Clean and Green Laundry Time

I'm dedicating this particular post to my good friend, Victoria, because she asked me about it a few weeks ago.  The laundry room is one of the first places I started my green up act well over a year ago.  It is an easy place to start if you are new to using green and non toxic practices in your home and it makes a big difference.  By using non toxic laundry detergent you can rest easy knowing that you are not adding chemicals to your ground water or your personal life!

My favorite laundry detergent is made by Seventh Generation. I am currently using their Free & Clear variety which is fragrance free.  However, I have also tried the Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender and I am a fan.  Seventh Generation uses only essential oils to scent their products.  It is concentrated, so a little goes a long way.  Try it out and give yourself a big pat on the back for taking a major step to be clean and green!

If you're ready for more, try out a green fabric softener.  I spent some time trying to find an alternative to conventional fabric softener.  Once again, Seventh Generation comes to the rescue!  They make disposable, paper fabric softener sheets.  I really liked them, but I wanted to find an alternative that was re-useable, so I kept searching.  Enter, Nellie's Dryer Balls.  These dryer balls work like those you see advertised on TV without the use of PVC.  They bounce around in your dryer with your clothes to make them fluffy.  They are terrific and they double as a cat toy when you shake them out of your clothes when you are completing the arduous task of  folding.  Another alternative to use is my old pal, vinegar.  I read that adding a bit to your laundry works wonders.  I haven't tested that one out just yet.  The dryer balls last 2 years, so I will test it out when that time is up.



While I love Nelllie's Dryer Balls for making our clothes fluffy and soft, they don't do much to prevent static cling.  Ouch, literally.  I had to find something to prevent static cling!  I decided to try these Static Eliminator sheets and I must report that I am pleased.  Static reduction without chemicals and they are reuseable.  Since the sheets do not contain any chemicals, they are safe for sensitive skin and allergy sufferers.  For my mommy friends, they are even safe to use with cloth diapers.  The Static Eliminator sheets are good for 500 uses, score!  Be sure to use two at a time.  They are meant to work together.

Where to purchase:
Seventh Generation detergent and fabric softener
Seventh Generation
drugstore.com (Shop through Ebates and you get 6% cash back.)
Target
Bed Bath & Beyond (Don't forget to use your 20% off coupon.)* 

Nellie's Dryer Balls
Nellie's All Natural
drugstore.com

Static Eliminator sheets
Static Eliminator
Gaiam
drugstore.com

If you use my savings tips above, these laundry helpers are definitely DEALS!

*If you don't get them in the mail, hurry up and join BBB's mailing list.  Their coupons are awesome and they never expire!

Look, there's a superstar cleaner in your pantry!

There is nothing better than a sparkling, freshly cleaned shower.  The only downside is how quickly said shower gets dirty again!  We also get this odd orange film on the grout after a few days from minerals in the water.  It can feel like fighting a losing battle against that orange film and soap scum.  Imagine how thrilled I was to find  a product made specifically to spray after a shower to diminish the buildup of soap scum, etc.  Sadly, that spray had to go when we went green because non toxic it wasn't.

Then, Method appeared on the scene.  I'm a big fan of their products and their company.  If you haven't tried any of their products, definitely check them out.  They created a post-shower spray and I was all over it.  It was $2.99 a bottle and it kept soap scum at bay.  It wasn't as strong a match for the orange film, but we weren't loading up on toxic chemicals every time we sprayed it.  What could be better than that?

It turns out there was something better hanging out in my pantry all along.  I recently read that plain, old vinegar could be used as a spray to kill mildew and mold.  I figured, what the hell?  If it can kill 82% of mold, maybe it can do some damage to soap buildup and mineral deposits.  I filled a bottle with white vinegar and sprayed away.  I was AMAZED.  The vinegar definitely breaks down the soap.  Oh, and my nemesis, the orange film?  It hasn't reared its ugly head since my new friend, vinegar came to town.  I swear that our shower sparkles.  At $2.99/GALLON, I'm in love.   I get to clean the shower a little less often because vinegar is doing all the work for me!

As you can imagine, your bathroom will smell slightly like salad dressing for a while, but the aroma fades quickly.  The trick is to spray the shower right before you leave the bathroom.  If you really don't like the smell, take a deep breath BEFORE you spray and close the door behind you.  Trust me, it is well worth it!

Here are a few links to Real Simple magazine.  They have a list of other interesting uses for this fantastic little workhorse.  Who knew?

10 New Uses for Vinegar
Cleaning with Vinegar

This one seems particularly well-timed with all of this snow!
Clean Salt-Stained Shoes