Your cart is currently empty!
Tag: organic
FOCUS Essential Oil Blend
Focus Essential Oil Blend 5 Reasons to give up Supermarket Laundry Detergents
My good friend and colleague, Kirsty Malone of Be Inspired Naturally, was stirred by a facebook post she saw where someone had asked for recommendations on what to use in the laundry. Being a mother and a lover of Mother Earth, Kirsty was concerned by the number of people recommending supermarket brands with toxic chemicals in them. So she wrote this post and I am very grateful to be able to share it with you here.
5 REASONS TO GIVE UP SUPERMARKET LAUNDRY DETERGENTS
So you have just walked into the laundry aisle at the supermarket, now which detergent do you choose? Liquid or powder? A concentrated formula or not? Top loader or front? What if I told you to stop wasting your time and ditch the supermarket brands for good? Yep, that’s right. Here are my top 5 reasons to stop using supermarket laundry detergents:
1) They have damaging effects on our environment.
Most supermarket brands contain phosphates and when they claim to be ‘phosphate free’ they contain zeolites. When phosphates and zeolites enter our waterways, they can cause foaming, mutated aquatic life and eutrophication which can lead to algae blooms. Zeolites are considered worse because, unlike phosphates, they cannot be removed from the water. Unfortunately even commercial brands that claim to be more eco friendly still contain one or the other.
2) They are not family safe!
Many brands do not disclose all their ingredients so sometimes it is hard to pin point exactly what makes them poisonous. Some contain artificial fragrances, caustics and bleaches which can be fatal if ingested by anyone, especially small children and pets. Not to mention the fact that we will be inhaling them and, if you use a dryer, you could also be polluting your own home.
3) You only get half, or less, of what you pay for!
You know that ripped off feeling when open a packet of chips and half the bag was full of air, well laundry detergents are exactly the same just not so blatantly obvious. Laundry liquids can be diluted with water and laundry powders with fillers and extenders. Fillers and extenders are designed to bulk out the active ingredients so they can be made and therefore sold cheaper. Some fillers are made up of salt and even crushed egg shells. Those little white marks you have seen on your clothes from the powder – are in fact the fillers and extenders because they don’t dissolve. They build up in your machine and stay in your clothes. The muck that makes it out into our waterways never breaks down.
For a visual demonstration, click here and watch my 10ish minute video showing you how to test your current powder.
4) They are not good for our skin.
Especially for those who are sensitive or have irritations already. Due to a combination of toxic ingredients and being filled with the fillers, your clothes, towels and bed linen are filled with toxic residue. This can cause flare ups of eczema and irritate sensitive skin, even when you choose the sensitive detergents, they still contain these nasty ingredients, just less of them.
5) They’re expensive!
Not only are you paying for a product that has all the above issues but it’s costing your hip pocket at the register every week. Not only is it expensive to buy, but they are harsh on you machines and fabrics and will shorten the lives of both. When you factor in your personal health, the safety of your family and the impact of our environment, the cost becomes higher.
So what should you choose instead? I personally use Tri Nature in all areas of my home because you can’t beat a laundry powder that has won best Eco Friendly Product Award twice at the Australian Business Awards.
Tri Nature laundry detergents are made from 100% natural ingredients that are free of phosphates, zeolites, fillers and extenders. They completely dissolve and rinse free meaning no residues left in your machine or clothes. Being plant based they are eco friendly , grey water and septic safe as well as being child safe if they were to be ingested or inhaled.
As for cost – a 2kg bag will last my family of 4 over four months, not to mention the peace of mind I have knowing I have a safe product in my home that is environmentally friendly. What about performance you ask? Did I mention the Laundry powder won best Eco product on the market at the Australian Business awards twice……
How to use your Tri Nature Trial Bag
How to use your Tri Nature Trial Bag
Your Trial Bag may have some combination or all of the products below in it. Read on to find out how to get the best from each of the products you try!
Alpha Plus Laundry Powder
Fillers and extenders from previous products can stay in your machine and come out during a wash cycle with Tri Nature’s powder. In order to get the best results from, I recommend you finish off whatever else you have, descale your machine before you start using Tri Nature and don’t use anything else once you start.
If you don’t have any descaler, you can run an empty hot wash with the recommended dose of Tri Nature’s laundry powder. This helps to clear out any build up of fillers and extenders from your machine from previous products but it won’t be as effective as a good descaler, such as Maxim.
Similarly, vinegar may have an impact on calcium and limescale, but it will not breakdown any build up on fillers and extenders. Additionally, many modern machines are made using plastic and rubber components and vinegar will, over time, break down and destroy these parts.
As the products were created and are made in the Hunter Valley in NSW, all directions are for hard water areas. So with the laundry powder, you only need to use half of the suggested amount on the back of the pack:
- In a top loader you need one full scoop per wash only.
- In a front loader you need half a scoop per wash only.
This may not seem like enough if you are used to supermarket brand quantities but Tri Nature powder is a 100% herbal concentrate with no fillers or extenders so every little grain is active and working to clean your clothes.
Supre Multipurpose Cleaner
This is your Spray N Wipe replacement. Spray it on, leave it for a few minutes and then wipe it off. It is safe for use on all surfaces, even caeser stone.
When you are ready to reorder Supre, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $1.07 per 500ml bottle!
Enhance Pre Wash Spray
This is your Preen replacement for spraying on spot stains before putting them in the wash. I spray my kids’ clothes as soon as they take them off and often leave them for up to a week before I get the chance to wash them. As there are no petrochemicals in Enhance, I have not had any issues with it ruining my clothes when doing this.
I find if I get the spray on the stains the day they happen, and rub it in a bit, most stains vanish before my eyes!
When you are ready to re-order Enhance, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $3.71 per 500ml bottle!
Sphagnum Moss Disinfectant
This is your Glen 20 replacement. It kills mould and inhibits regrowth so it is a great idea to spray it around the bathroom each day after a shower. It will slow the regrowth of mould which means less cleaning for you! You can also use this in the air and on surfaces to kill germs and odours.
When you are ready to reorder Sphag Moss, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $0.57 per 500ml bottle!
Moisturising Handwash
Tri Nature’s handwash is loaded with coconut oil so it is very moisturising. It is gentle enough to use as an overall body wash with a pH of only 7.5. You can put it on neat before gardening or working on the car and it acts as a barrier. Tri Nature’s handwash is ideal for people with dermatitis of the hands or dry skin. No soap or SLS means it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.
Once you have finished your Handwash, keep the bottle and purchase a 1L, 5L or 20L refill and save!
Tri Nature’s dishwashing liquid is filled with chamomile and marshmallow extracts so it assists with actively healing broken skin and soothes your hands while still being tough on grease. You only need 4ml per sink load so 1 pump is enough.
As with all Tri Nature products, there is no soap or SLS in the dishwashing liquid. SLS is used in most supermarket brands to make bubbles and to make the bubbles last longer. Bubbles have no bearing on the effectiveness of a product, they are just bubbles.
You may find Chamomile dishwashing liquid does not bubble as much as you are used to but please be assured that it is still active and effective. Once residue from other products is removed from your sink, you will find it bubbles more.
Chamomile dishwashing liquid also makes a safe and gentle bubble bath for children with sensitive skin.
Once you have finished your Chamomile Dishwashing Liquid, keep the 500ml bottle and purchase a 1L, 5L or 20L refill and save!
How to use your Tri Nature Starter Pack
Alpha Plus Laundry Powder As the products were created and are made in the Hunter Valley in NSW, all directions are for hard water areas. So with the laundry powder, you only need to use half of the suggested amount on the back of the pack: - In a top loader you need one full scoop per wash only.
- In a front loader you need half a scoop per wash only.
This may not seem like enough if you are used to supermarket brand quantities but Tri Nature powder is a 100% herbal concentrate with no fillers or extenders so every little grain is active and working to clean your clothes.
Fillers and extenders from previous products can stay in your machine and come out during a wash cycle with Tri Nature’s powder. In order to get the best results from, I recommend you finish off whatever else you have, descale your machine before you start using Tri Nature and don’t use anything else once you start.
If you don’t have any descaler, you can run an empty hot wash with the recommended dose of Tri Nature’s laundry powder. This helps to clear out any build up of fillers and extenders from your machine from previous products but it won’t be as effective as a good descaler, such as Maxim.
Similarly, vinegar may have an impact on calcium and limescale, but it will not breakdown any build up on fillers and extenders. Additionally, many modern machines are made using plastic and rubber components and vinegar will, over time, break down and destroy these parts.
Supre Mulitpurpose Cleaner
This is your Spray N Wipe replacement. Spray it on, leave it for a few minutes and then wipe it off. It is safe for use on all surfaces, even caeser stone.
When you are ready to reorder Supre, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $1.07 per 500ml bottle!
Enhance Pre Wash Spray
This is your Preen replacement for spraying on spot stains before putting them in the wash. I spray my kids’ clothes as soon as they take them off and often leave them for up to a week before I get the chance to wash them. As there are no petrochemicals in Enhance, I have not had any issues with it ruining my clothes when doing this.
I find if I get the spray on the stains the day they happen, and rub it in a bit, most stains vanish before my eyes!
When you are ready to re-order Enhance, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $3.71 per 500ml bottle!
Sphagnum Moss Disinfectant
This is your Glen 20 replacement. It kills mould and inhibits regrowth so it is a great idea to spray it around the bathroom each day after a shower. It will slow the regrowth of mould which means less cleaning for you! You can also use this in the air and on surfaces to kill germs and odours.
When you are ready to reorder Sphag Moss, purchase the concentrate and a commercial grade polyspray bottle and dilute it down yourself. This makes it much more cost effective to use at only $0.57 per 500ml bottle!
Moisturising Handwash
Tri Nature’s handwash is loaded with coconut oil so it is very moisturising. It is gentle enough to use as an overall body wash with a pH of only 7.5. You can put it on neat before gardening or working on the car and it acts as a barrier. Tri Nature’s handwash is ideal for people with dermatitis of the hands or dry skin. No soap or SLS means it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.
Once you have finished your Handwash, keep the bottle and purchase a 1L, 5L or 20L refill and save!
Chamomile Dishwashing Liquid
Tri Nature’s dishwashing liquid is filled with chamomile and marshmallow extracts so it assists with actively healing broken skin and soothes your hands while still being tough on grease. You only need 4ml per sink load so 1 pump is enough.
As with all Tri Nature products, there is no soap or SLS in the dishwashing liquid. SLS is used in most supermarket brands to make bubbles and to make the bubbles last longer. Bubbles have no bearing on the effectiveness of a product, they are just bubbles.
You may find Chamomile dishwashing liquid does not bubble as much as you are used to but please be assured that it is still active and effective. Once residue from other products is removed from your sink, you will find it bubbles more.
Chamomile dishwashing liquid also makes a safe and gentle bubble bath for children with sensitive skin.
Once you have finished your Chamomile Dishwashing Liquid, keep the 500ml bottle and purchase a 1L, 5L or 20L refill and save!
