How to green your laundry routine

Image courtesy of lepiaf.geo.

Let's start by eliminating those noxious chemicals that you really don't need to use in order to get clean, fresh-smelling laundry. A typical laundry detergent contains petroleum-based chemicals, synthetic surfectants which release toxins into the air when they are manufactured, and various other toxic ingredients such as phenols, brighteners, bleach, and synthetic fragrances. Ew.

Make your own, skin-friendly and environment-friendly laundry detergent instead.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

24 ounces liquid castile soap
2 cups washing soda (available in most supermarkets' laundry area)
2 cups borax (available in most supermarkets' laundry area)
6 cups water

Heat the water and stir in the washing soda and borax, then slowly add the liquid castile soap. Stir to combine all ingredients (it will be kind of goopy) and funnel into a recycled container. Use about 1/4 cup per load of laundry.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 cups Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Use 1 heaping tablespoon per load of laundry.

Powdered Laundry Detergent for Brighter Whites & Lights
(Recipe from TipNut.com; see Resource box below.)

2 cups vinegar
2 cups baking soda
2 cups washing soda
1/2 cup liquid castile soap

Mix the liquid soap with the baking soda and washing soda, then slowly add the vinegar. It will foam up due to reactions with the baking soda, so go slowly. Mixture will be pasty but as you keep stirring it will become a heavy powder. Store in an airtight container and use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load.

Now about those dryer sheets. I know you love the cuddly fresh smell, but did you know that the chemicals coated on those dryer sheets can cause respiratory irritation, nervous system disorders, are petroleum-based, and are considered hazardous waste? You can find lots of ways to reuse those used dryer sheets, but then you're just spreading those toxic chemicals even further around your house. Avoid the toxins and the trash pile-up by using these methods instead:

• Pre-treat perspiration stains with lemon juice.
• Add a dash of white vinegar during the wash cycle to neutralize odors.
• Toss a reusable sachet filled with lavender (or your other favorite great-smelling herb) into the dryer.

As far as saving energy and still wearing clean clothes, try incorporating these ideas into your normal laundry habits:

• Line dry your clothes. That sunshine works just as well as your dryer, and it leaves your clothes smelling fresh without using up extra energy.
• Use cold or warm water settings rather than the hot water setting on your wash cycle. Your clothes will still get clean, but it won't require as much energy as it would to heat the water.
• Wash a full load everytime. Don't stuff your washing machine full, but do fill it to capacity. If you've only got one or two items to wash, fill the bathtub with a little luke warm water, hand wash, and hang to dry over the shower curtain rod.
• Hand wash your delicates. It's better for them anyway and will keep them in better condition for a much longer time. Use homemade laundry detergent, a little lukewarm water, and be sure to rinse thoroughly. Hang to dry on hooks or the shower curtain rod in your bathroom.
• Keep your dryer lint free. Clean out the lint trap with every use, check the dryer hose periodically for lint build-up, and check the dryer exhaust (on the outside of your house) to be sure it's clean and fully functional.