Would you mind sharing what brand laundry detergent you use? I've been struggling to find one in the US that doesn't smell strongly of fragrance even though they claim to be free of perfume. Thanks <3
For sure! The ones I switch between regularly include:
-Ecover zero range (I also use their dishwashing soap)
-Seventh Generation Free and Clear (This one has a mild chemical smell to it but it’s not perfumed and it doesn’t cling to the clothes afterward. I know a lot of folks with MCAS use their free and clear stuff.)
- Aspen Clean which is the current one I am using and have had no issues with. It does have a mild detergent-y smell straight out the bottle, but it doesn’t affect my skin/trigger asthma/migraines, and nor does the laundry dry with any noticeable scent. I actually liked it so much I bought it in bulk right before the pandemic hit, and now use their subscribe and save feature, cause knowing I’ll get another delivery before I run out is super helpful for my ADHD.
-I did used to be able to use the Whole Foods Organic Laundry Detergent, and while it still has no smell, they did change the ingredients at the start of 2020, and my skin didn’t like it. Which sucks, cause it was by far the cheapest for the most amount of detergent. I did try to persevere with it, but it just wasn’t worth the rashes for me. But I do think it’s a good product for folks without my weird additional issues.
Tide claim to make a Free and Clear range, but it just reeks. Idk what they put in it, but it still smells like perfume to me, and I get headaches from trying to use it. I think the Arm and Hammer Free and Clear Range is also a hit or a miss for some people.
Powder detergents that are free and clear ranges (like Planet) can also work well for people trying to avoid fragrances, so if you’re really struggling to find a liquid detergent that’s fragrance-free, maybe try the powder. It’s also really easy to make your own washing soda by heating baking soda in the oven, and I like to use that sometimes to give things a boost or to soak linens in to keep them white/remove any stubborn stains. (Also works great for cleaning other things around the home without any chemical smells.) There’s a good method listed here. (I did try to make sure I’m not linking to some weird cult/republican homesteading blog, but I also didn’t read their whole blog, just in case someone finds out they’re part of a cult or something. Like so many homesteading blogs are, unfortunately.)
I don’t use fabric softener cause that shit is just bad for your clothes, the environment, and always Stinks, but when I did have a tumble dryer, I used to use woolen balls. Worked great on the bed linens and towels.
I know some people just use straight-up soap nuts, but they don’t appear to work very well in my hard water area :)
