A year or so ago I developed a rash on my body and my dermatologist recommended that I stop the use of all fragrances, soaps, and detergents, even in my clothing. Really? said I. Really, says the doc.
Leftover Bubbles
You can wash a load of clothes without detergent to get an idea of how much residual soap is lingering in the fibers of your clothing. Try it. The loads of soap bubbles in the water tell you there is indeed soap build up in your clothing.
No Laundry Soap
So my dermatologist told me to stop using detergent all together and I was horrified. He told me that if you wash your clothes on hot there is really no need for soap. Really? Really. So I washed my clothes without soap for a year and while my rash didn't go away completely, it definitely improved.
No Fabric Softener
I was also using a dryer sheet in my dryer to make my clothing softer and less full of static. When I stopped using the dryer sheet my clothes were still soft but not imbued with that chemical fragrance that dryer sheets contain. The only time I really miss fabric softener is for my bath towels. The fabric softener does make your bath towels soft and fluffy. But think about it this way: What is more important? Your fluffy towels or the environment? I rest my case...
Fragrance Free
Now that my rash is mostly gone I use a very minimal amount (1/4 cup or so) of Arm and Hammer Free when I wash my clothing. I still haven’t gone back to dryer sheets. They seem an unnecessary and risky luxury item that has been foisted on the clothes washing public through the power of advertising.
No Body Soap?
My doctor also told me to take a hard look at the soap I was using in the shower. Most soaps contain chemicals and fragrance that may irritate sensitive skin. So I stopped using the fragrant soaps I loved and started using Dr. Bronner’s Castile peppermint soap. This gentle and chemical free soap gets the sensitive skin seal of approval from me, and I love to read the funky label while I'm in the shower.
So all of these lifestyle changes not only helped my very sensitive skin, it also made me feel better about contributing less pollutants into the ecosystem. Why not use less soap? Why not eliminate dryer sheets? And what other chemicals do I routinely use that I should reconsider? In order to lead a greener and more environmentally aware life we all need to take a good, close look at what we can do in our everyday lives to help not only ourselves but our planet as well.
Mary Rayme - Mary Rayme is a graphic designer and arts educator with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
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