There is a great resource for those of you looking to see how environmentally friendly your cleaning, cosmetic, and other common household products are at www.ewg.org.
Excerpt from their website (About us): "The Environmental Working Group is the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization. Our mission is to serve as a watchdog to see that Americans get straight facts, unfiltered and unspun, so they can make healthier choices and enjoy a cleaner environment. We use the power of information to create cutting-edge research and advocacy that transform government policies and the marketplace in order to conserve land and water, produce and use energy responsibly and ensure that food and consumer products are free of harmful chemicals. We investigate government subsidies that encourage wasteful practices, and we support policies that promote thoughtful stewardship of our land and natural resources. With your help -- and with the help of hundreds of organizations with whom we partner -- we are creating a healthier and cleaner environment for the next generation and beyond."
I was curious about our regular laundry detergent, Gain Ultra HE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Original Fresh, so I looked it up. Wow, I was completely shocked at the results! Based on their data, our detergent scored a F, really a F!! The ingredient with the highest health concern was Sodium Borate which can have negative endocrine, reproductive, and developmental effects. A complete breakdown of our detergent can be found here.
The information I just discovered sent up huge red flags for me because Tim and I are trying to have children. That being said, I set out on a mission to find a better alternative detergent for washing clothes. It didn't take long before I came across soap nuts (or soap berries) as an eco friendly-hypoallergenic- organic- natural-all around awesome-soaping fruit! (See my previous post explains what soap nuts are by clicking here.)
I ordered our soap nuts from Eco Nuts (around $40 for 360 loads!) and started using them immediately after the arrived. I LOVE THEM! They are easy to use and effective at cleaning. All you have to do is put 5-7 soap nuts in the provided cotton pouch and toss them in the washer. After 4-5 washes, replace the soap nuts and you're good to go for the next several washes. (you will know to replace when they become white and very soft, see picture below)
I feel relieved that I will never have to buy commercial laundry detergent again!
Soap nuts on the left are used and need to be replaced,
while the ones clustered on the right are fresh and ready to use
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