LilSugar

Clean Up Your Act With Earth- and Baby-Friendly Laundry Products

LilSugar — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:09:50 PDT

Everything changes when a baby comes along, especially parents' perspectives on safety. Every decision is made with protective goggles on as parents want the best bottles, the healthiest food, and household products without toxic chemicals. This is especially important when it comes to washing tots' tiny clothes and cloth diapers. What's good for baby is generally what's good for earth, and detergents made with irritating petrochemicals are harmful to both. Check out these products that are both eco and baby conscious.

Clockwise from top left:

Vaska Spotoff Advanced Botanicals Spot Remover ($10), and Vaska Herbatergent Light Lavender, 48 oz. ($12): Vaska products earned recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Program as they break down quickly to non-polluting compounds. The natural lavender scent actually smells like lavender because it is - unlike most brands which use manufactured scents.
Rockin' Green Classic Rock Laundry Detergent ($15): One of the most popular brands used to clean cloth diapers, this detergent was developed by a parent whose kids had very sensitive skin that broke out with every cleanser they tried.
Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry 2x Ultra Concentrate, Baby, 150 oz. ($22): Seventh Generation products have been a go-to for eco-conscious mamas for a while. The liquid is super concentrated so a little really does go a long way.
Biokleen Laundry Powder, 5 pounds ($22): This nontoxic, biodegradable powder is gentle while strong enough to launder cloth diapers - and everything else. The price is also right so customers don't have feel like they have to choose between green (eco) and green (money).
Method Baby Laundry Detergent, Sweet Pea ($15): When Method launched a line of laundry detergents in 2010, it was an instant hit with fans of green, clean laundry. The cleverly designed pump bottle means multitasking mamas can do laundry and hold the baby at the same time.

Love It or Hate It? Detergent Bottle Vases

Julia Walsh — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:00:00 PDT

Hamburg-based photographer Julia Hoersch shot this stunning photograph of a dining table prêt for a meal, featuring two laundry detergent bottles used as vases for hydrangea and other pretty petals. The color palette is flawless, and I love the way the orangey-red and blue bottles stand out against the deep teal blue wall.

That said, while the unusual vase alternative is a suprising, memorable element, I don't think I could pull it off in my home. I've used tin cans and mason jars as vases before, but I think the plastic bottles would embarass me. What do you think? Would you try this at home?

Method Debuts New Line of Laundry Detergent

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:00 PST

One of my favorite green (and local) companies, Method, has just debuted a new line of laundry detergents. Available in Fresh Air, Peony Blossom, and Free + Clear scents, the detergent's ultraconcentrated formula allows for a much smaller container, 50 percent of it being from recycled plastic. The detergent is made using 95 percent natural and renewable ingredients and is biodegradable and nontoxic.

I also love that you don't pour this detergent - you pump it! This eliminates a lot of the mess and gunk associated with bottles of detergent, and the new Method bottle is small enough to fit in one hand, making it perfect for those who make the trek to the laundromat or live in smaller spaces. Even cooler? This detergent is world's first Cradle to Cradle-certified laundry detergent, and it's also recognized by the US EPA's DfE program for its safer chemistry.

Interested in trying this new detergent? You can print out a $2 coupon to make the Method laundry detergent that more tempting. I'll also be testing the detergent soon and will get back to you with my impression of this new product.

Did You Wash All of Your Baby's Belongings?

LilSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:00:29 PDT

Motherhood and all the dirty wash that comes with it have made me long for a house with a laundry room! But, back in my pre-baby days, tossing stuff in the washer and dryer was more of a twice-weekly occurrence. Though lots of mamas-to-be clean all of their impending baby's belongings before their first wear, I must confess I never did. And, my kids never had any skin issues or irritations to show for it. Once they wore or used an item, I did launder it with a non-toxic detergent specifically for babies. Did you clean before or after?

Source: Flickr User meemal

How Many Times Do You Wear Your Clothes Before Washing Them?

FabSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:22:22 PDT

Gross?

Source

Etsy Find: Shower Treat Natural Laundry Soap

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:45:21 PST

What better way to get your home So Fresh and So Clean this month than by going green? Etsy seller Shower Treat Soap helps make your green transition easy by offering a sample pack of three different scents of natural laundry soap ($6). Just choose your favorite three from their available stock and they'll send you enough soap for 15 large loads. This way, you can get a good sense of whether or not this soap is for you at a low investment. Shower Treat Soap also sells soaps in greater quantities as well.

Not only is this low-sudsing formula good for your septic system and the environment, it also contains no dyes, phosphates, or artificial fillers, which means it's great for sensitive skin, including people who suffer from allergies, exzema, and other skin issues. It's also a great choice for laundering babies' and children's clothing. The soap is made through a cold-process method, grated, dried, and then powdered, so it will dissolve quickly, even in cold water. Only one tablespoon-sized scoop is needed for a large load, and only half a tablespoon is required if you use a front loading washing machine. There are a ton of scents to choose from, including Sweet Pea, Spearmint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Mandarin Orange, Lime, Rose, Hyacinth, Light Musk, or any combination of available scents. Another cool fact: 5 percent of the company's profits are donated to Women For Women International, an organization that sponsors women survivors of war.

Lil Tip: Baby Laundry

babysugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:00:29 PST

Sometimes the fresh scents and soap suds from baby detergents just don't do the job. When my baby girl had the tummy bug and threw up on her crib sheets, I resorted to an old family trick to rid her linens of the odor.
To see my tip,

read more. During the laundry's spin cycle, add one cup of white distilled vinegar. It will break down the smelly substance and soapy residue leaving the wash fresh and clean. Source

Ecotot: Baby Detergent

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:00:41 PST

Kids produce piles upon piles of laundry. While carting the clothes to the washer is one chore, lugging the weighty jugs of detergent is another. An earth-friendly option I found is ECOS Free & Clear concentrated liquid detergent that is 100 percent non pollutant, biodegradable, nontoxic and natural.

Two ounces of the fluid cleans an entire load of my children's soiled clothes as well as any mainstream brand and because it has a neutral PH, I don't have to worry about it irritating their sensitive skin. Sold in a recyclable container, 50 ounces is $8. Best of all, your children will have clean clothes and you won't have any more arm aches.

Help Clothes Keep Their Shape

FabSugar — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:30:16 PDT

I'm very intrigued by this new detergent called Cheer True Fit, which claims to help your clothes keep their shape. Having had to say goodbye to a fair share of overstretched jeans and misshapen t-shirts, I definitely see a high demand for this product. According to the Cheer web site, the detergent works using a friction-reducing lubricant, so that the fibers of your clothes glide against each other during washing. (As an added bonus, the new brand is also holding a sweepstakes to win a New York shopping spree.)

I plan to try this stuff just as soon as I finish my current jug of detergent, but if anyone has tried it, tell me what you think.

Staff Members at Animal Shelters Can Use These Things

Morgan Ashley Parker — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:50:01 PST

While we usually think of giving things to shelters for the animals, the staff can use your help, too! It helps to contact your local one to learn exactly what they need, but I gathered up a list of recommendations that you may be tossing, or can easily spare, this New Year.

Camera: If you were lucky enough to get a new camera for Christmas, a doggie shelter could use your old one! Supply the cables, too, and staff can upload photos of their available dogs to their website or Petfinder.
Computer: Ditto goes for your computer. Many animal shelters don't have budgets to upgrade their computers so it's possible your hand-me-over is better (and newer) than what they're working with.
Printer: Sure, they probably have one but it helps to have a backup in case one breaks.

Learn other things that most shelters need that won't break your bank and