What’s the number one problem you face in your laundry? The seemingly never-ending pile of clothes that never goes away? Your socks mysteriously being eaten by the washing machine? Or the amount of environmentally harmful products that seem to live in this one room? They’re probably all as equally frustrating. While we can’t click our fingers and make your laundry pile disappear or solve your sock-kidnapping issue (but seriously – where do they GO?!), we can give you tips on how to make your laundry more eco-friendly!

Dish & Laundry Soap

Let’s start with the biggie – laundry detergent. We all know that regular laundry detergents are bad for the environment. They are not biodegradable, they contaminate our waterways, rivers and oceans with toxic metals like cadmium and arsenic, and studies have shown that phosphate – a common chemical in detergents – builds up in our waterways and leads to eutrophication – that is, big algae blooms that starve fish and other plant life dependent on oxygen.

This bar soap doubles as a laundry detergent AND dishwashing detergent. Not to mention, it is made from 100% natural and biodegradable ingredients that are safe for our waterways, certified cruelty-free, palm oil free and vegan.

To wash clothes: Grate down and add a tablespoon to your front loader and top loader directly to the load. Can be used in hot and cold water. Also great for hand washing clothes where you can apply the soap block directly to clothes.

Stainless Steel Pegs

Plastic pegs… They’re durable and they last forever. And by that, we mean the pegs’ remains and the shards of plastic scattered all over your backyard after they’ve done their job of snapping, rusting and staining your clothes for only a mere three months.

These Stainless Steel Pegs are the pegs you will pass onto your children! They’re 100% waste free, eco-friendly, and will be the last set of pegs you’ll ever buy again in your life. They also have a minimal design as they’re made from one piece of metal, and trust us when we tell you they’ll last a lifetime, won’t rust or stain your clothing.

Soapberries

Soapberries are the fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi tree. This tree grows in different regions of the world, but is most prevalent in the Himalayas – that’s where That Red House’s Soapberries are from – and they are harvested by small local communities under ethical conditions.

Soapberries are 100% organic, biodegradable, zero waste, scent free, plastic free, chemical free and vegan. They’re also hypoallergenic, so they’re a great choice for babies, children, and those with sensitive skin or skin allergies. But how do you use soapberries? Easy.

Step 1: Place five soapberry shells in the small cotton bag provided.
(Optional: If you prefer some scent in your laundry, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil on the wash bag.)

Step 2: Add the bag to the wash load.

Step 3: Once the shells turn thin and brittle, add them to your compost or bury them in the garden for them to break down naturally. That’s it!

Wool Dryer Balls

Forget plastic dryer balls. Wool dryer balls are here. Made from 100% pure wool, these dryer balls will reduce drying time (by creating air pockets in the load for more circulation), soften clothing and bedding, and eliminate static. Three white balls for light-coloured loads. Three grey balls for dark-coloured loads. What’s more is that by reducing drying time, you’ll also be reducing your electricity bill!

Bamboo Pegs

Bamboo Clothes Pegs are not the kind of pegs that will go brittle and break into small pieces when left under sunlight (we’re looking at you, plastic pegs!). These Bamboo Clothes Pegs are made from sustainable and biodegradable bamboo with a recyclable steel spring. You can trust that your freshly laundered clothes will not be stained by these pegs as bamboo contains very little tannins (compared to wooden pegs) and will not rust if properly taken care of!

Biotuff Bin Liner

What do you line your bins with? Regular bin liners are made from petroleum which is made from crude oil and natural gas. What’s the solution? Choose Bin Liners made from a renewable resource, such as thermoplastic cornstarch resins. These bags are biodegradable, certified compostable*, tough, leak-proof and breathable which helps with controlling odours and moisture.

*Certified compostable in aerobic, industrial composting facilities.