CLEAN CONSCIOUS
The diverse benefits of natural laundry products.
Marketing strategies for mainstream laundry products use terminology that generates a false sense of reality. Companies claim their detergents are natural, fresh and will get your clothes clean. It’s a little disturbing and misleading considering almost all commercial brand detergents don't use natural ingredients at all, but rather synthetic ingredients which pollute your clothes, home and the environment.
Typical laundry detergents are a mix of surfactants (anionic and nonionic), enzymes, anti-redeposition agents and fragrances, and petroleum-derived elements. Unfortunately, it will take time and legislation to get these harmful chemicals off the market. In the meantime, it is up to the consumer to discontinue use of common detergents, fabric softeners and bleach to create a sustainable future for their family.
For a cost-effective alternative, you can make your own natural laundry detergents (directions below). If this doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of eco-friendly products on the market. Mainstream detergent companies are not required to list their ingredients on the label, a blazing red flag that they are filled with toxic ingredients. Eco-friendly laundry products will list ingredients, often including a coconut-base for surfactants, soda ash and borax for water softeners, sodium gluconate, and sorbitol as a natural anti-redeposition agent. It’s easy for folks to look the other way if they don’t know exactly what harmful chemicals are lurking in their detergent, which is exactly why companies won't always list them. Choosing earth-friendly detergents reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helps your health and the health of your home, and doesn't poison our waterways and air quality.
Common chemicals in mainstream laundry detergents.
Surfactants. These create the bubbles in your washing machine. Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), the most common surfactants in mainstream detergents, have been identified as a potential endocrine disrupter. Other surfactants to avoid include diethanolamine, triethanolamine and monoethanolamine, which are carcinogenic and toxic. Quaternium-15 is an alkylammonium chloride referenced as a surfactant used as a disinfectant. It also releases formaldehyde.
Chlorine. Chlorine can cause irritation to the nervous system, lungs and eyes. Chlorine bleach creates dangerous toxins such as dioxin, linked to cancer and developmental disorders.
Synthetic fragrances. These are found in many mainstream detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Many mainstream companies claim their product will make your clothes smell like lavender fields, spring rain or orange blossoms when, in reality, these man-made scented chemicals have no relationship whatsoever with anything that comes from nature. Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum, and they don’t degrade which makes them extremely toxic to your health and the environment.
Phosphates. Phosphates are used in detergents to soften water. Phosphates can cause algae blooms in lakes and ponds that can lead to the suffocation of aquatic plants and animals.
Laundry tips.
• Use cold water when washing clothes; 80 percent of the energy used is exhausted while heating the water. My clothes still get clean in cold water (whites and darks) and it saves me money each month. Hot water doesn’t actually sanitize anything unless the water is boiling.
• Make your own laundry detergent. Crush up pure vegetable soap flakes, ½ cup borax, ½ cup of washing soda, and add a few drops of your favorite organic essential oil from the earth. You can also add a few drops of tea tree essential oil, which naturally helps sanitize.
• Use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach. It gets my clothes really white. You can also find eco-products that use a non-chlorine bleach powder. Oxygen-safe bleach naturally degrades into oxygen and water.
• Always remember….green detergents should be non-toxic and biodegradable with no petroleum-based ingredients.
Other Trusted Sources:
Science Daily
