Liza's Green Living! - Only Natural

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11976″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Liza Seavers, beauty salon owning, cat loving, marathon running, vegan shares her journey to’green living’ at home and in her Wexford salon Highbrow Beauty. In this blog she reveals her approach to tackling laundry the eco, cruelty free way using products that are tough on stains yet gentle on the environment and all available at Only Natural.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]My green living lifestyle really took off when we built our house and opted to have solar panels installed. We are lucky enough to have 2 types which I scientifically call the ‘water heating panels’ and the ‘electricity making panels’. As a result our electricity making panels generate power when the sun is shining, this is when I schedule our washing machine to do it’s thing.

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My Laundry Products

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Ecoegg – Price: €12.27

I recently discovered the Ecoegg and I only wish I found it sooner. Having used it for 2 months, I can safely say, it cleans just as well as a regular laundry detergent, even on the smelliest of sports gear!

How does it work? The egg contains mineral pellets which activate in water and weaken the forces between ‘dirt’ and fabric, they then ionise the oxygen molecules in the water, lifting out the grime without damaging or fading your clothes. They even have a softening effect, due to the effect they have on the PH of the water. I still add some of Lilly’s Fabric Softener when washing towels to get rid of the crunch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”11965″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The egg comes in different fragrances; fresh lavender, fresh linen, spring blossom or my personal preference, fragrance free. Ecoegg suggest adding a few drops of essential oil for an added natural fragrance, I am yet to try this but it sounds like fun! You can buy the egg in different ‘sizes’, 54, 120 or 720 washes. The outer egg shell is recyclable, however when your pellets disintegrate you can simply top them up with a refill so your egg will get a lot of use before it finally meets the recycle bin. A 720 wash egg yields 3 years of laundry for the average family and works out at about 3 cent per wash. Bargain!

There are only 2 issues I have found with the Ecoegg. Firstly, its hard to get due to high demand, the egg is out of stock till June 2018. Pre order yours before you run out of your last box of washing detergent! The other thing you may want to consider is that the egg bumps around in the machine and is a little noisy, however it will not damage your machine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Lilly’s Laundry Liquid – Price: €7.84

Lilly’s Eco Clean is a Dublin based, Irish company with honourable ethos. Their products use bioderadable, sustainably sourced and plant based (vegan) ingredients. The bottles are made using 50% recycled plastic and they offer refills. The products are all scented with natural essential oils, the unscented option contains organic aloe vera. I use this product solely for handwashing although it can also be used as a regular washing detergent and a stain remover. It is safe to use with wool and silk.

Lilly’s Fabric Softener with Orange Blossom and Chamomile – Price: €3.84

First of all this stuff smells great! Really nice and natural, it has a subtle citrusy scent. I add 2 capfuls to my machine’s softener drawer when washing towels, otherwise I find Ecoegg does a fine job with my clothes. For added softness I double the dose.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space height=”48px”][vc_single_image image=”11962″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Ecover Stain Remover – Price: €4.35

When I purchased my Ecoegg I also bought an Ecover Stain Remover. I have only used this product a couple of times as I am not a messy eater! I have been pleased with the results, it removed the stains very effectively. This stain remover comes with an inbuilt brush to gently work the product in to the stain. I highly reccomend this product if you are going to get yourself an Ecoegg, alternatively you can work in a bit of Lilly’s Laundry Liquid for stain removal.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”11963″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Whats so wrong with standard washing detergents?

Even though your clothes smell fresh, regular laundry detergents often contain harmful chemicals which can lead to negetive health effects such as skin conditions, respiratory irritation and even carcinogenity. These chemicals remain in your clothes and potentially penetrate your system. Just imagine the amount of toxins generated by all the washing machines in Ireland, flowing into our water systems, its an unnecessary evil. In general the average individual ‘overdoses’ on their washing machine. Just because your once worn pair of jeans don’t smell like detergent anymore doesn’t mean they are unclean. Allocate a ‘used but not dirty’ shelf in your wardrobe and give them another wear. I recommend avoiding polyester as it retains chemicals and acids associated with body odour.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Why Eco?

Why turn down the temperature?

I wash my laundry on the Eco cycle. Eco modes often use lower temperatures and less water and compensate for this by washing for longer periods. In 2015, CHOICE’s counterpart in Germany found fast clothes washing programs, or those with temperatures over 30°C, increased energy use by 30–100%. By choosing eco programs you save electricity and water (i.e the environment) and money!

Whats the problem with dryers?

Dryer vents have been proven to emit more than 7 hazardous pollutants, yuck! If your dryer waste filter isn’t filtered outside or if the vent is blocked this unhealthy air will fill your home. A single tumble dryer cycle uses up to four kWh of energy, which creates more than a tonne of carbon dioxide per year.

We chose not to buy a dryer, instead we have a fancy fold away Brabantia washing line, a rickety old clothes horse and shelves in our hotpress. There are only 2 of us in the house and this system works well. Drying clothes indoors can be harmful to our respiratory systems, so, where possible we dry our clothes outside. Otherwise we put our clothes on the clothes horse infront of an open, south facing window. I finish off the drying process by folding the clothes and popping them in to the hotpress, it slowly but effectively removes any residual moisture, leaving everything crisp and fresh.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]