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Laundry Hacks That Simplify & Save

June 2, 2020

I used to have so many bottles in my laundry area. I had one product each for:

  1. Whites
  2. Blacks
  3. Coloreds
  4. Delicates (for silks & wools)
  5. Stain-remover
  6. Non-chlorine Bleach

Then when we had a baby and started using reusable diapers + shifted to reusable pads, I had to add another one to the list:

  1. Baby detergent that’s safe for reusables

You need a separate detergent for reusable diapers/pads, because the normal detergents leave a film that causes the reusables to loose their absorbency. This is what also ruins towels and possibly keeps those pit stains locked in.

I was so frustrated with the amount of laundry items I had and they weren’t cheap either. So I decided to test something out. What if I used baby detergent for all our clothes?

WHY BABY DETERGENT?

I did a lot of reading on this and basically regular detergents contain chemical additives that are not only bad for the environment (they are not biodegradable and will harm sea/freshwater animals if released into the environment) but also can irritate sensitive baby skin.

Non-biodegradable materials can stick around for hundreds of years, polluting the environment and leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and water.

– The Problem with Optical Brighteners, HELLO NATURAL LIVING

What about detergents for sensitive skin that are fragrance/dye-free? They would probably still contain some of the ff:

  • Fabric softener
  • Phosphates
  • Optical or UV brighteners
  • Whiteners
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Stain guards
  • Wax
  • VOCs

SOFTENERS can cause residue build-up or retention of bacteria and ammonia which will result in an unpleasant odor. If not rinsed properly these additives can also affect baby’s sensitive skin. Why risk it right?

OPTICAL BRIGHTENER add chemicals to your clothes, instead of removing stains – like an optical illusion. It’s better & safer to use the sun to whiten your clothes instead of loading your clothes with chemicals that can affect your skin and lungs.

Optical brighteners may be potentially toxic to humans and “Aminotriazine- or stilbene-based whiteners may cause developmental and reproductive effects.”

– Optical Brighteners Not Needed, THE SPRUCE

These substances can also bioaccummulate into aquatic life and pose a hazard over extended period of time not just to aquatic life but also to the humans who consume them. Source: ALKUHME

Another thing to be wary of are chemical scents that contain VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds. I’m happy because Tiny Buds uses only Natural Fragrances.

Using scented products (which include items such as perfumes, hair sprays, air fresheners, and paints) emit the same amount of chemical vapors as petroleum emissions from cars

– Perfume Air Pollution Study, ALLURE

I don’t want my baby to be exposed to any of these nasty ingredients so we also shifted our whole household, even the helper’s clothes, because we all deserve nasty-free products that won’t cause skin and respiratory irritation. Besides babies are in close contact with our clothes when we carry and cuddle them. It’s not worth asthma and skin problems!

CAN I USE BABY DETERGENT FOR ALL OUR CLOTHING?

After years of using Tiny Buds New Born Laundry Detergent, I can happily answer you yes! And guess what? My blacks are still black, my whites are still super white and coloreds are still – you guessed it! – vibrantly colored!

Be sure to test first if you are using a different brand. My laundry area is simple now. Just 1 detergent for all + stain remover + non-chlorine bleach. That’s it! It really simplified our lives, laundry area & routine.

We can now wash our laundry together and save water. Just place baby’s clothes in a separate laundry bag from the adults clothing laundry bag. We use laundry bags for everything we place inside our washing machine. This helps keep clothes in good condition for longer.

The next question is always:

AREN’T BABY DETERGENTS EXPENSIVE?

Yes a lot of them are and this basically discourages people from using it for the whole family. But thank God I found a powerful and effective plant-based product that’s affordable locally, called Tiny Buds. It’s so concentrated that I only need to use very little.

I love the Tiny Buds liquid laundry detergent because it’s natural, only uses natural fragrance and super concentrated.

I only use 1 TABLESPOON Tiny Buds Liquid Laundry detergent per 7.5kg washing machine load! You read that right! The reason I am able to do this is because I have a really amazing laundry hack below.

If you don’t have Tiny Buds in your area, you can test whatever baby detergent you have to see if 1 tbsp will do. But do not forget to apply the hacks below too so you don’t need to add detergent for laundry that is soiled. These hacks have saved us money for detergent & replacing stained/ruined clothes.

MONEY-SAVING LAUNDRY HACKS

  1. Place all your laundry into laundry bags when using a washing machine.
  2. Do not mix heavier fabrics with lighter fabrics in the wash. For example, I always wash towels, large beddings & jeans separately. Each of these categories is washed separately because they weigh more and/or are much larger. They will damage smaller, lighter items if washed together.
  3. Prevent stains instead of removing them. The moment you get a stain or as soon as you can, spray immediately with a solution of 1/3 liquid laundry detergent + 2/3 water, before throwing it into the laundry basket. I keep a spray bottle of this solution near the laundry hamper in each of our bathrooms.
  4. If you each take responsibility to spray stains and stinky bits (underarm, crotch, collar, etc) before throwing things in the laundry, it is more effective and saves more time than expecting one person to pretreat & spray all these areas before doing a load of laundry. This is the reason why I can use only 1 tbsp per 7.5 load. I recommend you experiment until you get the least amount of soap you need per load in your washing machine.
  5. Never dry and iron stains because this makes them permanent. This applies to pit-stains too. I can’t tell you how many clothes were ruined until we applied the spray your own stinkies/dirt bits rule in our home.
  6. Also have a small basin in your bathroom, so you can spray & soak used reusable diapers and pads. The reason we soak this is so that the urine/blood doesn’t dry. For other items, just spray with the diluted laundry soap. NO NEED TO ADD WATER.
View this post on Instagram

Tired of stains in your clothes that become permanent because they were dried and iron on before they were totally removed? An easy fix is to have a spray bottle of 1/3 baby detergent like @tinybudsbaby + 2/3 water in each bathroom. Shake well and spray onto stinky or stained bits like the collar, armpits, crotch, etc before throwing your clothes into the laundry hamper. This way the stain is 1) pre-treated while it's fresh and 2) you do not need to add soap to your load of wash. I always just use ONE TABLESPOON of Tiny Buds New Born detergent for each 7.5kg wash load. And I use it for the whole family, for blacks, whites, colored, delicates, reusable pads and diapers. IT WORKS FOR ALL. So instead of having 5 bottles of different detergents, you only have one that is safe not just for baby but for the whole family. Adults deserve safe products too. Many moms say it doesn't smell strong enough, but that lack of artificial scents means there are less VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds that are harming your family's health. If you are experiencing respiratory problems, asthma, allergies, eye, nose or throat irritation, lessening products with artificial scents like air fresheners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, disinfectants, dish detergents, all-purpose cleaners, soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorants, and shampoos will help. Instead put a few drops of your favorite Essential Oils or EOs in your laundry wash and shift to products that use only NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS for scent. Do your research! According to experts long term exposure to indoor VOCs can cause liver or kidney damage and even cancer. Indoor VOCs don’t just come from the paint, lacquers, and varnishes on our walls and furniture but also from our home and personal care products. So choose wisely mamas! Swipe to see it in action! If you found this post helpful please tag a friend below or share this post with someone who would find my #undiplomama tips helpful! #DiploPicks

A post shared by Ayessa | UnDiplomaticWife (@undiplomaticwife) on Apr 12, 2020 at 7:46pm PDT

  1. You can use old spray bottles or you can buy spray bottles from here.
  2. Or you can just have Tiny Buds Laundry & Stain Remover spray in each bathroom.

HOW TO USE TINY BUDS STAIN REMOVER

This natural & fast-acting stain remover can be used for all your stain removing needs. Not just for baby. Remove tough stains from family’s clothes, beddings & towels without any harsh chemicals.

  • Made with Natural Enzymes that loosen tough stains quickly before washing.
  • No pre-soaking needed so saves time and water! Just spray ASAP on the stain before throwing in the wash.
  • Works amazing on organic stains like
    • dirty diaper stains
    • baby food
    • baby formula
    • vomit
    • sweat
    • blood
    • gelatin
    • sauces
    • oils
    • dairy products (milk & cheese)
    • fruits
    • wine
    • chocolate
    • and so much more!
  • IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Will not work on ink therefore it will also not fade the color of your clothes.
  • Simple step by step instructions in the video below.

#UDWTINYBUDSGIVEAWAY WINNERS

I love how Tiny Buds Baby has helped me simplify & save over the past 4 years SO MUCH that I wanted to share their wonderful, natural, nasty-free products to you guys. This is why I asked if they would sponsor this giveaway. Thank you for agreeing Tiny Buds Team & being so generous!!!

Thank you to everyone who joined our Instagram giveaway last 27 May. We really appreciated getting to know so many of you better and hearing your stories as moms. We really felt all the love!

View this post on Instagram

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Hello Metro Manila Mamas! I wanted to share with you a brand that has not only simplified my life & laundry area for the past few years, but has also saved us money, & made our household safer & greener. So thankful that @tinybudsbaby said yes to sponsoring this giveaway! THREE LUCKY WINNERS will each receive everything in this photo worth P1,130: 1. Newborn Liquid Laundry Wash 1.5L 2. Natural Laundry Powder 1kg 3. Stain Remover 200ml 4. Natural Bottle & Dish Wash 600ml Open to mamas who are based in Metro Manila because we will be sending the prizes through Lalamove! HOW TO JOIN: 1. Follow @undiplomaticwife & @tinybudsbaby. 2. Like this post and in the comments below, tell us about yourself, your family & why you would want to win these products. 3. In the same comment please also tag 3 lovely mommy friends. 4. Repost & share this giveaway on your feed & stories using hashtag #udwtinybudsgiveaway! Don’t forget to tag us both so we can see the reposts! 5. Like, comment, repost & engage with as many of our IG posts & stories as possible in the next week (must be both @undiplomaticwife & @tinybudsbaby) to be sure we remember you when we are both deciding on the winners. The 3 MOST MEMORABLE FOLLOWERS win! The more you engage, ask questions about the products & how it can declutter our lives as moms, the better your chances of winning. Excited to get to know you better!!! Please make sure that comments & DMs are unique – no spamming with the same comment over & over please. Winner will be announced by 2 June. Best of luck Mamas! #giveawaymanila

A post shared by Ayessa | UnDiplomaticWife (@undiplomaticwife) on May 27, 2020 at 1:12am PDT

The THREE LUCKY WINNERS of all the Tiny Buds Baby products pictured below worth Php 1,130 are:

@_iamchean_
@greautism_son
@kiarramei

It was a difficult decision because there were a lot of entries, but we got to know these winners on a personal level that made them the 3 most unforgettable.

Congratulations winners! Please don’t forget to DM your complete Metro Manila shipping details to Tiny Buds Baby, so they can ship your prizes via Lalamove.

READ: OTHER NON-TOXIC HOME PRODUCTS & TIPS

Sources: HELLO NATURAL LIVING | BABYGEAR LAB

4 Comments · Diplo Mama, manila shopping

Comments

  1. twinmama_sarah says

    June 2, 2020 at 6:20 PM

    Love all these.I am very satisfied with their products very affordable and very safe and Effective 🙂

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      June 2, 2020 at 10:38 PM

      Thanks so much Sarah! Is there any tips here that you would like to apply to your home?

      Reply
  2. Rein Loves says

    June 5, 2020 at 6:52 AM

    I really found it very useful mommy Ayessa Thank you for sharing this hack to us. makes me wanna try the Tiny buds stain remover

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      June 6, 2020 at 3:06 PM

      Most welcome! The stain remover is great. In the meantime try to prepare a diluted spray with whatever soap you are using now to prevent stains. =) Happy you found the hacks useful!

      Reply

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Welcome

Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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Recent Posts

TRAVEL DIARIES: Fischer’s Fritz Zürich

Summer hack: Portable Neck Fan

Summer hack: Leguano Barefoot Wet/Dry Shoes

Excellent Chinese Food at Le Tsé Fung in La Réserve

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DISCLOSURE

I am an Amazon affiliate, but all opinions are my own. The content of all my blog and social media posts are products and experiences that I truly enjoy and I only work with brands that fit my life and style.

GOOD TO KNOW GUIDE

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @UNDIPLOMATICWIFE

I love Halloween because it’s super fun for @dip I love Halloween because it’s super fun for @diplobaby. I love how his eyes light up. Before I was a parent, there was no reason to decorate.

Glad there is now a @gifi.ch near us with affordable HALLOWEEN DECOR & COSTUMES. 🧛‍♂️ 

I hope you enjoy seeing what they have in this short video! 👻 

It’s not lost on me how much plastic is used during Halloween, from the polyester costumes to the decor elements. 

ECO TIPS:

🎃 I usually slowly built up my Halloween decor. I buy 2-4 pieces each year

🎃 I take good care of them & store properly so I can reuse for years to come. It’s never singe use!

🎃 I also don’t throw away as much as possible. If there is damage, I repair.

🎃 If i dont use something anymore, I pass them on to others by selling it for a fraction of the price on Marketplace.

🎃 If it doesn’t sell, I pass them on the Pay it Forward Nyon group or place them in the donation pile in our dechetterie where others can take them.

🎃 if it’s not repairable, I take it apart so that the materials can be recycled.

🍭 As for TREATS, I hate the PLASTIC wrapped candy 🍬 so we usually give PAPER wrapped mini chocolate bars.

⛑️ HEALTH TIP:

If a piece of decor or costume SMELLS STRONGLY OF PLASTIC, DO NOT BUY IT! That’s toxic VOCs leaching into the air. It’s not good for you!

What about you? How do you try to have a sustainable Healthy-ish Halloween?🤪

I usually go in the same costume every year. Change is overrated lol. What about you? Do you know what your wearing this year?

#UDWinGeneva #udwholidays #udwhalloween
HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport? We are very lucky th HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport?

We are very lucky that the Geneva Airport is very near because it is located 4 km northwest of the city centre. It takes us less than 15mins by car & is easier to get to than airports outside the city.

BUT also means that many of the Geneva residents suffer from AIRCRAFT NOISE POLLUTION. 

In some parts of Geneva, like Vernier, Meyrin, Bellevue, Versoix, etc will have the airplane pass on top of you or very near you. This is something to consider when you are MOVING TO GENEVA & looking for a home.

When we were in @bioparcgeneve recently, it felt like airplane after airplane was going overhead every few mins. The poor animals were screaming each time.

A  report by the European Environment Agency(EEA) in 2017 said that 12% or 73,500 Geneva residents have their hearing disturbed by aircraft noise. Probably the figures have risen with the natural increase population & travel?

“The EEA describes noise as a pervasive pollutant that directly affects the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Populations exposed to high noise levels can exhibit stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. All of these can contribute to premature mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that humans exposed to noise levels above 40 decibels at night experience adverse health effects.

Across Europe it is estimated that noise contributed to at least 900,000 additional cases of hypertension in 2011.” - @le_news_ch 

DID YOU KNOW that owners of homes affected by the noise can request for soundproofing to be paid for by GVA? 

Check if your home meets the conditions for FREE SOUNDPROOFING c/o Genève Aéroport here:

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Geneve-Aeroport/Questions-Reponses-FAQ/Bruit#

SAVE or SHARE this now with someone you know who might be moving to Geneva or is already suffering from aircraft #noisepollution. 

#UDWinGeneva #UDWgenevagoodtoknow #expatingeneva #diplofamily #expatlife #genevaswitzerland #expatingeneva #filipinoingeneva #pinoyingeneva #movingtogeneva #movingtoswitzerland #movingtogeneva #genevaexpats #switzerlandexpatlife #geneva #genevaswitzerland
MERCADONA HAUL Whenever we go to Spain, we love t MERCADONA HAUL

Whenever we go to Spain, we love to go to @mercadona. It might be small but has a good affordable selection. It’s my thrifty Spanish MIL’s favorite.

We were so lucky that we had a @mercadona right beside our hotel Marina Badalona. Very convenient.
Our favorite things to bring home are:

☕️ frozen porras (bigger than churros)

🐑 baby lamb chops (the only lamb I eat coz it’s not malangsa & all you need to do is fry till crispy in olive oil with S&P) it’s called Chuletas Cabrito but TD calls it lechal 

🐽 chicharon or crispy pork rinds

🥔 Homemade potato chips. The best potato chips for me are from Spain. I don’t know how it’s so much yummier! The olive oil???

🎣 canned Sardines & tuna for me and Yaya B

TIPS:

🧊 For frozen items, we usually ask the hotel before we buy if they can put it in their freezer until we fly.

✍️ I usually bring different sizes ZIPLOCK BAGS, MASKING TAPE & MARKER when we travel so we can put everything in, label with our name and room number.

📸 then I take a photo so we can just show it to the staff and they can easily find it in their freezer.

✈️ When it’s time to pack, I placed our beach towels around the frozen packages coz I know they will SWEAT & I don’t want our other things to get wet 💦 

What  grocery do you usually like to shop for when in Spain? Where do you buy them?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries #udwtraveltips #udwtraveltip #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW C FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW Calisthenics Park 

📍Chem. des Tuileries 140, 1293 Bellevue

After the lovely BIOPARC we headed across to this chill park with ample PARKING that had so many things for kids & anyone who wants to move & work out:

⚽️ The kids wanted to kick around a football so we borrowed a ball from @boxup.app (they also have pumps, 🏓, 🏐, 🏀, etc) just download the app & turn on your Bluetooth & follow instructions! Return after 3hrs.

👟 Outdoor gym - this was a huge hit with the kids

⚽️ football - this too!

🏀 basketball court

🏓 Ping-pong 

🏐 Beach volleyball court

🤸🏻 Monkey bars

🛝 small playground

Thanks for the wonderful afternoon guys @lidia_otilia_botezatu! 
How lucky are we to have these beautiful, clean open spaces. And the free rental gear is AMAZING! so convenient.

This is in Geneva, about 15mins drive from where we live.

SAVE THIS on your list of PARKS to visit!

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. It’s not as close as the bioparc but bring earplugs/earphones if you are sensitive.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
BIOPARC GENÈVE Yesterday was a holiday in Switze BIOPARC GENÈVE

Yesterday was a holiday in Switzerland (except for Geneva). It was raining & miserable so I wanted to take @diplobaby out for a few hours. Thankfully midafternoon it stopped raining.

We met with our friends @lidia_otilia_botezatu in @bioparcgeneve and had a lovely time in this volunteer run zoo.

TIPS💡

🆓 It’s free for families on your FIRST visit!

🦢 you walk inside animal enclosures so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty/stepping on poop. We wore boots & happy we did

🅿️ there’s parking inside on wood chips, if it’s full there’s another pavement parking (free up to 4hrs) across the roundabout 

🦔 Do not feed or touch the animals no matter how cute they are

🗺️ There are 2 routes (purple & blue) and 1-1.5hrs #diplshould be enough 

❎ Park closes at 4pm

SAVE THIS NOW if your looking for a fun & not too you can do in well und2hrs. It’s nice that you can go inside unlike most zoos so it’s quite unique.

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. @diplobaby who is super noise sensitive did not mind as much as I thought he would because he was so entertained by the animals.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
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