I can’t think of a more special time in life than the anticipation of your first baby – pouring through baby development books, choosing a name, decorating the nursery, researching the best stroller and car seat, buying those adorable baby clothes, and thinking about the right laundry detergents that won’t irritate your baby’s soft newborn skin. Many new parents wonder if it is really necessary to buy a special detergent just for the baby?
The answer lies in what kind of detergent you use. If you use a detergent with dyes, fragrances, phosphates and optical brighteners, then yes. But if you use a ”clean” laundry soap, or one without toxic additives, you don’t have to spend the extra money and run a separate load for baby clothes.
Most conventional brands now make a non-toxic product. You can check out the safety of your favorite brands or find the safest ones by going to the Environmental Working Group website, a well-respected consumer watchdog organization. They analyzed over 2000 products and rated them according to concern for general ecotoxicity, biodegradation, and general systemic/organ effects.
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Here are a few I recommend. Seventh Generation products are fantastic– they contain plant-derived cleaning agents, soil disperants and non-animal derived enzymes; they are naturally biodegradable, phosphate-free and hypoallergenic. Seventh Generation products consistently score the safest rating and they are a genuinely eco-responsible company.
I like supporting local companies and cottage industries. The Optimist Co, based on Cape Cod and run by a mother of two small children, makes wonderful laundry soap with 100% soap oil flake and no chemical detergent. You can’t get much purer than the laundry soap she makes right in her own kitchen! Shaklee, another eco-responsible company, offers a highly effective, chemical-free laundry soap as well, and for a soap that does it all, there is nothing better than Dr. Bonner’s Pure Castille soap.
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One other thing, forget fabric softener which is highly toxic full of harmful chemicals. It also breaks down the fire retardancy in infant clothing. Instead use dryer balls or add ¼ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Enjoy this wonderful time of life. It goes by way too quickly!
For more green living tips, visit greenwithbetsy.com
Information compiled from : http://babyclothes.about.com/, http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/stories/7-least-toxic-laundry-detergents
