Laundry detergents have been a household staple for hundreds of years. They offer an extra level of cleanliness that hot water can’t fully achieve on its own.
There are many varieties of laundry detergent available. They come in different forms, with different scents, and are made with different ingredients. With so many to choose from, it is easy to get confused, especially if you are environmentally conscious or worry about potential allergens.
Check out the rest of the article below for all the things you should consider before buying laundry detergent.
A Brief History of Laundry Detergents
Before the invention of laundry detergent, people used lye or animal fat to wash clothes. This may sound like a strange combination, but animal fats have often been used throughout history to make soap. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is still often used in soaps because of its corrosive properties. Manufacturers made the first fully constructed laundry detergent way back in 1946.
What Is Laundry Detergent Made Of?
Modern laundry detergent is made of two main components - surfactants and hardness sequestrants (builders).
Surfactants remove topical dirt and prevent the dirt from reattaching to materials. Builders reduce water hardness, allowing surfactants to do their job more easily.
Other ingredients include buffering agents, stabilizers, lather enhancements, perfumes, and brighteners.
Things to Consider When Buying Laundry Detergent
When it comes to buying laundry detergent, there are a few things you may want to consider before making your decision. These include:
Health-harmful ingredients
There are numerous ingredients you should avoid when choosing your laundry detergent. Although some substances are safe in smaller quantities, they can still irritate the skin over time. When it comes to your family’s safety, it is better to have as little contact with harmful substances as possible.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate/ Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLS/ SLES) are proven to inflame skin, eyes, and lungs. They are also known to damage internal organs.
- Phosphates are linked to osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
- Breathing or smelling formaldehyde can increase your chances of getting cancer.
- Chlorine bleach can cause caustic burns to the skin and eyes. It can even cause pulmonary edema - fluid build-up in the lungs.
- Ammonium sulfate is a category 3 oral, skin, and respiratory toxin.
- Dioxane is a known carcinogen meaning it causes cancer. It is also known as Diethylene and Dioxin. Once you are exposed to this chemical, it can damage your organs.
- Optical brighteners are eye, skin, and lung irritants. This chemical is also known to combust spontaneously!
- Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers are known to cause eye, skin, and lung damage.
- Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (Nonoxynol, NPEs) can cause harm to the lungs, as well the eyes and skin.
- Dichlorobenzine or Benzene can cause damage to your eyes and is listed as a known carcinogen.
- Unspecified fragrances are also used in many laundry detergents. Due to a legal loophole, many manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used for the fragrance in their laundry detergent. Artificial fragrances are responsible for chemical sensitivity, rashes, and allergic reactions. When choosing a laundry detergent, choose a product with natural fragrances.
Dyes are often hormonally active agents causing disruptions in normal hormonal functions. They are also a common allergen.
Environmentally-harmful ingredients
When you use a laundry detergent, many of its chemicals contaminate your local water system and harm wildlife. Check the label when you buy your laundry detergent to find out if the product is eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Many cleaning products contain tiny particles of plastic - otherwise known as microbeads. You should avoid purchasing these types of products wherever possible. The names of the plastic used in microbeads are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and nylon (PA).
Forms of Laundry Detergent
There are four main types of laundry detergent: liquid, powder, pods, and tablets. You may find it easier to use pods or tablets if you have difficulty measuring the right amount of detergent you need per each wash. Powders and liquids can also cause more mess when spilled; however, these are usually cheaper.
Sensitive skin
If you (or a member of your household) suffer from sensitive skin, opt for a laundry detergent with a hypoallergenic formulation. Remember - if you avoid laundry detergents with the ingredients mentioned above, you will also reduce your chances of having an allergic reaction.
Cruelty-free
Many laundry detergents or their ingredients are tested on animals. If you do not wish to contribute to this practice, you should buy products with a cruelty-free leaping bunny symbol.
Fragrance
This is purely down to personal preference. Obviously, if you use your laundry detergent regularly, you want to ensure you enjoy the scent. After all, it’s only going to be on your clothes every day until the bottle runs out!
Price Range
You can buy a bottle of good-quality laundry detergent for about $4 in most grocery stores. However, if you buy laundry detergent in bulk, you will save money in the long run. You can pay up to $28 per kilogram of laundry detergent.
Detergent Buyers Also Ask
What items should you never wash in a washing machine?
There are several items you should never put in a washing machine; doing so may ruin your clothes and cause irreparable damage.
Some of these items include suits, embellished garments, clothes with zippers and buttons, swimsuits, bras, throw blankets, lace garments, and sweaters.
Can I suddenly develop an allergic reaction to my laundry detergent?
You can become allergic to a product the first time you use it or after repeated exposure. Most people can prevent allergic reactions to laundry detergent rashes by using dye-free or fragrance-free laundry detergents.
Can you use too much laundry detergent?
Yes, you can use too much laundry detergent. Using too much laundry detergent can cause stain residue on clothes. It can also cause an unpleasant odor due to trapped excess laundry detergent residue.