How to Spot Potential Carcinogens in Your Laundry Detergents

1,4-Dioxane isn’t visible to the naked eye; it’s only detectable by lab equipment. Because we know 1,4-Dioxane can be left behind after detergents are formulated, and without chemistry equipment, we can’t know how much, we must assume that any ethoxylated ingredient is leaving behind carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane. So, we avoid it altogether.

Here are the some of the ethoxylated ingredients to avoid:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate

• Laureth-6 & Laureth-7

• C12-16 Pareth

• Polyethelene Glycol (PEG)

Why do brands use these ingredients?

Tide, Arm & Hammer, All, Gain, Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs Meyers, and many other brands use ethoxylates to make hard-working, inexpensively-formulated, high-foaming laundry detergents. Some use vacuum-stripping to remove 1,4-Dioxane during production.

While these brands may be making strides in recyclable packaging and removing skin-irritating fragrances, they need to invest in reformulation, so consumers aren’t unknowingly exposed to carcinogens in their laundry routines.