Alternative Laundry 101 Series-Part 2: Natural vs. Chemical Laundry Detergents

VS.

A couple weeks ago, I shared the 9 reasons why line-drying your laundry is all around healthier for you and the environment. Now I want to talk about what to use to clean the laundry with.


What we’ve been taught for so long, that we need to use chemicals to effectively clean our clothes, has never been the true or smart . Many natural soaps work as a great & cost effective replacement and will not pollute our bodies & the environment.


The chemical detergents (and all cleaning products) are full of toxin chemicals that quickly wear out your clothes, pollute the land & water sources, harm our animals, cause allergic reactions and damaging to our health. Have you ever wondered if your favorite laundry detergent is making you sick? Here are the 10 common ingredients you will find in any laundry detergent:

• Phenols: Toxic, a suspected carcinogen and rapidly absorbed. Effects include swelling, pimples, and hives. Internal consumption can cause circulatory collapse, cold sweats, coma, and death.
• Optical brighteners: These synthetic chemicals convert UV light wavelengths into visible light, which makes laundered clothes appear whiter (although does not actually affect the cleanliness of the clothing). They’ve been found to be toxic to fish and to cause bacterial mutations. Further, they can cause allergic reactions when exposed to skin that is later exposed to sunlight.
• Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates (LAS): These synthetic surfactants are commonly listed as ‘anionic surfactants’ on labels, and are one of the most common surfactants in use. During their production process, carcinogenic and reproductive toxins such as benzene are released into the environment. They also biodegrade slowly, making them a hazard in the environment.
• Petroleum distillates (aka napthas): These chemicals have been linked to cancer, lung damage, lung inflammation and damage to mucous membranes.
• Phosphates: These chemicals are used to remove hard-water minerals to make detergents more effective, and to prevent dirt from settling back onto clothes during a wash. A major problem with them is that, when released into the environment, they stimulate the growth of certain marine plants, which contributes to unbalanced ecosystems. Many states have banned or restricted the use of phosphates for this reason, and you may see laundry detergents advertised as “low-phosphate” or “phosphate-free.”
• Sodium hypochlorite (household bleach): This is a chemical precursor to chlorine, which is highly toxic and involved in more household poisonings than any other chemical. When it reacts with organic materials in the environment, carcinogenic and toxic compounds are created than can cause reproductive, endocrine and immune system disorders.
• EDTA: Skin irritant leading to allergies, asthma, and skin rashes. EDTA is a class of compounds used as an alternative to phosphates to reduce mineral hardness in water, prevent bleaching agents from becoming active before they’re put in water and as a foaming stabilizer. EDTA does not biodegrade readily and can re-dissolve toxic heavy metals in the environment, allowing them to re-enter the food chain.
• Artificial fragrances: Toxic effects on fish and mammals, often causes allergies, skin and eye irritation. Do not easily bio-degrade ain the environment.
• Ammonia: Can cause burns, cataracts & corneal damage. Long term repeated exposure can cause bronchitis and pneumonia. Also has a toxic effect on plants, animals and fish.
• Sodium Sulfate: It is corrosive and a severe eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Can cause asthma attacks.

Makes you think twice before using detergent, yes? Read more here and here and here.


Did you know that companies who make laundry detergents are not required by law to list their ingredients?! They claim that their formulas are "confidential"... does that make you wonder what they are hiding? Now, please don’t be fooled by the “free & clear” detergents… they are still made with the same chemicals, just “free” of dyes and fragrances that often cause skin reactions and trigger headaches. Much like the fabric softeners I mentioned before.


With all that said, I use biodegradable & natural products to wash my laundry. I like knowing that my natural soaps contain ingredients from nature, not man-made chemicals. Over the years, I have tried many different laundry soaps… Charlie’s Soap, Earth Friendly ECOS, BioKleen, Ecover, Soap Nuts and many others. Be careful... not all natural soaps are really "safe and natural"! I learned that the hard way, for the past 4 years I’ve been using Charlie’s Soap mainly because I read from reviews that it was the best to use on cloth diapers. Yes, it did a great job of cleaning and not creating a scum that prevents the diapers from being absorbable... BUT I no longer use it for 3 reasons:

• I learned from a friend that Charlie’s Soap is not entirely natural or safe like it says on their products and website. That really bothers me!
• When Naomi was in diapers, she used to break out in HORRIBLE rashes from her diapers if I didn’t make sure to double rinse the diapers after washing them with Charlie’s Soap. If that stuff is supposed to be natural… why was it burning my little girl’s bottom?!
• Since we moved to Central America, it hasn’t done a very good job washing our clothes and diapers in cold-water… especially hard water. Even when I add vinegar and baking soda to help soften the water, still no good.

Now, I’ve switched over to BioKleen and found it did a way better job of cleaning our clothes and diapers. I am also using Soap Nuts... I love the fact that they grow on trees and are completely God-made, but I can't decide if they are really doing a good job of cleaning the laundry. I bought them because 1) they weight less then powder or liquid… 2) I read such great reviews about them and... 3) I got a really great price for 1,600 loads worth. I will keep using them and time will tell if they really do work or not!

I'm sure most of you are wondering if your natural laundry soaps are really "natural and safe". These days there are so many different kinds of natural detergents out there that its hard to know what is good and what is simply a cheap imitation... here are 10 things I've learned to look for when buying GOOD natural laundry detergent:

• 100% Non-Toxic and 100% Biodegradable – Helps protect the environment… most importantly... our water sources, lakes and streams.
• Uses 100% natural and eco-certified ingredients – All natural ingredients plus testing by an independent agency that certain ingredients used are indeed ‘green.’
• Uses only plant-based enzymes – Avoid animal-based enzymes and other animal ingredients (which can lead to unnecessary animal testing). More on the importance of enzymes coming up.
• Butoxyethanol Free – Found in Charlie's Soap and most common laundry & cleaning products (source).
• Petrochemical Free – Free from 1,4-dioxane (and all its derivative names) and NPE. You already know the health risks associated with these.
• Phosphates and Sulfates Free – Free from phosphates and SLS/SLES (and other derivatives).
• Derived from plants, vegetables, and natural food sources – Contains only natural food-grade ingredients.
• Free from bleach, dyes, fragrances, optical brighteners, and masking agents – Only natural oils and food-grade ‘cleaning’ sources used.
• Includes a plant-based fabric softener – No need for a separate softener (not necessary if using vinegar and/or baking soda).
• Performs ideally in cold water and is safe for delicate fabrics and colors –Saves energy over hot water. Performs well regardless of fabric material and colors.

Basically, you want to look for natural soaps derived from non-toxic plant-based and food-based ingredients. That's not always easy to find and often we might find out 1 or 2 years (or 4 years, in my case!) to late that the "natural" soap we've been happily using, isn't so natural... which is why I really want to like my Soap Nuts!


I would also LOVE to make my own laundry soap, but have not found a recipe with ingredients that I can find here in Honduras. I know this would be the most frugal and easiest thing for me to do in the long run. Anybody got recipes to share with simple ingredients and no borax???


Next, in Part 3... I will share with you how to use vinegar and baking soda for all your laundry needs!


Tell me, what are you favorite natural soaps and why? Do you make your own laundry soap and is it effective?


Don't forget... The Everything Beans ebook is on sale to all my noisy readers and check out the Against The Grain eBook Giveaway!!
Have a great week y'all...

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Alternative Laundry 101 Series-Part 1: 9 Reasons Why Line Drying Really Is The Healthier Option

Hello everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the spring weather! The rainy season is slowly starting up here and it is beautiful to see everything turning green again. We have tons of wild easter lilies popping up everywhere. They are gorgeous!


Well, as you can see... I am start a small series of posts about the one thing all mommas "love" to do... laundry. HA! I am excited about this and hope to encourage many of you with simple ways to effectively do laundry and actually enjoy it. I will be honest, I still have my days where I wish I could burn up the clothes and live like we are in the Garden of Eden. LOL! Don't worry, that's NOT going to happen  ;o)


In the Alternative Laundry 101 Series... I will be sharing the reasons why line drying is all around a healthier option, tips on how to save time, rules on hanging the clothes, ways to lessen the loads, how to make it fun and more. I am looking forward to sharing what I've learned over the last few years. I hope you all will enjoy it and walk away learning something new! Please take the time to ask questions, share tips or ideas in the comments section. I want this to be interactive as much as possible!


Now, let me start of by sharing a little bit of my experience...


I’ve been hanging our clothes out to dry for years, but in various ways… inside and outside. I remember when I first started line drying our clothes when we were missionaries in Baja California. I would hang all our clothes inside the house we were living in on retraceable lines. With the fan blowing on them, it kept our house cool and moist during the hot, dry months. I choose to do that because the roads around the area we lived in were very dusty. I would often cringe whenever I saw someone’s clothes hanging out getting bathed by dust blowing around. Besides, we didn’t have to use our swamp cooler to cool the house because the clothes did an even better job!


Then, after we moved back to the states. We were given a used dryer, which I started using without much thought. I was in the midst of my first pregnancy and adjustment to life back in the states that I was grateful for one less thing to do… hanging the clothes to dry. Of course, I hung my undergarments and delicate clothing, but the rest went right into the dryer. Even during the summer months… instead of having my hubby put up some lines outside where we had plenty of open space… I chose to keep on using the dryer in our tiny laundry room.


But as I learned more about natural living and health after Naomi was born, I remember reading in one of the many health books that I checked out from the library stating that drying your laundry in the sun is really the healthier option. That moved me to start drying my clothes out in the sun and use the dryer less. Of course, I didn’t always dry everything outside… sometimes I created forts with damp blankets and sheets in the middle of my living room with the fan blowing them dry! Other days I chose to throw half in the dryer and the rest line dry. I didn’t have a system, just did what I could when I could! Our move to Central America as missionaries forced me to really go hard-core with hang drying our clothes (and diapers) for several reasons that I will share with you below. Of course, we have a dryer (our first since living in C.A.) which we only use for emergencies (rainy days) and occasionally Tobi’s diapers ;o)

Now that spring has arrived and summer is just around the corner… Here are some of the reasons I learned to believe hanging my laundry out to dry is all around healthier for my family, our wallet and the environment:


1. Its Free!
Of course, the first and obvious reason is money… what the sun gives is freely given, while the use of a dryer is not. Dryers use a LOT of energy, coming in second place (the refrigerator is first) for the highest energy- consuming household item.


I learned that the US Department of Energy estimates that a clothes dryer accounts for almost 6% of a household annual electricity consumption, sometimes more or less. That might not seem like a lot, but think about how many items in your house uses electricity. If you average about $100 a month for your electric bill… you are basically paying around $72 a year. Think about it, that’s almost a month of electricity in your home! Our electricity here in Honduras is run mainly on diesel, so electricity can get expensive with the way things are going with gas prices. I know when I don’t use my dryer for a whole month, our electricity bill is around $10-$15 less. That may not seem like a lot of savings, but if you add it up… that’s about $120-$180 saved a year!


Plus, during the winter, your dryer is taking warm air from your house to dry your clothes and sending it outside. So, not only do you pay to run your dryer… you are paying more for indoor heating. I know this because I used to live in Iowa!


2. Cleans Better
Our Creator gave us sun with natural ultraviolet radiation and this kills germs. Hanging your laundry out in the sunshine allows the natural radiation to effectively disinfect them! This is great to keep in mind if your family is going through illness… both viral and bacterial. When my girls had pink eye and we had no hot water to disinfect the sheets, clothes and stuffed animals. I simply hung everything out in the sun for the whole day after washing and it worked just fine :o)


Bonus: Did you know that our amazing sun can kill annoying bed bugs? Awesome! All the more reason to also throw your bed out for a day or two  :o)


3. Smells Better
The work of the sun and wind naturally makes your laundry smell clean and fresh. Often, I find that when I throw my laundry in the dryer… it comes out smelling clean enough, but can quickly become stale or musty smelly. Yes, you can buy those smelly, headache-inducing dryer sheets to get your laundry smelling nice... but that won’t remove the odor, just adds another scent to cover up the true smell. Plus, that's one more thing to buy… when you can get fresh smelling clothes for free using the sun’s resources!

4. Brightens Your Whites Naturally
I don’t know anybody who loves the smell of bleach… I don’t. I’ve hated that stuff even before I started doing laundry when I married my hubby over 7 years ago. The smell alone gives me headaches! Here are three reasons you should toss out that bottle of Clorox:

• Can cause cancer
• Turns your white clothes yellow. Why? Because chlorine bleach is actually a caustic acid. Over time, the frequent bleaching of laundry not only makes them white, it also removes fibers... breaking down the fabric of your clothes. Therefore, your whites turn yellow.
• Won’t fully wash out of your clothes. How you like the idea of wearing your bleach? I didn’t think so.

Thankfully, we have a natural alternative… again, the sun! The sun is not only a natural disinfectant, but it is also a natural whitener. When you put your wet whites out on the line, you will see the stains fading naturally as it dries.


I learned a tip from a friend that the morning dew has a way of getting your whites beautifully bright. Simply hang them the night before, allow them to get dewy in the morning and pull them down when dry… I will have to try that sometime. Another way to brighten up your clothes and help stains to disappear is to add ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar into your wash.


5. Less Chemicals are Used
All those flowery smelly dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners are not anything you want to snuggle with. We all know they are used to make the clothes soft and remove the static cling caused by the dryer, but do we also know the common ingredients (they don’t even list them!) found even them? Benzyl Acetate, Ehtanol, Camphor, Chloroform, Linalool, A-Terpineol, fragrances and more! Still want to cuddle up with your soft, warm towel pulled from the dryer? Yeah, didn’t think so.


Thankfully, we don’t have to use softeners because the sun doesn’t cause static charge while freely drying your laundry. You can use vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener to help soften your clothes… does a great job and won’t rob you of your health! Plus, it is much cheaper too!


5. Clothes Last Longer
Now you know that bleach breaks down the fibers of your clothes, thus shortening the lifespan… but did you also know that the dryer weakens the fibers of your clothes too? All that lint you are required to remove after each cycle are fibers that have worn off of your clothes! That means that the dryer can wear down your clothes much faster than if they were line dried. Sure, it’s gradual… but with my family, we prefer to buy less clothes and make them last a long as possible.

6. Wrinkle-free Laundry
Let’s be honest, using the dryer often results in clothes getting tangled and wrinkled. No matter how you do it… you still get wrinkles. Which means you will end up spending more time on laundry if you chose to iron (I never do!). If the clothes are shook out good and hung right, you will get wrinkle-free laundry!


Seriously, there are rules… yes, rules… on how to properly hang your shirt to get that nice, wrinkle-free look. Also, you won’t get those annoying rolled up hems on your pants or skirts like you would if you put them in the dryer. I will share more on that later :o)


7. Shrink-free Laundry
I remember having to buy clothes that were a little big so I didn’t have to worry if they shrunk in the dryer. If I had a shirt or pants that fit me perfect… I never put them in the dryer. They were always hung up on a little line and blown dry by a small fan.


Remember the lint I talked about earlier? That’s the results of your dryer “pulling” the fibers and causing the clothes to shrink. There’s no chance of that happening when your clothes are drying on the line.


8. Less Laundry
Line drying can take up a little bit more time, but it does make you more aware of what clothes really need washing and what can be worn again. All around, it can help you use up less energy, water and time when doing laundry.


For me, it is truly a quick and easy process… throw load into the washer with soapnuts or biokleen and then out to the clothesline. Usually, my clothes are dry within a couple hours on a dry day… I take each item down and fold them, right away, into the basket and then put them away. I will be writing more on ways to save time when line drying your laundry!

9. Healthy & Therapeutic
Last and most important. When hanging my laundry… I’m outside breathing in fresh air and meditating on the Lord’s goodness. I’m sure some of you are thinking I’m crazy, but let me explain…


Most days, I do really enjoy hanging our laundry out to dry. During these times I often find myself praying and talking with the Lord about everything that comes across my mind. I don’t often have a lot of time to simply sit down and have that whole hour of quiet time before the Lord. I often find myself undisturbed and alone in my thoughts when hanging clothes while the girls play and Tobi naps. So therefore, I enjoy opening my thoughts to the Lord and would often sing out loud as I work… making that my “quiet” time with Jesus :o)


Also, for me, it is a simple act of service to my family when I take the time to carefully and joyfully hang our laundry. There is something wonderfully soothing about seeing all our clothes hung in a neat row and flapping in the breeze!

So, knowing all this... what will you do now? What steps can you take to start drying your laundry on the line? Keep you eyes open for the next post in the series!!

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