From natural to effective: my journey to evidence-based laundry

Clean Cloth Nappies admin Marisa describes the turning point that saw her embrace the world of laundry science.

Hot washes, mainstream detergent, and religiously using bleach… If you told me I’d be doing these things even a handful of years ago, I’d have laughed in your face! 

I grew up in an incredibly ‘low-tox, natural’ household. We’d scrutinise everything we did, consumed, and exposed ourselves to in the name of health. It was all I really knew. 

In terms of laundry, I’ve used it all – essential oils, eco detergents, bicarb and vinegar, soapnuts, and even straight water at some point. I feared the chemicals that detergents might have been adding to my clothes. That was a consequence of not understanding the laundry process and the factors required to actually clean my laundry. So when I was presented with so-called gentle, natural alternatives, they were a no-brainer! Or so I thought…

The hidden struggles of the natural ways

Through my teen years, I became more aware. I’d squirm every time I had to use a towel because it had a stale musty smell. It just didn’t feel clean. Kids at school would comment on the ‘gross hippy smell’ that they couldn’t quite pinpoint, and I’d shrink on the spot because I knew they were referring to me. My white bedding was yellowing… “Well, what did I expect? That’s my fault for not picking dark sheets.” 

At some point, I seriously questioned these things. I cursed the natural lifestyle I was raised in because it felt like we fought so hard for it, only to suffer. On the other hand, I wouldn’t give it up, because I did ultimately value my health… I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I just wanted something that worked. However, with no real alternatives, I continued on as I was.

Parenthood: the laundry wake-up call

When I was expecting my first child, I became interested in cloth nappies, so I took the plunge and joined some Facebook groups. They were great, but I was quite resistant to Clean Cloth Nappies (CCN) because their values were the total opposite of mine. No way would I use real detergent on my baby’s nappies, let alone bleach! It was a shocking idea to me. Although I preferred the other groups then, I did stay lurking in horror.

My first nappies were a bulk secondhand bundle from Marketplace – approximately $250 worth. I was super chuffed at the terrific deal! Upon unpacking them, however, I made the horrifying discovery that they *reeked* of barnyard and ammonia. It totally stunk the house out! So I quickly got to work. 

I did a few washes with my soapnuts and essential oil blends to try and fix them up, to no avail… They just smelled like a burnt, herbal barnyard. Nor did I have any luck with vinegar or bicarb soaks. No matter what I did, the smell just wouldn’t budge. I about cried, let me tell you! 

In desperation and with a bruised ego, I came crawling back to CCN, where I reluctantly did a bleach sanitise to salvage these nappies before throwing them out. I was hesitant because, in my mind, bleach was ‘the mother of all dangerous chemicals’. But at this point, I had nothing to lose. Well, $250 I suppose. I’d grown attached to these nappies, so I needed to see it through. And honestly, a part of my mind was curious… Why wasn’t anything working? What was wrong with my washing machine? 

A turning point…

Shockingly, the bleach sanitise was a success. Not only was the smell gone, the nappies had also brightened significantly. I hadn’t even noticed they weren’t supposed to be grey! How humbling. I started connecting the dots in my mind. It seemed CCN did have hidden laundry secrets after all. So from that point onwards, though I wasn’t entirely comfortable about it, I decided to read and learn all that I could and to put it into practice. Because objectively, I’d just witnessed a miracle I never thought possible! I could admit that much. 

I applied the methods to my family laundry too, and even got brave with other household textiles. Everything turned out to be a success. The biggest eye-opener was when I took some old linen out of storage. It was so gross, I couldn’t believe it! There was a stark difference between the sparkling clothes washed as per CCN guidelines, and the clothes I hadn’t yet (spoiler: the yellowing, and the smell!). 

I began to understand why the natural methods weren’t recommended. Frankly, they didn’t work. The internet sings the praises of things like bicarb and vinegar, but when it comes down to it, the difference in results is obvious. It just wasn’t completely evident until I had a direct comparison in front of me. I came to realise that the washing machine wasn’t the problem, but rather the way I was using it. 

In time I swore by the principles of clean laundry and adopted it as a way of life because over and over, my experience proved that it worked. Unfortunately, it still didn’t mean the journey was an easy one. Initially, every single scoop of detergent made my stomach twist in guilt. But I stuck to it because it was working; what I was doing previously clearly wasn’t, and I didn’t want to go back. 

Revelations

In time, my beliefs and values made a significant shift. I realised that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing! It’s possible to care for my health AND have clean laundry. In fact, I now argue that it is part of a hygienic, and therefore healthy household. Balance needs to exist because there’s a time and a place for modern solutions, and accumulated bacteria and grime in underwashed laundry ain’t it!

In all honesty, I dare say the crippling fear of ‘chemicals’ was probably more detrimental to my health than anything else. Releasing that stress was one of the best things I’ve ever done; not only for my laundry, but my mental health too. 

Besides, the peace of mind from knowing I can fix pretty much any stain – priceless. I’m no longer throwing things out left, right and centre. I feel like I can let go and finally live, without ever worrying about how I’m going to salvage any dirtied fabrics! It turns out ‘evidence-based laundry’ is precisely that; the proof is in the pudding. 

My eyes have been opened to the bigger picture. And for that, I have Clean Cloth Nappies to thank. ❤️