Launder Your Clothes Naturally

We launder our clothes to get them clean and smelling fresh. The supermarket aisles are filled with  products that claim to do the best job in helping you accomplish that. Not only are they supposed to clean your clothes they also claim to make your laundry smell like spring flowers, fresh picked berries, or even a refreshing rain.It is ironic then that many conventional laundry detergents unintentionally and many times even intentionally, leave residues on your clothing. These residues are the byproducts of the numerous chemicals that these detergents contain and these chemical residues are anything but healthy for your laundry. They are not particularly healthy for your family either.

Since wearing clothing is most likely an every day, all day occurrence your continuous exposure to these chemicals may cause some concern…and rightly so.

So what can you do?

A laundry detergent with more natural ingredients is a good option. In recent years there has been a large upsurge of natural detergents available on the market so finding one that works for you should not be hard. Here are some tips to help you find the best natural solution for your laundry.
 
Avoid detergents with optical brighteners. Optical brighteners intentionally leave a residue on the surface of your laundry. These brighteners stick to your clothing to reflect light and give the appearance of cleaner, brighter clothes. If you look at your detergent under a black light and it glows….it has optical brighteners. These chemical residues can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.

Avoid detergents with fabric softeners. These softeners leave a water-repelling residue on your laundry. This can be problematic for items such as towels or cloth diapers, making them less absorbent and useful in the very purpose that they serve. If you need extra help softening your laundry try using a natural fabric softener, vinegar or some dryer balls.

Skip the synthetic fragrances and opt for a detergent that utilizes natural fragrances such as essential oils. You can even do it yourself and ad a 2-3 drops of lavender or tea tree oil to the wash.

Considering using a soap based cleaner instead of a detergent. Detergents are made with petrochemical ingredients whereas soaps are made with natural oils and minerals.

Many of the chemicals in dryer sheets designed to keep your clothes wrinkle and static free have been linked to cancer. Use a vinegar rinse while clothes are in the wash instead or use a small sachet of dried lavender in the dryer.

Instead of using harsh bleach on your clothes, soak clothes that need brightened in a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to 8 parts cold water and then wash. You might also try a half cup of lemon juice and baking soda.

Conventional stain removers are too harsh, use a baking soda paste to scrub and pre-treat stains.

Here is a natural laundry soap recipe that is easy to make yourself:

2 part castile soap flakes

1 part washing soda

1 part borax

4-5 drops essential oil per part

Mix items together and store in container. Add 1/8 – 1/4 cup per load when washing.

Baking Soda- a household staple

Have you ever visited the Arm & Hammer website?  WOW amazing info they have listed! 

Tips, guides, articles and usage for your home, family and your body.

Join me in listing some ways you can use baking soda in your home.  Just leave a comment below.

 

Drain cleaner: Pour one cup baking soda down the drain then three cups of boiling water after.

Cat urine: Alternate sprinkling baking soda, which will neutralize acid odors, with white distilled vinegar
(wish I knew this one when I had a cat)

 

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