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Mel, selected from Kiwi magazine

Natural Laundry Solutions

posted by Mel, selected from Kiwi magazine Feb 23, 2009 1:02 pm
filed under: Healthy Home, Household Hints, Non-Toxic Cleaning, , , , , , , , ,
Natural Laundry Solutions
13 comments

By Linda Mason Hunter, Kiwi magazine

By the time laundry day comes around, you’re probably more concerned with cleaning your son’s Spider-Man jammies and your daughter’s favorite purple shirt than you are with the chemicals swirling around in your washing machine. But switching to natural laundry solutions means clean clothes and better health for both your family and the planet. Plus, making the change won’t compromise the quality of your laundry load—your clothes will be as clean and durable as ever.

The down and dirty truth is that traditional detergents contain synthetic optical brighteners as well as surfactants (which are wetting agents such as emulsifiers, dispersants and foaming products that reduce the surface tension of water). They also have fragrances that pollute our waterways, do not readily biodegrade and can cause skin allergies. Other common laundry chemicals, including alkyphenols, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds, are probable human carcinogens and hormone disruptors. Many, such as petroleum distillates, naphtha and naphthalene, are petroleum-based, so they deplete a nonrenewable resource, create pollution during manufacture and burden wastewater. Natural laundry solutions not only reduce the amount of chemicals and toxins that come into contact with your family, but they also help protect local water supplies.

It’s simple to detox your laundry. Swap traditional detergents, bleaches and softeners for natural options. Our guidelines will help you purchase green laundry products, our recipes will help you make your own cleaners at home.

Greening your laundry will also help you save money by using fewer, more concentrated products. Plus, you can utilize ingredients you already have at home, such as baking soda, distilled white vinegar and lemon juice.

Green Laundry Solutions at the Store
You can easily make your own fabric softener and whitener, but when it comes to laundry detergent, your best bet is a good commercial green cleaner, such as one made by Shaklee, Sun and Earth, Ecover, Earth Friendly, Mrs. Meyers, Arm & Hammer or Seventh Generation.

To distinguish the real deal from the hype, read every label. Don’t be seduced by words like nontoxic, eco-friendly, natural and organic—these are not legal certifications, so they don’t necessarily mean anything. If you see a series of long, unpronounceable chemical names, chances are the product that contains them isn’t green.

Unlike food products, items such as laundry detergents cannot be certified organic, so consumers should read labels and choose accordingly. As a general rule, a truly green product’s packaging should include some or all of these words and phrases:

•    Biodegradable (in less than a year).
•    Plant based (or botanically based).
•    Hypoallergenic.
•    No phosphates (which pollute rivers and streams).
•    No chlorine (this potent environmental pollutant is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings).
•    No petroleum.
•    No fragrance or synthetic dyes.
•    Concentrated.
•    Cruelty free (not tested on animals).

CLEAN CLOTHES, DIY-STYLE

Fabric Softener: Add ¼ cup of baking soda—which also works as a brightener—to the wash. When using liquid detergent, add the baking soda during the wash cycle; when using powder, add the baking soda during the rinse cycle.

Whiten & Brighten: Pour 1 cup of lemon juice in a bucket half full of water and soak clothes overnight. Or add ¼ to 1 cup of washing soda (a more powerful form of baking soda) to each laundry load during the wash cycle.

Fragrance: If you want to add fragrance, do so during the drying cycle. Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton cloth, and toss it into the dryer with wet clothes.

Treat Grease Stains: For best results, treat stains while they’re fresh. Cover the oily spot with a mixture of Borax and warm water and let it sit—20 minutes for a light, fresh stain, and two hours for a heavy, set stain—then rinse with cold water.

Remove Perspiration Odors and Stains: Spray full-strength distilled white vinegar on underarms and collars of shirts before washing.

Linda Mason Hunter is a pioneer in the green living/healthy home movement and coauthor (with Mikki Halpin) of Green Clean.

Kiwi magazine is ideal for families interested in a healthy lifestyle. They cover the latest in natural and organic products, nutrition and wellness. You’ll find information on social and environmental issues that touch your family as well as parenting advice from leading experts. And, of course, there’s fun stuff like kids’ fashions, reviews on kids’ media, toys and games. We’ve even thrown in some information for pampering parents, too. Subscribe now and Kiwi will make a donation to World Vision.

More on Healthy Home (109 articles available)
More from Mel, selected from Kiwi magazine (14 articles available)

13 comments

13 comments

add your comment »
13 comments add your comment
Sheri Cochran

I always add some baking soda to my wah. This is a trick I learned when I was a teen. Clothes always come out smelling fresh, clean and soft. Sometimes clothes need an extra little kick (i.e. husbands clothes) so I will use washing soda instead.

Claudia Micher

In my comunity water is hard. I've been using white vinegar as softener. Lately, I've switched to Arm & Hammer liquid cleaner with soda... but reading your article I'm not sure wether to go on adding vinegar to the rinse cycle, or add more soda...
Thanks for your time! :D

Laura K.

I use ecoballs too and have recommended them to people who are also happy with them :-)

Jacob Herrmann

Walk into the 21st Century. All Laundry detergents and harmful chemicals are now a thing of the past.
If you do one load of laundry a day, and you're currently using conventional detergent, bleach, stain remover and dryer sheets, you're probably spending about $25-$45 a month on laundry products.
The best advice for a healthy wash? Toss out the toxic surfactants, chlorine, perfume, and brighteners and even the natural stuff .Use LaundryPure when you do your next load of laundry, it may be the first time your clothes, sheets, and towels will ever truly be clean and fluffy. Think doing laundry naturally without harsh chemicals can't pack a stain-fighting punch? Here is something that will really knock your socks off.


Talk about a green product that is great for the environment.Use "LaundryPure" to eliminate MRSA from your clothing. Never buy detergents, bleach, dryer sheets or fabrics softeners again. With no need to sort, your garments will come out whiter, brighter and fluffier.

Earn extra income with an unequaled business opportunity. Start your own home business today! Join us with no start-up fees and free job coaching.
Find out how to become an Independent Dealer/Distributor of our innovative and one-of-a-kind products.
www.cleanair4life.ecrater.com

Cindy P.

I use soap nuts powder as my laundry detergent. Soap nuts (actually outer shells of the nuts) are the fruits of the soapberry trees and contain saponin, a natural cleanser that's been used to centuries for laundering. Soap nuts are are becoming more widely available as they're gaining popularity in our Western world. For more info, go to:
http://www.wabisabibaby.com/blog/2009/easy-homemade-natural-laundry-detergent-with-soap-nuts/

Annaliese Schofield

I use a eco-friendly softener, which of course has no sense so I add a couple drops of essential oils to it. What ever your mood, or the load, there is a scent.

Delores Diamond

I am wondering about the foil balls in the dryer as a clothes softener.This is a commet and I would like to try it but am a little concerned about the possibility of the heat of the dryer causing the aluminum to leech into our clothes.Is there anyway Car2could check this out for safety?It would be greatly apreciated.

Martha Weinhardt

Add Watkins to your commercial green products! Their laundry detergent is amazing! That's all I'll use anymore. www.watkinsonline.com/mjweinhardt Got rid of my son's eczema, blood stains, general dirt accumulated by BOYS! :) I love it!

Laurie Peterson

Thanks for the tip Jessie. I think think are great too. You can get the gaiam laundy dryer balls though Care2 by clicking on the shopping icon in the left nav.

Jessica C.

I bought the Eco-Balls from Gaiam and so far have no complaints. They are completely non-toxic and (at least are advertised to) last for 1,000 washes. Full disclosure: they are a bit expensive, but thus far are paying for themselves.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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