Everyone loves the fresh smell of laundry! However, some of those fresh scents actually come with a long list of negative health effects.
Unfortunately, many of the mainstream laundry detergents that fill the shelves of grocery stores are actually quite harmful to your health. Here’s why you should stay away from them, along with a quick guide to making sure your laundry detergent is safe to use.
What Makes Laundry Detergent Toxic?
Like many other cleaning products on the market, laundry detergent contains several harsh chemicals that have been linked to many health issues, like throat and skin irritation and even carcinogenicity, which is the ability or tendency to produce cancer. These chemicals are also not so great for the environment, as they pollute the environment with harmful emissions and chemicals.
What Harmful Ingredients Are In Laundry Detergent?
These are just 8 of the many toxins found in laundry detergent. However, there are even more chemicals used in detergents that we don’t even know about. These hidden chemicals are listed as “trade secrets” and subsequently protected from disclosure.
Fragrances
Although fragrances add pleasant scents to detergents, these scents can come with a significant cost. Fragrances have been linked to numerous health issues, like cancer, neurological disorders, learning abilities, infertility, weakened immune systems, and much more.
Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane is a chemical found in paints and varnishes, too. With just short-term exposure to high levels of this chemical, one can experience vertigo, drowsiness, headaches, anorexia, irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and lungs. 1,4-Dioxane has also been found to damage the liver and kidneys.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate / Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLS/SLES)
These chemicals act as a foaming agent and are designed to remove soil. However, they irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs; and can even damage internal organs.
Phosphates
Exposure to phosphates has been linked to a shocking amount of issues, like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even death.
Formaldehyde
Aside from being used in laundry detergent, formaldehyde is actually used to preserve dead bodies. Exposure to this chemical, even through breathing it, increases your risk of cancer, according to the CDC. With regular exposure, it has also been found to cause spots of dying tissue.
Chlorine Bleach
Though it may be ideal for loads of white clothing, bleach is a skin and lung irritant. It can cause blindness, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, and more.
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate in itself requires impermeable gloves, and eye and lung protection when dealt with in manufacturing facilities. So, why is it found in some detergents? This chemical is a category 3 oral, skin, and respiratory toxic, meaning it really shouldn’t go on clothing.
Dyes
Though dyes may make your laundry detergent an appealing color, they add no cleaning power whatsoever. Instead, they can cause allergic reactions and rashes. Many dyes are also capable of causing cancer and disrupting your endocrine system.
How to Make Sure Your Laundry Detergent is Safe
Now that you know just a few of the harmful ingredients in many laundry detergents, you probably want to avoid them! But, how do you know which laundry detergents are safe to use?
- Check the Labels. Before you purchase any laundry detergent products, be sure to check the labels. If they include the chemicals listed above, they aren’t safe to use. Also, look for words like “caution” and “warning,” along with phrases like “Eye, Skin, or Lung Irritant.” If these phrases are on the product, that immediately tells you that it contains toxic chemicals. If you’re ever unsure, just go with another option!
- Research the Products. See what others have to say about each product and what detergents are popular among the health and wellness community. It’s always a good idea to do your own research!
- Make Your Own DIY Laundry Detergent. There are several DIY solutions for non-toxic laundry detergents that use only natural, safe ingredients, like essential oils and baking soda. A quick Google search will reveal lots to choose from!
- Be Wary of “Unscented” Detergents. Many of the unscented laundry detergents may seem like healthier options, but this doesn’t mean they’re free of chemicals. These products simply use other equally-toxic chemicals to mask the fragrance and/or dye. So, don’t buy a product just because it claims to be unscented!
Reach Out to Kauai Green Cleaning Services For All of Your Cleaning Needs!
Our team at Kauai Green Cleaning Services can thoroughly take care of all of your property’s needs. Whether it be your home, business, or rental property, we can sanitize and disinfect it, offer pressure washing and yard care services, and much more, all without the use of harmful chemicals. Let our green cleaning services help protect you, your family, and your property today. Give us a call at (808) 652-5391 or send us a message online.
