Serving Size: 4.88 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Back to Index of Terms The product Laundry Detergent is in the following categories: Household Cleaners  |  Clothing Laundry Detergent CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Residues of chemicals used in mainstream products can remain on clothing and bedding, causing skin irritation. Other chemicals added can harm human and environmental health. Mainstream laundry detergents can contain petroleum-based detergents and surfactants, optical brighteners, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. They may also contain bleach, alkylphenol ethoxylates, and fabric softeners. Most synthetic dyes and fragrances are made from petroleum by-products or coal tars (a carcinogenic liquid or semi-liquid from bituminous coal). Coal tars can contain benzene, xylene, naphthalene, phenol and creosol. Synthetic fragrances are much less expensive than natural ones, and so are most commonly used. Most have not been tested for safety, or have undergone only minimal testing. Each individual fragrance may be made from up to 4,000 different chemical components. The chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets and so may be listed on labels only as “fragrance.” HEALTH CONCERNS: Optical brighteners linger on fabrics by design, and can irritate skin. Alkylphenol ethoxylates have exhibited hormone disrupting activity in humans and wildlife. They are also persistent and bioaccumulate in the environment. Detergents are made mostly with synthetic ingredients,which may cause effects such as skin irritaion, digestive problems, and hormone disruption. Synthetic fragrances may cause a wide range of acute and chronic effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, watery eyes, other allergic symptoms, sensitization, nervous system depression and skin irritation. Nitrobenzene may be used in making synthetic dyes. Nitrobenzene can irritate eyes and skin at low exposure levels, and in larger amounts has damaged liver and blood in animals. Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Naphthalene is a possible human carcinogen that has been linked to cancer in animal tests, and exposure to large amounts may damage or destroy red blood cells. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Natural liquid or powdered soaps can work well to clean laundry. One drawback of soap is that its cleaning action is inhibited by mineral deposits in water. Adding water softeners to hard water will greatly enhance the laundering performance of soaps. You can also use 1 cup of baking soda, borax, or white vinegar to clean a load of laundry. All of these products are great at freshening clothing and removing odors and perspiration. If you choose to use a laundry detergent rather than soap, look for those made with plant-based ingredients, are unscented or scented with pure essential oils, contain no synthetic dyes, and that are readily biodegradable. Back to Index of Terms