What does it mean to use the best fragrance-free laundry detergent?
These cleaning products have an important characteristic: they do not contain (synthetic) fragrances and perfumes. They may have a delicate smell, but it’s not as strong as the fragrances used in conventional products.
Fragrances can be an issue for those with allergy problems. Just sensing the smell of them can make people sneeze, cough and experience unpleasant allergic reactions.
Best fragrance-free laundry detergent can be a great solution. No fragrances means clean clothes and no unpleasant surprises.
Fragrance-free face moisturizer for sensitive skin also falls into this category.
Using a fragrance-free laundry detergent can have great benefits for you and your clothes.
Best fragrance-free laundry detergent benefits
No synthetic fragrances
Fragrances are a common ingredient in laundry detergents. These chemicals are responsible for the smell the products have.
Although the smell of laundry detergents makes you think of clean fresh clothes, it’s also liked to certain problems.
First of all, fragrances are known endocrine disruptors. These chemicals have the ability to mimic hormones and send wrong signals to the body.
Here is an article about the health effects of fragrances.
Besides this, they can cause allergic reactions.
The second big problem with fragrances is that, in most cases, you will only find them listed as fragrances or perfumes.
Behind these names stand many chemicals that led to the production of one specific smell. In some cases, there may be a few, in others, it may involve tens of ingredients.
The reason you see only the general name in the ingredients list is because companies are not obliged to diclose them. They can say it’s part of their secret recipe and choose not to make them public.
Best fragrance-free laundry detergent does not contain these chemicals, meaning you do not need to worry about these problems.
If you’re interested in this subject, check out best hypoallergenic fabric softener.
Clean clothes with a delicate smell
Best fragrance-free laundry detergent does not contain fragrances, but this does not mean it’s not a good product for cleaning your clothes.
These cleaning items are designed to make your clothes clean and give them just a delicate smell. Some products have no smell at all.
Choosing such a product may seem a difficult thing, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. Start with reading product reviews and asking opinions about different products.
Chemicals to avoid in laundry detergents
Fragrances are just one chemical you may want to avoid in laundry detergents.
Here are other chemicals you may want to stay away from.
Sulfates
Sulfates act as surfactants and detergents in these products. The most common sulfates are SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate).
They are used in a wide variety of products, including:
- shampoos
- conditioners
- lotions
- creams
- moisturizers
- soaps
- makeup products
- toothpaste products (take the non-SLS toothpaste, as an example)
They are known for causing irritations of the skin and eyes. They have also been linked to other problems such as organ toxicity and reproductive problems.
Probably one of the greatest problems with sulfates is related to 1,4 dioxane. This is a chemical which appears during certain processes involving sulfates.
1,4 dioxane is a known human carcinogen. Products which are contaminated with this chemical can represent a threat to human health.
NPE (Nonylphenol Ethoxylate)
NPE is another surfactant used in laundry detergents.
Just like fragrances, NPE is also an endocrine disruptor. It can mimic hormones, particularly estrogen.
When the body absorbs NPE, it becomes really difficult for it to tell the difference between NPE and estrogen.
NPE has been banned in countries from Europe and Canada.
Phosphates
Phosphates are responsible with breaking down dirt articles and removing the stains from your clothes.
The problem with them is they have been linked to skin irritations, nausea, and diarrhea.
They also cause environmental problems, as they remain in the wastewater. This can lead to an increased growth of algae and can put the life of wild creatures in danger.
If you’re interested in this topic, check out septic-safe laundry detergent.