Looking at the list of ingredients on your laundry detergent pods or bottle, you wouldn't be wrong to assume a chemistry degree is a prerequisite for understanding them.
For most people, the contents of their laundry detergent are a total mystery, with chemical names and scientific terms.
This article aims to clarify exactly what goes into your machine every week so you can make the right choices for your family, clothes, and the environment.
What Materials Are Used To Make Laundry Detergent?
Not all laundry detergents are made equal, so don't assume the ingredients are pretty much the same. Some are standard, and some are not. It depends on the brand and the detergent's purpose.
Here are some of the most common ingredients in the liquid detergents in the laundry aisle.
Surfactants
Surfactants are vital in removing grease and stains using a chemical compound that changes how the detergent behaves by reducing the surface tension of the water and fabrics, helping to lift stains away by grabbing the dirt.
Surfactants (or surface-acting agents) are in many household products, including shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps, and washing-up liquids, not just laundry detergents.
Surfactants allow the liquid to spread out and increase the foaming and dissolving of the detergent, improving the performance of the other ingredients in your laundry product.
Typical surfactants on laundry detergent labels include sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and potassium alcohol sulfates.
Builders
Detergent builders are there to increase the effectiveness of surfactants for optimal cleaning. They improve water quality, resulting in increased suds and lather, helping detergents work more effectively and efficiently.
Alkalies
Alkalies found in most laundry detergents are soluble salts that neutralize acid and effectively remove stains and dirt from fabrics without excess agitation, which damages fibers. Alkalies are sometimes also referred to as pH adjusters.
Alkalies react with the fat content in laundry detergent to effectively create soap. Salts from alkali metals such as sodium or potassium are excellent grease removers.
One of the most common alkalis in laundry detergent is baking soda, an ingredient you might recognize. A kitchen staple and a mild alkali, baking soda balances pH levels in your wash, essential for removing stains and odors caused by things like urine and sweat.
Baking soda also softens the wash water, making it easier for the detergent to foam and deliver optimal cleaning results.
Enzymes
Enzymes perform the same role in laundry detergent as they do in our bodies. Enzymes break down specific stains like chocolate, grass, grease, and blood, making it easier to get washing clean at a lower temperature without damaging the fabric's fibers.
Regular enzymes you'll see on many laundry detergents are amylase, protease, lipase, and cellulase.
Chelators
Chelators are chemical compounds that attract metal ions, keeping impurities and mineral deposits usually found in water away from surfactants so they can perform optimally.
Fragrance
Many liquid detergents contain artificial fragrances; more expensive products will have real essential oils.
We all want laundry to smell nice when it comes out of the machine, and these synthetic fragrances last on clothing even after several rinse cycles.
Parabens
Parabens are synthetic chemicals designed to act as preservatives and antimicrobials, preventing bacterial growth and enhancing the shelf life of liquid detergent during the manufacturing process and transit.
Brighteners
Optical brighteners, called chemical fluorescent whitening agents, absorb UV light to give the impression of whiter, brighter clothes.
Designed to build up over time to stop yellowing, optical brighteners are also used during garment manufacturing to enhance color and extend fabric life.
Dyes
Laundry detergents contain bright blue or green dyes, which make the liquids more visually appealing and suggest that different products do different jobs, especially those multicolored pods. However, they don't contain enough dye to change your clothes' color.
Why Detergent Ingredients Matter
Laundry detergent removes odors, dirt, and grime. Your clothes look clean, the colors are bright, and the garments smell fresh, so do laundry detergent ingredients really matter? We think they do, and here's why.
Health and Allergies
Some ingredients commonly found in laundry detergents have been linked to health issues. It's easy to make a connection with skin conditions, especially for people who already have skin sensitivities. However, detergent ingredients are also associated with endocrine-related illnesses and even certain types of cancer.
Clothes' Protection
Liquid detergents may make your clothes look brighter and smell nice, but they can leave a residue on garments, affecting the fibers in the fabric and the color. Over time, this shortens the life of clothing and impacts its appearance.
Washing Machine Performance
The same detergent residue that ends up on your clothing can also impact your washing machine, clogging up the gasket, drum, dispensing drawer, and pipes. Combined with warm, wet conditions, this forms the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and black mold.
Environmental Impact
US wastewater treatment plants are not designed to process the different toxic chemicals that can be released from your machine after each wash. Consequently, many pass into the environment via water systems and groundwater, impacting plants and wildlife, and then passing back into people via the food chain.
What Are the Bad Chemicals in Laundry Detergent?
- Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) strip oils from fabrics and have been linked to skin reactions and worsening symptoms in people with pre-existing conditions like contact dermatitis.
- Synthetic fragrances often contain VOCs or volatile organic compounds, which evaporate, leaving a pleasant smell. However, even low levels of VOCs can trigger or worsen respiratory problems and induce headaches, nausea, or allergic reactions.
- Parabens have been linked to endocrine disruption in the human body, specifically estrogen, and some types of cancers.
- Optical brighteners negatively impact people and the environment. Because they remain on clothes long-term, they pass into the water system and are ingested by people, animals, and aquatic creatures. Optical brighteners are linked with skin and eye irritation in humans.
- Vivid dyes are associated with certain cancers and endocrine issues. They don't always dissolve properly and can remain on clothes indefinitely. They're also a problem because they are enticing to small children, particularly the laundry pods—they look good enough to eat.
Alternatives to Traditional Laundry Detergents
Laundry detergent sheets are a fresh, new alternative to traditional liquid detergent products.
As people become increasingly aware of the harmful contents of regular liquid detergent, fortunately, alternatives are available that still offer premium cleaning without all the health-related and environmental drawbacks.
Detergent sheets are the latest arrivals in your local store's laundry aisle. These small, thin sheets are impregnated with non-toxic ingredients (although always check the packaging, as not all laundry sheets are made equal).
Laundry sheets have many advantages over traditional detergents. They're space-saving, portable, and because they're pre-dosed and adjustable, you can always use just the right amount of detergent.
Freddie laundry sheets are free of harmful chemicals like optical brighteners, parabens, artificial scent, dyes, and parabens found in regular liquid laundry detergent, but offer the same, if not better, cleaning performance. Yes, it’s hard to imagine in such a small thin sheet.
Our revolutionary laundry detergent sheets dissolve quickly in hot and cold water. Pre-measured for each load, you can tear them to adjust the dose and to pre-soak or handwash.
Kinder to your clothes, your washer, and the planet, even the packaging is recyclable, part of our commitment to offer exceptional cleaning without harmful toxins. We really have thought of everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Healthiest Laundry Detergent To Use?
It has to be products free of toxic chemicals, promoting your and your family's health and the planet. Even your washing machine will feel better. Laundry detergent sheets offer the same cleaning power as traditional liquids, but you can choose products like Freddie and avoid all the harmful impacts.
What Did People Use Before Laundry Detergent?
Before laundry detergent, people used good old-fashioned washing powder; some brands are still available today. A lot of the science used to create modern liquid detergents was honed with washing powders during the early 20th century. It was also driven by the changing technology surrounding washers.
Final Thoughts
A not-so-quiet revolution is occurring in many US households that are ditching regular liquid detergents for new detergent sheets, a change driven by a growing awareness of what you put in the washer and that now, things are different.
Clean washing doesn't have to be at the planet's expense or your health.
Not every ingredient in laundry detergent is harmful, but the ones we rely on for fresh smells and optimal cleaning may have hidden consequences. Households with family members with skin conditions or respiratory issues are already ahead of the curve.
Laundry sheets from Freddie provide a viable and effective alternative to the toxic chemicals in liquid laundry detergents. Best of all, you won't have to sacrifice cleanliness or appearance, and your clothes and washer will last longer.
