Scent-Free Dryer Sheets

I don’t use dryer sheets. I’m really not bothered by static cling, but for those of you who are and do not want to use toxic fragranced dryer sheets, here are some suggestions.

Several companies make fragrance-free dryer sheets. Seventh Generation is one of them.

Photo by Seventh Generation

Purecosheet is a non-disposable option. It is a reusable cloth dryer sheet that contains no chemicals. It is good for more than 500 loads.

Photo by Reuseit.com

Another option is to use a damp cloth in your dryer cycle. Also, a ¼ cup of white vinegar in the washer is known to reduce static. I use vinegar to freshen my laundry so I am also getting the anti-static benefits as well.

All About Eve

I first heard about Eve many months ago when I was perusing videos about MCS on Youtube. I saw her video link entitled “How to Detox your Body Tips – and MCS Recovery.” Eve was the first person I had found who had recovered and was sharing in detail just how she recovered.

I soon watched all of her videos she has on her Youtube channel, Eve’s Pot of Gold. Her intro video recalls how she initially became sick and the steps she took to become well. Her story is very similar to mine in how she became sick, and it was the first time in a long time that I too believed I could recover.

Eve developed her wellness plan through her own research on the Internet. Medical doctors were of no help so she became the architect of her own health.

Her plan for recovery includes a wide variety of healing modalities, but the foundation of her program is detoxification, based on the principles recommended by Dr. Sherry Rogers. Dr. Sherry Rogers has written many books on MCS, including Detoxify or Die, Tired or Toxic and the E.I. Syndrome. The program that Dr. Sherry Rogers outlines in her book include use of daily sauna, coffee enemas (which is also part of the Gerson Therapy) and a detoxification “cocktail” of glutathione, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C.

Eve also discusses gut health, nutrition, supplementation, living in a non-toxic home, emotional health, stress reduction and physical fitness. She even offers Zumba and personal training online through video chat. This is a short list of the health topics she addresses. She updates her website and Facebook page daily with new information to help others detoxify, strengthen their immune systems and get well.

I get emails from a lot of people who are newly chemically sensitive. They are afraid and upset that the life they once knew is gone. I know they are looking for help and hope, and one of the first recommendations I make is for them to read Eve’s pages and watch her videos. Her story of recovery is what gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get back to taking charge of my own health, and continue to detoxify on a regular basis. I was stagnating in my efforts and I quite often felt like I was doing all this for nothing.

I hope Eve’s story will inspire others that you can get well and you can recover from MCS. I have always believed MCS can be reversed if the body is given what it needs in order to be able to heal. Detoxification is peeling back the layers of toxicity our bodies have become mired in through living in this modern chemical world.

Detoxification Tips:

How to Do a Coffee Enema:

You can find more info at her website, Detox the Body MCS. She also has a very active Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DetoxTheBody.

Eve is not a medical doctor (nor am I.) Everything she posts is based on her own personal experiences and neither she nor I are offering medical advice. Everything you choose to do in regards to your health is done at your own risk.

Chlorine Free Bleach

Don’t use chlorine bleach.  It’s toxic.

I’ve used Seventh Generation’s Free and Clear chlorine free bleach.  It is a non-toxic oxygen bleach, meaning it uses hydrogen peroxide.  There are no harmful fumes and won’t discolor clothing.

Seeing as this is a hydrogen based bleach, you can also hydrogen peroxide.  Vinegar and citrus acids, like lemon juice, are also effective alternatives.

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder

I found Charlie’s Soap laundry powder at Whole Foods and I really like it.  Most of the time I use Ecos Free & Clear laundry liquid but someone had recommended Charlie’s Soap to me so I wanted to give it a try.

Charlie’s Soap laundry powder is non-toxic, biodegradable, and truly scent-free.  You do not need fabric softeners with it.  In fact, they are not recommended.  It is HE machine safe, and one scoop per load means you get 80 loads out of a small 2.64 lb container.  Charlie’s soap also makes a liquid laundry detergent, as well as an array of other laundry and cleaning products.

Charlie’s Soap

Is Trader Joe’s Lavender Laundry Detergent Really All Natural?

About two years ago my husband and I went back to an eco-friendly bed and breakfast that we had visited about six months before. The bed and breakfast advertised itself as a fragrance-free establishment and I had a lovely, unscented time there during our stay. The proprietor used Seventh Generation Free and Clear detergent, so I had no problem using their linens. Whenever I travel, even though I specifically seek out fragrance-free places, I still bring my own linens just in case. This time I left my backup linens at home, thinking I would not need them. When we got to the bed and breakfast, I found the entire room was saturated with fragrance. I came to find out the owner had switched the detergent from Free and Clear to Trader Joe’s Lavender scented Laundry detergent. I couldn’t understand why the scent of this supposedly naturally fragranced detergent was giving me headaches and making my throat hurt. I got through two nights of our stay but had to leave before our scheduled third night because I was just so uncomfortable. The owners of the B & B graciously did not charge us for the third night.

I was so perplexed as to why I was so overwhelmed by this product so I contacted Trader Joe’s with this email:

Hello,
I have a question about the lavender oil that is used to scent the
liquid laundry detergent. Could you tell me if the lavender oil is 100%
natural or is it mixed with synthetic fragrance of any kind? Also, is
the oil extracted by natural means (like steam distillation) or is it
chemically extracted?
Thank you.

This was their response:

Thank you for your inquiry. Our detergent is naturally fragranced with
essential lavender oil. This ingredient does not contain any artificial
additives and we do not allow the use of artificial fragrance in our
products. It is naturally produced through alcohol extraction, there
are no chemicals used.

Sincerely,
XXXX
Trader Joe’s
Customer Relations

Something about this explanation didn’t sound right to me. I know that when searching for essential oils, it is important to choose ones that are naturally extracted. Two such methods are steam distillation and cold pressing. Certain brands of essential oils are extracted through chemical means like hexane, which therefore contaminates the essential oil. According to Anne Steineman, PhD, professor of civil and environmental engineering, professor of public affairs, University of Washington, chemically extracted essential oils are just as toxic as petroleum based synthetic fragrance.

I corresponded with a woman who is an expert in natural essential oils and aromatherapy. I forwarded her my email from Trader Joe’s and she said her suspicion was Trader Joe’s was using the solvent extraction method, because it mixes with water better than essential oils and does not evaporate as quickly. She says that people do not understand that what they are using is not an essential oil and is far from a natural extraction.

Here is an explanation of solvent extraction from plantresins.com:

“Solvent Extraction:

A hydrocarbon solvent is added to the plant material to help dissolve the essential oil. When the solution is filtered and concentrated by distillation, a substance containing resin (resinoid), or a combination of wax and essential oil (known as concrete) remains. 

From the concentrate, pure alcohol is used to extract the oils or fats. When the alcohol evaporates, the oil is left behind. 

This is not considered the best method for extraction of essential oils, as the solvents can leave a heavy residue behind, but it’s great for making resins for this very reason.”

According to Wikipedia:
“Most flowers contain too little volatile oil to undergo expression and their chemical components are too delicate and easily denatured by the high heat used in steam distillation. Instead, a solvent such as hexane or supercritical carbon dioxide is used to extract the oils. Extracts from hexane and other hydrophobic solvent are called concretes, which are a mixture of essential oil, waxes, resins, and other lipophilic (oil soluble) plant material.
Although highly fragrant, concretes contain large quantities of nonfragrant waxes and resins. Often, another solvent, such as ethyl alcohol, which is more polar in nature, is used to extract the fragrant oil from the concrete. The alcohol is removed by evaporation, leaving behind the absolute.”

From the information I have researched thus far, I feel the lavender oil used in this detergent is less than ideal and this product should be avoided by those who are sensitive to essential oils that are extracted through any other means than steam distillation or cold pressing.

After I informed the bed and breakfast about my problem with the detergent, the owner switched back to Seventh Generation’s Free and Clear. Our third trip to the bed and breakfast was once again scent free and very enjoyable.

Toxic Dryer Sheets

Photo Courtesy of Care2.com

Here’s a very informative article by Annie B. Bond about the dangers of dryer sheets and why they shouldn’t be used anymore.

Click Here

Ecos Free and Clear

Scented laundry detergent (and dryer sheets) is a big trigger for me. Next to perfume and cologne, other people’s scented detergent can linger long after the person has left my vicinity. When I was younger, I used to love the smell of Tide. A friend of mine in college used Tide and I switched immediately after borrowing her detergent one day in the laundry room. Now the thought of ever using chemically scented detergent doesn’t even exist in my world anymore.

After using All Free and Clear for several years, I switched to Ecos Free and Clear. This is now my favorite detergent.

“ECOS Free & Clear has the same load yields as our regular ECOS, but does not contain any essential oils for fragrance, nor does it contain any coconut based fabric softener. ECOS Free & Clear is for people with strong sensitivities to fragrance, fabric softeners, or cellulose optical brighteners. The Ph for ECOS Free & Clear is neutral. No coloring is added. Because natural ingredients are used color and consistency may vary. ECOS Free & Clear can be used in front loaders and high efficiency wash machines. ECOS Free & Clear can be used in grey water systems and is septic system safe.”

Ingredients are 100% natural anionic coconut kernel oil based surfactant, purified water.