Scented Does Not = Clean

It took me some time to get used to having my clothes and linens smell like fabric and not fragrances. I had been so conditioned to believe that those strong fragrances meant clean. They don’t. They can mask odors and also can be quite toxic.

The term “fragrance” used in products is a sneaky term that means a proprietary blend of smell-good chemicals. This can mean any number of synthetic chemicals are used and are only listed as “fragrance” or “parfum.” It most often means not just one or two, but hundreds of chemicals. Most of which are hazardous to our health. They don’t have to be disclosed or tested for safety when they’re hidden under this umbrella term. More than 90% of chemicals used to create those well known scents are made of petrochemicals. These are typically hormone disruptors, carcinogens, neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors, exacerbate asthma and allergies, and more. Combine this with the chemicals included to make those scents adhere to fibers for months, years, and through many washes. Yikes.

Another problem is that fragranced products, including laundry detergent and fabric softeners, often mask natural odors that would alert us to other issues that need our attention such as mold and bacteria growth.

☀️ fresh air and sunshine. Lay items in open air and sunshine to off gas and allow the sun to work its magic.

🧺 soak the items in a tub or washer with baking soda, or vinegar, and/or @branchbasics oxygen boost.

✔️ check for fragrance before drying. If smells are still noticeable, repeat steps 1 and/or 2.

💨 dry in the sun if possible or let the dryer finish the job.

💧 add essential oils to your detergent

🐑 add essential oils to your wool dryer balls

💦 spray dry clothes with your favorite @growfragrance scent

It took some time for us to learn our old ways. It will take time to unlearn too. But it’s doesn’t have to be complicated or miserable. We can make our homes and #alittlelesstoxic and enjoy it too.

A Little Less Toxic™️