use as many natural products as possible

but I decided to try out those As Seen On TV dryer balls. And they work surprisingly well. There’s a little static, and my clothes aren’t as fluffy soft as fabric softener makes them, but neither are they just-off-the-line scratchy.

No clue on whether they speed drying time…if so, it wasn’t by a drastic amount. They do recommend using two (or more!) sets for this, though…and considering how much they’ll save me in fabric softener costs (if they really last as long as the package says, they’ll save quite a lot), I might spring for another pair.

Plus, they’re just as cute as a couple of alien baby podlings:

They also bounce when you toss them in an empty dryer. Yes, I am easily amused.

I seem to be accumulating chemical sensitivities. Aspartame gives me horrible stomach cramps – not a huge deal, since the only place I really encounter it is gum and mints. Nair makes me break out in a rash (and doesn’t remove the hair)...that bummed me out, but I can always shave. Makeup makes my eyes itch and burn, so I don’t wear it much anymore.

But now I’ve got this off-and-on tummy rash which drives me insane. I’ve switched to fragrance/dye free laundry soap and baby soap shower gel, to no avail. I’ve got to think it’s the chemicals in the soaps themselves that set me off. So I’ve been reading up on castile soap and chlorine filters for the shower…haven’t made any purchases yet, but I’m considering them.

I’m also thinking about everything else I eat, drink, and use. Many of the chemicals I encounter are not so easily avoided, but maybe cutting back on them would help me. And if I could find simpler, more natural replacements for some of the products I use, it might save me money in the long run.