Alexis Unlimited

Does Your Laundry Detergent Contain These 5 Common Carcinogens?

You may be getting more than you bargained for when you wash your

clothes. That’s because many commercial laundry detergents contain toxic carcinogens.  And, you may be exposing yourself to these cancer-causing chemicals every time you do your laundry or wear the clothes you’ve washed. That’s a disturbing thought.

Here are some of the most common carcinogens in in everyday laundry detergents:

 4-Dioxane

This toxic chemical is heavily used in many or our detergents. Multiple studies link this ingredient to cancer.

Nonylphenol Ethoxylate

This is a common surfactant (detergent) found in laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners. It bio-accumulates in our environment and has widespread effects on our marine life. Additionally, it is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen, making it harmful to anyone but especially those of you who are vulnerable to breast cancer or other estrogen-linked cancers. It is already banned in Europe.

Colors

Many of our commercial laundry detergents contain artificial colors, which the Environmental Working Group has identified as a cancer risk to us. Some of these colors include: 4-methylimidazole, imidazole, 2-methylimidazole and FURAN, all of which the organization indicates are “known to cause cancer” or “may cause cancer.”

Stabilizers

Many of our laundry detergents contain chemicals that are used to stabilize the products; however, they have been linked to a low to moderate cancer risk, depending on the specific types and quantities used.

Alcohol Ethoxylates

Depending on the concentration of this chemical, the EWG lists it as causing “some concern” for your cancer risk.

If you’re not sure whether laundry products you use contain carcinogens, be sure to check out the EWG’s database of thousands of common products that many of us use on a regular basis.

I’ve listed some of our most common laundry products along with the

letter grade they received using the EWG’s grading system for their overall health (including carcinogenic effects) and their environmental effects. You may notice that many of the so-called “scent-free,” “free & clear,” or “gentle” options actually rated just as poorly (and sometimes worse) than their counterparts.

Here are some of the most common products and their ratings:

Cheer bright CLEAN Powdered Laundry Detergent—Free & Gentle: D

Downy Ultra Concentrated Fabric Softener: D

Downy Ultra with Febreze Liquid Fabric Softener—Spring & Renewal: D

Gain Liquid Detergent with Freshlock, Lavender: D

Gain: Ultra Powder Detergent with Febreze Freshness—Original: D

Tide Liquid Detergent plus Downy HE—April Fresh: D

Tide plus Bleach Alternative—Original: D

Tide Pods—Free & Gentle: D

Cheer bright CLEAN HE Liquid Laundry Detergent—Free & Gentle: F

Downy Ultra Concentrated Fabric Softener—Free & Sensitive: F

Here are some products that received an “A:”

Attitude Sensitive Skin Natural Baby Laundry Detergent: A

Biokleen Free & Clear Laundry Liquid: A

Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, Baby Unscented: A (Dr. Bronner’s Rose or Almond products received a B)

Ecover ZERO Laundry Liquid Concentrate: A or B (there are 2 different versions of this product)

Here are some products that are marketed as natural and received Bs or Cs:

Ecover Laundry Powder ZERO: B

Green Works Naturally Derived Oxi Stain Remover: B

Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda: B

Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent Packs—Mandarin & Sandalwood: B

Ultra Purex Powder Detergent with Renuzit, Mountain Breeze—B

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Laundry Detergent Pods—Unscented: B

Arm & Hammer Essentials 2X Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent—Free of Perfume & Dye: C

Arm & Hammer Powder Laundry Detergent, Free of Perfume & Dye: C

Citra Solve Citra-Solve Citra Suds Liquid Laundry Detergent—Valencia Orange: C

Nature Clean Liquid Laundry, Unscented: C

Purex Classic Powder, Original Fresh: C

Seventh Generation Natural 4X Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear: C

As you may have noticed, even many of the so-called “natural” laundry detergents are less than impressive.

Fortunately, the David Suzuki Foundation shares a free, downloadable guide to making natural cleaning products, including laundry detergent.

To be honest, I thought I was using extremely natural, healthy laundry detergents but after researching and writing this article, I’m switching to David Suzuki’s homemade actually-natural option instead.

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I find this to be a great informative list, and it’s interesting how many detergents got graded a D, and I was also surprised at how many “natural” detergents were rated a C. I don’t know why my laundry detergent, All Free & Clear is not listed at all. Do you think that’s good or bad? Is your detergent listed here? And, does the grade it got surprise you?

Have a great healthy day!