GoGreen and Clean: Harness the Power of Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent for a Sustainable, Chemical-Free Wash!"

While on vacation this past July I was with friends in New Hampshire. We hikes, biked and visited gorgeous lakes and mountains. It was a wonderful way to de-stress and enjoy the views and outdoors. We stayed at a friend’s lake house and I was fascinated to learn that she only makes her own laundry detergent. I thought I only purchased “ natural” but when I looked closely at the ingredients I was quite surprised at what was actually in the detergent.

This is not the most glamorous topic to write about but I went down the rabbit hole and wanted to learn more!

It was quite eye -opening!

Many conventional laundry detergents contain a variety of chemicals, some of which can have negative effects on both the environment and human health. Here are some common chemicals found in traditional laundry detergents:

Surfactants: These are the primary cleaning agents in detergents. Common surfactants include:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Used for their foaming and cleaning properties but can be skin irritants and harmful to aquatic life.

Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (LAS): Used for their cleaning ability but can persist in the environment.

Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are added to give a pleasant scent to the laundry. They often contain phthalates, which can disrupt hormones and cause allergic reactions.

Optical Brighteners: These chemicals make clothes appear brighter by reflecting ultraviolet light. They can cause skin irritation and may not be biodegradable.

Enzymes: Enzymes like protease, amylase, and lipase are added to break down stains. They can cause skin irritation and allergies.