How Green is Your Laundry Detergent?
Filed Under Naturopathy |
It’s in your bathroom right now. No one is immune from it, and it is something most of us hate to deal with. What is it? It’s the laundry. The fact is, we don’t often think about the kind of laundry aids we use, as the basic assumption is that they all clean the same way.
For the most part, all laundry detergents work in the same way. However, I have found that some detergents are actually too strong and contain chemicals that have given me hives and irritated my son’s eczema. So for me, my biggest concern has to do with the residual chemicals that remain on the clothing after the wash. For this reason I run all my clothing through two rinse cycles and I buy green.
So what makes your detergent green? To be classified as green or a healthier alternative to their chemical-laden counterparts, the detergent must be: dye-free, not contain chemical scents, utilize oxygen-bleach or baking soda (instead of chlorine bleach), contain plant or soybean oil (instead of animal-fat products), and instead of petroleum-based surfactants plant-based soaps are used. You can also find environmentally friendly fabric softeners and stain removers.
Surprisingly, the green alternative detergents are not more expensive than the major brands found in the grocery store. And there are many brands to choose from. Remember: your clothing is the closest thing next to your skin. Oftentimes, skin allergies can easily be traced to laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and soaps. Both my son’s eczema and my hives have dramatically improved since changing our laundry aids and adding a second rinse cycle to the laundry.
So before you start popping Benadryl and spending money on allergy testing and dermatology appointments, look to your laundry aids. A simple change in product could save you hundreds in medical expenses.
Dr. Mundorff
