Momma In The Mitten

I’ve officially entered my Morally Grey Crunchy Era — a shift toward being more intentional about everyday choices without trying to overhaul everything all at once.

Laundry felt like a logical place to start. It’s routine, unavoidable, and one of those areas where small changes didn’t require learning a new system or adding more work to my day.

I wrote a separate post explaining what this era means to me and why I’m approaching things this way. It sets the tone for these kinds of swaps and the mindset behind them.

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Why Laundry Was My Starting Point

Laundry touches everything — but especially our skin.

Clothes, towels, and bedding sit against our bodies for hours at a time, day after day. Many conventional laundry products contain ingredients that don’t necessarily improve cleaning, but do add unnecessary exposure.

This often includes synthetic fragrances, dyes, optical brighteners, certain surfactants, and preservatives. Some of these ingredients are known to irritate skin or airways, while others — like synthetic fragrance — can contain compounds linked to hormone disruption.

There are also manufacturing byproducts, such as 1,4-dioxane, that can be present in trace amounts and are classified as probable carcinogens. Optical brighteners don’t clean fabric at all — they coat it to make it appear whiter and can linger on clothing and in waterways.

Because laundry products are used repeatedly and sit directly against skin, reducing unnecessary additives here felt like a practical starting point.

Why I Ditched Dryer Sheets

I switched to wool dryer balls years ago and haven’t had to replace them since.

Traditional dryer sheets are typically coated in synthetic fragrance and softening agents that activate with heat and transfer onto fabric. Dryer balls work mechanically instead — they help separate clothing, reduce static, and improve airflow without leaving residue behind.

Why I keep using them:

They last for years They reduce drying time There’s no coating left on clothes I’ve saved money by eliminating a repeat purchase

Some people add essential oils to dryer balls for scent. I don’t. I prefer to keep fragrance exposure minimal, especially since laundry scents can easily clash with hair products, body products, or perfume.

Clean clothes don’t need to smell like anything.

Why I Chose Unscented (and Powder)

I’m currently using Molly Suds Unscented Laundry Powder.

I chose a powder detergent intentionally. Liquid detergent is mostly water, those oversized plastic jugs add up quickly, and powder is easier to store and lasts longer.

The bigger factor, though, is fragrance.

“Fragrance” is often a catch-all term that can include phthalates and other compounds linked to hormone disruption, skin irritation, and respiratory sensitivity. When you layer laundry detergent on top of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, and sometimes perfume, it becomes a lot of competing synthetic scent exposure.

Since switching to unscented, I’ve had no issues with clothes smelling bad. When odor does happen, it’s usually not because detergent lacks fragrance. More often, it points to things like hard water, mineral buildup, or residue inside the washing machine. Testing water hardness or running a deep clean cycle on the washer can usually identify the source.

For anyone not tied to a specific brand, looking for unscented detergents or options that avoid synthetic fragrance, dyes, optical brighteners, and certain preservatives is a reasonable place to start. The goal isn’t finding the “cleanest” label — it’s choosing something you’ll actually use consistently.

A Stain Remover That Actually Works

One swap I was a little skeptical about at first was stain remover.

I used OxiClean for years, especially with kids, and didn’t expect to find something that worked as well — but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

I now use Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Remover, paired with a simple laundry brush, and it’s been extremely effective. Honestly, I think it works just as well — if not better — than when I was using OxiClean.

I spray it directly on stains, gently scrub with the brush, and wash as usual. It’s handled food stains, kid messes, and everyday wear without needing a soaking bucket or an extra product step.

This has been one of those swaps where performance actually exceeded expectations, which makes it easy to stick with.

Hang-Drying, Realistically

I love the idea of hang-drying more than the reality of it.

I do hang-dry delicates, sweaters, and items I want to last longer. Full-time line drying isn’t realistic for me — winter weather makes it impractical, and a permanent clothesline isn’t allowed by my HOA.

Even so, partial hang-drying helps. Clothes last longer, there’s less heat damage, and far fewer accidental shrinking incidents. I use a simple indoor drying rack when it’s convenient and move on when it’s not.

Choosing Better, Not More

These swaps are intentional.

I’m choosing products that reduce unnecessary chemical exposure, limit synthetic fragrance, and — where possible — are more environmentally responsible. Laundry is something we do constantly, and these changes felt like a realistic way to make an impact without disrupting everyday life.

If you’ve been thinking about switching up your laundry routine for similar reasons, these are genuinely solid products to look into. They’ve worked well for my family, and performance hasn’t been sacrificed in the process.

I’ll be putting together an Amazon storefront list with my current laundry must-haves so everything is easy to find in one place.

Longer-term, I’d like to experiment with a homemade laundry mix — but that’s not something I’m rushing into. I want to take the time to research it properly, understand ingredient ratios, and make sure whatever I try is effective and safe for my washing machine.

For now, this feels like the right balance: fewer toxins, less waste, and products that actually work.

That’s the direction I’m moving in — thoughtfully, on purpose, and at a pace that makes sense.

I’ll be updating this space as I continue testing swaps and refining what actually works for our household.

If you’re new here, make sure to check back every Tuesday for Turn the Page Tuesday — my weekly kids’ book recommendation — and weekly for recipes, homemaking, and more from this Morally Grey Crunchy corner of life.

Slow changes, good stories, and practical things worth keeping