Cleaning your organic fabrics and bedding

If you've recently purchased organic clothing, bedding or towels, the last thing you want to do is add chemicals back into the fabric when you wash them. Commercial laundry soaps and fabric softeners are loaded with chemicals that can cause skin irritation and allergy issues completely defeating the reason for going organic - getting away from harsh chemical residue and creating a healthier environment.

So what do you use to wash and freshen your organic fabrics the natural organic way?

I recommend and use Dr. Bronners magic soaps in my laundry and in my shower/bath (tea tree soap is excellent for the bath). Not only are Dr. Bronner's soaps certified under the USDA National Organic program but also certified Fair Trade. Any of the castile liquid soaps will work but the Lavender and Lemon are excellent choices for laundry. I have found that about a 1/4 to 1/3 cup for a full load does the trick and that's with cool water. They are very concentrated so a little goes a long way.

To naturally lighten and brighten your whites,  a cup of lemon juice added to your wash will do a wonderful job - so much better than caustic bleach which also makes fabrics break down more quickly. Let your laundry soak for awhile after adding the lemon juice and before running your wash cycle if you have really stubborn stains. It's also a great way to use up your lemons - my little meyers lemon tree is a prolific producer and they can quickly pile up!

Rinse cycle. Adding chemical softeners with fake scents simply coats and flattens the fabric and keeps them from doing their job of absorbing water (especially on towels and bathrobes), not to mention putting you right back at square one with chemical residue. Use one cup of white distilled vinegar to soften and help release soap residues (although Dr. Bronners releases from fabric very easily, the vinegar is a great sanitizer and softening agent). If you still feel you need dryer sheets, try products that are free from the fake scents - these are simply more chemicals.

Making soap. I have not done this but know there are a lot of great websites out there that can help you make your own laundry soap which is not only a money saver but also another way to avoid the onslaught of chemicals. Anyone out there try this? How did it work for you? What can you recommend?