Your detergent doesn't have to be sickly blue like this one! Make the switch to something more natural!
Green Life Project is a weekly series of posts highlighting one change for readers to make in their life in order to gradually green their lives.
||Week Nine||
This week’s Green Life Project action item is to purchase a green laundry detergent.
Green Life Project is into full swing and if you’re following along, I hope that you’re implementing these changes on a week-by-week basis, taking advantage of a gradual process our articles are meant to guide you through toward a more sustainable life.
And we’re focusing mostly on very simple choices you can make — many of them done at the grocery store, where it’s an easy difference in decision.
What’s next up for us? Well, we’ve concentrated so far mostly on consuming less, consuming smarter, and making less waste. So for example, using a metal water bottle will cut down on the amount of waste you produce (or that produced on your behalf) and using recycled paper toilet paper helps reduce the number of trees that get cut down, processed, and used for your dirty deeds.
Similar to when we recommended a switch to a greener dish soap, now we’re recommending that you change to a more sustainable laundry detergent. The guidelines for choosing a greener laundry detergent are similar to those we used for a more sustainable dish soap. Back then, I had this to say:
- First, try to get a dye-free, frangrance-free soap.
- Second, attempt to find a dish soap with plant-based surfactants, such as coconut-based ones.
- A third, related item to look for is essential oils in the ingredients.
- Fourth, you want a biodegradable soap.
- Fifth, choose a soap that has not been tested on animals.
Luckily, we can use these again for a better laundry detergent. I will say that guideline number three, the essential oils, is not an “essential” ingredient, but they certainly smell great and the switch will likely be easier knowing that our clothes will still have a nice scent (only from now on, more natural!).
The goals to protect ourselves and our environment’s water and soil are also the same.
Need some specific recommendations? I tend to use Seventh Generation Laundry Powder (which we have reviewed). I like that the packaging is easily recyclable, biodegradable cardboard. Earthascope’s Matthew Phillip, last I checked, was using Seventh Generation Liquid Detergent (reviewed here).
In the past, I’ve used soap nuts and washing soda as well. These are all great options for you to explore, though none include essential oils.
The important factor is that you cease introducing dyes, fragrances, and other potentially harmful pollutants into your home and the environment. These chemicals are poisoning us and the environment — our water, soil, air, and habitat.
And it’s a simple change to make! The next laundry detergent you buy will be right next to your old one. Again, spending your money in this way helps encourage companies to follow the dollars, so don’t forget that as a member of a movement of society toward more sustainable lifestyles, we can have a very large and positive envirohuman impact!
Related posts:
- Green Life Project: Buy a Greener Dish Soap [caption id="attachment_918" align="alignright" width="300" caption="You don't have to sacrifice your...
- Green Life Project: Purchase 100% Recycled Paper TP [caption id="attachment_950" align="alignright" width="258" caption="Recycled paper toilet paper no...
- Product Review: Seventh Generation Liquid Natural Laundry Detergent 2X Ultra Does it work and is it really green? Are the...
