Healthy Fit and Fabulous!!!

Health: Is your laundry detergent safe?

Written by Healthychic, December 17th, 2009

There are many harmful chemicals in commercial laundry detergents. The most harmful chemicals petroleum distillates (napthas) have been linked to lung cancer and liver damage. Another family of toxic chemicals found in laundry detergents are called Phenols. Phenols have been declared toxic by The National Institutes of Health (NIH). Phenols once absorbed into the blood stream attack the central nervous system. The most concerning bit is when these chemicals encounter organic materials (cotton” they become even more carcinogenic. Another scary aside is the detergent that contains the largest amount of napthas is what pediatricians recommend for us to clean our babies clothes in (Dreft).

There have been healthy alternatives to commercial laundry detergent for some time and I have tried most, if not all of them. The trouble I have found is, without the fragrances and optical brighteners, my clothes do not smell or look as good and they are not as soft or as cleans as with Tide I used. This year, I made it a mission to find a way to clean my clothes in a safe detergent that would leave my clothes as soft, fresh smelling and clean as the commercial, chemical laden Tide that I had used for years.

This is the combination that I have found and I clean my whole family’s clothing in! Not only will you be protecting yourself and your family, all of these products are environmentally friendly! Just one more way you can do your part!!!

Detergent: Seventh Generation- they have several fragrances, I prefer the white bergamot scent

Non-chlorine bleach: Oxobrite

For Scent and softening: Ecover fabric softener- I use the morning fresh scent