Pure & Natural Laundry

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WINTER CAPLANSON PHOTOS WITH CATHERINE ELLIOTT ART

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Want to clean up the way you do laundry, using products that don’t include the toxicchemicals found in many detergents and dryersheets? Clothes are much happier with gentleringredients found in all-natural laundry productsthat can help reduce wear and tear on fibers,reduce color fading, and keep your duds lookingnewer, longer. And making the all-natural switchcuts down on chemicals seeping into soil andgroundwater.

These four Connecticut natural laundry productcreators are making laundry a much healthierand more environmentally-friendly chore.

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Lyric Hill Farm produces eco-friendly laundry detergent, packagedin USA-made refillable tins in unscented,or essential oil scents of lavender orlemongrass. It contains only a few simpleingredients, including: borax, a blend ofnatural mineral salts,essential oil, and thefarm’s own goat’smilk soap. Whencombined, they’repowerful at removingdirt, deodorizing,disinfecting, andremoving stains…yet gentle on fabric.

Only a tablespoon or two of Lyric Hill Farmlaundry detergent are needed per load andit works in all types of washing machines.It’s safe for delicates and baby laundry,works in hard water, and does not containfillers or chemicals that can clog pipes orharm septic systems.

You may already know Lyric Hill Farm fortheir lovely goat’s milk soap made fromsustainably grown oils, local honey, andtheir own goat’s milk. Pro tip: their laundrydetergent may be custom-ordered in anyof their 32 soap fragrances including baylime,Earl Grey, citrus-basil, and chamomilecalendula.

Pro tip: Lyric Hill laundry detergent may be custom-ordered in any of their 32 soap fragrances including bay-lime, Earl Grey, citrusbasil, and chamomile-calendula.

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Felted wool dryer balls reduce the time clothes need in the dryer and help toeliminate static. Each about the size of a tennis ball, they make dryer sheets obsolete and can be used for many years. Herd Supply Co. makes theirs from the naturally-white, felted wool roving of their flock ofEast Friesian and Dorset crossed sheep happily grazing in Glastonbury. Likescented clothes? Add a few drops of essential oil to each ball to scent yourlaundry!

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All in on patchouli? This one’s for you! Nutmeg vegan patchouli laundry soap is made using

Naturals’

their handmade soap, ground into a fine powder, then added

to washing soda, borax, baking soda, and patchouli essential oil. Packaged in a brown kraft bag, order the 1 lb. or 3 lb. size patchouli laundry soap or opt for other essential oil scents, lemongrass or lavender-orange.

Nutmeg Naturals also makes wool dryer balls but theirs are available either un-dyed or tinted with colorfast dye to offer a palette from moss to marsala, peacock, heather, turquoise, and amethyst. A set of three is excellent for medium-size loads of laundry, but the more you use, the better the results. The dryer balls are packaged in a USA-made cotton muslin drawstring bag and come with an FAQ sheet, making them a perfect gift for housewarming, hostess, or new baby. We love the essential oil blends they stock for scenting dryer balls and thus whole loads of laundry, including lemongrass-orange and patchouli-lavender.

Nothing beats hanging your fresh, clean laundry out to dry on a warm summer day. Add a bit of charm and organization to your laundry day with Nutmeg Naturals’ handmade clothespin bag, available in several pretty prints!

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ColeMama Creations’ solid and sturdy rope clothespin basket

buttons onto your clothesline so you canslide it along as you hang or take down thewash. Each basket is one-of-a-kind, madewith heavy duty 100% natural cottoncord, dyed with a custom color blend,and constructed by hand on an industrialsewing machine.

Each basket is one-of-akind,

made withheavy duty 100%natural cottoncord, dyedwith a customcolor blend,and constructedby hand on anindustrial sewingmachine.

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yourself by making an all-natural fabric freshener spray!

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1 tbsp. of baking soda 2 cups of distilled water 10 drops of essential oil for scent

Combine all and pour into a clean spray bottle.

“We should all do what, in thelong run, gives us joy, even if itis only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.” – EB White

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