Natural LaunderingYou can get clothes clean and bright using natural laundering without harsh detergents or anything that will irritate your skin or be harmful to your health. Most commercial detergents are petroleum based and contain additives such as bleach, phosphates, POP’s, DDT and fragrances all of which can be hazardous and cause health problems such as allergies and asthma. There are natural safe products that make doing laundry less toxic to our well being. Natural laundering detergents are often available at your local health food store. Look up some brands online on our cleaning products page. You can also use other less expensive alternatives such as 20 Mule Team Borax, washing soda, and vinegar. Don’t use washing soda on delicate fabrics like silk or wool and never mix it with vinegar. Vinegar works to kill bacteria and works best when added to the rinse cycle of a wash. For a safer bleach alternative, use hydrogen peroxide to brighten clothes.
Here is a natural laundering detergent recipe if you want to make your own or don’t want to use the above options.
Some stain spot removing tips for natural laundring: Doing laundry accounts for around 60% of water consumption in homes. It’s important to use an energy efficient washing machine to cut down on electric bills and conserve water. Don’t overfill your machine, the laundry needs room to circulate to clean well. Sort clothes by type and color. Generally you use cold water for delicates, warm water for average loads, and hot water for whites.  As far as drying your clothes is concerned, dryers take up 5-10% of the average home’s energy. A great alternative is good old fashion line drying. You can save money and your clothes will smell fresh from the sunshine. If it’s winter or you live someplace like Seattle, you can still line dry by using a drying rack indoors. Find a place where you can get good air circulation… probably not the bathroom. How about near a ceiling fan or on a covered porch?
Dry Cleaning Alternatives
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