Low tox laundry tips

*This post is sponsored by Bosisto's

Minimising chemicals in your home

When you go to the supermarket to buy washing liquid or even multipurpose sprays, it's very hard to find out what's inside. Why? Because the companies are not required by law to list the ingredients. This is particularly confusing for consumers who want to pick the safest option for their families.

When it comes to laundry products, they can pollute our waterways and they often contain fillers which remain in the fabric on your clothes and can become a skin and bronchial irritant as well as endocrine disruptors.

If you're wondering what chemicals you should avoid, here is a list of nasties:

Avoid:

Phthalates (particularly diethyl phthalate)

Tricoslan

2-Butoxyethanol

Ammonia

Chlorine

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Petroleum Distillates (aka Napthas)

Phosphates

Optical brighteners

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)

Substances in fabric softeners

Palm oil

So you might be wondering how you can avoid all these ingredients? Many people make their own cleaning products. If the idea of making your own laundry powder overwhelms you, don't worry. There are other options.

Going low tox is a journey, and it's like learning a foreign language. You aren't expected to learn the whole language over night. You need to do what works for you, your family and your budget.

For me I am not at that stage in my low tox journey to commit to making my own washing powder yet. As a busy mother, I am always on the look out for eco friendly brands that can do the hard work for me and are at an affordable price point.

Over time I have tried many different laundry powders and so far I have found Bosisto's to be a brand I can rely on. Their Sensitive laundry powder is dermalogically tested, has no fillers or synthetic fragrances, and contains Australian eucalyptus oil which is an antibacterial and also freshens the wash. But best of all it actually works at removing stains from clothes!

Bosistos Sensitive Laundry Power contains:

No irritating fillers

No zeolites

No sodium laureth sulphate

No bleaches

No dyes

No synthetic fragrances

No palm oil

No optical brighteners

The Sensitive Laundry Powder can be used in both front and top loaders, and in both hot and cold water. Their powder comes in a bag which you can reseal for freshness and to preserve the smell of the eucalyptus. They also have a liquid version.

For harsh stains I pre-soak overnight, and then wash as usual. You may be wondering what I use as a fabric softener? Good old fashioned vinegar does the trick! I just purchase the cheapest one available from the supermarket.

If you're handy and prefer to DIY, here is an easy to make recipe:

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DIY Washing Powder

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups washing soda (sodium carbonate)

1 1/2 cups borax (sodium borate)

1 - 2 capfuls of Bosisto's Eucalyptus Oil

1 bar natural soap, finely grated

Method

Wearing gloves carefully mix the washing soda, borax and eucalyptus liquid, and then add the finely grated soap.

You may use 1/4 cup per load, and store the remainder in a container.

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The Bosisto's range is Australian made and owned and both Woolworths and Coles Supermarkets stock their range.

For more information and to view their range visit the Bosisto's website.

*This post is sponsored by Bosisto's, however, views are my own. I only endorse products I genuinely believe in.