Most laundry products contain irritants and toxic ingredients, as well as phosphates which build up in streams, lakes and waterways, causing blooms of algae that deplete the dissolved oxygen fish and other aquatic organisms need to live. Try switching to nontoxic products, including nonchlorine bleach and essential oil-infused laundry liquid and dryer sachets. For cotton and linen, use soap to soften water. One-half to three-quarters of a cup of baking soda will leave clothes soft and smelling fresh. A cup of vinegar added to the wash can help keep colors bright.

Excerpted from The Healthy Home Workbook: Easy Steps for Eco Living by Kimberly Rider (Chronicle, 2006)