Are Leading Laundry Detergents Hazardous?

What to look for…

I was reading an article the other day that was very informative about laundry detergents.  The article stated to choose products that disclose ingredients on product labels, as most environmentally preferable brands do.  If laundry product labels don't list specific ingredients, you can learn something about a product's hazards by a “red-flag” words such as, "Danger," "Warning" or "Caution," which appears on every label and provides some indication of a product's toxicity. Products labeled "Danger" or "Poison" are typically most hazardous, because they contain ingredients that could explode or, if used improperly, cause death. Those bearing a "Warning" label are moderately hazardous, meaning that if ingested the product could cause serious health problems but not death. Formulas with a "Caution" label are considered slightly toxic, in that they can cause mild to severe irritation of the skin, eyes or respiratory tract if inhaled or exposed to the skin but probably won't cause severe health problems if ingested (although they may cause nausea or diarrhea).  

Some labels do list active ingredients, which may assist you in detecting caustic or irritating ingredients you may wish to avoid, such as sodium hypochlorite. A few manufacturers voluntarily list all ingredients. A few manufacturers list specific ingredients on their web sites simply because there isn't adequate room on the product itself.

Tips on living ‘Green’

Choose concentrated formulas, which require less packaging and fuel for shipping.

Avoid harsh fragrances by choosing detergents and fabric softeners labeled "fragrance free." While some less-toxic detergents are scented with essential or citrus oils, these plant-based fragrances can still aggravate allergies and cause contact dermatitis in extremely sensitive individuals.Look for products made with renewable, vegetable-based ingredients (corn, palm kernel or coconut oil) and are either fragrance-free or scented with essential oils. Keep in mind that plant-based fragrances can still aggravate allergies and cause contact dermatitis in extremely sensitive individuals.Launder clothes on the warm or cold water setting for washing, and always use cold water to rinse clothes. Washing clothes in cold water can cut CO2 emissions down and save you money on your energy bill. Clean your lint filter with every load and check your dryer exhaust frequently to make sure it's clean. This will help improve its energy efficiency. Line drying clothes, drying with cold air or removing them promptly from the dryer will keep wrinkles to a minimum.

You can take comfort in the fact that there are plenty of eco-friendly choices in laundry products available today. The trick to separating the green laundry products from the not-so-green is to know what to look for on the product label.

I have used GreenerLaundry.com, a 24hr laundry pick-up & drop-off service that uses laundry products made with natural vegetable-based ingredients. They are an environmentally conscious company that informs its customers on their washing techniques and products they use. I have skin allergies and have been pleased with their cleaning services. I highly recommend their services to people who have skin allergies, those with children or just want to live a healthier life and avoid products that contain skin irritants or are harmful inhalants.  We all have to do laundry so why not use a laundry service geared toward ensuring that are laundered items are cleaned in non harmful solutions especially when considering families with children. Try them out at www.greenerlaundry.com. I did and love it!