Hi, friends!

If you are hoping to create a healthier lifestyle for your family, it can be overwhelming to try and do it all at once.  But you can gradually swap out items in your home to create a healthier environment – and I’m not just talking about food.  A good place to start is the laundry room!

Did you know that most mainstream laundry detergents and fabric softeners can contain harmful toxins?  Even the “free and clear” types contain chemical ingredients that not only can affect the endocrine system, reproductive system and brain, but are bad for our environment (groundwater, aquatic life).  Some of this chemicals have even been known to increase a person’s cancer risk and respiratory distress…YIKES!

A few simple swaps can give you a non-toxic laundry room and actually save you money!

There are some good non-toxic, plant derived detergents on the market.  They clean well, but they can be expensive!  I started making our own about two years ago and haven’t looked back.  I use THIS RECIPE and it’s fantastic.  It cleans the clothes better than store-bought detergent and costs less per load!  I make a double batch about twice a year and it keeps our family’s clothes clean and toxin-free all year!

Conventional dryer sheets also contain a lot of toxic chemicals we should not want in our home – endocrine disruptors, known carcinogens, and even compounds classified by the EPA as hazardous waste.  Your heard me.  Try switching to wool dryer balls (bonus points and super awesome smell if you put a few drops of your favorite essential oil!).  We also are sometimes using Young Living’s new Seedlings baby wipes as dryer sheets.  They are essential oils infused wet wipes that help with static cling and make the laundry smell GREAT.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a fantastic organization that deals with educating the public about environmental toxins.  They have a rating scale for household and personal care products (and they have an app!).  See how your laundry detergent scored HERE.

Next Saturday, I will write about another simple household swap for a healthier home.

Have a great weekend!

<3

Shannon