All Natural Laundry Detergent – Getting Your Clothes Clean the Right Way

Using natural laundry detergent when you wash is a good way to protect your family from the dangers of harsh chemicals. So much of what we are exposed to come from commercial cleaners and additives used every day without thought. Here are some ideas to get a great wash and get your clothes clean at the same time.

Find the Right Combination for Your Clothes

Today’s commercial washers contain several types of cycles that you can use to wash your laundry. The trick is to get the right combination that both protects your clothes and gets you a proper wash that cleans.

First, try to maximize the right cleaners for your laundry. I rely on using a cup of vinegar to my loads to help with cleaning and softening the fabric. Baking soda and borax are great additives to have with heavily stained fabric.

For more delicate items, hand washing may be preferred. You want to hang these items to dry after cleaning to keep them in good shape.

As for the choice of detergent, look at the ingredients that you are washing with contain. I use a highly concentrated type of detergent that only requires a small cap full with each load. Do your due diligence and make sure what you are using does not contain any harsh chemicals.

Some people prefer using laundry pods or powder when they wash. These are fine but if your machine has a lock-type hood, you are better off using a liquid because you will need to run some water to be sure the detergent dissolves.

Sort and Wash

Sort your laundry by color, size, and shape. Whites often require warmer temperatures to make sure they are clean. Colorfast clothing tends to bleed when washed, Wash colors in cooler water to avoid this.

You want to avoid huge loads and wash measured loads of laundry to get a good result. Usually, this means washing no more than a standard basket of laundry to allow the machine to do its job.

Washing those piles you sort, match the type of laundry to the right cycle on the machine. Add detergent first and if possible, run water to dissolve before adding clothes. This is not possible on all machines so check yours and follow the manufacturer’s directions when washing loads.

Additives that are liquid like vinegar, should be added when the detergent is added to boost washing efficiency. If you have a bleach port on your machine, it may be possible to add liquid additives to this port prior to the wash. I have a natural disinfectant from thyme oil that I add that gives my clothes a fresh scent (you can use an essential oil this way if you like with your loads).

Once your loads are done, remove them and prepare them to dry. You can use dryer racks to dry your clothes versus the dryer and keep many fabrics lasting longer. If you do use the dryer, try the lowest temperature setting to dry your clothes so they keep their materials intact.

If you do have an outside clothesline to hang your clothes, using it may be the best for your clothes. Not everyone has this luxury so buying a drying rack may be your best option. Ironing items like shirts, pants, and other items is great if you have the time to keep creases and eliminate wrinkling.

Save Energy When You Wash

Cooler water is the best for most fabrics except for whites and more heavily soiled fabrics. Pretreatment with enzyme-type cleaners may be necessary to handle the tougher stains. Soaking is also a good option for treating heavy stains.

Washing those smaller loads is a good option when it comes to saving energy. If you use the machine, make sure you try to get an optimal load when you use it to make the best use of water for loads. This will increase the efficiency of your washing and save on that water bill.

Energy should also be a factor when it comes to buying the best machine for doing your family’s laundry. The energy rating is often listed on the machine and will tell you how efficient it is in saving energy.

When you buy your clothes, how you intend to clean them should be a consideration in the purchase. The life of a garment through the time you spend in cleaning it will bring you more satisfaction so keep that in mind when you shop.

Take Advantage of All the Natural Cleaners for Your Wash

• Borax – A great cleaner and good for your machine. It is fantastic for cleaning whites and heavily stained loads. A bonus with borax is that it is great at inhibiting mold growth and is a great antibacterial. It also limits detergent residue in the washer.
• Washing Soda – Another laundry additive that is great for laundry. Akin to baking soda, its best use is as a way to adjust the pH of your laundry to be more alkaline. Add it when adding your detergent to make the best use of it. You can often find this in the laundry aisle or purchase it online at Amazon.
• Vinegar – The best laundry additive out there. Vinegar is a great stain fighter. It also is a natural fabric softener that keeps clothes looking and smelling great. Be sure to use the white distilled variety when adding it to the laundry so it does not stain your clothes.
• Lemon juice – A great natural laundry brightener and stain fighter. Its best use is as a pretreatment for laundry where you can put it directly on the stain. You can also add it to the bleach port prior to adding clothes to scent the entire load.
• Essential Oils – Thymol or thyme oil is a natural disinfectant that is great for laundry. You can mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, and thyme oil are some I recommend) to treat your laundry.

A Little Proper Care Goes a Long Way

It goes without saying that using the right ingredients to clean your clothes will keep them lasting longer. Avoid harsh ingredients and make use of natural cleaners when you can to clean your clothes.

Sort your loads and match them to the cycles on your washer to get the best results. Dry your clothes by use of a dryer rack or clothesline when possible – if you do use the dryer use the lowest setting possible to avoid damaging your clothes.

A little proper care of your garments will help them to last for a long time. Clean them the right way and you will get great satisfaction and compliments from others.

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