As you can imagine, as a family of seven we wash quite a bit. In fact, I feel like I'm never not washing! There is always a load of laundry waiting, a hand wash soaking or a pile of clean laundry ready to be folded and put away...

Because I wash so much, I've become quite aware of the amount of environmental damage because of the detergent we use as well as the amount of plastic bottles we throw away. So over time, I have started to use ecological laundry detergents that I believe are less damaging for the environment (and at the same time, less damaging for our skin as well).

First of all, I have started to use ecological laundry detergents of brands that claim they are polluting our planet less, using plant derived and bio-degradable ingredients. I like companies that are constantly working to make their products better, not just in terms of efficiency but also in terms of sustainability. Packaging is important too -- avoiding (virgin) plastics wherever we can.

I realise that in every country there are different ecological laundry detergents on the market, but still wanted to list a few products I like using here:

Ecological laundry detergents

• Marseille soap: Marius Fabre offers a nice assortment of products for the laundry. I use the 'Savon the Marseille' flakes to soak especially dirty clothes (baby poo!) before I wash them in the machine. Marseille soap is 100% plant based and is entirely biodegradable. The flakes come in a cardboard box that can go in the recycling.

• Have you ever heard of the 'soap nut'? The shells of the Sapindus mukorossi fruit, which grow in abundance in India and Nepal, will release a natural form of soap when in touch with water. It gently cleanses your laundry and acts as a natural fabric softener. It's been used in India and Nepal for thousands of years and is now available in the Netherlands (two young guys started 'Seepje' during their studies). I have been washing our clothes with soap nuts quite regularly, and it does a good job. If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the compartment. (I haven't tried this yet but I like the idea of it.)

• Seepje also provides a liquid detergent that I like to use for delicate laundry that I wash on a lower temperature. This product comes in a plastic bottle, but it is made from (Dutch) recycled plastic and is fully recyclable.

• The Laundress is a NY based company started by two women who were looking to improve the soap industry. They have an extensive range of ecological laundry and cleaning products. I love the 'chic' branding and the scents they use are so lovely. It makes doing the laundry feel special! However, the plastic bottles are wasteful, and the price point is high, so I only use these products sporadically. (I particularly like their wool & cashmere shampoo.)

• For all 'normal' laundry (towels, bedsheets, sportswear, jeans, etc) I use a powder detergent from an ecological brand (Ecover). It comes in a cardboard box, so it doesn't create plastic waste.

I like using a soap cubes to spot clean and to pre-treat stains or difficult areas (like collars, under-arm, bra straps etc). And I also use them to hand wash. Above, you see my collection :). The big block is Marseille soap. Next to it, The Laundress lovely wash & stain bar (smells so great!). And that steel tool behind is a wire soap shaker. It fits the bar shaped Marseille soap in the front and I use it to create soapy water to hand wash. To treat stubborn stains, I sometimes use an old toothbrush. The above examples are all plastic free and made from natural ingredients (vegetable oils).

Additional to choosing detergents with care, here are some other things I think of when I do laundry:

My attempts to wash cleaner

• I make sure my machine is full when I wash a load (not much of a problem with 5 children!)

• Cleaning rags, towels and bedsheets are the only items I wash on high temperatures.

• Even though I do use a dryer (it is unavoidable at the moment), I try to line dry as much as I can.

• I wash our own bedsheets weekly, but the children's beds get changed just once every 2 weeks.

• I carefully look if clothes really need to be washed or if they can be spot cleaned and worn a second or third time. (Except underwear, obviously.)

• Wintery woollens do not need a lot of washing as wool has self cleaning properties. Air drying is often sufficient.

• I NEVER use fabric conditioners. It is an extra product I believe we do not need to spoil our energy or money on... Plus, I feel it only creates more waste. I personally do not like the (often artificial) scents anyway. I also do not like the feeling of towels that are washed with a fabric softener. They just do not absorb well! (I actually prefer a slightly more 'rough' towel. As my grandmother used to say, it is a great skin exfoliator and it helps our blood circulation!) Some say a fabric conditioner makes their clothes less static. However, we almost exclusively own clothes made from natural fibers so this has never been an issue for us...

Do you have any thoughts about doing your laundry in a more environmental friendly way or do you have tips or great products to share? I would love to hear!

xxx Esther