It can be tempting to want to your clothes to smell like "clean laundry", "lavender", or even a "tropical scent." The harsh reality is that, although your clothes and linens may smell nice, your skin may be paying the price. This is true for anyone who suffers from acne, eczema, contact dermatitis or sensitive skin. Here are a few tips to simplify your laundry routine and make some better choices.
DITCH THE SCENTS & PURCHASE DETERGENT FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Purchase detergent that is made specifically for sensitive skin. This means the detergent should be both hypoallergenic and free of any sort of fragrance or dye. Scents and dyes can often cause issues, including skin sensitivities and contact dermatitis.
GO EASY WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
I'm not suggesting to ditch essential oils altogether, I am a lover of essential oils and believe they have many benefits. They are great to add fragrance naturally; however, they can be problematic if you are prone to breakouts.
Essential oils added to detergents for fragrance can sensitize the skin, especially those who are prone to eczema. You can continue to use them, diffuse your little heart out, just don't use them on your skin if you are sensitive.
DITCH THE DRYER SHEETS
Dryer sheets are known to soften fabric, help avoid static and add a pleasant scent to our laundry. While the scent may be pleasant, your skin may not agree.
Dryer sheets can be triggers for people because they coat your linens and clothes with a layer of wax and grease, as well as fragrance, which can be irritating to your skin. Think: You sleep on your pillow cases for approximately 8 hours per night. Your skin is exposed to this wax, grease, and fragrance nightly. Opt for wool dryer balls instead. They are reusable and cheaper in the long run!
REPLACE FABRIC SOFTENER WITH WHITE VINEGAR
This is something I personally do, and I can promise that it does not make your laundry smell weird! It is actually amazing at removing odors (dog moms rejoice!)
This is a safer, fragrance-free way to soften your clothes and linens. It also gets rid of some of the irritators that are commonly left behind on our laundry. It helps to rid detergent and mineral residues from clothing, therefore, there will be no toxic fragrance clinging to fabrics.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I am a dog mom and I love lavender. If it was up to me, everything would smell like lavender! Unfortunately, my dog suffers from severe allergies, which has made me make some changes in what I use in my home. It actually turned out to be a positive change for the both of us!
Chino (my dog) can end up with bacterial and yeast infections secondary to his allergies, which can often smell like.. funk.. or as I like to say, "he smells like an old mans dirty gym bag." One day I was googling how to get rid of pet odor in his blankets and came across the vinegar swap. I tried it and I was so impressed!
I personally use Tide Free and Gentle detergent and place Distilled White Vinegar in the fabric softener spot. Works like a charm! You may have to try more than one detergent, as I noticed I broke out in rashes from All Free and Clear. So, when you start your journey, start small... don't buy the large bottles!