Hi John and welcome to GoY. If you regularly water with grey water that has regular washing up liquid and powder in it there could be a build up of nitrates in the soil.

What build up of nitrates are you on about? Can we have some figures as to how much washing up liquid you need for this build up to back this up.
I'd have thought nitrates were good for plants....my plants get a weekly dose of it all summer long from plant feeds of various sorts?

Thanks for your replies, it was just that I was told never to use washing up liquid to clean a car as it had salt in it. The nitrates, sulphates/sulphites and phosphates (washing powder) should not be a problem, may even benefit? I don't think there are any nitrates in most cleaning products but I could be wrong?

ScrumpyG I refuse to answer any more of your rather rude replies!

John check out the RHS website for their suggestions on using grey water:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Gardening-in-a-changing-climate/Advice/Water---the-way-ahead/Water-management/Using-grey-water

One important statement seems to be only to use the water from rinse cycles from your washing machine.

Oh dear, because someone asks you to substantiate your ridiculous comments you choose to ignore them? Where was I rude?
You appear rather childish if you ask me.
Just like you refuse to admit you are wrong about the ingredients of aspirin, it would appear you may be wrong about this as well.

By the way, the statement you have used is also wrong.
Read it again. Kitchen water is perfectly safe to use it says and seems to confirm what i said about it's fertiliser value, not the problem you suggest.

Just as well someone is on hand to correct all your errors.

Some, not all kitchen water is fine to use Scrumpyg. The RHS site specifically states to only use the 'rinse water' from washing machines - this is what I was pointing out to John, I was not suggesting it is the only kitchen grey water you can use. It also advises what is and is not good grey water to use. I note it does suggest it is better not to use long term. 38 years ago when we had a drought in Aberdeenshire - yes it CAN happen- we used the bath water to water plants, even some of the vegetables, it was that or they were going to die.

John I apologise Scrumpyg. likes to find any question I have made a comment on and make snide and sarcastic comments, bringing points from one question into another... For info. friends of our had a new build done 5 or 6 years ago and had a whole grey water treatment built in, sorry I don't know the details but seemingly if done at the time of building it makes a lot of sense. They use the grey water,which I know is filtered but not how it is done, to flush loos and to water their very large garden with great success.

Please folks, lets just be nice to each other, I just want to grow plants in the garden, not step on land mines!

You and me both John!

And how the hell do you collect rinse water only from washing machines?
If you'd answer questions correctly and unambiguously and admit your errors we wouldn't have to argue. I don't question all your replies to every question. If you see being corrected as being rude and sarcastic then that is your problem.
Now I'm still waiting for the evidence of this build up of nitrates in the soil before you flag me to the moderators or whatever else it is you do to people that upset you.

Scrumpyg. I have no idea how you collect rinse water only from a washing machine... however, that is what the RHS suggests. As to the rest you have your view and I have mine, I have no intention of flagging you to anyone.

You could perhaps change your name to Grumpygrat? Its not nice to see folk being hard on MG when she makes such a consistent effort to be helpful.

See how Bamboo corrects errors nicely.

John, as to Eco washing up liquid being expensive - well it doesn't work out expensive because you only need to use a bit, not the great long squirt that some people use.

Not being hard on her at all. It's one thing answering questions. It's another thing answering wrongly. No objections to the former, but surely you can see the problems with the latter, especially when the person concerned just will not accept they are wrong.

Now i answered her reply very reasonably. She made a statement and i asked for the evidence. That was all.
I then got the abusive reply and since then am made out to be the villain of the piece.

Now i've got a headache, must go and take some methyl salicylate tablets.

Grumpygrat, You didn't get an abusive reply at all.

Your first response was rude and you became ruder with every response you got.

To put it mildly, I think you are 'challenged' by the knowledge MG has and she has been extremely polite, under the circumstances.

Hi John I live in Essex which always has several weeks without rain practically every year. I use ECO liquid sparingly to wash up in dry weather, no bath, only disability shower. I use upended bottles on plants I value, butt water for them. I vary where I water with eco water and only usually on shrubs or well established plants. I get by and seldom use a hose and we have never had a ban so far. So I could do but I don't. Last night it rained buckets, so that's us topped up for a while. Peace be with you and a happy Jubilee to all Goyers!

Dear Joan,

Goodness, sounds like a witch hunt has started.I'm sure MG is very knowledgeable, but she gets things wrong.

Love, Grumpy.

We all do but there are ways and ways of pointing it out.
Least said soonest mended perhaps :?

I'm interested to know that some of you use eco cleaning products: I remember seeing a television programme quite some time ago that was de-bunking various perceptions, and the conclusion was that there was very little benefit to the environment, and certainly none to your pocket to be gained from using these. I tried them and found I was using every bit as much to get the same results, if not more of the eco liquids. Detergents naturally bio-degrade anyway, and the production process used for eco-stuff was as polluting as anything else., and that it was something of a marketing ploy/gimmick aimed at would-be responsible people. I'd be happy to be disabused of this idea - does anyone have any definite info on this?
I do know about nitrates in the environment is that farmers round here have used fertilisers with such gay abandon in the last 15 or so years, that rainwater runoff from their fields is frothy and foul-smelling, and has destroyed a lot of the microflora and fauna. Now that can't be good for anything. I imagine the levels of nitrates from that would far outweigh the contribution from bathwater! I managed to kill plants in the drought of '76 by watering them with washing-up water, and I suspect it was the grease as much as anything that was responsible.
I imagine it is possible to collect rinse-only water from a washing machine cycle if you are prepared to stand by with a very large bucket and fast reactions to redirect the exit-tube at the appropriate moment!

Gattina I too wonder sometimes if there is anything to be gained for the environment by using eco-products, yet I still use them possibly because I would feel guilty if I didn't! As you say checking out the likes of Ecover's website they make lots of claims, often without any real proof. I agree that all detergent biodegrades, the main benefit I find from using an 'ecological' one is it has almost no perfume - in a crowded area I can feel chocked by the perfume from the detergent and, even more so, the fabric conditioner that is used. Sorry bit of a ramble! Basically I agree that I don't know enough to be sure there is any real difference! I do know there is a huge difference between organic bathing and hair products and inorganic ones - Bulba has a skin problem and if he uses inorganic soap and shampoo for more than a day or so he gets very itchy.

Poor Bulba. I'm lucky I don't have that problem, and I don't mind perfumes, as long as they don't overpower me or other people or the scent of choice that I happen to be wearing! However, I do tend to use baby shampoo if I can - not SUPPOSED to have quite so many additives. I do resent being targetted by advertisers whose "scientific" claims insult my intelligence. (Is there anyone out there that believes in them?). If you listen carefully (I tend to tune out completely now) there are a lot of them that are saying absolutely NOTHING at all that makes any sense. The hogwash we are fed is about the only "pure" item on the agenda. I just feel that manufacturers can stick the word "Green" on any product with no justification for the message it gives, just to boost sales. It's dishonest. Maybe I'm very cynical.

I use Eco stuff because we have a septic tank and have been told that they are less likely to interfere with the natural biodegrading process. It has been many years since the tank needed emptying so I'm planning to keep on using them. I think many people have theirs emptied much oftener. anyone else have experience with septic tanks?

This is all interesting. Its a bit unkind to expect Moonglow to be a scientist.
I use all my washing up water to flush the toilet. Bath in clear water with no additives and use that on plants. All washing machine water goes down the drain. If I started a change of use programme I would wreck it.

I have had an 'itchy' scalp problem for 2 years. Confine it to the crown of my head by smearing with 'Selsun' Shampoo each morning for half an hour, then washing off. I get this shampoo on prescription - seems the Drs dont know how to cure itchy scalps.
Would appreciate other advice/solutions by private message please.

Oh I love that I've turned into Moonglow Diane! Totally made my day :-) Bulba has diploid eczema and urticaria - at least so the medics say. This all flared up 18 months ago after we spent a week cruising the Nile. I 'still' think the water there had something to do with his problem but at least the water based cream and pills for the itchiness seem to work.

Sorry John we are now way of topic - tends to happen!

We have a septic tank, too, Stera: we've lived here for seven years, and in all that time, and for some years before that, it has needed neither attention nor emptying. I don't use and have never used Eco products at all, and I think if you avoid using bleaches and enzyme washing powers, or anything caustic, like drain clearing gel, then you shouldn't have a problem (Of course, now I've written this, Providence has been tempted, and I shall expect an almighty stink just as visitors arrive!)

Interesting Gattina. If I use bleach I tip it onto the path to discourage the algae. Finding a suitable drain cleaner has eluded me so far but boiling water and soda crystals help - hope the soda is OK.

Personally, I wouldn't use soda, and never keep bleach in the house, but if by any chance you happen to disturb the balance of the bugaboos in the tank, there are sachets you can flush down your loo to help restore the bio-equilibrium. I've never had to use them so far, but in this outpost, where there is no mains drainage, they are on sale everywhere.

Wow that's handy to know - but like you I hope its never necessary.

Thank you for your replies, I have learned about some things which I hope I never come across and many things that will help. Will some one please sort this weather out, there has got to be an improvement soon?

Sorry John, fortunately, weather control is beyond all of us! Can you imagine A wants sun for their BBQ, B wants rain for their crops, C wants snow so they can ski... doesn't bear thinking about - mind you we can have all that and more in one day in Scotland :-)

I'll do my best for you John, but I can't manage an appreciable improvement for about a week........;o)