Have You GREENED Your Laundry Room Yet?

Have You "greened" Your Laundry Room Yet ?

Do you make your own laundry detergent, recipes here under "Laundry".  

Do you use dryer sheets or fabric softener from the store?  

 

Tips Green Laundry Room(Home Made Is Easy blogger)

1. Know what's in the products you purchase.
2. Look for the EPA's Design for Environment logo which indicates a product was formulated from the safest possible chemicals in each chemical class and the use of "chemicals of concern" was reduced.
3. Make your laundry detergent.
4. Eliminate fabric softeners totally. I use 1/2 cup white vinegar in rinse cycle of washer.
5. Want fragrance? Use few drops (to your liking) of essential oil on damp cloth - toss in dryer with your laundry. I use lavender & lemon or just 1.
6. Add baking soda to homemade detergent for brightening colors and odor elimination. My son has autism and bladder issue - we use 1# of baking soda per week in our laundry ~ amazing urine smell remover!!
7. Don't purchase clothes that need dry cleaned. Why ~ dry cleaning is expensive and caustic. 
8. Clean your washer of bacteria, grease, soap scum by using only hot water and vinegar in rise cycle.
9. Hang clothes on line or on clothes racks if possible. Make sure to use vinegar (for softness) and essential oil (for fragrance) in washing rinse cycles.
10. Never combine BLEACH with vinegar or ammonia.  TOXIC CHLORINE VAPORS. 

List of 13 Ingredients to Avoid

*Benzaldehyde- Irritation to mouth, throat, eyes and skin

*Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid- Caused reproductive and developmental effects in animal studies

*Artificial fragrances- Irritation to skin and eyes; many are toxic and suspected carcinogens

*Diethanolamine- Irritation to skin and eyes; linked to liver and kidney tumors and developmental and reproductive toxicity in animal studies

*Quaternium-15- Releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that causes rashes and skin inflammation

*2-Butoxyethanol- Causes birth defects and reproductive and developmental effects in animal studies; a carcinogen

*Chlorine- Potent irritant to eyes, upper respiratory tract and lungs

*Perchlorethylene (Perc)- Causes liver and kidney damage; is an irritant; a possible carcinogen

*Ethyl acetate- Neurotoxin; irritant

*Nonylphenol ethoxylate- A hormone disruptor

*ER, KSN, OB, OB-1- Causes possible developmental and reproductive effects

*Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates (LAS)- Skin and eye irritant; can be toxic to aquatic life; can produce toxic fumes during production

*Petroleum distillates (Naphthas)- Chemicals liked to cancer and lung damage

It always amazes me when I see all the toxic ingredients companies put in products with no thought of consumer's health!  The only way we can make a difference is to write them and NOT buy their products!  Maybe then they will see that we don't want toxins in, or on, our bodies.  Vote with your dollars!
http://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/toxic-laundry-detergent-ingredients-zmez12mazmel.aspx