In my quest to make my home more “green”, I use several Seventh Generation products. But I hadn’t tried their laundry products. Mainly because I’m so particular about getting our laundry clean. And I’m kind of set in my ways and use the same laundry detergent my mom used (and still does) when I was still living under her roof.

As moms, we already do so much to protect our family- buckling seatbelts, cooking healthy meals and requiring bike helmets. But did you know that the laundry detergent you may be using could contain little-known chemicals called optical brighteners? If you said, “no”, you’re not alone... because I wasn’t familiar with it either.

According to scientific research, these can cause allergic reactions, are toxic to small fish and other aquatic life, and can pollute your waterways.
When ultraviolet light hits optical brighteners coating your clothing, the brighteners convert UV rays into visible light to create an optical illusion. This tricks the eye into thinking the clothing is whiter and brighter, and therefore cleaner than it really is.

So how can you avoid these optical brighteners? Seventh Generation makes it easy because their laundry detergents are not only free of optical brighteners, but they’re also non-toxic . In addition, because Seventh Generation liquid laundry detergents are both hypo-allergenic and biodegradable, you can rest easy knowing you made a considerate choice for your family and the environment. We invite you to take part in this Spark and conduct your own experiment to see the difference between your current laundry detergent and Seventh Generation laundry detergent.

When washed in a conventional laundry detergent that contains optical brighteners, clothes appear to glow under a black light. When you use Seventh Generation liquid laundry products, you won’t see the same glow on your clothing.

MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation sent me a Seventh Generation laundry pack, along with two T-Shirts and a black light to do my own test with. Here’s a picture my results:

Both were identical organic cotton shirts I washed one in my conventional laundry detergent that contains optical brighteners (they I wasn’t even aware of) and the other in Seventh Generation laundry detergent which does not use optical brighteners. As you can see from the picture above the one done in my detergent has a… glow to it.

I’m sold.

I decided then and there that I was making a change and haven’t looked back. I love the Seventh Generation detergent, fabric softner and dryer sheets. Now, if you’re like me and love scented laundry, you will miss it at first. But the peace of mind I get knowing my laundry is eco-friendly and safe for my son, is well worth it.

If you haven’t tried Seventh Generation laundry products before (or have and would love some free stuff), here’s a great chance to do so. MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation is going to give one lucky reader a free Seventh Generation laundry prize pack. This is a quick contest so don’t miss out!  Here’s what you need to do:

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling us something you do to try and make your home or life more green.

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you subscribe to BlogbyDonna, leave 2 separate comments saying you subscribed.

• Follow my blog on FB (widget on the right sidebar) and leave 2 comments saying so, for 2 extra entries.
• Subscribe to my blog via email for 2 extra entries
• Grab my button and post a link to your blog for 3 extra entries.
• Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog for 3 entries.
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily for an extra entry each day). Just copy & paste and tweet this  - Win a Seventh Generation Laundry Prize Pack - http://bit.ly/gr5dxe (via @BeShirtHappy @MyBlogSpark @SeventhGen)

The winner will be selected on 01/26/11 at 5:00 pm EST via random.org and will be notified via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond. Congratulations Cheryl!!!!!

Just so you know: I was provided the product, information and prize packs from Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark to help facilitate my review… the opinions expressed are my own.

Oh, you can click here to save $1 on the purchase of any Seventh Generation Laundry Product.