Detergents react less to minerals in water and for all practical purposes are the product of choice for laundry, unless you have very soft water. If you choose to wash your clothes or dishes with a detergent, you can ensure the least possible damage to the environment by selecting the most biodegradable products. Health food stores sell detergents that are made with renewable materials instead of petroleum-based ingredients, and with natural essential oil fragrance and no dyes. They also sell liquid vegetable-oil soaps called castile soap. I've tried everything I can think of, including baking soda and white vinegar in the wash.
Nothing seems to work.
Brian Dear Brian, I posed the question to an indoor air quality list serve. Let me know how this works. But be prepared. Simplify the process by matching the organizations to the hobbies and interests of the recipient. Here are a few possibilities.