Articles

BY MARILEE NELSON

If you have been using conventional laundry care products that contain toxic chemicals, then you should decontaminate your washer and dryer. The toxic products deposit a residue in the washers and dryers that can be difficult to fully remove. It may take some time, depending on what the machines were contaminated with, but the effort will be well worth it. Please read the entire protocol before you begin.

Products

• Branch Basics- Helps break down and neutralize chemical residues. Available at Three Branches.
• BOC (Unscented) – Helps to break down chemicals, neutralizes mycotoxins from mold and decomposes hydrocarbons. Available from Medina Company (http://www.hastagro.com/ or 888-249-1124)
• Baking Soda – Available from your local grocery store
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Regular 3% Peroxide. Available from your local grocery store.

Detoxifying Your Washer

TOP-LOADING MACHINES

• Fill washer with hot water
• Add one or more of the following:
  • Up to 2 quarts of hydrogen peroxide
  • 2 lb box of baking soda
  • ½ - 1 cup Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics)
• Let sit overnight
• Run through full cycle
• Repeat as many times as necessary using a variety of the above options
• Additional treatments:
  • Affresh (www.affresh.com) - Odor removal (mold, mildew, fragrance). Helps to remove fabric softener and detergent odors. Will take numerous treatments. This is available from Lowe’s, Home Depot, Krogers, Sears, Best Buy. Designed for front loaders, but can try in top loading machine. (Note: this product has an odor, but it will dissipate. If chemically sensitive, please have someone else treat the washer and dryer.)
  • Spray Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics) in washer when not running.

HE (HIGH EFFICIENCY) FRONT LOADING MACHINES

• Fill washer with hot water
• Add one or more of the following
• Additional treatments:
  • Up to 2 quarts hydrogen peroxide
  • ½ - 1 cup Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics)
  • Run through full cycle
  • Repeat as many times as necessary using a variety of the above options
• Fill washer with hot water
• Additional treatments:
  • Affresh (www.affresh.com) - Odor removal (mold, mildew, fragrance). Helps to remove fabric softener and detergent odors. Will take numerous treatments. This is available from Lowe’s, Home Depot, Krogers, Sears, Best Buy. Designed for front loaders, but can try in top loading machine. (Note: this product has an odor, but it will dissipate. If chemically sensitive, please have someone else treat the washer and dryer.)
  • Spray Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics) in washer when not running

Detoxifying your Dryer

ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING:

Use Medina’s BOC
• Spray undiluted BOC on the dryer interior
• Close dryer for 1 hour
• Open up and ventilate
• Spray a damp towel with BOC and run through a drying cycle

Use Branch Basics
• Spray Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics) on the dryer interior
• Spray a damp towel with Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics) and run through a drying cycle
• Also, can spray Branch Basics (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics) on the dryer interior when dryer is not in use

Repeat this process until all odors are gone. Unfortunately, this could take several weeks.