Tip of the Week

Whiter and Greener

While packing his bag for a week of pre-season lacrosse training in Florida, my son complained that none of his white shirts were white anymore. One was pink, thanks to being thrown into the laundry with a new red t-shirt. As for the others, he was right, all were embarrassingly off-white and dingy looking.

Years ago, I bought into the myth that to get whites white, one had to use some pretty harsh chemicals in the laundry. Full disclosure, I'm also a lazy launderer. But the disappointment in my son's voice as he packed his clothes into his duffle gave me pause and I decided it was time to re-think our household's laundry routine. I scoured The Green Guide including the latest Product Report on Laundry Supplies for tips on washing whites and getting out stains.

I was half right - chlorine-based bleaches are harmful to your health and to the environment, and should be avoided - but also all wrong. There are lots of ways to keep whites white without using chlorine bleaches. The store shelves are loaded with bleach alternatives (see list below) that are made with either hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate, an environmentally benign mixture of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide that breaks down into oxygen, water and soda ash.

My face is red, but my clothes will be white. I'm going to test these different brands to see which I like best, or more importantly which my son says work best. I am also going to try what my friend says she does, and add a couple tablespoons of Borax to white loads and put about a cup of vinegar in the rinse water. For stain removal, she presoaks fabrics in water mixed with either borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar, at a ratio of 1 part agent to 8 parts water.

My son heads off to college in the fall, and will be washing his own clothes from then on. Not bad timing I figure for us both to learn some new tricks.

Alternative Brands - Bleaches and Stain Removers

Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach Plus (www.bi-o-kleen.com, 503-557-0216)

Naturally Yours Natural Bleach and Softener (www.naturallyyours.com, 888-801-7347)

Seventh Generation Non-Chlorine Bleach (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Ecover Laundry Bleach and Natural Non-Chlorine Bleach (www.ecover.com, 800-449-4925)

Bio Pac Non-Chlorine Bleach Powder (www.bio-pac.com)

Naturally Yours All-Purpose Spotter, (www.naturallyyours.com, 888-801-7347)

Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator and Spray & Wipe Cleaner (www.bi-o-kleen.com, 503-557-0216)

© The Green Guide, 2008

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