Green Your Laundry Routine with Soap Nuts

Soap Nuts are a natural and effective replacement for chemical-laden laundry detergents that can act as eczema triggers.  Soap Nuts are even a great alternative to those of you who seek hypoallergenic detergents.

LAUNDRY - a meaningless chore of washing dirty socks and stained t-shirts, or an opportunity to make a positive difference in your health and our environment?

WHAT'S A GAL TO DO? Women account for as much as 85 cents of every dollar spent in the retail marketplace. When we open or close our purses, we have the power to encourage companies to reduce chemicals and pollution, protect the air and water, and keep our families and wildlife safe.

CUT THE CHEMICALS Avoid companies that use toxic ingredients, test on animals or contribute to pollution in their products. Chances are, if you have difficulty pronouncing the ingredients, they are probably not very safe. Then there are the companies that avoid listing the nasty chemicals by disguising them under names that sound natural or with lines like "derived from vegetable". In order to be your own health advocate, you must conduct your own research. Stick to certified organic ingredients when possible. AVOID: 1,4 Dioxane (carcinogen, ground water contaminant and bi-product of ethoxylation), benzene, LAS, APE, NPE, Napthas, PEG, DEA, TEA, petrochemicals (derived from petroleum), phthalates, SLS, dyes, fragrance, chlorine bleach, optical brighteners, UV enhancers & a plethora of others. Visit www.TheDirtOnLaundry.com for more information.

BE A STAR Time for a new washing machine? Choose an Energy Star, High Efficiency model. It will use 50% less energy and only 18-25 gallons of water per load vs. a conventional top-loader which uses 40 gallons.

COOL OFF The average family washes almost 400 loads of laundry a year. Using cold water to wash whenever possible could save you over $100 per year.

HANG 'EM OUT TO DRY Enjoy Mother Nature's scent of fresh air and the warmth of sunshine by air drying your laundry. Your dryer is the #2 energy hog in your home. The average family can save over $85 and more than 720 lbs of carbon dioxide per year by line drying. Remember, you don't have to go all or nothing, every little bit helps!

DROP THE ADDICTION There is a powerful connection between scent, memory and emotions. Companies have pulled the wool sweater over our eyes - making us believe that clean should have a certain "fresh scent". They pack their laundry detergents, stain removers, fabric softeners and dryer sheets with these toxic filled artificial fragrances. Without this emotional aroma, consumers don't believe their laundry is clean. Many become addicted to the scent, constantly craving more and more, which is why it's referred to as the "Nicotine of Laundry". Don't be a scent addict. Drop the fabric softeners and dryer sheets along with the nasty side effects of these neurostimulant irritants, hormone disrupting phthalates and CNS (central nervous system disorder) toxins. NOTE: "Free and Clear" is free of dyes and fragrances, but not necessarily free of other toxic chemicals.

THE (SKIN)NY ON YOUR HEALTH Your skin, the largest organ of your body, absorbs up to 60% of what is directly applied to it - including the detergent residue from your clothes and the sheets you sleep in. The products you use on a daily basis enter into your bloodstream and add to your body burden, or the amount of chemicals present in your body. Chronic health issues and skin disorders like dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis are on the rise, and exposure to harsh laundry detergents can trigger horrible and sometimes debilitating symptoms, including extremely dry, itchy, cracked, scaly, flaking, oozing and inflamed skin and rashes. These not-so-natural products can also contribute to asthma, allergies, autism, cancer, headaches, nausea, vomiting, immune system & reproductive disorders, MCS multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as disorders with the kidney, liver, lungs & heart.

MAKE MOTHER NATURE PROUD by making conscious choices that will promote positive changes in your health and our earth - one sock, one fish and one child at a time!