Today we’re going to drag out all of that dirty laundry… and wash it. With magnets. J
Let’s begin by getting all of the ugly stuff out of the way. What’s wrong with a bottle of whatever commercial laundry soap is available at your local Walmart or Stop and Shop? Nothing, if you’d like a big old container of petrochemicals scented with more petrochemicals in a bottle made of plastic that will still be hanging around when you great grandchildren’s great grandchildren inhabit this mistreated planet. Most all laundry soaps sold today are horrific for you and the environment. They are rich in ingredients such as these:
Alkyl phenols, nonylphenols, nonylphenol ethoxylate
hormone disruptor, bioaccumulative, potentially toxic, persistent, non-biodegrable
Chlorine bleach
dangerous to inhale, severe irritant of the eyes, skin and lungs, severely corrosive,
topical contact will chemically burn the skin, indoor air pollutant, highly reactive and dangerous when it mixes with other chemicals and cleaners, not biodegradable, persistent in the environment, can create dioxins
(ammonia or urine + bleach= deadly chloramine fumes
and vinegar + bleach = toxic chlorine gas)
Ethanolamines (tri & bi)
skin irritant, may cause allergies, lung and eye irritant, corrosive to tissue,
carcinogenic, may cause central nervous system depression, liver and kidney damage
Phosphates
The problem with phosphates is that plants and algae love them and so thrive and bloom excessively which throws whole ecosystems out of balance. Given the chance, algae will eat all of the oxygen out of the water, leaving none for the other plants and critters which subsequently die.
synthetic phosphates are derived from petroleum: polycarboxylates, Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), Alkyl phenoxy ethanol and nonylphenol ethoxylate
Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate
hazardous to the eyes and skin, may be toxic to lungs, nervous system and mucous membranes,
products of degradation are toxic to the environment
Sodium hypochlorite
severe eye and lung irritant, skin irritant, corrosive to tissue, can release toxic chlorine gas,
damages liver, kidneys, blood, heart, immune and respiratory systems, harms plant life, toxic to aquatic life
EPA rates it as Toxicity Category 1 (highest degree)
Sodium silicate
skin, lung and eye irritant, corrosive to tissues, not biodegradable
Triethyene glycol
repeated exposure may cause central nervous system depression and liver damage, toxic to aquatic life
sodium nitrilotriacetate
known carcinogen, eye and skin irritant, harmful to aquatic life
I didn’t put those ingredients there to frighten you, I think fear is a terrible motivator, especially if you wish for lasting change. I add them in because they are a reality. Chemicals abound in our world today, and they do horrible damage with each flush, rinse or drain. All in the name of clean.
I’ve spent some time trying to find the right solution for me. It can’t just be acceptable; it needs to be an awesomeoption. There are tons of eco-friendly laundry soaps out there, and while many are much better than their counterparts, they still never made me feel as though they were the greenest option. I’ve tried soap nuts and making my own detergent, but neither of those was the perfect fit either.
One day while venting my frustration to Scott, and wondering when my answer would appear, he nonchalantly mentioned the laundry magnets that he had come across, and hadn’t I read his email? Ooops…
I immediately hopped online and began more research; this is a pretty constant and full time occupation of mine. ;) What I found was called the Magnetic LaundrySystem by Life Miracle. This new laundry soap consisted of a set of magnets that would stick to the inside of my washing machine. Yes, at first I was skeptical too, but I kept reading. The concept is that the magnets ionize the water allowing it to clean better by reducing the surface tension. They increase the natural solvency of water allowing it to release soil and odors from the fabrics. Hmmm, interesting.
I was intrigued, after all, I’d been waiting for my solution to appear and this looked too good to be true. I discovered there was a 30 day guarantee, more than enough time for me to do many, many loads of laundry and see if they did what they claimed to.
The cost? $70.00 for two magnets. This seems pretty pricey, right? Honestly, it did to me at first too. That is until I realized that they are good for life! I can’t even imagine the savings of not having to buy laundry soap for the rest of my life! Things were looking better and better.
I ordered them that same day and anxiously awaited their arrival. They came pretty quickly and I rounded up a load of laundry to test them out. I always, always wash on cold, but since I was still a bit skeptical I thought I’d boost them with warm water. What did I find? Clean, fresh smelling clothes. Ahhhh. But would they stand the test of time... and dirt?
I’ve been using the laundry magnets for several months now and couldn’t be happier, really and truly. Perhaps you’re thinking that maybe our laundry isn’t too dirty. Let me happily enlighten you, sorry, this may be slightly gross. I wash smelly dog beds and ferret beds weekly. On any given day something of Jordan’s or Riley’s will mysteriously be smeared with chicken poop or perhaps goat poo. My husband is an aircraft mechanic, he washes his dirty uniforms. Rugs smeared with all kinds of dirt and grime get thrown in. And guess what? They all come out perfectly, refreshingly clean.
As you can imagine I’m quite thrilled with my super green laundry soap solution. Throwing in a load of laundry has become even quicker and easier, no more measuring and spilling for me! ;) I’m contributing nothing but dirty water to my ground water, making this the most eco-friendly solution of them all. I’ve since begun to wash with cold water and so far, so good. If you'd like to read more, here is some info on how the Magnetic Laundry System works, Magnetism and Magnetic Properties, or Frequently Asked Questions.
Before I leave you, hopefully pondering your laundry detergent, I'd like to share with you my latest giveaway winner ~ Edi from Memories for Life Scrapbooks! She was the only one with an answer for my riddle ~
It's been around for millions of years, but it's no more than a month old. What is it?
The Moon, of course!
So obvious once you know the answer, right? Congrats Edi, let me know your clipboard selection! And happy, green cleaning to all the rest of you. Have a magical day. J
Peace & Blessings ~ Melinda