Very easy and frugal! Most of all healthy! I know my family is not wearing or absorbing any toxins from their clothing. No VOCs, petroleum, phthalates or formaldehyde here.
For a large amount I have made this formula that fills 1 large size coffee can (11.8 oz) dry mix:
*2 bars of castile type soap shredded with cheese grater (I prefer Dr. Bonner's Castile soap lavender scented) found @ Target or Mother Earth
*fill can 1/3 full with BORAX
*fill can 1/3 full with Washing Soda (*not baking soda)
Mix well with your hand or spoon.
I use a small laundry soap lid from an old bottle so about 1/3 cup added on on top of laundry.
works great in my front loading HE machine. Also, for added smell I add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to a small towel during the drying cycle.
As for stains,I follow some of the tips I have found in these articles- like spraying vinegar
on sweat stains.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/clean-clothes-happier-planet.html
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-new-smell-from-clothes-2.html
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/156/1/Earth-friendly-clothes-washing.html
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/your-green-laundry-room-198781/
Note there are many other versions out there, even liquid varieties. Google is your friend!
For our Mother Earth as well as for our species. ~ When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves. ~ David Orr
I am only one, but still one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.~Helen Keller
Green Links
- 11th Hour Action
- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
- Business News
- Business.Environment.The Bottom Line.
- Calculate your footprint
- Check your products here: Environmental Working Group
- Eco Search Engine
- Environmental News & Commentary
- G r e e n o p i a
- GlobalFarm (located in FM)
- Go-Green.com
- Good Jobs, Clean Energy
- Planet Green Channel
- Product Search Engine
- Support Local farmers
- The Daily Green - News
- Treehugger
- US Green Building Council
- Waste Management Green Info
Helpful Books
Some quick tips you use today
~ When shopping purchase products with the least amount of packing as opposed to individual packets, etc.
~ Recycle as much as possible:
When recycling plastic bottles, take the lids off as they are become projectiles during the recycling process
Recycle your own printer paper errors, mailings & scraps by shredding and using in your outgoing shipping packages
~Create a compost pile with your household food waste
~Turn off lights when not in use; put your computer on sleep mode
~Use canvas bags for store purchases instead of plastic
~When getting broken items, give it away at a local swap like Freecycle.org, there are people out there than can put it to good use again
~Buy food at your local farmer’s market, this way you get less packaging and are helping the local farmers in your area ~Instead of going through the drive thru park your car and go in. Idling for more than 30 seconds uses more gas than it takes to restart the car and therefore, produces less toxic emissions
~Don’t flush garbage, medicines or cat litter
~Eat less meat, which uses our natural resources to farm/raise
~Unplug electronic devices like phone chargers when not is use
~Watch Planet Green for ideas
~Utilize your local library instead of buying books you will only read once.
Acknowledgements:
It’s Easy being Green by Crissy Trask
The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers & Thomas Kostigen
Living like Ed by Ed Begley, Jr.
~ Recycle as much as possible:
When recycling plastic bottles, take the lids off as they are become projectiles during the recycling process
Recycle your own printer paper errors, mailings & scraps by shredding and using in your outgoing shipping packages
~Create a compost pile with your household food waste
~Turn off lights when not in use; put your computer on sleep mode
~Use canvas bags for store purchases instead of plastic
~When getting broken items, give it away at a local swap like Freecycle.org, there are people out there than can put it to good use again
~Buy food at your local farmer’s market, this way you get less packaging and are helping the local farmers in your area ~Instead of going through the drive thru park your car and go in. Idling for more than 30 seconds uses more gas than it takes to restart the car and therefore, produces less toxic emissions
~Don’t flush garbage, medicines or cat litter
~Eat less meat, which uses our natural resources to farm/raise
~Unplug electronic devices like phone chargers when not is use
~Watch Planet Green for ideas
~Utilize your local library instead of buying books you will only read once.
Acknowledgements:
It’s Easy being Green by Crissy Trask
The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers & Thomas Kostigen
Living like Ed by Ed Begley, Jr.
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