Laundry help from leaves

The rich saponin content of ivy leaves makes them a natural way to clean delicate fabrics. A handful of darker, older ivy leaves are picked and roughly chopped using a knife and board no longer used for food preparation. Placed in boiling water, they are left to soften and stew. Once the water has cooled, it is carefully strained and the leaf pieces discarded. The items to be washed are wetted, then placed in the ivy water and gently rubbed before being rinsed thoroughly and dried. Although ivy is poisonous if ingested in large quantities, as the detergent is for topical use, it does not pose a risk. A small item can be worn first to check for any skin sensitivity. Hands are washed thoroughly after handling the ivy.