Table of Contents
Many commercial laundry detergents are made using harsh chemicals like optical brighteners, fragrances, dyes, and phosphates, which can be dangerous to your health and harmful to the environment. Non-toxic detergents use safe ingredients that can reduce a laundry detergent allergy or exposure to unwanted pollutants. Such detergents offer refreshing and natural scents that don’t contain any artificial dyes or fragrances. Here is a list of ingredients to look for in non-toxic laundry detergent:
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium carbonate is ideal for treating hard water and stain removal. Hard water conditions have an acidic environment. Sodium carbonate acts as an alkaline medium. The ingredient’s function in detergents is to remove insoluble, unwanted stains. Also known as soda crystals or soda ash, it acts as a solvent to remove stains and is a great supporting surfactant.
This ingredient helps remove insoluble oils such as vegetable grease, motor oils, and human sweat stains from materials. Sodium carbonate doesn’t contain synthetic fillers and contaminants. Laundry detergent results from a chemical reaction between an oil or fat and sodium hydroxide. What’s left after the completion of the chemical reaction is glycerin (which acts as a moisturizer) and sodium salt fatty acid sodium salt (which forms the soap).
Sodium Chloride
Sodium chloride offers a balance of softness and hardness. The ingredient adheres soap molecules to one another to form an insoluble mass. Sodium chloride reacts with natural glycerol to make laundry detergent. The product reacts with water to form a cleansing agent known as sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide acts as a cleansing agent during the process of bleaching.
Sodium chloride enhances the scent of fragrance oils and the natural scent of ingredients used in the formulation process. The ingredient also helps create the soap’s porous, soft texture. Sodium chloride improves cleaning by reacting with glycerol to create a detergent that removes oil and dirt. The product is great at soothing the skin and removing irritation, rashes, and itching. Sodium fluoride makes the detergent feel softer on the skin. The ingredient is ideal for those with sensitive skin or with a laundry detergent allergy.
Magnesium Oxide
Magnesium oxide is an additive in laundry detergent formulations used as a pH adjuster or an absorbent. This ingredient is an odorless, white, fine powder that removes body odor and sweat. Magnesium oxide is an active ingredient that enhances the feel and look of detergent on the skin. The product also acts as an additive to improve detergent quality. Magnesium oxide can hold and absorb moisture, keeping the detergent more potent to provide better cleaning results.
Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide is a white, oil-dispersible powder pigment that eliminates sulfur smells like sewage water and skunk. Zinc oxide’s protective, colorant, thickening, and soothing properties make it a popular ingredient in laundry detergent.
When used in detergents, it remains on the skin’s surface, forming a protective coating against environmental irritants and UV radiation. Zinc oxide can prevent and soothe infections, itching, and skin damage. The ingredient is water insoluble and requires oil to make the detergent function effectively.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a clear, viscous solvent derived from vegetable sources such as corn. The ingredient acts as a stabilizer, keeping cleaning enzymes from separating throughout the detergent. When cleaning enzymes get evenly distributed, the detergent can clean your laundry effectively. Propylene glycol is manufactured through a process known as hydrogenolysis that helps to convert glycerin into propylene glycol. The reaction between hydrogen and glycerin occurs at high pressures and temperatures.
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is an antifungal detergent preservative that prevents fungus, mold, and yeast from forming. The ingredient also helps to keep the product’s shelf stable. Sodium benzoate is a crystalline, odorless powder that combines sodium hydroxide and benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is a great preservative; using it with sodium hydroxide helps dissolve it in detergents. Sodium benzoate doesn’t occur naturally. But you can find benzoic acid in plants, including cranberries, tomatoes, cinnamon, plums, apples, and berries.
Buy Products That Prevent a Laundry Detergent Allergy
Look for a non-toxic solution company that sells products with ingredients that prevent laundry detergent allergies. Their products should be made from mineral-based, safe ingredients, fortified through a patented process, and derived from nature for unmatched performance. They should not use toxic chemicals and overpowering fragrances for their products to be gentle on your fabric, skin, and the planet.