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Laundry Detergent

Level

1

Usage

Everyday

Product Category

cleaning

Health impact

Moderate

Environmental Impact

High

Detergents to avoid

Brands which are not transparent about ingredients

Conscious alternatives

Detergents made with non-toxic ingredients and with transparency of the ingredients they contain or make it yourself

Things to know about Laundry Detergents

Do you know what the largest organ in your body is? 

It is your skin.

Your skin is not only a protective barrier but also a highly absorbent organ. Your skin absorbs a portion of whatever comes in contact with the skin.

Below are some questions which might have crossed your mind. 

  • Are there any chemicals present in your laundry detergent which you should be concerned about?
  • Do any chemical residues remain on your clothes after washing?
  • How much of these chemicals does your skin absorb?
  • Are detergents supposed to remove the stains and germs from your clothes or make them extremely white?
  • How do I opt for safer detergents?

Keep reading to get answers to the above questions and more…

What is the problem if clothes
become super white after a wash?

Have you used filters to make your photographs look better? Detergent brands have been using something like filters for a long time.

They use special chemicals to make your clothes appear white. These chemicals are called optical brighteners. Their job is to reflect more light which makes clothes appear whiter brighter. These chemicals are designed to stay back on clothes long after the wash - so they can continue giving the effect for a longer duration. Since these chemicals remain on the clothes, your skin tends to absorb some of it. 

Guess what?

Optical brighteners only give the illusion of whiteness and actually don’t contribute to cleaning. 

Video

Dave explains what optical brighteners are and shows us how these brighteners stay back even after rinsing in his simple experiment

Are whiteners the only chemicals you
should be concerned about in detergents?

Like Dave mentioned in the above video, whiteners are not the only chemical that fills your clothes after a wash. Most detergents contain foaming agents, synthetic fragrances, dyes, sulphates and preservatives, which are chemicals you should be concerned about since they are known to impact your health and the environment.

Foaming agents can be pretty harsh on your skin and lungs. SLS, the most used foaming agent, is banned in many countries since it increases certain health risks. Guess those bubbles are not as innocent as they seem.

Synthetic fragrances usually contain a mixture of chemicals, including phthalates, which have been linked to hormone disruption. 

Dyes used in detergents often contain heavy metals and other toxic substances that have adverse effects on human health and aquatic life.

Sulphates strip your skin of natural oils and cause skin irritation. Additionally, they remain in the environment for prolonged durations, increasing the water pollution. 

Preservatives, such as parabens are known allergens and have been associated with many health concerns.

Isothiazolinones are chemicals added because they're great at fighting off bacteria and fungus. But here's the catch. They're strong allergens and can make your skin extra sensitive, leading to irritations, rashes and swelling.

Ingredients with some words that end with "eth," like laureth, steareth, ceteareth or maybe PPG, PEG are ethoxylated ingredients. The idea behind ethoxylating is to make chemicals gentler, which sounds fine. But during the process, toxic contaminants like 1,4-dioxane tend to get released. The concerning part is, there's no way for you to know if these contaminants are present in the products you use.

Now that you know how your health and the environment can be affected, you may consider choosing safer alternatives for yourself and the planet.

What is the environmental impact of detergents?

With every load of laundry, we release approximately 60-80 litres of water filled with chemicals. For a family, this amounts to around 25,000 litres of polluted water being discharged every year.

When chemicals like Phosphates (found in detergents) enter water bodies, they cause a big problem. Phosphates are like algae's favourite snack. When algae get too much to eat, they grow and multiply crazily. This throws off the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems, creating a big party for the algae but a disaster for all other life forms.

Some of the chemicals in detergents pose a threat to fish, amphibians and other aquatic life by affecting their growth and reproductive capabilities. This leads to a decline in population of certain species and a loss of biodiversity.

The impact doesn't end there. The contaminated water doesn't just vanish after washing our clothes. It directly enters our water table, which is the primary source of water for drinking, cooking and agriculture. So, the water we pollute ends up back in our daily lives.

Over the last 50 years, the levels of harmful chemicals in our groundwater have been steadily increasing, reaching alarming levels in some regions. 

How can you choose a safe detergent?

Be cautious of terms like "non-toxic", “SLS free” or "plant-based" without specific details. Just the use of those terms don’t indicate that the detergent is good for you or the environment.

Here's the thing - popular brands don't tell you everything about the ingredients they use in cleaning products. They've managed to influence the government to make laws that keep their ingredients a secret. Smart or sneaky?

It's crucial to look for detergents that are transparent and clearly list the exact ingredients they use. Only when the ingredients are clearly mentioned on the label can you truly understand the long-term effects of being exposed to these chemicals. Without knowing the ingredients, it becomes challenging for you to know whether the product is safe or not.

Try to opt for products that provide full disclosure about what they contain. That way, you can make a more informed and safer choice for yourself and the environment.

The other alternative is to make your own non-toxic detergent by following any of the DIY options available in the Conscious Living DIY Guide.

What is the benefit of using safer detergents?

Using safer detergents comes with a host of benefits, not just for you and your family but for the world around you as well!

Improved Health: Safer detergents mean fewer harmful chemicals in your clothes. This reduces the risk of skin irritations, allergies and other long term health issues for you and your family.

Environmentally Friendly: By opting for safer detergents, you contribute to reducing water pollution and its harmful impact on aquatic life. Choosing eco-friendly options means less harmful chemicals are released into water bodies, helping to maintain the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

By demanding transparency and choosing brands that disclose their ingredients, you support individuals or organisations that prioritise your health and the environment. This sends a clear message to manufacturers to produce safer products and be more transparent.

By using safer detergents, you become part of a global movement towards a healthier and greener world. So, be the change you want to see and embrace safer detergent options for a brighter and sustainable future! Your conscious choice can influence your friends, family and community to make similar changes. This creates a positive ripple effect for a more sustainable future.