What is “Clean Laundry” and Why it Matters

Did you know that traditional laundry detergents can contain more than 25 toxic chemicals, some of which can irritate your family’s skin, eyes, and lungs? It’s hurting our fur babies, too. Itchy paws? Red skin? Licking incessantly?

Traditional laundry detergents can harm our health and the environment due to toxic chemicals and synthetic fragrances that irritate skin, disrupt hormones and pollute our waterways (hello contaminated drinking water). 

From phthalates (linked to hormonal issues) to fragrance chemicals and surfactants (can include forever chemicals), these toxic ingredients can affect your endocrine system, increase your risk of cancer as well as being linked to migraines, allergies, asthma, type-2 diabetes, plus liver and kidney toxicity, and developmental problems, to name a few.

Most laundry detergents may do a great job of cleaning your clothes – but at what cost? Marketing has really stepped up it’s game over the years, particularly fear-based marketing around the idea of being germ-free has been very profitable in recent years.

Here’s what to avoid and what to look for when choosing a clean, non-toxic detergent:

🚨What to Avoid:

❌ Fragrance – “Fragrance” is a blanket term that can hide thousands of chemicals, including hormone disruptors and allergens. Look for detergents labeled fragrance-free or scented with pure essential oils instead.

❌ Sulfates (SLS & SLES) – These create a foamy lather but can be harsh on skin and may contain traces of 1,4-dioxane, a known cancer-causing chemical that’s a byproduct in the majority of detergents.

❌ Optical Brighteners – These give clothes a ‘whiter-than-white’ glow but are petroleum-based and can irritate sensitive skin.

❌ Phthalates & Parabens – These chemicals help scents last longer but are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues.

❌ Chlorine Bleach – A harsh irritant that can create toxic fumes when mixed with other chemicals.

Laundry detergent, to include dryer sheets, is one of the most important swaps you can make because your body NEVER gets a break from the toxins. You wear clothes & the chemicals soak into your skin & then they filter through your organs. AND…then you sleep in the sheets (or dry your body with towels) coated with these same chemicals. 

Your laundry shouldn’t come with a health risk! Clean, non-toxic laundry detergent has come a long way since I started making the switch. Initially, I cooked up (no joke, it required my stovetop, haha) my own laundry detergent! That was 10 years ago, but I’ve since found a clean, non-toxic detergent that works AMAZING and is actually much safer for my family. I use the Clean People brand, but have also tried Branch Basics, which is now available at Target! (YAY!) Clean People does have non-toxic dryer sheets available, but I prefer to use white vinegar in my wash (makes my clothes wicked soft) and wool dryer balls with a few drops of essential oils.

Making the switch to a clean detergent means fewer toxins on your skin, in your home, in the air you breathe and the water we drink.

Have you checked your detergent label lately? What’s hiding in it?

💡 Pro Tip: I’ve added white distilled vinegar to my laundry routine (in the fabric softener cup in my washer) and the benefits are incredible:

✨ Acts as a natural fabric softener (Seriously! My clothes are so soft, and jeans that feel like buttah!)

✨ Removes odors (including toxic synthetic fragrance) and kills bacteria

✨ Helps prevent static cling

✨ May extend the life of your clothes

Thankfully, it has no harsh chemicals or hidden toxins and is suitable for those with allergies or skin sensitivities.

#ToxicFreeLiving #NonToxicHome #CancerPrevention #CleanLiving #EcoFriendlyLaundry #HealthyHome #EndocrineHealth