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I have been doing our laundry this way for over a year now, and just like with my other lifestyle changes: I wish I had started sooner. Knowing that the clothes, sheets, and towels that are touching our skin (our largest organ) are free from harmful chemicals gives me complete peace of mind. Once I began looking into the ingredients in our products, I was willing to do anything to make sure that what I was bringing into our home was safe. Especially before we start a family.

1) Detergent: I found a detergent that I love, it works well, smells fresh, and also requires so little per load (about 1/4 capful) that it ends up lasting us months. This tiny bottle really gets the job done. There are plenty of DIY detergent ideas on pinterest but I made my life a little easier and starting adding this to my monthly wellness box from Young Living. It is also great for any budget, and can be diluted if you wish. Thieves laundry detergent is plant based, and free from dyes, petrochemicals, formaldehyde, synthetic perfume, optical brighteners, all of the things that you don’t want absorbed into your skin daily. You can purchase this same one here.

2) Dryer balls: Do yourself a favor and just throw the dryer sheets away. They coat our clothes in toxins that can be endocrine disruptors, cause asthma flare ups, reproductive issues, skin irritation, etc. That “fresh” smell that you love so much? Created in a lab with ingredients that are the farthest thing from fresh or natural. After just a few months of better laundry, I pulled an old duvet cover out of our closet. I was amazed (not in a good way) at how strongly it smelled.. and not like the new products I was using, more like a cheap perfume. So what is the best alternative? Wool dryer balls. These are amazing! They cut your drying time down and can be enhanced with a few drops of essential oils (directly on to the wool). I love using lavender for our towels and sheets, and citrus fresh for our clothes.

*dryer tip: if your clothes hold on to a lot of static: stick a few safety pins in the wool dryer balls and also try reducing your dry time.

3) Laundry booster: We all love that fresh scent and some loads just need some extra loving, this is a great additive for those dirty gym clothes, and also helps with tough stains because of one of the ingredients.

Mix equal parts baking soda with equal parts Epsom salts, I usually use a 16 oz mason jar or a bowl for a smaller batch. For the mason jar size, add approx. 20 drops of essential oils, (depending on your preference, you can add more or less). As I posted above, citrus fresh and lavender are always favorites, you could also choose a seasonal blend like Christmas spirit. Mix well and add 1/4 cup directly in with your laundry in the washer.

This is a really easy “ditch and switch” that can be done in a day, and on any budget. Knowing that your laundry is not causing potential health problems in your household is priceless. These ingredients are much better that what we normally use. Unfortunately, industry standards are very poor regarding what goes into our products, which is why we have to choose to be our own advocates.