It is often difficult to know the ingredients in laundry detergent or fabric softener from the label. Indeed, many brands warn about potentially irritating ingredients in the product without specifying which ingredients are present. However, laundry detergents sold in supermarkets are very often composed of a combination of more or less toxic chemicals.
Healthy alternatives
Fragrance-free
| Brand name | Product description |
| Attitude | Natural Laundry Detergent |
| Echoclean | Natural Laundry Detergent |
| Ecomax | Laundry Detergent |
| Ecover | Zero Sensitive Laundry Detergent |
| Nature Clean | Laundry Liquid, Fragrance Free |
| Nellie’s | Laundry Soda |
| Seventh Generation | Laundry Detergent, Free and Clear |
| Simply Clean | Laundry Detergent |
| The Unscented Company | Laundry Soap |
DIY
You can also make your own laundry soap using 3 easily available ingredients. You will need:
1 bar soap of grated castile
1 3/4 cups of baking soda
1 3/4 cups of washing soda*
Mix together and store in an airtight container. Use according to need.
*WARNING : it’s still a strong alkaline, so you should avoid skin/eye contact and inhalation, wear gloves, and keep it away from children and pets.
Important Safety Precautions:
· Avoid Direct Contact with powder: Don’t ingest or inhale the powder; wear gloves to protect skin from irritation.
· Keep Out of Reach: Store it away from children and pets.
· Test on Delicates: Always test on an inconspicuous area of delicate or colored items before general use.
· Dissolve First: Ensure it’s fully dissolved in water before adding to the machine to prevent scratching or residue
Avoid the following chemicals in regular products
1,4-dioxane: possible carcinogen
Alkyl benzene sulfonic acid: irritant and corrosive
Bleaching agents
Ethoxylated alcohols contaminated with 1,4-dioxane
Ammonia: irritant and corrosive to the skin, eyes, respiratory and digestive tract
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol): possible carcinogen (confirmed in animals), irritating to the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and respiratory tract, neurotoxic
Naphtalene: possible carcinogen (confirmed in animals), irritant to skin and eyes
Synthetic fragrances: allergens
Phenol: irritant and corrosive to the skin, eyes and respiratory and digestive tract
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: irritant, may cause contact dermatitis