Eco Friendly Laundry

When you have kids your washing machine is working nonstop, however, most of the laundry detergents are hazardous to their health and are bad for the environment.

I started my research for this article, thinking how I can green my laundry to help the environment. What I didn’t expect to find was, how much laundry detergents are dangerous to our health, as well as for the environment.

The main problem with laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and stain removers is that they contain petroleum, phosphates and synthetic chemicals that leave residue on the clothes. These ingredients cause allergies, irritate the skin and eyes and carry other severe health risks.

They get washed down our drains and into our waterways polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas and are toxic to fish and wildlife. Plus, some products contain "optical brighteners" that are designed to make your clothes only seem cleaner.

So what can you do?

Consider using eco-friendly laundry products. However, pay attention to what you're buying, and always check the ingredients, because not every product that states it's natural means it's nontoxic.

Look for labels that indicate that the product is readily biodegradable, made with plant- and vegetable-based ingredients (instead of petroleum-based), contain no phosphates, and no allergy-inducing scents.

Ingredients you should avoid are butyl cellosolve (dangerous toxic chemical), petroleum, triclosan and phosphates. Also try to avoid chemicals known as phthalates that are used in detergents with fragrances, they have been linked to cancer.

If you must use bleach, try a non-chlorine product, use an oxygen-based cleaner instead, it is better for the environment and for your health.

As for fabric softener and stain removals you can use basic natural household cleaners.

Instead of stain removal products, use baking soda and white vinegar. As an alternative to fabric softener, add one-quarter cup of vinegar to your washing machine that leaves your clothes soft and free of chemical residue and odor. Eco-Friendly Detergents: What You Need to Know

Save energy.

Another eco friendly laundry tip is to try to use as little energy as possible when you wash your kids' clothes. Not only does this help you and your kids "go green", it will save you money too. See Energy saving washers at Green Energy Efficient Homes for some tips on cutting your laundry energy bill.

Click here to read some more useful tips for eco friendly laundry from the U.S department of energy.

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