along time ago, i read someplace that watering with exhaust water from washer was good for garden. i'm trying to stay all organic. my sister has cancer and the doctor wants her to eat only organic food. i guess if i did this it would blow the all work i've put into organic growing. it would save money on water and recycle a precise resource. anyone have any ideas?
thank you.
bagins

The water from your washer will be loaded with dirt, grime, and the chemicals you use to wash your clothes. Better to send it down the sewers and let your home town water company clean it up.

Just reading a label of a detergent ought to be enough to tell you whether or not you want those chemicals in your soil.

Soaps are made of materials found in nature, fats and lye, which are biodegradeable. Detergents are synthetic (although some of the ingredients are natural); they were developed during World War II when oils to make soap were scarce. Surfactants are used to "cut" grease and control foaming, but are bad for the environment.

There is little doubt that soap is better for your health and the environment than detergents. Detergents are very toxic to fish and wildlife.

Interestingly enough, I got out a box of Tide to look at the ingredients, they weren't listed. I went to their site and they weren't to be found. I certainly want to know what I'm using next to my skin and putting in the septic tank, but they're not going to tell me. :O

There are laundry soap recipes made with pure soap flakes, Ivory, and a few other ingredients that are biodegradeable and safe. They don't always perform as well with hard water, which is why detergents use surfactants and other ingredients, to keep that grayish look from happening to laundry.

This is called grey water irrigation. It can be a great benefit to dry areas. However, it is NEVER recommended for use on food crops, whether vegetables or fruit trees. So feel free to use it on ornamentals to save water.

Good for the doctor to insist on organic food! There are certain foods that are supposed to be good for cancer, and I have a list if I can figure out how to get it from my files to this site. Maybe tomorrow. Here's more info on grey water:

http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/

AS Jennifer has stated there are some few enlightened places that not only allow "grey water" to be used but encourage that use by changing the health codes to permit it. Check with your local health department to see if what you want to do is permitted by your states health code, and if mot work with your state legislature to get that changed.