Easy Green Tip #1 - Rinse Less & Air Dry

Here is the first in a series of Easy Green Living Tips this week. We hope you'll see how easy it is to make a few changes - often you'll be saving money and cutting down chemical exposure in addition to helping our planet! And if you are already doing these things, please accept our thanks for being Fashionably Responsible!


There's no point to buying fantastic chemical-free, organic, and naturally-dyed clothing if you're going to douse it in chemical laundry products, now is there? Laundry is one of the places in your home where you can get back to basics and avoid a whole lot of nasty chemicals, help the environment, and actually save some money.

Look for fabric washes that are petrochemical-free and concentrated so you can use less (this helps the companies make less and making less saves resources!) At Fashion Ethic, we like Eucalan, a new product from Canada, because not only is it chem-free, but also doesn't require rinsing, so you can save water (and money) in your handwashing and machine cycles. Available in 3 scents and unscented, Eucalan comes in two different sizes and costs about .12 cents a wash.

One of the best things you can do for your clothes is to treat them right, and air drying fabrics is always a good choice. Set up a great drying rack or line near your dryer or over the tub and for goodness sake, quit with the dryer sheets - did you know many contain animal fat in addition to nasty chemicals that stay on your clothes or sheets? Gross!

And while we're on the subject, let us warn you about the dryer balls you see marketed as an eco-friendly "non-toxic" option - an article from TreeHugger suggests they are not so 'eco' after all. They are made of PVC, which is a nasty chemical-laden plastic and the pair we had lasted only about 8 months before cracking and falling apart - guess what? They can't be recycled. Do I really want to throw 2 of these away every 8 months? NO!

Honestly, we know you need the dryer for some loads, so we recommend the Static Eliminator reusable "sheets" that can be found at Gaiam.com. The weave of the fabric does the work - no chemicals are involved, which also makes them a savior for those with sensitive skin or allergies. And since they're meant to last 500 loads, they should last you quite some time if you start using more air drying too!

Party Like It's Your Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

Do something nice for the earth and then do something nice for yourself...Celebrate the day and the official launch of Fashion Ethic with 20% off your next order AND receive one free black BAGGU bag with any order on Earth Day, Tuesday April 22nd. Use code LAUNCH20 at checkout to receive 20% off until April 30.

Not sure what to do for the earth today? It doesn't have to be hard! Don't underestimate the power of:

Turning off the Lights...Or the computer...or the XBox...or the toaster. Small appliances suck power even when they are "off", so do the power grid and your wallet a favor by keeping them on powerstrips which can be turned off or unplugging when not in use.

Taking a Hike...Of course walking instead of driving is better, but we're talking about getting back to nature. Meander up a mountain path or down a park lane, either way you'll feel more in tune with the planet and probably a whole lot less stressed. Enjoying your environment is beneficial to you and to your attitude about protecting it!

Telling a Story...Wish someone you know or someone you see a Happy Earth Day. Tell them one thing you've started doing or want to do to be more eco-conscious. Chances are, you'll learn a thing or two from them as well.

Taking a Break on Housework...Don't run the washer, dryer, or dishwasher unless you have a full load. And quit with the stinky cleaning supplies. There's a reason they smell so bad and it's not because they need to. Try natural cleaning solutions instead - they're cheaper and better for you and the fam'.