It’s Laundry Time!
Two Things to Remember: Eco-Nuts and Wool Dryer Balls
Many of you know that I’m a big advocate for a clean environment where I live, work and play. This last week I was in northeastern Maine (yes it was COLD). My friend has a septic system and therefore has to be very fussy about what goes down the drains. She uses two products I have never seen nor used: Eco-Nuts and Wool Dryer Balls.
If you’re interested in reducing waste, getting clean laundry, saving money and having non-toxic products for your family, read on!
What in the world are Eco-Nuts?
Eco-Nuts, or “soap nuts” are a special marble-size berry from the Himalayas. They have been used for centuries as soap. The soap nuts contain “saponin” which acts like a natural soap for your laundry.
Using eco-nuts means less problem with allergies, sensitive skin or acne. Perfect for baby clothes and linens!
Why wool dryer balls?
The wool dryer balls linked at the bottom of this blog are organic, nontoxic and leave no residue, unlike most dryer sheets. These re-usable balls do not make any noise in the dryer, yet may reduce the drying time by 40% (save money! save your dryer! help the environment!). No static cling either. No residue from dryer sheets.
Only soft, not stiff, laundry. And they last up to 1000 loads. Seriously cheap.
And doTerra has this to say about their set:.
“Made with love, these handmade dryer balls and bag provide needed jobs and income to improve the economic well-being of women in Kathmandu, Nepal. The balls are created from organic, chemical- and dye-free wool harvested according to international ethical sheering standards.”
DoTerra gives this video: https://youtu.be/sP3B4J771oE
Dryer sheets
I’m not saying dryer sheets are bad for you. They do contain a number of ingredients or chemicals but only “fragrance” has been questionable by scientists. Most are “generally recognized as safe” but that doesn’t mean we should wear them every day. At least buy unscented dryer sheets. Oh, you like the fragrance? I do too. But realize that wonderful smell is the residue on your clothing and linens.
Check out this post from the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org):
https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/11/dont-get-slimed-skip-fabric-softener
and
https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2016/05/skip-fabric-softeners
EWG’s list of laundry products and the ratings (A to F) are listed here:
https://www.ewg.org/guides/categories/9-Laundry
I figured why use dryer sheets with any possible risk when the wool dryer balls do a better job and save me money?
How to Use Eco-Nuts
Simply place 4 – 6 in a small cotton drawstring bag, pop into the washer, and you’re good to go. Keep re-using the bag of eco-nuts until the nuts are thin (several loads). Then replace with 4 – 6 more nuts, and recycle the old ones.
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls
Toss in 4 wool dryer balls for a small or medium load; 6 for a large load. Mine don’t feel wet when I take them out, but I run them for a few more minutes all by themselves anyway.
I’ve been told you can add essential oils to the wool dryer balls. I’d recommend adding it a few hours before so the oils evaporate a bit. Adding it right before laundry “may” stain your clothes. One suggestion was to actually inject the wool balls with a syringe so the oil goes deep inside. (Will oil go in a syringe???) I ended up putting a few drops of “Purity” by doTerra on the cotton ball while the wash was going, and then tossed the ball into the dryer when the time came to dry the clothes. Over time the wool ball with the essential oil may discolor, but I’m not worried about that.
Put it into action
What’s the action plan? Buy Eco-Nuts here. The organic Nepal wool dryer balls are for sale on doTerra, use my link here and search “wool dryer balls”. DoTerra sells the balls (~$10 for 6) along with a wintergreen essential oil ($39.50 retail for both the oil and the dryer balls; $29.50 wholesale for both).