Many popular laundry detergents, including brands such as Tide, contain chemicals that can be harmful to health and the environment. Understanding these hazardous ingredients and their potential effects can help consumers make better informed choices about their laundry products.
What Ingredients are in the Mainstream Detergents?
The majority of Laundry Detergents on the market contain ingredients and chemicals that are extremely harmful to your health. Ingredients such as surfactants, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Detergents can also be contaminated with harmful byproducts like 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen that may be present in trace amounts due to the manufacturing process.
More chemicals commonly found in Detergent, are ingredients such as Styrene, (also called “vinylbenzene,” “ethenylbenzene,” “cinnamene,” or “phenylethylene.” Styrene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can pose serious health problems. It is listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” according to The National Library of Medicine. The most common types of cancer it has been linked to are leukemia and lymphoma; and it is also considered a neurotoxin. Since it can be found in laundry detergent, our bodies not only inhale it, but also absorb it into our skin.
Fragrances can also be found in the majority of laundry detergents on the market. The term “fragrance” on an ingredient list is not required to specify what is actually in it (yes, even if it says “contains essential oils.”) The cheapest fragrances are made with chemicals, which may contain VOC’s that release into the air for us to inhale. In addition, fragrances have also been proven to disrupt endocrine systems in both male and females. Just think, doctors and nurses working in fertility clinics are not allowed or ill-advised to wear perfume, strange right? Another common unknown fact about fragrances is they increase the risk of skin cancer! That’s right, it’s not just the sun. Everything that comes in contact with our skin has the ability to heal or damage it. Unfortunately, the majority of our skin and household products contain such harmful ingredients that skin cancer is actually rising rather than going down.
Luckily, with careful consideration of the products we choose, we can make better informed decisions to lessen the risk of health problems. While there are many options online and in stores that appear to be non toxic, some of them do still contain harmful ingredients. Below are options that are labeled accordingly. If it’s easier to shop in stores than online, just look for the ones that have the least harmful ingredients! Non-toxic doesn’t always mean perfect, sometimes it just means finding the least harmful option.
Good
Better
Best
I did include brands such as “Seventh Generation” in the “Good” category. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these, but they are probably the best option if you have to shop in store. Always look for fragrance free when possible! My personal favorite is the “Pronounce Unscented Powder.” It does a great job of deep cleaning clothes without any of the toxic ingredients!