Laundry day has never been so environmentally-friendly.

One of the sneaky ways you are putting both the environment and your health at risk can be found in none other than the laundry room. Store-bought products are packed with toxic ingredients – some of which are not even noted on the packaging – that irritate the skin and can lead to diseases such as cancer. These five alternatives cover all your laundry needs without much effort, and they take heed to both your skin’s health and your environmental consciousness.

Stain Remover

There are a lot of natural stain removers to choose from, but I prefer hydrogen peroxide for its accessibility and environmental-friendliness as well as for being a panacea of sorts. Hydrogen peroxide has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mold, and anti-mildew properties, which makes it a wonderful cleaning agent. In addition to cleaning cuts and wounds, it can be used to remove clothing stains. Simply spray the hydrogen peroxide onto the stain, allow it to sit for 10 minutes, and then throw the clothing into the washer. Prior to washing, it may also help to use a toothbrush to scrub the stain while the hydrogen peroxide is sitting.

Detergent

Adapted from My Healthy Green Family, this detergent recipe mimics the effects of Tide, without the toxic, potentially cancerous ingredients. The soap gets rid of impurities and oils, the washing soda both cleanses and softens, the baking soda removes stains and odors, and the salt prevents fading.

Ingredients:

• 1 bar vegetable-based glycerin soap, grated finely
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup coarse salt

Directions: Grate the bar of soap. It can be scented according to your olfactory preferences, but make sure there are no artificial perfumes. Combine the grated soap with the remaining ingredients and mix until evenly combined. When not using, store in an airtight, glass container. Use in dosages equal to what any regular detergent company recommends.

Softener

Instead of using softener, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle. Baking soda is a natural softener and isn’t less irritable to your skin as are chemical-ridden store-bought brands.

However, if you have the time to put together a more effective and aromatic softener, in a bowl, combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup water. Stir until the baking soda is dissolved. Next add 2 cups of white vinegar, but slowly, as the mixture will foam and rise slightly. Once it has settled, add about 15 drops of your favorite essential oils. Mix thoroughly and store in a glass container. Use the same amount you would if adding normal softener to the laundry.

Wrinkle Releaser/Dryer Sheets

To prevent wrinkles, take 1 teaspoon of the extended softener recipe and mix it with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray lightly onto wet clothing, just out of the washer, before putting into the dry cycle or hanging to dry.

Dry-Clean-Only Clothing Deodorizer

To remove the stink from clothes that require dry cleaning only, vodka is a handy tool. Simply spray vodka all around the clothing item and let it hang overnight to dry. Vodka has anti-bacterial properties that get rid of the smell, surprisingly without leaving any vestiges of vodka aroma behind.

Images: Gemtek1, Tim Samoff, Kathie Lapcevik, TPapi, Catzkill, Lordelo

The post 5 Ways to Wash and Freshen Your Clothes Without Chemicals appeared first on EcoSalon.

From debugging the grill of your car to cleaning pots and pans, there’s more than one way to use a dryer sheet. 

You’ve probably heard the tip about putting dryer sheets in your vacuum or bottom of the trash can to keep things smelling fresh. You haven’t? Well, it’s true. And here are ten additional ways of fluffing up your abode with downy freshness (we always suggest using non-toxic dryer sheets!)

1. Dusting
Use dryer sheets to dust blinds, fans or almost any surface. The anti static properties in the sheets will help repel the dust. They are easy to hold and you can dust your laundry room after folding the clothes. Don’t forget to dust the TV and reduce static on the screen.

2. Reduce Static Cling
Rub on your dress or stockings to keep your dress from riding up. You can also use them on your computer and TV screen. Even rub on your hair to prevent ecstatic flyaways.

3. Pets
Rub a sheet on your wet dog to take away the “wet rug” smell after a swim or bath. Towel him or her dry first. You can remove pet hair from your clothes and furniture with them as well.

4. Freshen Gym Accessories
Keep them in your gym bag, boxing gloves or shoes to keep away mold and stinky funk.

5. Cars.
De-bug or de-sap your car with dryer sheets. Wet down your car and rub with the sheets to remove bug guts on the windshield or the front grill. It works like a charm on tree sap, too. While you’re at it, toss one into the trunk to freshen things up in there.

6. Easy Clean Up
Clean paint brushes by soaking in warm water with a dryer sheet. Works on pots and pans with burnt on food, too. Use the same method.

7. De-Squeak Your Shoes
Rub on the bottom of rubber soled shoes to keep them from squeaking on cement floors.

8. On the Road
Place between your packed clothes to get rid of that musty luggage smell. Keep in your suitcase and camping gear when stored, too. Put them in the air conditioner vent in your hotel room to take away mildew odors.

9. Crafts
Run a sheet over your thread while sewing. The thread won’t tangle as easily. They can add structure to appliqué and quilting projects, too.

10. Insect Repellant
Tuck them in your socks or belt to keep away the bugs. You might look ridiculous but it works in a pinch.

Bonus Sheets!
Wipe scissor blades with a sheet to help them cut smoother lines. Use dryer sheets to polish your glasses, though not recommended for plastic lenses.

Image: This Week for Dinner

The post 10 Ways to Use a Dryer Sheet appeared first on EcoSalon.

There’s no escaping it, laundry is a fact of life. Before you toss your next load of whites in the washer, take a look at these five planet-friendly laundry gizmos that claim to go easy on the environment while cleaning your skivvies.

Wonder Ball – According to the manufacturer, this spherical “proprietary blend of minerals and magnetics” reduces the surface tension of the water to allow the gadget to deep clean clothing fibers. It can be used with laundry detergent, or on its own with just water. It works in hard or soft water and will last you about 2,000 washes.

Dryer Balls – What’s good for the washer, is good for the dryer. Several companies make dryer balls, little orbs that you toss in the dryer clothes to keep your clothes from sticking together, so they dry more quickly. Apparently these little doo-dads can reduce drying time up to 25 percent. Who knew?

Static Eliminator Eco Dryer Sheets – Unlike chemical-laden disposable dryer sheets, these reusable alternatives can be used up to 500 times. The hypoallergenic fabric draws static electricity away from garments and whisks away clingy pet hair while tumbling around the dryer.

Soapnuts – Dried fruit gets your clothes clean? Evidently so. Soapnuts are actually the the fruit produced by a particular type of Himalayan tree. Once harvested, they’re de-seeded, dried, and packaged as a natural, organic alternative to standard laundry detergents.

Have you ever tried any of these laundry products? What did you think? Let us know in the comments. And for drying tips, don’t miss these eco drying secrets.

Images: Pretty in Print

The post Nifty Eco-Friendly Laundry Tricks Worth Trying appeared first on EcoSalon.

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Wonder Ball – According to the manufacturer, this spherical “proprietary blend of minerals and magnetics” reduces the surface tension of the water to allow the gadget to deep clean clothing fibers. It can be used with laundry detergent, or on its own with just water. It works in hard or soft water and will last you about 2,000 washes.

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• 4
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Dryer Balls – What’s good for the washer, is good for the dryer. Several companies make dryer balls, little orbs that you toss in the dryer clothes to keep your clothes from sticking together, so they dry more quickly. Apparently these little doo-dads can reduce drying time up to 25 percent. Who knew?

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• »

Static Eliminator Eco Dryer Sheets – Unlike chemical-laden disposable dryer sheets, these reusable alternatives can be used up to 500 times. The hypoallergenic fabric draws static electricity away from garments and whisks away clingy pet hair while tumbling around the dryer.

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• »

Soapnuts – Dried fruit gets your clothes clean? Evidently so. Soapnuts are actually the the fruit produced by a particular type of Himalayan tree. Once harvested, they’re de-seeded, dried, and packaged as a natural, organic alternative to standard laundry detergents.

Have you ever tried any of these laundry products? What did you think? Let us know in the comments. And for drying tips, don’t miss these eco drying secrets.

Images: Pretty in Print

The post Nifty Eco-Friendly Laundry Tricks Worth Trying appeared first on EcoSalon.

Lately we’ve seen the mantra “Keep Calm and Carry On” everywhere from T-shirts to chocolate bars. (If your curious about the origins of this now popular phrase, then check out this article in the UK Guardian.) But we love how zJayne on Etsy has taken this British motivational phrase and given it an eco twist: “Keep Calm and Recycle On.”

Each set of three dryer pillows uses upcycled T-shirts filled with organic lavender buds to give laundry a light, flowery scent. They’re reusable and double-secured with a separate interior pouch so you don’t have to worry about the lavender buds leaking out. (“No way, no how!” as the Etsy description says.) These cute little pouches are sewn on a vintage White 1951 machine for a charmingly retro touch and come in several different color combos.

Of course, dryer pillows aren’t the only eco alternative to dryer sheets. I’ve used little rubbery dryer balls to dry clothes more quickly without creating extra waste (like the dryer pillows, the dryer balls are reusable). Air-drying wet clothes on a clothes line is another option if you have the space. The Clean Air Gardening Blog lists several other alternatives to commercial dryer sheets, some of which contain chemicals like Benzyl Acetate and Benzyl Alcohol. Not so great for you, your clothes, or the environment.

The post ‘Keep Calm and Recycle On’ – Reusable Dryer Sheets appeared first on EcoSalon.