13 Things - What You Should Know About Laundry

13 Things - What You Should Know About Laundry

- Anna-Kaisa Walker

1 Go scent-free. A 2011 study found that fragranced products cause dryer vents to emit seven compounds that contain hazardous air pollutants and two that are carcinogenic.

2 Even “unscented” brands may not be what they purport to be. “Unscented detergents can still contain fragrances to mask chemical smells,” says Lindsay Coulter, the David Suzuki Foundation’s green-living expert.

3 If you want to avoid mystery ingredients, make your own detergent. The David Suzuki Foundation recommends using ½ cup per load of a mixture of two teaspoons of salt, two tablespoons of baking soda, two tablespoons of liquid Castile soap and one litre of hot water.

4 Don’t scent homemade detergent with essential oils. “Some dryers heat up to about 57 C, which is above the flashpoint for some essential oils,” says Michael Papeo, captain of public education, East Command, for Toronto Fire Services.