Get Toxic Chemicals Out of Your Laundry Room
By Sara Butler
When you wash your clothes, you’re trying to remove dirt and chemicals from them. After all, these are items that will be up against your skin all day long, so they need to be free of things that could potentially be harmful to you. The problem is, many of the ingredients in conventional detergents, dryer sheets, and fabric softeners are anything but healthy. Here’s how you can avoid toxic chemicals in your laundry room so you can keep your whole family safe and healthy.
Use Dryer Balls
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can be tossed out in favor of something natural and useful – wool dryer balls. These balls are handmade from natural wool and can reduce your exposure to chemicals while making your clothes soft. They can also reduce drying time by 25 percent, which makes them environmentally friendly, too. Just make sure you steer clear of balls made from PVC plastic, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. These wool balls are reusable too, so you can use them hundreds of times before new ones are needed.
Use Safer Detergent Wisely
You need to look for a detergent that is nontoxic and make sure you measure it out carefully. Many people use way too much detergent in their laundry, which means you’ll spend more money on detergent than you need and make your clothes look dingy. Look at your washing machine to find out what the manufacturer recommends for detergent amounts needed per load. Also, make sure you use a reliable measuring cup for it.
You can also add safe laundry boosters to your load such as borax, washing soda or white vinegar. These things can help deodorize your clothes, soften water, and help with that pesky static.
Air Dry Your Clothes
If you can, you should air dry your clothes. It will save you money and the sun can eliminate bacteria and other undesirable things on your clothing – for free! If the weather outside isn’t cooperating, you can use a drying rack inside your home, too. The moisture from your drying clothes can only improve your indoor air quality, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone.
You have to be diligent if you’re looking to lower your family’s toxic load since unwanted chemicals seem to lurk around every corner. Looking at the things in your laundry room is a good place to start!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.