Understanding What Toxins Exist In Laundry Detergent & How To Limit Your Exposure
Introduction
Educating yourself on which materials are truly made with end-to-end toxin-free processing, and being able to spot harmful chemicals in your clothing, are positive steps in creating a sustainable wardrobe.
Now that you're able to navigate quality clothing, how do you launder it?
Chemicals have continuously been integrated into our daily lives over the years. The National Library of Medicine states since World War II, approximately 80,000 new commercial synthetic chemicals have been released into the environment, with approximately 1500 new chemicals released annually.
The US and EU have taken notice. As a result, there are many organizations making progress in helping to reduce toxins in our everyday lives. A recent TRI report (Toxics Release Inventory) shows that toxic chemical releases have declined 21% in 10 years, proving we are moving in the right direction.
Laundry detergent is a necessary everyday item, but between the plastic used in packaging and the harmful toxic ingredients, many people may not be aware that by doing their laundry using many of the household laundry detergent brands, they may be unintentionally exposing themselves and their family to harmful toxins.
Whether you're using laundry detergent sheets, pods, or liquid, it's important to be aware of the eco friendly laundry detergent and natural laundry detergent options that exist. Many people with sensitive skin or allergies may have already taken steps to find nontoxic laundry detergents but we are going to run through an overview of what to look out for and some healthier alternatives.
Impact of Harmful Toxins In Our Laundry Detergents
The main ingredient in laundry detergents is surfactants. That is where conventional laundry detergents get their cleaning power from and what separates a stain from the fabric.
Beginning in the 1950's, the original soap surfactants were replaced with synthetic detergents such as branched alkylbenzene sulfonates. Since these sulfonates aren't completely biodegradable and end up in wastewater which poses an environmental threat, each subsequent decade introduced an alternative.
Surfactants are very harmful to marine life and can cause foam production, decrease oxygen absorption, and disrupt the hydrological cycle in water bodies. A biodegradable surfactant is a better solution because they break down naturally and significantly reduce a negative impact on the environment.
1,4 dioxane is another harmful toxin that is a byproduct of when ethylene oxide reacts with other chemicals to create a surfactant. The tricky part here is that 1,4-dioxane may not be on the ingredient list because it is not intentionally added.
1,4 dioxane has been identified as a known carcinogen and can increase the risk of cancer with long-term exposure. NY State has gone as far as banning any laundry detergents with more than two parts per million (PPM) of a probable human carcinogen.
A recent study proved popular brands such as Arm & Hammer Clean Burst, Tide Original, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear, and Gain Original + Aroma Boost all contained more than 3 PPM of 1,4-Dioxane.
Chlorine Bleach is a well known oxidizing agent used in most laundry detergents and household cleaners because it is a strong disinfectant, removes stains and can help keep your whites white! However chlorine bleach can also cause skin irritation and negatively react with sensitive tissues such as your respiratory system and eyes.
You may have personally noticed your own body's reactions if you've cleaned with bleach before. Although it may seem like a quick fix to use chlorine bleach to remove tough stains, it's not very gentle on fabrics. If it is not diluted properly, the chemical can actually weaken clothing fibers and cause them to deteriorate quickly.
Other harmful toxins in laundry:
- Phosphates
- Formaldehyde
- Synthetic Fragrance
- Optical Brighteners
Liquid Laundry Detergent vs Laundry Sheets vs Powders
The first benefit to note is the various levels of convenience and stain removal power between laundry liquid detergent, sheets, and powders.
When it comes to liquids, you can choose how much to use but the bottle itself can be heavy, messy and made of plastic which is commonly known to contribute to landfills - 70% of high-density polyethylene laundry jugs end up in landfills and release toxins into the environment.
Liquid detergent is known to remove oil stains well though. Laundry sheets are very easy to store and the sheet itself is premeasured to help eliminate waste and mess. Yet there is a lack of stain-fighting power in laundry sheets, which can be disappointing for someone trying to transform to a sustainable household.
There are several consumer reports stating laundry sheets are overall poor cleaners. Powders are arguably the most effective for heavy stains, especially in hot water, but can also be heavy and messy to store as well. The fighting power behind laundry powders lifting stains is from oxygen being released when dissolved in water.
A downside to powders however is that some may leave a white residue if washing in cold water, not ideal!
So what kinds of toxic free laundry detergents exist in the market?
Top 5 Non-Toxic Laundry Brands to Try
Here's a list of the best non toxic laundry detergents:
How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
Recent trends show lots of people preferring to "make their own" everything, from sourdough starter to now laundry detergent. It may take a few tries to get it right for your preference, and we suggest staying away from Borax if possible. Borax can also cause skin irritation and hurt your nose, throat and lungs if breathed in.
Let's stay away from any toxic triggering ingredients!
This recipe has proven to work in hot or cold washes and is a good alternative if you're looking for non toxic laundry soap.
- 1/2 cup Epsom Salt (helps to soften clothing)
- 1 1/2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda)
- 1 1/2 cups Sodium Carbonate (washing soda)
- 1/4 cup sea salt (helps to lift stains and prevent colors from fading)
- Optional 20-25 drops Essential Oils
