Yesterday, I spoke about some of the dangers of laundry detergent.
The chemicals that we use to clean our clothes get stuck to them.
And then we carry those chemical-covered clothes around all day.
Absorbing them into our skin, and breathing them in.
Two of the nastier chemicals that I talked about were 1,4-Dioxane and Nonylphenol Ethoxylate (NPE).
Among other things, 1,4-Dioxane can cause vomiting and respiratory problems, environmental pollution, and has even been tied to cancer.
NPEs have been called the “gender benders” because they can turn male aquatic animals into females, and also have all sorts of nasty effects on humans, including being associated with breast cancer.
If you missed that email, you can see it here.
But what can we do to protect ourselves, and our families, from these dangerous toxins?
Here are 6 tips for reducing our exposure, and our environmental footprint. Several have been adopted from Mother Nature Network, which you can see here.
Check Labels – Unfortunately, big corporations are able to dump TONS of toxic chemicals into their products, and into our bodies and our environment, without disclosing it. So, it’s often best to look for labels saying “no bleach,” or “NPE free.”
Looking for the word “biodegradable” on detergents is also often a good idea, many of these dangerous chemicals are most definitely NOT biodegradable.
Go Concentrated – Concentrated detergents are often a better choice, because they have less packaging to waste away in a trash dump.
Wear it Again, Sam – We can often wear clothes more than once, without them smelling bad. Now, I’m not saying wear that sweaty gym shirt a weak in a row. But make sure that the clothes are really dirty before washing. This can also extend the life of your clothes.
Go Cold – Using cold water isn’t just good for the environment, it can save money, up to $100 per year in reduced electricity. You can get away with using the cold setting by pre-soaking dirty laundry in cold water for an hour, and adding baking soda to loosen dirt and grime.
Go Big or Go Home – Doing one big load of laundry instead of several small loads can save water and electricity. Go big for big savings!!
Hang Me Out To Dry – Drying your clothes on a clothes line can not only save money, but have your clothes smelling fresher and feeling softer.
Natural Stain Removers – Salt, vinegar and baking soda are all natural stain removers that can eliminate tough stains like berries, grass and blood. Saturate stains with white vinegar and allow them to sit for at least 10 minutes before washing. Apply salt or baking soda to fresh stains to absorb as much of the stain as possible before applying the vinegar. You can also make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda, and brush it into stains with an old toothbrush to remove stains in a powerful, eco-friendly way.
Thanks again!!
Marc
– Brought to you by
Life Miracle
http://lifenatural.com
P.S. Here are some non-toxic alternatives to detergent and dryer balls.