3 Little Plums

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Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents for the Whole Family

How do you choose non-toxic laundry detergent that works? Do you have to buy a special detergent for your baby? HEre are some tips…..

1. Be patient. Be willing to try a couple of products & product combinations before you give up on non-toxic laundry detergents. They have come a long way and work!

2. Laundry detergents marketed towards babies and kids are not necessarily safer:  Once you find a truly nontoxic laundry detergent to use:  you can use it for the whole family.  It will be safe for EVERYONE from baby to grandma….

3. Beware of greenwashing. ( show labels saying “all natural’, 'free and clear' or for ‘sensitive skin’)

4. Remember: unscented does not equal fragrance free.  Unscented might still contain fragrance chemicals used to ‘hide’ certain scents!  Choose fragrance free

5. Look for full ingredient transparancy.

6. Avoid fabric softeners.

7. Read ingredient labels: Generally, the shorter and more recognizable the ingredient list the better. Among the ingredients you want to avoid are:  Harmful Fragrances, Dyes, Cancer-Causing Contaminants like Formaldehyde & 1,4-Dioxane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Optical Brighteners, Synthetic Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Petrochemicals, Phosphates, Chlorine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Phthalates, Parabens, Methylisothiazolinone, Cocamide DEA, PEGs, Ethoxylated ingredients

Added bonus:  look for plastic free containers. We go through a lot of laundry detergent in our lives & those plastic containers they come add up and will not biodegrade. Some of the safest companies also happen to make plastic free packaging!

Surprised to see some of the brands in the list to avoid? Here is why:

Babyganics Unscented Laundry (from .31 a load): 

Contains 

  • sodium borate anhydrous which is an endocrine disruptor linked to fertility issues

  • methylisothiazolinone: a well known allergen

  • lauramine oxide which could form carcinogenic nitrosamines

Dreft Baby (from .33 a load_

Contains

  • Sodium borate, an endocrine disruptor

  • polyethyleneimine alkoxylates: endocrine disruptor that could also be contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4 dioxane

  • fragrance

  • alcohol ethoxylates (c10-16): could be contaminated with 1.4 dioxane

ALL baby liquid detergent (from .13 cents a load)

Contains

  • diethanolamine : can react with other chemicals and can create a very potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA), which is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers

  • triethanolamine: potential allergen

  • fragrance

Seventh Generation Baby Laundry Detergent Sensitive Skin, Free & Clear (from .26 a load)

Contains: 

- laureth-6 :  could be contaminated with ethylene oxide which is a carcinogen and May cause genetic defects

  • methylisothiazolinone: well documented allergen

  • benzisothiazolinone: well documented allergen

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Laundry Detergent, Baby Blossom (from .23 a load )

Contains: 

  • laureth-7: could be contaminated with ETHYLENE OXIDE and may cause genetic defects & cancer

  • fragrance

  • methylisothiazolinone: well documented allergen

  • benzisothiazolinone: well documented allergen

  • alcohol ethoxylates (c12-16): could be contaminated with ethylene oxide and may cause genetic defects


Instead these safe options are the ones we use at home.  They work and are safe for everyone… from babies to grandmas!

Meliora: 

from .29 a load

plastic free!

 4 simple ingredients:  SODIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM COCOATE, GLYCERIN, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL and water

 Branch Basics laundry + oxygen boost 

from .24 a load

use code ‘nontoxicmunchkin’  for 15% off starter kits! SHOP HERE

Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Chamomile Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phytate

Humble Suds 

from .35 per load

 4 safe ingredients (Washing Soda, Oxygen Powder, Baking Soda, Coconut Soap and optional: With or without Pure Essential Oils

use code ‘nontoxicmunchkin10’ for 10% off ! SHOP HERE

plastic free!!

Whole Foods Market Baby Laundry Detergent, Unscented

Molly Suds laundry powder

from .16 cents a load

4 simple ingredients:

  • Sodium Carbonate sourced from the Green River Basin in Wyoming

  • Sodium Bicarbonate

  • Magnesium Sulfate (Heptahydrate)

  • Unrefined Sea Salt