In an effort to be more earth-conscious and less-big-box-store conscious, we are hanging up our Tide trousers. We've already traded over to Seventh Generation for bathroom paper products (I can only assume the name is based on the American Indian concept of considering the seven generations before and the seven generations after to aid in conscious choices).
And now, inspired by another blogging Molly (they are everywhere--isn't it wonderful?), I'm going to oust the chemical-laden laundry soap and replace it with something a little more earth-friendly. There will be some experimenting, I am certain, but what Molly says about feeling the chemical residue and subsequent itchiness from Tide and the lot is a curiosity to me, something that inspires change. I had also considered the dryer balls, but then I read this article. I don't need dryer sheets anyway--I was the one who used them, not my husband, and I can't tell the difference now that we've run out. (We ran out? Seriously, I didn't even notice.)
But the most invaluable link I found was on Chris's blog: six ingredients for an earth-friendly home. What I find most interesting about all this buzz about eco-friendliness, and especially me spouting it, despite my environmental raging in college, is that I am a prime consumer. An impulsive shopper. Cutting Target off my list of stores I visit was actually a blessing--not just to help improve my desire to shop more locally, but also preventing that money drain and clutter filling that would occur every time I would drop by the store. According to the above link all you really need: baking soda, borax, lemon juice, salt, olive oil and white vinegar.
Perhaps I need to go shopping to stock up.
Kidding.
4 comments:
yay! i've been working on this for a couple of years now and it's so very rewarding to think that i can make a difference (both for "the environment" but also for the health of my own home) with such small choices. and THANK YOU for the link to that article. i've been using those dryer balls for a while and only recently (in my newfound paranoia about plastic of all kinds) began to wonder about putting plastic under the pressure of the high heat of the dryer. and was actually talking about them just yesterday with my coworkers. hmm. guess those are out.
Yeah, you don't need dryer sheets, especially if you dry your clothes on medium or low heat (or, crazy, line dry them!). The crappy dryer we inherited with the house doesn't have that beautiful option. It also doesn't have slots for us to put vinegar in the washing machine... argh.
I can give you the recipe we use for our laundry soap, if you want it. It works good and hardly uses any at all.
Angie: I'd love the recipe! We haven't used the line as much as we ought to... I need to do some research, but everything comes back stiff, and the line sags. Maybe I'll play with it today with some smaller laundry! Happy weekend! xo
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 C Borax
1 C Washing Soda
(optional) 1/4 C OxyClean
Use 1 Tbs for light loads, 2 Tbs for larger or dirty loads.
Post a Comment