Washing your clothes is designed to leave them clean and fresh. However, the type of laundry detergent that you use can have a huge impact on what chemicals your clothes are exposed to. When you wear freshly washed clothes, you are exposed to the chemicals that are included in the laundry detergent. This means that choosing an eco-friendly laundry detergent can be beneficial to both your health and the environment.
Knowing what to look for in an eco-friendly laundry detergent can be a bit tricky, but these are some tips to help you find an option that will work best for you:
Which is Real?
There are any different laundry detergent types that make claims. The labels that are most often included on the bottle are “Natura,” “Green,” and “Organic.” Being able to choose the real eco-friendly laundry detergents from the pretenders takes a bit of skill. You have to do more than just look for labels. Many of the brands of laundry detergents that make claims, are not actually eco-friendly.
The EPA Makes Guidelines
The best way to find a real eco-friendly laundry detergent is to go by EPA guidelines. The EPA has a system in place that is designed to monitor the ingredients that are included in laundry detergents. Only those laundry detergent companies that are using the safest ingredients will be able to get EPA approval as an eco-friendly laundry detergent. Those that get EPA approval will be able to add a seal to their bottle that designates this EPA approval. It is the EPA seal that you should look for when trying to find an eco-friendly laundry detergent.
What is the Seal Known As?
The seal that you should be on the lookout for, is known as the Design for Environment Seal. It is only given to laundry detergents that contain only the safest ingredients. Detergent companies that are looking to get this seal are asked to reformulate their detergent if the ingredients are not currently up to the EPA’s standards.
What Ingredients Are the Most Harmful?
The most harmful ingredients that can be found in laundry detergents include phosphates and nonylphenol ethoxylates. During the 1970’s phosphates were not allowed to be included in laundry detergents, but this changed over time. However, the safety of these ingredients in many laundry detergents is questioned.
Finding an eco-friendly laundry detergent doesn’t have to be complicated, just look for the seal.
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