All month long, we’ve talked about why powder is better than liquid. From being more eco-friendly to being hypoallergenic, it’s clear that powder is best! We’ve rounded up all the reasons we love powder detergent below!

Eco-Friendly

For us, using powder is a no-brainer. The plant-based formula of our Laundry Soda is biodegradable, so it’s gentle on the earth while tackling tough stains. The Laundry Soda is created with renewable energy, thanks to its plant-based surfactant, because plants grow back! Traditional liquid detergents consist of mostly water – at Nellie’s, we don’t think moving water around the planet does anyone any good. Our Laundry Soda can be packaged more efficiently, minimizing impact on the environment.

Effective

Simply put, there is more cleaning power packed into powder! Nellie’s Laundry Soda is more concentrated than traditional detergents, so one tablespoon is all you need for every regular-sized load. It saves the planet and saves your dollars! Many conventional powder detergents use suds-producing fillers, like SLS and SLES, which give the impression of a ‘better clean’ because of their bubbles. However, they can hurt your HE machine! Nellie’s Laundry Soda is a low-sudsing detergent, making it better for you, the planet, and your HE washing machine.

Hypoallergenic

Our Laundry Soda has no fillers and contains only four ingredients. The formula rinses clear every time, leaving no traces behind to irritate your skin – no perfumes, no phosphates, no optical brighteners, and no solid synthetics. You get a cleaner clean every time, with no unnecessary extras.
Want to learn more about why powder is better? Click here!

We care for your skin and the planet – that’s why we create simple plant-based formulas that are healthy for you, your family, and Mother Earth. You don’t have to sacrifice your skin or the environment to get beautifully clean clothes. Why is powder detergent more eco-friendly? Keep reading!

Plant-Based and Biodegradable

Our Laundry Soda is made with a plant-based surfactant. Plants are an excellent source of renewable energy because we can replant them! Plus, all of Nellie’s products are biodegradable, so when it moves through the water system there are no lasting effects on the environment. The environment stays as spotless as your clothes!

Moving Water

Traditional liquid detergents consist mostly of water. It doesn’t make sense to us to ship water around the world! Powder packs more tightly than liquid-based detergents, meaning less space is used in shipping and transporting your favourite Laundry Soda.

Tougher than Liquid

Powder-based detergent formulas are more stable than liquids or detergent pods. This means that our simple formula performs exceptionally well on tough-to-remove outdoor stains like grass, dirt, mud, as well as blood. Pair the Laundry Soda with the Oxygen Brightener for brighter whites and more vibrant colours, without using bleach or any other nasties!

We wash our clothes to keep ourselves, our families, and our favourite items smelling and feeling fresh, but there is actually such a thing as washing too much or too little! There are downsides to both: laundering your clothes more than necessary can shorten their lifespan and ultimately wear them out more quickly, and washing them too infrequently can be unhygienic and lead to bacteria growth. Yuck! Here are our general laundry guides for you and your family:

For your clothes

Bras: After three to four wears

Underwear: After every wear, of course!

Stocks and stockings: After every wear

Sports and swimwear: After every wear

Jeans: five to six wears, although some advocate washing as little as possible

Tops: One to two wears

Dresses: One to two wears

Pants, skirts, and shorts: Three to four wears

Jackets and blazers: Five to six wears

Coats: Once every two months of wear, and before storing away for the season

Pajamas: Three to four wears

Get your clothes fresh and clean, but don't sacrifice your health and the environment! Wash clothes (and towels, bedding, etc.) with Nellie's Laundry Soda, and remove tough stains with the WOW Stick. If your clothes need some extra brightening or whitening, choose Nellie's Oxygen Brightener instead of toxic bleach.

For your kids' clothes

Washing your kids' clothes doesn't need to be a massive chore! Most experts say you can wash their clothing along with yours anytime you see stains or they don't pass the sniff test. The problem is that kids tend to get dirtier more often than adults do, so those stains and smells come up more frequently. Here's a handy guideline: the lighter and softer the fabric, and the closer it hugs the body, the more you need to was it. But as long as you don't notice dirty patches or stains, kids can wear clothes multiple times before they're ready for the laundry pile, just like you.

For your baby's washing

It seems like the hamper is constantly overflowing with onesies, blankets, burp cloths, bibs, rompers, and tiny adorable socks! Unlike grownups, who typically wear one or two outfits per day (not to mention wear an item of clothing more than once before washing), babies are mess machines with their spit up, drool, diaper leaks, or the dreaded blow out. Because of this, it's not uncommon to change their clothes as much as 5 times per day! So when it comes to washing your baby's clothes, there are two schools of thought:

1) Wash one load every day because it can be done quickly and won't pile up

2) Wash everything once each week so that you only have to spend one day dealing with laundry

Whichever one you choose, make sure you're washing with Nellie's All-Natural Baby Laundry Soda, which is formulated with baby's soft skin and messy mishaps in mind. Thanks to a concentration of sodium percarbonate for natural brightening, as well as the addition of pure vegetable soap, there is no need for an additional whiteners or brighteners. The stain-fighting formula is effective on cloth diapers and removes stubborn baby stains such as milk, baby formula, and spit-up. The formula is derived from plant-based and mineral-based ingredients and is non-allergenic, leaves no residue on fabrics, and contains no fragrance.

In the dryer

When drying your laundry, use the Lamby Wool Dryerballs to cut down on drying time, soften fabrics, and reduce wrinkles, naturally! Then, smooth out any remaining wrinkles and creases with the new Wrinkle-B-Gone.

Of course, these guides don't apply when excessive sweating or accidental spills occur, or to those that have different hygiene preferences.

The sun is out, the weather is great, and the kids are at home. Believe it or not, but August is the perfect time to get ready for the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Take advantage of the weather and with the extra hands around the house, and deep clean now to welcome fall and back-to-school (even better). We’ve got an easy to-do list for you, tackling everything from inside to outside and the tools and products you’ll need. Happy cleaning!

INSIDE

• Focus on your home's ‘public’ rooms first: the living room, family room, entryway, guest bathroom, etc.
• Clean from the ceilings down to the floors. Begin by vacuuming the drapes and window treatments, followed by cleaning window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture. To get rid of any stains, use the Nellie’s All-Natural WOW Stick, or take to the dry cleaners if necessary.
• Wash interior windows.
• Clean the walls: dust, wash, rinse, and dry any painted or wood-paneled walls with a mix of warm water and Nellie's All-Natural One Soap in Fragrance Free.
• Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to ensure equal wear.
• Launder all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, and comforters, making sure you can tuck the family into warm and cozy beds. Don’t know how to tackle this? Don’t worry, we’ve got some how-to’s for your mattress, pillows, and duvets.
• Straighten out your closets – declutter, reorganize, and switch to your transitional summer-autumn wardrobe.
• Prepare the kitchen for more nights inside: clean and organize kitchen cabinets, paying extra attention to baking supplies, pans, and equipment. Give your cabinets a wipe down with the All Purpose Cleaner.
• Clean kitchen counters of all appliances that you have not been recently used. Clean counters look cleaner, and provide more room for cutting, chopping, and prepping.
• If you can, pull the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
• Spruce up the computer: dust the CPU, clean and wipe down the keyboard, and dust off the monitor with a microfibre cloth.
• Check the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris, or even birds’ nests! Additionally, make sure that the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
• Schedule a fall inspection for your furnace – don’t wait for the first cold night!
• Drain any sediment from your hot water heaters.

OUTSIDE

• Clean the patio furniture and get ready to store it away along with umbrellas and the kids’ summer toys.
• Touch up the paint on your home’s trims, railings, and decks. Use a wire brush to remove any flaking paint (be sure the prime bare wood first).
• Check caulk around the windows and doors, re-caulk if necessary.
• Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Fix them now with weather-stripping and door thresholds if needed to make sure you’re not dealing with a draft in a few months.
• Wash exterior windows with a mix of warm water and One Soap in Fragrance Free.
• Drain and store garden hoses.
• Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary.

We all know the incredible power of scent, whether it’s the perfume your mother wore when you were a child, or a sunscreen you used at summer camp. Scent can be extremely helpful for waking up in the morning, staying focused at work, and going to sleep at night. That's why we have infused our Scented Wool Dryerballs with essential oils. Here’s a breakdown on which Scented Dryerballs you should be using and when!

Lavender

100% pure Lavender

Lavender essential oil is a popular scent thanks to its relaxing effects. Studies have shown that lavender essential oil aromatherapy calms the nervous system, lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature as well as altering brain waves to a more relaxed state. Lavender can also help with mild insomnia and provide a better quality of sleep. The scent of lavender can also reduce anxiety and depression in women with postpartum depression. The Scented Wool Dryerballs in Lavender are ideal for using when drying your bedsheets or your favourite pajamas to ensure a great night's sleep.

Citrus

Lemon, Lavender, Pine, Lime, Geranium, and Rosemary

Citrus essential oils are ideal for helping you wake up in the morning and boosting physical and mental energy levels. Citrus essential oils can have an incredible balancing effect; it can both calm and boost your senses, and aid in greater focus and alertness. Citrus can also stimulate creativity, settle a racing mind, uplift your spirits. Pine essential oil is known for being refreshing, invigorating, and cleansing, like a walk in a northern forest. Lime is ideal for adding a fresh, bright, and clean scent. Use the Scented Wool Dryer Balls in Citrus for your bathroom towels to help wake you up in the morning, as well as your work clothes to keep you going through the day.

Simply Fresh

Rosemary, Tunisian Neroli, Lavender

This blend is perfectly suited for your everyday items that you want to keep fresh without using  toxic chemicals. Legend has it that Greek scholars used rosemary to enhance their memory when taking exams. It's ideal for situations when you need to focus and use your memory, like school or work.  Tunisian neroli essential oil is known for its antidepressant properties, and when combined with its natural balancing and sedative properties it is ideal for managing all types of negative emotional conditions and states of anxiety. Along with lavender, these two essential oils help to sooth and calm any stresses from your day. Launder your favourite work shirts or school uniforms with the Scented Wool Dryerball in Simply Fresh for clarity and peace of mind throughout your day.

Whichever load of laundry you’re drying, there’s a perfect Scented Dryerball for you!