Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents for the Whole Family

June 23, 2021 Aida Garcia-Toledo

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