Laundry Tips: Part One

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainably Laundry Tips

I’ve recently been inspired to try out a couple of new (to me) sustainable laundry practices.   I use cold water for 90% of our laundry which helps to cut down on energy costs.  I personally don’t like heavy, flowery fragrances so I opt for dye-free, fragrance-free if available.  I also prefer to buy natural liquid laundry soap like Seventh Generation or BioKleen brand which I can purchase from Helleen at The Health Emporium in Sheridan.  From Pinterest.com, I found a recipe for making my own liquid laundry soap using Borax, Washing Soda and a bar of soap.  Soon, I will test that recipe which could result in my laundry soap costing approx. two dollars for two gallons of laundry detergent (instead of $13.59 a gallon).  Also reducing/ reusing packaging which equals good for the environment.   

From Natural Health magazine July-August ’12 issue, in the article “10 Ways to go Natural,” two brightly colored felt balls under item number 3 caught my eye.  Felted wool dryer balls, “check out Etsy.com for a plethora of vendors, sizes and colors.” 

Etsy.com is an online marketplace that features vendors from all over the world.  I went to the felting expert in my life, Kim Miller of Virginia City (her felted pieces are magnificent pieces of art and I truly admire her talent) with a question about these dryer wool balls and she very generously gave me two to test on my laundry.  Kim makes these felted balls for dog and cat toys.  Ask the fiber expert in your life.  Use natural colors and 100% wool; felting a ball from fleece is as easy as sticking wool into the bottom of a polyester sock and then into the washing machine. 

The felted wool dryer ball is supposed to decrease drying time by up to 25 percent, as well as reduce static cling.  I would agree reduce, but I had a tiny bit of static in the few cycles I’ve been testing.  But 100% chemical free?  Yes!  100% reusable and sustainable?  Yes!  If you can find a way to inexpensively work the felted wool dryer ball into your laundry, test it out.  Maybe they can be scented with essential oils?  I worry about staining, but I am going to try adding some drops of lavender essential oil.  Or perhaps, dried lavender could be felted into the ball, like cat nip for a cat toy. 

Ask a fiber friend, test your own theories, check out Etsy.com to see what people are charging for theses felted balls!  Share your sustainably suggestions at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com. 

Twin Bits

It is harvest time!  Check out your local Farmer’s Markets.  Sheridan Farmer’s Market is Thursday evening, 5 pm to 7 pm at the Main Street Park, corner of Main Street and Mill. 

Check out Jackson’s Garden online, https://sites.google.com/site/jacksonsgardeninc/home and *Like* them on Facebook.  Volunteer work days are Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm.  Please contact Janet Marsh at 842-5888 for more information. 

The Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market is every Saturday 9 am to Noon, through September.   

The Twin Bridges Community Association is looking for an interim Market Master for the Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market for the last three Saturdays of September (15, 22, 29).  The TBCA needs a Market Master for 2013; if you are considering taking on the task next year, spending a day as Market Master in September would be a great experience to help inform the decision.  Contact Paula Kinoshita, if you are interested, at The Old Hotel (684-5959) ASAP.  Duties would include: putting out signage on Friday afternoon, being at Main Street Park at 8 am, on Saturday, to greet vendors, help with set up, document vendors, collect fees, & to help with break down at noon.

The first meeting of the Twin Bridges Book Club will be Thursday, September 20^th 7 pm at The Weaver’s Studio.  The first book being discussed is The Bonfire of the Vanities by Thomas Wolfe.  The Book Club is looking for suggestions for the rest of the year.  Contact Didi Murray with questions at dmmontana@3rivers.net. 

And right around the corner, SCHOOL!  Teachers start at Sheridan Monday August 20 and students start Wednesday August 22.  In Twin, teachers start Tuesday August 21 and students go back Thursday August 23. 

I’m here to help promote Ruby Valley events and spread community information.  Post comments at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com, email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call 406-531-1422 and send snail mail to P.O. Box 491, TB  59754.  Thanks for reading and sharing, Sarah Miller.