All my life, I have struggled with laundry detergents. As a kid and adult, most options on the store shelves led to allergic reactions. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I saw an allergist who diagnosed me with a formaldehyde allergy. Upon diagnosis, I was given a fact sheet detailing where my allergen was found… lo and behold, laundry detergent was on the list.

Fast forward to my first time shopping with a confirmed formaldehyde allergy. I went to the store to check the laundry detergent ingredients to find one I wasn’t allergic to. However, it didn’t take long to learn that ingredients aren’t really listed on laundry product labels. I wasn’t concerned about toxins back then, as I didn’t even really understand their extent. So, I stuck to the one brand I never reacted to, Xtra.

It wasn’t until my natural health journey in 2019 that I started learning about everyday toxins and that laundry detergent companies are not required to list the ingredients on their product AT ALL. Even worse, I discovered many companies didn’t even list them on their brand’s website. I soon discovered a separate webpage (Smart Label) dedicated to these ingredient lists. When I finally found the ingredient lists, it became very clear why companies don’t disclose what is in their products. Just to paint a picture, the brand I previously used contains:

Water, sodium carbonate, sodium laureth sulfate, C12-13 pareth-2, C10-16 pareth or C12-15 alcohols ethoxylated, sodium C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonate, acrylic acid homopolymer, disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, pentasodium DPTA, colorants, and fragrances (1).

Seriously? I can’t pronounce 90% of the ingredient list, can you? And this ingredient list is just one of many. Although I can’t say the ingredients aloud without looking a fool, I can research their risks, so let’s get to it!

Concerning Ingredients in Mainstream Laundry Detergent

Being aware of common, not-so-good ingredients in laundry detergent is important so you know what to look for. Please note, this is only a partial list of ingredients to watch out for. Remember, if you are unfamiliar with an ingredient, do a quick Google search. However, don’t just believe the first result; scroll down and read a little to make a truly informed decision.

Artificial Colorant

When buying liquid laundry detergent, it’s usually blue or yellow. Many companies, such as Arm & Hammer, use Liquitint™ blue dye (2). Other companies, like Tide, use pigment blue 15, a copper compound listed as “may be harmful in contact with skin” in its safety data sheet (3,4). Unfortunately, there isn’t as much data on these dyes as there is on food coloring, making it difficult to understand their risks. Nonetheless, liquidtint is a polymeric colorant also used to wash cars (5).

Polymers are natural or synthetic substances composed of large molecules formed by the chemical bonding of simpler chemical units called monomers (6). Although polymers can be natural, most are man-made (7). According to Australia’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme’s (NICNAS) full public report, the polymer in Liquitant Red ST is clastogenic. This means there is evidence of it breaking chromosomes, leading to the removal, addition, or rearrangement of chromosome segments (8). The public report also noted that the polymer may break down into an amine, which has demonstrated mutagenic properties in vitro (9). Although I could not find the safety sheets for the dyes mentioned above, it’s likely that, as with artificial food coloring, synthetic dyes in laundry detergents are harmful to our health.

Brighteners

Brighteners, also called UV or optical brighteners, are what mainstream laundry detergent companies use to treat stains. However, they do not work very well. Instead of removing stains, this ingredient reflects visible light, so you can’t see them anymore, making it more of a band-aid to the problem than an actual solution (10). This ingredient is toxic to aquatic life (11). Additionally, one study noted that removing optical brighteners from the environment can be difficult, potentially harming biological treatment systems in domestic and industrial wastewater (12).

Formaldehyde

If you read my post, The Truth About Formaldehyde, you know there are two types of formaldehyde. There are naturally occurring and synthetically produced forms of formaldehyde, and the two couldn’t be more different. Naturally occurring formaldehyde is a carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen substance found in every living organism, from humans to animals and plants, as part of the metabolic process (13).

Contrarily, synthetic formaldehyde is produced by combining methyl alcohol vapors. Then, they pass air over a platinized asbestos, copper, or silver catalyst (14). Synthetic formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable chemical used to embalm dead bodies. However, it is also in household cleaners, glues, fungicides, germicides, disinfectants, and preservatives. Thankfully, it is not allowed as a preservative in our food here in the USA. Short-term, formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, and nausea. Long-term, they aren’t too sure but believe it may cause an increased risk of cancer (15).

Fragrances

The word “fragrance” is a blanket term for the 3,100 stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry (16). If you read my post, The Truth About Fragrance, you know that about 95 percent of fragrances have petrochemical derivatives like benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and many other known toxins. Fragrance ingredients can cause cancer, birth disabilities, nervous system disorders, and allergies (17).

Phosphates

Phosphates refer to a wide variety of chemical compounds, including but not limited to orthophosphates, pyrophosphates, polyphosphates, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), tetrapotassoim pyrophosphate (TKPP), trisodium phosphates (TSP), tetra-sodium pyrophosphates, potassium pyrophosphates, and sodium-potassium pyrophosphate (18). Exposure to phosphates can lead to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even death (19). Additionally, studies have found a connection between phosphates and hormone (endocrine) disruption (20).

Polyethylene Glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a biocompatible, synthetic, hydrophilic polyether compound. It acts as a binding and dispersing agent that can improve particle separation while also preventing clumping (21). PEG is the active ingredient in laxatives like MiraLAX, with a long list of side effects like severe or bloody diarrhea, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, painful or worsening stomach pains, and more (22). Side effects aside, some sources state that the process of ethoxylation (adding ethylene oxide molecules to a compound) can cause ethylene oxide contamination, which can cause cancer (23).

Sodium Borate

Sodium borate, or borax, is a naturally occurring compound composed of boron, oxygen, hydrogen, and sodium (24). Borax is a common recommendation in the natural community for a toxin-free alternative to laundry detergent. Although it is natural, I do not consider it a safe option. Borax is a dangerous chemical that can lead to acute or chronic poisoning (25). Some known side effects of borax include skin rash, indigestion, anorexia, exfoliative dermatitis, and alopecia (26). Additionally, borax is associated with hormone disruption, respiratory problems, plus genetic and organ damage (27,28,29,30).

Sulfates

Sulfates can be both natural and synthetic (31). Examples of sulfates include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, sodium lauroyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl taurate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate. These sulfates are aggressive detergents or surfactants made of sulfur-containing mineral salts. They can cause internal organ damage, acute skin and eye irritation, and skin, eye, and lung inflammation (32,33,34). Some sources even mention that sulfates irritate the skin by drying it, which can lead to acne breakouts (35). Additionally, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database classifies SLS as a “moderate hazard” because it’s linked to endocrine disruption (36).

Natural Laundry Recommendations

When I first switched to a more natural laundry option, I used washing berries. For those who may not know, washing berries are the dried fruit shells (or husks) from the soapberry nut. Soapberries come from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, a unique species found in both the eastern and western hemispheres, but native to the tropical and subtropical conditions of Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands (37). Even though they’re often called nuts, they’re actually dried berries, and 100% safe for those with a nut allergy.

Soapberries are technically poisonous when ingested (so don’t try to eat them). They contain a natural surfactant called saponin (38). When dried berries are soaked in warm water, the saponins are released, creating a foaming, soapy effect when agitated (39). It is 100% natural and biodegradable, making it hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly. Plus, it’s excellent for sensitive skin, eczema, and even psoriasis (40). This has made washing berries a popular alternative in many households. They are safe to use on all types of laundry, including:

• Whites
• Colors
• Baby clothes
• Wool
• Silk
• Wetsuits/swimsuits
• Camping stuff
• You name it…

Simply take 4-6 berries, put them in a washing (muslin) bag, and reuse the same berries several times. You’ll know it’s time to change your berries when they become soft and grey. After washing, leave the berries hanging in the bag to air dry instead of putting them in the dryer.

Warning: I do not suggest relying solely on washing berries to clean cloth diapers or pads. They are not detergents, and in my experience, do not effectively clean bodily fluids on their own. Instead, for soiled items, I recommend making my laundry powder recipe or purchasing one of the following options:

• Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder has the power of 5 stain-fighting natural ingredients that are safer for your family and the planet. A single tablespoon-sized scoop of powder deep cleans and gently deodorizes one load of clothes. Gentle for sensitive skin, the environment, and most fabrics, excluding silk and leather.
• Molly’s Suds Laundry Pods have the same clean, simple, effective formula as the laundry powder above, packaged in convenient, easy-to-use laundry pods. One laundry pod per single load of clothes. Gentle for sensitive skin, the environment, and most fabrics, excluding silk and leather.

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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