One way or another, we all responsible for environmental pollution and global warming. If we do not stop it now, it will turn out as a disaster for us humans and for our planet in the near future.
As an individual, we all should play our part in reducing the environmental pollution. With the use of less non-recyclable and more green products, we can bring a significant change to our environment.
Eliminating certain chemicals and replacing them with more natural ingredients in the laundry detergent can make it eco-friendly. Unlike conventional laundry detergents, eco-friendly detergents are non-toxic, healthy, and safer for the environment.
Choosing a green or eco-friendly laundry detergent can be one step to bring positive change on the Earth. Let us dive deep into the formulation of laundry detergent to see what compounds make it an eco-friendly detergent and why should we have it.
What Is Wrong With Conventional Laundry Detergent?
Laundry detergent that we normally use in our daily life can be bad in so many aspects. Starting with the formulation, it contains chemicals that can be irritable to our skin. For instance, SLS is a common surfactant used in most skincare products and laundry detergents. Surfactants are important for reducing the surface tension of water so that dirt can get out more easily.
However, it is not that simple. Surfactants are known to cause irritation and rashes to the skin. Therefore, you should carefully review the label before putting your hand on a certain laundry detergent.
Many other chemicals used in the detergents are destroying aquatic life. The gills and mucus layers of fish are the major targets for these chemicals. Apart from that, these chemicals are polluting the water bodies in so many ways. Water treatment is usually not effective enough to filter all the toxic chemicals. They become threatening to the lives of many sea creatures.
The other issue with conventional laundry detergent is the packaging. Almost all the liquid detergents come in plastic bottles. This material is non-recyclable, and it wreaks havoc on the environment. That is why it is better to avoid plastic in any way we can.
Read More: Are Liquid Detergents Better than Powder?
How Do I Choose an Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent?
We all can make an end to these issues by choosing eco-friendly laundry detergent. But the question here is, how to identify eco-friendly detergent?
This is no big deal. Once you have enough know-how of some major ingredients used in the manufacturing of laundry detergent, the task becomes easier for you.
Buy the detergent if it has the following characteristics:
Save Energy
The detergent should be efficient enough to get dissolved even at 30°C. This is important to save energy, which is otherwise used on heating water and cleaning the clothes with more wash cycles.
Look for Concentrated Liquid Detergent
Always look for a concentrated liquid detergent to save money and water. Laundry detergents sold in the name of being concentrated are still a lot watery. It feels more like a water bottle is being sold with a handful of chemicals.
The more the formula is concentrated, the better it is. Transferring watery detergent from manufacturers to customers will only be a waste of energy.
Must Be Packaged Without Plastic
This feature is really important to ensure that the product is actually green. No plastic packaging means you are not going to produce any waste. Cardboard material packaging or something similar can be easily available in the market.
Hypoallergenic
Many detergents available in the market are made with such chemicals that can cause allergy. It is important to look for hypoallergenic detergent, especially when you have sensitive skin.
Affordable
A green product doesn’t mean it can empty your pockets. Unlike conventional detergents, a good eco-friendly detergent should be light on your pockets. It has to be affordable in the long run.
Safe for the Environment
The detergent should be free of such chemicals that can endanger the lives of many animals. When released into the environment, the detergent should not damage anything.
Read More: Soaking Clothes In Detergent: What You Need To Know
What to Avoid in Laundry Detergent?
Chlorine Bleach
Sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach, is a toxic chemical that can produce fumes mixed with other cleaners. It is so toxic that it can lead to skin burns, asthma, and even cancer. This chemical is a big NO while you are looking for an eco-friendly detergent.
Phosphates
Phosphates released from the detergents are known for causing eutrophication. For this reason, many countries have already banned the use of this chemical in detergents. However, you should still be vigilant to review the label and avoid this chemical.
Surfactants
Anionic surfactant, SLS, is the well-known irritant added to the detergent. Avoid this ingredient in your product in any way. You can look for a milder anionic surfactant like SLES.
Methylisothiazolinone
It is another toxic chemical that is commonly found in the detergents labelled as “natural”. It is far from being an eco-friendly compound. Just like some harsh anionic surfactants, Methylisothiazolinone is known for causing skin irritation in people with sensitive skin. It should be completely avoided if you are looking for safe laundry detergents.
Brighteners
You can simply check to see if a product is biodegradable; it will not contain brighteners. It basically leaves behind toxic chemicals on the clothes that will be dangerous for you. Brighteners also pose a risk to the lives of sea creatures.
Fragrances
The fragrance of laundry detergent stays on clothes long after they have been washed. These fragrances are made with toxic chemicals like coal tar and petroleum. These chemicals can possibly cause cancer, irritation and whatnot.
It is better to avoid fragrance in detergent, or simply look for detergents containing fragrances made with natural ingredients like an essential oil.
Other than these ingredients, do your research and try to find out if the product had been tested on animals. If it is, leave it right there.
Always go for recyclable packaging and concentrated formula in case of liquid detergent.
Read More: Laundry Detergent: Before or After Clothes?
Use Cold Water
A lot of energy goes wasted every year as people use it to warm water, which is then used in dishwashers and washing machine. While we are caring about purchasing eco-friendly detergent, it is also important to have a look at what we are doing at our homes. Cold water washes clothes really well. Avoid heating water so that we can save energy.
Use Less Detergent
Many people are used to adding more detergent than needed. If you see even bit of suds in the machine, know that you are using too much. Mark the measuring cup with markers according to smaller, medium, and larger load. Do not add detergent more than that.
Why Should I use Eco-friendly Detergents?
There might seem nothing wrong with using conventional detergents. They are cheap, smells great, and washes your clothes well. Then why should one avoid them?
Well, conventional detergents are causing harm to the environment, which might not be visible, but it is increasing at a fast pace.
Using green products mean that we are avoiding the chemicals that are causing damage to our environment in any way. Green products are a great option that ensures no harmful chemicals are being consumed and no resources are being wasted.
This is how eco-friendly laundry detergent behaves like:
Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent Should be Non-toxic
Many toxic chemicals from the detergents are directly or indirectly responsible for wreaking havoc on the environment. Nothing has suffered more than the aquatic life due to the toxic ingredients found in detergents. Though wastewater is filtered before releasing into the water bodies, yet it is not much effective against several chemicals.
All this should be controlled. And this can be done by eliminating certain ingredients from the laundry detergents and replacing them with natural and environmentally friendly chemicals that will be non-toxic.
Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent Should be Healthy
If you have not experienced it, it doesn’t mean that the problem does not exist. Laundry detergents can be toxic as they are commonly known for causing allergic reactions to many people’s skin.
The solution to this problem is a green product in the form of eco-friendly laundry detergent. Removal of toxic chemicals like phosphates and irritating surfactants make the detergent non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent Should be good for the environment
Finding detergent good for the environment means it does not produce wasteful material and consumer resources. Keeping this in mind, it is a good choice to look for a detergent that gets dissolved in water even at 30°C, thereby saving energy.
In Conclusion
Removing toxic chemicals from the laundry detergent and replacing it with natural chemicals makes it eco-friendly and safe for use.
Other than that, the packaging of detergent also plays an important role in determining whether the product is eco-friendly or not.
Always look for safe and natural chemicals and run away from toxic, irritable ingredients. The goal is to keep your clothes clean and, at the same time, to keep the environment safe.
Buying eco-friendly and green products is proof that we care for our environment and are active at lending a helping hand to reduce pollution from our planet.