The fresh smell of washed clothes intrigues us, but the chemicals added to these clothes are extremely toxic and linked to many health problems. Is liquid detergent harmful?
Detergent, in general, is really harmful to our health, let alone the liquid ones. For example, laundry detergents are made with many synthetic chemicals that are toxic both to the environment and our health.
We often judge the cleanliness of things with the smell they give. Our minds are programmed so that we can never think that the thing, which cleans our clothes can be toxic to our health. But, unfortunately, the reality is the opposite and harsh.
In this article, I will bring light to the toxic chemicals used in detergent and how you can get rid of them. Read to the end to save the life of your loved ones.
Harmful Chemicals in Liquid Detergent
Except for a few natural ingredients, liquid detergents are made with synthetic chemicals. Synthetic chemicals are inevitably always harmful to our health. Even the fragrance that we love in the washed clothes is synthetic.
Detergent is a cleaning agent that comes in different forms, and it is used for several purposes. For example, laundry detergent can be in liquid, powder, or pod form. The main ingredient of detergent is surfactants that play an important role in removing dirt from the clothes.
Chemicals used in detergent remain on clothes even after wash. These chemicals stick to our skin and sometimes enter our bodies. As a result, the person catches some serious diseases. For example, people with asthma are more likely to face health issues.
Inhaling and accidental swallowing of detergent leads to detergent poisoning. The resulting symptoms of detergent poisoning can be vomiting, abdominal pains, breathing problems, and in severe cases, it can lead to low vision.
Read More: What Makes Laundry Detergent Eco-Friendly?
List of Harmful Chemicals
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
On the list of harmful chemicals, SLS is always on the top of the list. It is present in laundry detergent and used in personal care products like shampoos, lotion, creams, and whatnot.
SLS is basically a surfactant that acts as a foaming agent. SLS works by reducing the surface tension among different ingredients. Since it is a cheap and effective chemical, SLS is used in a variety of products. It removes the greasy stains easily from the clothes.
SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) is another compound that is almost similar in structure to SLS. It also performs the same functions, but it is milder than SLES. This is why many companies use SLES instead of SLS.
Harmful Effects
On one side, SLS is giving us lots of benefits, but on the other hand, it is acting as one of the most harmful chemicals. SLS can penetrate through our skin and can reach our internal organs. It also irritates the eyes, skin, and lungs.
SLS has apparently no link with cancer. It is only an irritant. Many studies on animals have proved that SLS can inflame eyes and irritation on the skin.
Chlorine Bleach
Bleach is another chemical that is used in a variety of products. All of us are utilizing bleach directly or indirectly in our life. For example, bleach is already present in laundry detergent. It is added to brighten the clothes and make the white clothes whiter.
People are used to adding an extra dose of colorfast bleach to their clothes to make them look fresh and bright. But, unfortunately, adding extra bleach means exposing yourself to more harmful chemicals.
Read More: Laundry Detergent & Bleach: What’s the Difference?
Harmful Effects
People with sensitive skin are likely to face skin irritation due to the chemicals present in bleach. Bleach can also irritate our lungs and eyes. Therefore, special safety equipment is required to use bleach safely even while washing clothes. In addition, you should always wear gloves on your hand to protect yourself from exposure to bleach.
Chlorine bleach also threatens the lives of marine animals as it can affect their internal organs.
Fragrances
The fresh and sharp fragrance that we smell after washing clothes is entirely synthetic. It is obtained from petroleum, which contains at least 4,000 derivatives of petroleum. These compounds evaporate in the air to produce a smell. The compounds are termed Volatile Organic Compounds that are toxic to both the environment and the human body.
The indoor environment gets polluted with these compounds.
Harmful Effects
When these toxic chemicals are released into the air, they enter our body and irritates the respiratory system. Synthetic fragrances are most likely to cause breathing problems such as asthma. If you already have asthma, it is suggested to avoid detergents with aroma and strong smell. Either buy fragrance-less detergent or detergents with a mild scent.
Read More: Are Fabric Softeners Good for Asthma?
Optical Brighteners
Optical brighteners are the chemicals that are used in liquid detergent to remove stains from clothes. However, they do not actually remove stains. Rather they mask the cloth with a layer that hides the stains and brightens the clothes.
Harmful Effects
When detergent is washed out with water into the ocean, it becomes a threat to aquatic life. In addition, optical brighteners tend to increase sun sensitivity. It also irritates the respiratory system of people that are already suffering from breathing problems.
These brighteners also irritate eyes, skin, and lungs. People with allergies are also affected by the presence of this chemical in detergents.
Phenols and Dyes
Phenol is an organic compound, whereas dyes are synthetic chemicals. Therefore, there are not any important roles of these chemicals. Yet, they are added to make the clothes look even more fresh and aesthetic.
Harmful Effects
Phenols and dyes are also skin irritants. Phenols have a wide range of targets in the bodies of animals and humans. It can affect our nervous system, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels.
Formaldehyde
Detergents and other such products have to stay on shelves for years. To increase the shelf-life of detergents, preservatives are used. Formaldehyde is one of those preservatives that also acts as an anti-bacterial agent. However, it doesn’t play any role in cleaning or brightening clothes.
Harmful Effects
If we get in contact with formaldehyde more than usual, it can cause serious health effects. Formaldehyde is considered a carcinogen. It is also linked to respiratory problems and skin irritation. Eczema and dermatitis are the major disorders caused by formaldehyde.
Solution
There are two solutions for these toxic chemicals. Either look for plant-based eco-friendly detergent or make one at home. The latter is the safest option as you will be well aware of the ingredients you add to the detergent. Unfortunately, since there is a lot of fraud going on in the market, it is also possible that eco-friendly detergents are not plant-based. However, it can be a technique for some brands to sell their products.
Clean Clothes without Chemicals
Plant-based laundry detergents or eco-friendly detergents are safe and chemical-free options available on the market. These detergents are made with organic chemicals that are non-toxic both to the people and the environment.
However, there are still some brands that are selling synthetic detergents in the name of eco-friendly detergents. Be careful to check the ingredients before purchasing the product. To be on the safer side, it is recommended to buy detergent only from a trustworthy brand. Work hard to find the best product in the town to be as safe as possible.
Homemade Detergent
Not only will you save your health, but your money as well. Homemade laundry detergent can never be a bad idea. There are many different methods of making detergent at home. The simplest one can be made with just two ingredients.
Here I am going to provide you with a 4 ingredient recipe to make detergent at home.
You’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Washing soda
- Essential oil
- Castile soap bar
Begin with grating the soap bar finely by using a cheese grater. Next, add about 2 lbs of baking soda and 7 lbs of washing soda to the grated soap. After that, drop 25 to 30 drops of essential oil of your choice into the batter.
Mix these ingredients really well. You can wear a face mask and gloves to protect yourself from unwanted dust.
To get the best results, make sure that all the ingredients are in their organic form. You can use a tablespoon of this detergent in a small load of laundry.
In Conclusion
Detergent is toxic to our health, whether it be a liquid or any other form of detergent. Toxic chemicals are present in large amounts in detergents. When washed clothes get in contact with our skin, the chemicals transfer to our body. The problem arises mainly when the clothes are damp. In such a situation, the chemicals penetrate more easily into our skin.
The best solution is to go for eco-friendly detergents. They are made with more natural ingredients that do not harm our health. In addition, such detergents do not affect marine life when disposed of in water bodies.
After reading the above information, It can be concluded that regular liquid detergent can be really harmful to our health. But the eco-friendly detergents made with organic chemicals are safe to use.
Therefore, read the label before purchasing any product and make the best choice for yourself and your family.