So maybe you have cleared out a bunch of your cleaning chemicals, possibly mixed up a bottle or two of an all-purpose cleaner and scrubbed your first sink with baking soda, excellent!! If you have not, I am sure you are well on your way and I could probably stand to post some of the recipes I use as a start point, but be sure to check out my Resources and Inspirations page where I list the books I have used so far.
My second major change-up when it came to eliminating unnecessary chemicals in my life was the overhaul of the laundry. At first I was nervous, what could possibly clean my clothes with the depth and vigor of that viscous bright blue compound I have always used? Any reading into alternative cleaning techniques will leave you frightened of laundry detergent. The concern that stuck with me the most was the use of surfactants, bleaches, dyes and formaldehyde that often do not completely rinse off the clothing-the clothing that touches my body!! Many books mentioned soap flakes, Borax and washing soda in order to concoct my own. Sadly, my bravery has yet to extend that far mostly for fear of my clothes and washer in any misguided attempt to combine the correct ingredients properly. Luckily for me, there is a current trend against standard detergents that appears to stem from the objection to the phosphates that get rinsed off in the drain water, causing a host of environmental issues. As with any product trend that gets support, the retailers must follow. Now a trip to the laundry aisle is littered with standard detergent alternatives. I would never advise to pick the first product that claims it is “green.” More often than not, the company may have eliminated or reduced the phosphates but not much else. I was looking for a product that took me back to the original elements of laundry cleaning. The first one I have I tried is a brand called Ecos. This stuff comes in a giant clear bottle with a very detergent-like clear liquid inside. The ingredient list is exactly what I like to see in a green product, short and pronounceable! It is highly concentrated like many natural, vegetable/fruit based soaps so one bottle has lasted me a good 4 months and it has a very mild and pleasant smell. Can’t complain yet 🙂 Obviously, as with any products, you just have to experiment with what works for you, but if the plan is to go green, remember to do your homework and read that bottle/box-a true green product will tell you all you need to know!!!
In other laundry news, besides soap flakes, Borax or washing soda I came across discussion of things called soap nuts. Check out urbanherbwifery for the blog post I discovered. I can’t wait to try them out!!
Adventures in Green from the Emerald City 
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