botanical laundry detergent for eco-fashionistas

It’s no surprise that vaska botanically based laundry detergent was created by a fashion designer with a passion for textiles. Not only are the all-natural products better for people and the planet but for fabrics as well thanks to the absence of harmful chemicals. Julia Fry founded the Berkley-based company in 1999 as an eco-modern alternative to traditional laundry detergents. The sleek packaging made of 50% post-consumer content caught my eye at Duane Reade a few weeks ago. Especially since I like to discover chic household items that are designed with the environment in mind. Vaska’s line includes laundry detergent, chlorine-free oxygenbleach, fabric softener and stain remover. So far I tried vasca’s herbatergent with a light lavender scent that uses real herbs and botanical cleaning agents. I personally love the scent but the herbatergent scent free version and the oxygenbleach received EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) certification. It’s comforting to know that they have been screened for potential health and environmental effects. After all you wear your clothes all day long. All products are biodegradable, gray water safe, and hypoallergenic. Vasca’s website lists some good reminders on how to reduce your energy consumption while doing laundry. Use cold water whenever possible and try to hang your clothing to dry instead of putting them into a dryer. It’s better for the colors of your clothes plus the environment will thank you too.