Choose natural laundry detergent
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Choosing natural laundry detergent will reduce the amount of chlorine, phosphates, and petroleum-based chemicals that are released into the environment and onto your skin.
Find it! Natural laundry detergent
- Biokleen laundry detergent
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Biokleen has concentrated liquid and powder detergents. - Ecover Ecological Laundry Powder
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Ecover's Ecological Laundry Powder doesn't leave petrochemical residue on clothes. Ecover's scientists have worked to find effective natural ingredients instead of harsh petrochemical ingredients found in many traditional detergents. Ideal for cold water washes. - Ecover Laundry Detergent
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Ecover's detergents and fragrances are made from plant-based ingredients. - Maggie's Soap Nuts
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Tired of using non-biodegradable, allergy-triggering laundry detergents? Go nuts with Maggie's Soap Nuts. This remarkable chemical detergent alternative consists of the dried, natural surfactant-rich fruits of the Chinese Soapberry tree of India and Indonesia. - Natural Choice Oxy-Boost
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Natural Choice offers a non-chlorine bleach. - Natural Choice Oxy-Prime Laundry Detergent
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This nontoxic and allergy-free detergent from Natural Choice is safe for those with chemical sensitivities. - Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Powder
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This laundry powder uses coconut-based surfactants to naturally clean clothes. It contains no dyes, fragrances, chlorine bleach, petroleum-based cleaners, or optical brighteners. - Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry Detergent
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Seventh Generation's vegetable-based laundry detergents contain no chlorine, dyes, phosphates, or artificial fragrances. - Shaklee Get Clean™ Fresh Laundry Fragrance Free Concentrate
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In powder form, this superconcentrated formula provides maximum efficiency. A 5.5 lb. box washes 88 loads with enzyme-activated cleaners that keep whites white and colors bright. - Shaklee Get Clean™ Fresh Laundry Liquid Concentrate
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This superconcentrated liquid laundry detergent also acts as a powerful spot stain remover. With natural, biodegradable ingredients, Shaklee's Fresh Laundry is hypoallergenic and contains no phosphates or chlorine. - Sun & Earth
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This product claims to be a 'deep cleaning' liquid detergent that is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, nontoxic, and does not contain allergens, dyes, perfumes or petroleum-based solvents.
Before you buy
The terms "non-toxic," "environmentally friendly," or any other green reference are not regulated by any agency, but used at the discretion of the manufacturer. Look for independent third-party certifications, such as Green Seal, or read the ingredients carefully. Choose products with:
- Grain alcohol, NOT toxic butyl cellosolve
- Coconut or other plant oils, NOT petroleum-based ingredients
- Plant-oil disinfectants, NOT triclosan
Choosing natural laundry detergent helps you go green because…
- You can reduce the amount of chlorine, phosphates, and petroleum-based chemicals that are released into the environment.
Traditional laundry detergents contain non-renewable petroleum-derived ingredients, the extraction and production of which have caused major environmental damage to soil, surface and ground waters, and local ecosystems, and contribute to global warming. Detergents also contain synthetic fragrances and chemical whiteners. These chemicals drain out of the washing machine and into groundwater, where they can react with other chemicals and contaminate drinking water supplies. For example, when chlorine bleach reacts with carbon molecules, it creates dioxin, a known carcinogen. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found high levels of dioxin in the San Francisco Bay in 2000, largely contributed by municipal gray water that included laundry water containing fabric-bleaching chemicals.
When the chemical ingredients in detergents enter water supplies, they also negatively impact aquatic life. Phosphates, which are used to soften water, for example, act as fertilizer for algae and encourage algae growth, which then depletes the water's oxygen supply and kills off fish and other aquatic life.
Packaging
The plastic bottles used to package laundry detergents contribute to the solid waste stream. Those packaged in polyvinyl chloride (PVC, marked with a #3) are made from cancer-causing chemicals and create additional carcinogens as a byproduct during production and incineration. PVC is also not often accepted for recycling; less than one percent of all PVC is recycled each year.
Related health issues
Laundry detergents may contain various ingredients and fragrances that can be skin or respiratory irritants, or allergens. Certain fragrances are a health risk because they contain phthalates, which have been linked to cancer and reproductive system risks. Some detergents may include chlorine bleach. Bleach can be dangerous when combined with other cleaning products, which can result in toxic gases. Additionally bleach itself is a highly caustic skin irritant. Many detergents with added fragrances can disguise this smell, making it more difficult for you to detect.
Comments
Hi--I just wondered why soapnuts are not listed among the products to green your laundry? Unlike all of the other green alternatives, soapnuts actually grow on trees, so there is no manufacturing per se, only sustainable harvesting, and there is no packaging other than the bag they come in and the package they are mailed in. As far as making as little an impact on the environment as possible, it would be hard to beat soapnuts. More info about them can be found at www.BuySoapNutsHere.com