Natural Laundry Tips

• Natural laundry detergents are good for the environment.Laundry day image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  Natural laundry detergents are made without chemicals or phosphates, offering you a green laundry alternative that is good for your skin and clothes as much as for the environment. You can shop for green laundry detergents based on the way they work, their scent or their gentleness on sensitive skin. You can even make your own natural laundry detergent from readily available ingredients.
  
  

Scent

• Choose your natural laundry detergent by the amount of scent you want. Look for the words "fragrance free" on the label to avoid all scent. For mild fragrance, read the list of ingredients. The first items on the list come in the largest quantities and offer a clue to the fragrance of the soap. In addition, most labels provide a scent description. Caldrea, for instance, specialize in aromatic green laundry detergents.
  
  

Hypoallergenic

• Although natural, not all green laundry soaps are hypoallergenic. Read the labels and look for the words, "fully hypoallergenic" or "hypoallergenic." Review the list of ingredients as well, in search of any known allergens unique to you and your family, like coconut or palm oil, which are common in green laundry soaps.
  
  

No Dyes

• Natural laundry detergents contain no phosphates, UV brighteners or dyes, making them easier on your clothes. Read the labels closely, not merely to discover the items included in natural laundry detergents, but the items excluded, which are common to regular laundry detergents.
  
  

Eco-Friendly

• All natural laundry detergents are fully non-toxic and biodegradable, using plant-based enzymes or oils to clean laundry. Search the label for the list of active ingredients and look for the "never tested on animals" logo, which looks like a white bunny.
  
  

Homemade

• To make your own natural laundry detergent, soak a shredded bar of natural, dye-free soap in boiling water until dissolved. Add 3 gallons of water and mix in a cup of washing soda. Let stand overnight until the solution thickens.