As the Earth’s natural resources decline and landfills become over-populated with plastic bottles, we must reconsider how we go about washing our clothes. Most standard laundry detergents contain chemical ingredients and fillers that not only harm the environment but can also damage your clothes and irritate sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. That is why it is important to always pick natural laundry detergent to promote sustainability in the environment.
There is a growing body of evidence that links chemical ingredients in household cleaners and other products to serious diseases such as cancer and birth defects. The potential for these chemicals to damage the skin’s natural protective barrier and lack of regulation over their use means that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep our homes free from toxic chemicals.
What do laundry detergents contain?
Standard laundry detergents are not only a mix of acids and alkalis, but they can also include a whole host of chemical ingredients such as sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium silicate, petroleum distillates, ethoxylated surfactants and fragrances. Sodium tripolyphosphate is used to soften hard water, but it is also linked to neurotoxicity and affects aquatic life.
Sodium silicate is used to make the detergent more alkaline, but over time sodium silicate reacts with hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium in your water supply, forming a harmless metal soap that washes away along with the dirt you want to remove. As sodium silicate is alkaline, it can cause mild irritation to the skin and eyes. Petroleum distillates are often used as solvents in cosmetics, but they are also common ingredients in household cleaners due to their low cost. Their toxicity may lead to organ damage or cancer, while toxicity associated with certain petroleum distillates has also been linked to damaging the skin’s protective barrier. Finally, fragrances are synthetic mixtures of chemicals designed to give detergents a pleasant scent, but some fragrances can cause respiratory problems or sensitize the skin.That is why ,natural laundry detergent is preferable to use.
What are natural alternatives for clothes?
There are several steps you can take to minimize your exposure to harmful chemical ingredients in household cleaners. For instance, you can switch to using all-purpose vinegar in place of bleach products for bleaching whites and non-phosphate natural laundry detergent instead of phosphate detergents for cleaning clothes. You can even make your own homemade fabric softener by mixing together 10% hair conditioner with water and adding it to the final rinse cycle.
Another option for a natural laundry detergent is to use a soap-based solution, which doesn’t contain the chemical ingredients present in synthetic detergents and may help increase the pH of your clothing to make them less prone to bacterial contamination. Add ¼ teaspoon (one g) of borax powder per load and ½ cup (120 ml) of vinegar to the final rinse cycle for a natural way to brighten whites and keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Alternatively, you can use ingredients such as washing soda (sodium carbonate), borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate) and soap flakes, which are all natural alternatives that help wash away stains without causing damage to your clothes.
DO I have to buy special products?
You don’t have to buy special detergents or fabric softeners, as you can substitute soap flakes for natural laundry detergent and use vinegar in the final rinse cycle instead of buying commercial fabric softener. You can also prepare a washing soda solution by adding half a cup (120 ml) to the final rinse cycle.
Shop-bought fabric softeners and dryer sheets are also a potential source of harmful chemical ingredients, as they can include fragrance mixtures, parabens and other preservatives that can irritate sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The most cost effective opportunity you have is to use Lumehra’s natural laundry detergent which is chemical-free and a sustainable detergent which is used to wash your dirty clothes. This detergent is especially made for you if you prefer eco-friendly ways of doing laundry. Lumehra’s natural laundry detergent makes your life easy by fighting stubborn stains and removes odor from your clothes.
How can I make fabric softener?
There are several recipes for making your own fabric softener, such as the following:
– Mix half a cup (120 ml) of hair conditioner with ½ cup (120 ml) of water and add it to the final rinse cycle.
– Add ¼ teaspoon (one g) of borax powder to the final rinse cycle.
– Mix together one cup (240 ml) of vinegar and two cups (480 ml) of water and add it to the final rinse cycle.
If you want a fresh smelling washing machine, consider adding three drops of your favorite essential oil to the fabric softener compartment. However, simply adding half a cup (120 ml) of vinegar to the final rinse cycle can help leave your clothes smelling fresh while also helping to remove limescale.
How should I use natural laundry detergents?
If you’re concerned about using abrasive ingredients, consider adding half a cup (120 ml) of borax powder or washing soda for every load of laundry that you wash. Alternatively, recipes for making your own homemade cleaning products include several ingredients that help get clothes clean without causing damage to the clothing’s fibers.
– Combine ¼ cup (60 ml) of washing soda with two tablespoons (30 ml) of soap flakes and add it to the final rinse cycle.
– Add half a cup (120 ml) of vinegar to the final rinse cycle.
– Mix together one tablespoon (15 ml) of borax and half a cup (120 ml) of soap flakes and add it to the washing machine.
– Add three drops of your favorite essential oil to an empty fabric softener compartment or use half a cup (120 ml) of vinegar for a fresh smelling washing machine.
Minimize your exposure to harmful chemical ingredients in household cleaners by using natural alternatives such as vinegar and borax powder. You can even make your own homemade fabric softener by mixing together 10% hair conditioner with water and adding it to the final rinse cycle. However, in a busy life, Lumehra’s natural laundry detergent comes as a superhero to save your life from all troubles and give a sustainable way of doing laundry.
Further Reading
Learn more about the chemical ingredients present in natural laundry detergent products by reading this article from Green Med Info.
Discover which chemicals are hazardous to your health and how you can make healthier household cleaning products at home by reading this article from The Health Wyze Report .
– Try using vinegar instead of fabric softener or making your own homemade fabric softener.
– Use borax powder in place of natural laundry detergent.
– Combine soap flakes and washing soda in the washing machine for a natural alternative to standard detergents.
