Do you need Borax to effectively clean laundry? / How to help ease atopic dermatitis symptoms caused by detergent sensitivity

Hi Larry!

First let me say that I’m so happy to have found your company! I was looking for a detergent-free laundry soap, and happened upon a short interview of you on YouTube, where I think you mentioned you had dermatitis, which is what prompted you to start the company. My 6 month old baby boy also has atopic dermatitis (eczema), which has gotten so severe, that I’ve reached total desperation. I’ve tried nearly everything, and realized last night that I hadn’t addressed our laundry “soap”, which is huge. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it up until now! I’ve been using Seventh Generation all along. It turns out 7th Gen. is not so wonderful if you have super sensitive skin…

Anyway, I’m so looking forward to getting your “Liquid Sunshine” in the mail, but until it comes, I am trying to make my own laundry soap to hold us through. My question to you is, does one need Borax in the mix to effectively clean laundry? I noticed the Liquid Sunshine doesn’t have it in the ingredient list, which I’m happy about (it’s on the EU’s could-cause-reproductive-harm list), so I’m wondering if I can use just a mix of washing soda/ sodium carbonate and soap flakes? Random question, I know, but if anyone would know, I figure it would be you! Also, is it possible to overdose on the washing soda, and exacerbate the skin even more?

Thanks again for making great products!!! I can’t wait to try them out! …and I loved your tidbit on Louis XIV… so interesting!

Sincerely,

Christine

Hi Christine,

Thank you for your enthusiastic letter.

What you are saying is that you suspect that your son is detergent sensitive.

This is entirely possible and easy to test.

I would start you with a gallon of unscented castile liquid soap – no essential oils. Wash everything that touches his skin including blankets and pillowcases in it and rinse well in hot water. You will know in one day of this is the root of it.

Do not use detergent shampoos or mass market body washes during this test. Does he have an irritated scalp too? Try a bar of our Butter Bar soap instead. You can wash his hair with it – a bath visor helps to keep it out of eyes. No dryer sheets or fabric softener (ever!) and if you are using bleach you really have to pay attention to get it out of the cloth diapers.

Use Unscented Green Gold to soothe eczema patches.

Sodium carbonate, borax and washing soda are primarily builders. That means they soften the water to make it work better with the soap. Unless you have very hard water and you are dead set against water filtration units don’t worry about adding them. Borax will have a mild bleaching and sudzing effect. Some people would consider it safer than chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) if that is the alternative. Fortunately soap and very hot water washes away germs effectively and it is possibly to avoid using these substances with a little planning.

Do you use plug in air fresheners or antimicrobial products that advertise killing 99.99% of germs? Please consider not using these products in a house with an infant. I would tell you to throw them away immediately but they are technically hazardous waste.

It sounds like your son has a reactive body. If so treat him as if he were asthmatic (he may be that to if he is reactive) ie avoid artificial scents and perfumes and plastics. Wash plastic things in castile soap three times to remove the mold release agents left on the surface of plastic objects. Use it like Liquid Sunshine for floors, walls and all washable surfaces. Wash clothes three times in castile liquid soap to remove sanforizing agents and dye residues and other nasties in clothing.

There you are. Try these things and let me know how things go.

 

All the Best,

Soapman Larry Plesent