When you think of doing laundry, you think of smelly clothes going into the washer and coming out smelling fantastic. You want that “freshly laundered smell”, it could be refreshing breeze, Crisp linen, or April Fresh.

What if I told you that smell is actually a bad thing? You buy a laundry detergent based on how clean they make the clothes. Then, so many people add in softener that has extra “pretty” smells. All these “pretty” smells are actually chemicals that are not healthy for you.

Toxic Chemicals

Everything you put on your body is absorbed into your skin. I’ve talked about finding better make-up for your face and my haircare journey, but many people don’t think about all the other toxins they put on their body.

 If you see “fragrance” or “perfume” on any ingredient list, the product may also contain chemicals such as acetone or ethanol. Which is only two of thousands of possible ingredients that can disrupt your health. Most detergents have signature “fragrances” which are designed to integrate into and stay in clothes. The unscented versions add masking chemicals, which cover up the fragrance with another chemical.

Common Ingredients

• Synthetic fragrances –  Fragrance is mentioned first because hundreds of synthetic chemicals are hidden in “trade secret” fragrance recipes that do not have to be disclosed or tested. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) fragrances are considered to be among the top five allergens and can trigger asthma attacks.  Testing by EWG also revealed that 75% of the fragrances contain phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to diabetes, obesity and hormone disruption which affects both development and fertility.
• Natural fragrances – “Natural” fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean safe. In a study analyzing 25 top selling products, those with “organic” and “natural” fragrance emitted just as many hazardous chemicals as conventional products with fragrance.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Laurel Sulfate (ALS) are commonly used in many detergents and act as surfactants and emulsifiers, giving the detergent foaming abilities. Over 16,000 research studies on SLS have shown links to irritation of the skin and eyes, organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, and biochemical or cellular changes, and even cancer.
• Phenols: Phenol is recognized as being so toxic that people who are hypersensitive to it could experience death or serious side effects at very low exposures. It is rapidly absorbed and can cause toxicity throughout the entire body, wreaking havoc on the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels, lungs and kidneys.
• Optical brighteners – Leave a residue on clothes that reflect light and make clothes look brighter. These chemicals are in constant contact with the skin and are  breathed in the lungs. They have the capacity to make skin become photo-reactive and more sensitive to sun exposure.  They are also toxic to fish and cause bacterial mutations.

Brands

There are many brands out there that are a healthier alternative for your family. Be warned, they don’t have that “extreme” smell you might be use to. They do come in a variety of smells, but most are infused with essential oils or natural smells. Most brands may contain 1 or 2 of the above ingredients. But have tried to steer clear of adding every “bad” ingredient.

To me less chemicals the better. So, if I can find a brand that has the least amount harmful ingredients the safer my family is. The best/healthiest brands are:

• 365 Everyday Value Laundry Detergent (Whole Foods Brand)
• AspenClean Laundry Detergent
• Attitude
• Better Life Laundry Detergent
• Biokleen: Citrus Essense Laundry Powder
• Dapple Baby Laundry Soap
• Eco Nuts
• Eco-Me
• Grab Green: Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergent Pods, 3-in-1 Powder, and Stoneworks
• Green Shield
• Lion Bear Naked Soap Co.
• Martha Stewart Laundry Soap
• Meliora: All products; their Laundry Powder is also MADESAFE Certified
• Molly’s Suds

• Natural Suds
• Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda
• Ology 2X Laundry Liquid, Free & Clear
• Planet Ultra 2x Ultra Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear
• Pure Haven Laundry Detergent
• Pure Natural
• Rockin’ Green Platinum Series Dirty Diaper & Active Wear Detergent product lines only
• Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent Powder, Free & Clear
• Simple Truth Free & Clear
• Soap Nuts
• Sun & Earth
• Thieves Laundry Soap by Young Living
• Trader Joe’s Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Whole Foods Unscented Market Baby & Organic Unscented Laundry Detergents
• Woolzies Laundry Detergent
• Zum Clean Laundry Soap: All except Frankincense & Myrrh for undisclosed fragrance

Chiropractic

Chiropractic looks at the whole body and what is going on in your life as far as chemicals that could be causing stressors. If you have any questions on what you should look for give us or a chiropractor near you a call. Getting toxic chemicals out of your house can improve your health dramatically.

You can always check labels and do research! Or your can get all the ingredients needed and make your own laundry soap, hand soap, lotion, body wash, the list is endless!

Stressors in life cause subluxations. Subluxations cause pain and dysfunction in the body. Chiropractic adjustments can help you work on creating a better environment for your body and your house. Invest in your health and care about what you put into/onto your body while you are young. You will save thousands of dollars and have less pain later in life.

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036