Do you know what's in your washing?

Last week I got talking to a friend of a friend whose husband is a plumber. She had been shocked by her husband's announcement that she had to stop using powder in her washing machine. Her husband had dealt with five broken washers in four days and put it all down to the powder they were using in their machines.





A washer after its failed attempt to break free of the laundry.



He'd also fixed a pipe on an elderly lady's washer and had been astounded at how clean her pipes were and what good condition her twenty year old machine was in. The lady told him she put it all down to the fact that she only used liquid detergent and was very particular about the ingredients in it.

So, my friend's husband looked into the matter and discovered that a lot of powder detergents really do cause unnecessary wear on our washing machines. When I was told this I did my own research too (cos I'm a bit stubborn and don't like to do what men tell me, even if it seems like good advice), and it turns out to be true. For instance: Benzene! It's made from petroleum! It's carcinogenic which means it's bad for us and our environment. Diathanolamines! Another irritant which is carcinogenic and adds nitrogen to our atmosphere. Peroxide! Ever had your hair bleached and felt that burn when the bleach has been left in too long? I have (Yes, I once bleached my hair. I was young and foolish). We're putting that on our clothes and then we put them on our skin. Amonia! Are you kidding me?! I didn't think I was reading the website correctly but there it was (once I translated all the number and codes designed to confuse us so we don't know what we're buying). Amonia is a serious skin irritant and once again, releases nitrogen into the atmosphere. By this point I was sitting at my desk staring at my laptop like a brain dead angler fish. I was shocked at what was in the average box of laundry powder. Then I discovered that some companies even put small amounts of cement into the mix, goodness knows why and they don't have to list their ingredients on the box and if there is a fragrance added they don't have to list the ingredients of that either.

Now, looking at what I've written above, there are quite a few exclamation marks. But I think they're justified. I have really sensitive skin and I know so many people in the same boat. Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, dry skin, peeling skin, rashes, allergies, they seem to be on the rise and I bet you didn't think your laundry detergent could be contributing to the problem.

I must admit there have been a few failures because, while my principles are important to me, so is not smelling of sweat and knowing that the baby puke stains on my clothes will be gone after only one wash. Some products were just not strong enough, others made the clothes stink.

Then, I discovered... (insert angelic choir music here) NutriClean!

I've been interested in Nutrimetics for a little while now and when I discovered that they do all natural, plant based, biodegradable laundry detergent I was thrilled. I tried and was even more thrilled because it works! Clean clothes, clean washer, less pilling, happier skin and peace of mind because I'm reducing my family's impact on the environment.

I was a little wary of the price, $20 for one Litre isn't exactly cheap. We do upwards of 8 loads of washing a week, towels and sheets included and go through our laundry detergent pretty fast. If it lasts longer than two weeks I know I'm behind and the dirty clothes baskets are overflowing. The idea of paying $20 a week for clean clothes made me freak a little but then I started asking people who use it, whether it's economical. The answer was a resounding “Yes!” You only need to use a really small amount of this stuff to get a result and so instead of buying a litre of detergent every two weeks for $5 we're spending $20 every three months! Which is a saving, especially if I'm extending the life of my washer and my clothes too.

Now, I know this sounds like a sales pitch and that's cos it kind of is. I like this stuff so much I'm selling it to make some extra pocket money so that when I get my driver's licence I can actually get a car.

So, if you're interested in this product or anything in the NutriClean or Nutrimetics range, send me an email. The shipping is quick, the products are natural and they work!

And... no more dry and itchy skin!