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August 20, 2010 at 6:05 pm #596034
JoBParticipantbet you thought this was going to be a political riff ;-> but no.. i really want to talk about laundry detergent.
I have this little dilemma… balancing sensitive skin and clean clothes.
I have very sensitive skin and can’t use most detergents with additives. Tide and Ivory both break me out in major rashes… but i get the itchies and worse with others.
for years i used cheer free and then they changed their formula:( instead of trying the other “free” liquid formulas i decided to go with a green product and i have successfully been using seventh generation for couple of years …
but :( i have to add bleach or another additive to get my clothes clean.
anyone out there found a solution?
August 20, 2010 at 7:03 pm #701884
AlParticipantInstead of bleach or other whiteners you could try Borax; it also cleans sinks and tubs and stainless steel fixtures amazingly well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax
There is also a non-bleach alternative, I think made by Seventh Gen as well. I get it at Thriftway in the “bleach” section.
August 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm #701885
Admiral935ParticipantI’ve been using Biokleen liquid for couple years and like it. I just trying 7th Gen for the 1st time and it seems, ok. Biokleen has a free and clear and also, they have an Oxy Bleach booster – see their site biokleen.com. I’ve never tried the booster but will becuase I like their liquid. I’ll try some of that Boraxo Al is talking about. Good stuff for many things as he noted.
The Borax you want is the Laundry booster version (powder). Walgreens has it for $4.654lbs+ – it’s called 20 Mule Team Laundry Booster. Thriftay has it also. Otherwise it seem hard to find.
Guess what, the Laundry Booster version of Borax is a SUPER roach killer and it’s “generally” safe around the house for pets. Also, it can be used to wipe out fleas. ha!
edited typo’s etc
August 20, 2010 at 7:23 pm #701886
JoBParticipantAugust 20, 2010 at 7:52 pm #701887
The Velvet BulldogParticipantHi JoB: Have you tried the plant-based detergent from Trader Joe’s? I’ve been using it for the past couple of months and my clothes seem clean–at least no one’s complaining. ;-) I’m going to TJ’s on Tuesday–let me know if you want me to grab you some.
August 21, 2010 at 12:09 am #701888
tttParticipantIn my family we all have sensitive skin and get rashes/itches from most laundry detergents… we use Seventh Generation liquid detergent (the Free and Clear kind). It does a pretty good job on cleaning too except on some whites, so every once in a while I do a load of whites with some bleach, then rewash them to get the bleach smell out. We’ve tried Planet Earth detergent too, but I like the results of &th gen better. Also prefer the results of the liquid vs. dry scoop of 7th gen. Good luck! All the chemicals in everything today makes us sensitive skinned people itchy!!
August 21, 2010 at 2:22 am #701889
JayDeeParticipantWell, I am not a “sensitive” person, but Oxyclean “bleach” is a hydrogen-peroxide based oxidizer, and the chemistry is fairly straight-forward–Add the solid to water, it hydrates, generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and that oxidizes stains and organic material. It is less aggressive than bleach and doesn’t have much of an odor to me. Many manufacturers offer a chlorine free “bleach” and the primary and nearly only ingredients are “sodium persulfate” or “sodium percarbonate” which are the main active chemicals–add water and they generate hydrogen peroxide. Because they are inorganic it should wash out in the rinse cycle. H2O2 has a very short life span because it will either react or breakdown back to water and hydrogen (well, not H2)…
August 21, 2010 at 3:57 am #701890
metrognomeParticipantI second the comment on BioKleen products, whether for laundry or for general cleaning. I have sensitive skin and breathing allergies and have used their citrus-based products exclusively for years.
I use their ‘premium’ laundry powder along with their oxygenated bleach and Bac-Out, depending on how dirty the clothes are. When I first started using their products, I noticed that the clothes were cleaner, brighter and softer (I don’t use fabric softener.) The only problem is that grease stains don’t often come out on the first washing unless you use spray BacOut as a pre-treatment.)
BioKleen products are available at PCC; if you catch a sale, the best prices in WS seem to be at the Junction SuperSupplement.
Plus, their products are very eco-friendly — their dishwasher products are some of the few approved for use where low-phosphates are required. I also use their Produce Wash on all fresh fruit and veggies. http://biokleenhome.com/products/household/laundry
August 21, 2010 at 5:32 am #701891
HSGParticipantWe switched to Dropps a couple months ago and I will never use liquid or powder detergent again. My 6 year old’s clothes have been coming out as clean as with other brands and my husband hasn’t mentioned any issues with his biking or soccer clothes. The packaging takes up very little space and they are mess free. We don’t have skin problems, but they come in scent and dye free, and “baby” formulas. http://dropps.com/index.asp
August 21, 2010 at 5:36 am #701892
Garden_nymphMemberEarth Friendly Products liquid detergent from Costco, one container lasts FOREVER!
http://www.ecos.com/ecosliquid.html
My grandmother taught me about Borax years ago, it’s great stuff!
August 21, 2010 at 4:34 pm #701893
JoBParticipantWow…
i can see i have a few to try..
and i now know who to contact if they don’t work:)
i can make 7th generation clear and free work now if i add either bleach or an oxy booster. it just bugs me to have to do that…
and i hate to pre-treat my clothes… i am doing so with shout now on the worst stains and still have to wash some items more than once…
also.. hubby’s shirts don’t always come out smelling sweet with the small amount of detergent i have to use in the front loader to keep it from sudsing over and having to clean the infamous trap:(
Velvet bulldog..
thanks for the offer… i am on my way to trader joes today.. so i suspect that is where i will start…
on the other hand.. i am going to costco too and have been looking for a good excuse to get together with garden nymph for ages… ;->
heck.. we need a good get together soon…
maybe we should do a sensitive skin get together:)
LOL… i can see how some posters would bill that..
WSB sensitive cry babies meet to cry on everyone’s shoulders :->
yeah… that might be fun ;)
August 21, 2010 at 5:07 pm #701894
JustSarahParticipantAnother vote for Seventh Generation Free & Clear plus an oxygen bleach. I prefer “Country Save” brand because it’s local. You can find it at Thriftway in the cleaning aisle.
Also, if your issue is with whites, make sure you wash them separately and in the warmest water the fabric will accept. This will help keep them bright. If you can, line-dry them (I know not everyone can; I can’t because I’m in a condo building and laundry lines are against the association rules. Can’t wait until I own a house…).
August 22, 2010 at 12:04 am #701895
Garden_nymphMemberWe SHOULD schedule a get together! I wasn’t able to attend the one at Big Al’s a few years ago… ;(
August 22, 2010 at 1:15 am #701896
muttleysMemberWe use the ecos from Costco at home and at the shop. At the shop we add Simple Green to the load for some extra cleaning
August 22, 2010 at 10:28 pm #701897
Betsy BellMemberHi, there, JoB and all of you. There is nothing out there like Shaklee’s Laundry Powder or Laundry liquid. They even make a Fresh Laundry concentrate that is free of all scent. The stuff works. It leaves no residue in the cloth. There is no itching afterwards and your clothes are clean. The stuff is so concentrated you can get a full load washed with only 2 tbls. That’s right, a coffee scoop worth of powder. The Fresh Laundry Liquid gets the job done with just 2 pumps. You don’t need hot water and you don’t need to separate dark from light. If you have a stubborn stain, just put some concentrate right on the spot, then add warm water and leave in a basin for a couple days. Believe me, 100’s of highly sensitive people have switched and love the results. I liked it so much I decided to sell it. You can only buy on line from a distributor. http://www.HiHoHealth.com is my website, 206-933-1889 is my phone. And if you don’t like it, Shaklee pays you your money back. Shaklee makes one of the three dishwasher detergents without phosphates. We’ve had it for years. The home care line is called Get Clean. Betsy
August 23, 2010 at 12:51 am #701898
JoBParticipantBetsy…
i can get the stains out now with 7th generation if i leave them to soak in the laundry tub for two days..
i already use cold water
and may use less detergent than two pumps.. depending on the pump.
what i am looking for is a detergent that cleans like cheerfree did but is easy on my skin and better for the environment…
maybe i want too much
August 23, 2010 at 1:31 am #701899
Admiral935ParticipantAnother one to consider is Dreft.
I tried the 20 Mule Team Laundry Booster, it got things a little whiter and brighter. But it took a re-load to rinse it completely. One reason people may get skin irritaion is inadequate rinsing. I could see that with my washer because the washer drains into a wash basin – lot’s of soap left over on average. YMMV.
August 23, 2010 at 2:19 am #701900
JoBParticipanti routinely use the extra rinse because of soap residue not matter what i use :(
August 23, 2010 at 5:45 pm #701901
rs261MemberJust to let people know, biokleen is based out of vancouver wa, so they’re relatively local as well.
August 23, 2010 at 7:11 pm #701902
lady librarianParticipantAnother vote for Biokleen. I have sensitive skin issues as well and found Biokleen actually cleans (wasn’t so impressed with 7th Generation). I can even use their regular non-free and clear version.
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