I have some statistics from Textile Industry Affairs about our laundry room that you might find fun and interesting: the average household washes over 7 loads of laundry per week, with a single loads full cycle averaging one hour and 27 minutes to complete. Women tend to do the laundry 88% of the time. 90% of all washing machine loads are also put in the dryer. United States consumers have an average of eight laundry aid products – detergent, bleach, fabric softener, stain remover and variations in between, like liquid, powder, sheets, and more.
The next room in our health home tour, as you might have guessed, is taking us into the laundry room. The goal is to help you reduce chemicals and toxins and sadly the laundry room can be one of the most toxic rooms in an American home. These DIY recipes are simple and easy to make ahead of time in larger quantities, so your more efficient with your time too. If you're not much a a DIY fan, scroll down to the end, I've got a pre-made solution too.
LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP
• 3 Liters Boiled Water
• 1/2 cup Coarse Salt
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup liquid Castile soap or doTERRA On Guard® Protective Blend Concentrate Cleaner
• 20-30 drops of Essential Oil
DIRECTIONS:
Boil water, then pour into desired glass storage container. Slowly whisk in the coarse salt. Let sit for 10 minutes. Very slowly whisk in the baking soda. If there is any bubble action you must go slower or
your water is still too hot. When you are able to keep your hand on the glass for a solid 3 seconds then slowly whisk in castile soap or Concentrate Cleaner. Last, add your desired essential oils.
*Separation is normal, mix well before each use.
Use 1/2-1 cup per normal load, for HE machines use 1/4-1/2 cup.
LAUNDRY/FABRIC SOFTENER
Option 1: Liquid
• 10 oz White Vinegar
• 3 drops each: Lemon, Lime, and Grapefruit essential oils
• Citrus Peels (optional)
Add citrus peels to a 16oz glass bottle. Fill the bottle halfway with vinegar. Add essential oils, then top the rest of the vinegar and shake. Let sir a week before use.
Use 2tbsp to 1/4 cup at a time, depending on load size.
Pro Tip: If you have harder water you may need to use more solution.
Option 2: Salt
• 1 64oz bag Epsom Salt
• 40 drops Lavender essential oil
• 30 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca) essential oil
• 20 drops Lemon essential oil
DIRECTIONS:
Pour Epsom salt into a large glass or stainless-steel bowl. Add essential oils and stir well to combine. Store in a glass jar.
Use ½ cup for medium to large loads in the wash cycle at any temperature and ¼ cup for small loads.
LAVENDER DRYER SPONGES
• 1/2 cup Hot Water
• 1/2 cup White Vinegar
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 5–10 drops Lavender essential oil
• 5–10 Simple Sponges
DIRECTIONS:
Combine baking soda and hot water in a glass container and stir. Add vinegar and mix, then add Lavender essential oil and stir again until all ingredients are combined. Fill container with sponges, (cut into smaller pieces if needed), and place lid on container.
Shake up container, remove 1 sponge, squeeze slightly, and place in dryer with wet clothes. After dryer cycle place sponge back in container and reseal with lid for future use.
WASHING MACHINE CLEANER
Option 1: Pre-made Spray
• 3/4 cup White Vinegar
• 10 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca) essential oil
• 5 drops Grapefruit essential oil
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients in an 8oz glass spray bottle. Shake well and spray the solution around the seal. Using a soft cloth, wipe down. Remove the soap dispenser tray and spray and wipe down. Let air dry before doing the next load of laundry.
Option 2: Single Use
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1 cup White Vinegar
• 20 drops of Lemon essential oil
• 20 drops of Tea Tree (Melaleuca) essential oil
DIRECTIONS:
Sprinkle baking soda inside the drum. Mix vinegar and essential oils, then pour into the bleach compartment. Turn the washer on self-clean and enjoy!
LINEN SPRAY
• 1 tsp Witch Hazel or Vodka
• Water
• 30 drops Lavender or essential oil(s) of choice
DIRECTIONS:
Add all ingredients into 2oz glass spray bottle and spray linens to freshen.
Tip: Also a good spray for couch(es) and pillows.
So if you're anything like me, while you can handle an occasional DIY and it's good to have them on hand, you might just like to purchase something that's got the cleaning power you're looking for without the harsh chemicals and hassle of (DIY) making it yourself. So, I'd like to introduce you to my favorite laundry room gem, doTERRA On Guard® Laundry Detergent. Not only will this save time in doing your laundry, but it's a great stain remover and fabric softener too.
If you need another anything else, you know where to reach me!
xoDanette