AVOID these BAD BOYS!  Read labels, ALWAYS.

Avoid products who’s ingredient lists include ANY of the following:
• Ammonia
• Chlorine
• Phosphate
• Alcohol
• Petroleum solvents
• Butyl
• Glycol ether
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• EDTA (ethylenediamineteraacetic acid)
• DEA (diethanolamine)
These chemicals are bad for you and the environment, as they aid the growth of algae in water, so they clog waterways. Also, scented products should be avoided.

Fabric softener sheets. Dryer sheets have petro chemicals in them. These chemicals break down the fibers in clothing. Stop using softeners (you don’t need them) or at least cut the sheets in half…will so the same job…..or  switch to an eco-friendly product, your clothing will last longer and be in better condition.

Accessories. Another way to be green is through the accessories you use for laundry. By choosing environmentally responsible products you are reducing the carbon footprint of your laundry and in the long run you are helping the environment when these products eventually need to be replaced. Here are some ideas.
• Neatfreak double frame hamper with Everfresh fabric. The Everfresh fabric is 100% environmentally friendly, and contains naturally occurring enzymes that have been built into the fabric. The enzymes in the fabric help reduce odor-causing bacteria.
Clothes rack/Clothes line. By using one of these you will be conserving energy by not running your dryer as often. If you line dried clothes for just one month in the summer you could save up to $45.

POSSIBLY Replacing your old washer and dryer. IF you  are in the market for a new set. Even though you may pay more for the machines, you will be saving in money every time you run them. Choose Energy Star certified appliances, this means they are 50% more efficient than conventional models. Read the “energy guide label – 3 keys things to look for on the these labels are:
• The large number is the appliance’s estimated annual energy consumption, measured in kiloWatt hours (kWh) per year
• The shaded bar scale shows the energy consumption range for similar appliance models. The figure at the left end indicates the lowest consumption rating; the figure on the right indicates the highest.
• The arrow just above the bar scale shows where the appliance ranks relative to similar models.

Stop Drift Nets

Drift Nets kill whales, dolphins, and sharks and climate change allows people to watch humpback whales in the winter.

The Black Fish , an organization dedicated to changing people’s opinions about the ocean and protect it, recently launched a campaign to irradicate the use of drift nets (a large net suspended in the water that catches many fish), used by fisherment. The nets are normally used for tuna and swordfish; however, they kill over 100,000 whales, dolphins, seal and sharks every year.

In addition, drift nets only catch about 15% of the target species (tunas and swordfish) while the other 85% caught are bycatch.

The Conservation steps taken must include raising awareness of the issue around the world and working with fishermen to find alternatives to using drift nets. The Consortium of Wildlife Bycatch Reduction does this by working with a number of fishermen and organizations to research alternative fishing gear that will maximize the target species caught and minimize the bycatch caught.