Don’t forget that we not only have the power in our own hands to control what we eat, but also what we use to cleanse our environment and our clothes. Just like you can often convert a recipe to be gluten free, if you make it yourself; you can also make your own cleaners and laundry detergents.
Making your own cleaners has the added benefit of not having any questionable by products, chemicals, or gluten for that matter. When I first went gluten free, I started to freak about all the hidden gluten in everyday products. Laundry detergent and dryer turns out is no exception, so I started to look around for the alternatives. What I learned is that a lot of this stuff can be made on your own. I also found it to be another great outlet for creativity.
Laundry
- Dryer sheets: So when I first went Gluten Free, I went it to a slight panic mode about everything that could possibly have gluten in it. What I found is that gluten could indeed be in dryer sheets. (the record scratches and the music stops) Dryer sheets? WTH? So I went in search for kinder dryer sheets, and found some nice ones, called Method.bod Squeaky Green Dryer Cloths. No gluten at all in these, and you can also re-use a dryer cloth a couple of times before you toss it out.
- Dryer Balls: A dryer ball offers a simple, natural, and toxic free solution to soften fabrics, reduce drying time and creases while saving on the cost of dryer sheets, chemical fabric softeners, and energy. Designed to separate and lift the laundry– this allows air to circulate more efficiently throughout the machine, resulting in quicker drying time. Simply pop a set of laundry dryer balls into the dryer machine with a full-load. On today’s market you will find dryer balls that are made from plastic. Some of them come with scented sticks to insert for fragrance as well. But there are also Wool made dryer balls that you can purchase, or make yourself. They are even a popular item that is sold on etsy.com
- Detergent: Here is a simple and quick basic liquid formula to try and make for yourself
2 1/4 cups of liquid Castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soaps are available in a wide variety of scents if you want to skip the essential oils part)
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar (distilled vinegar is gluten free)
3/4 cup water
10-15 drops essential oil of your choice
Combined ingredients into plastic container or squirt bottle. Shake once or twice before adding to the wash. Use 1/4 cup of mixture per average load; 1/2 cup for extra large or heavily soiled loads.
