Toxins in Laundry Detergent & Laundry Products
- Alayne
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 26
The traditional laundry products that we count on to remove dirt and stains from our laundry, in turn, leave behind some pretty nefarious toxins that, not only, come into contact with our skin, but also get released into the air. Counterintuitive, no?
Laundry Detergent & Laundry Products: Toxins
Benzisothiazolinone (BMI): A biocide that can penetrate skin and enter the bloodstream even through rubber gloves. Can cause permanent nervous system damage. Skin/eye/respiratory irritant. High acute toxicity to aquatic life. Same family as MI (below).
Dialkylester Hydroxyethyl Methyl Ammonium Methosulfate: A quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). Toxic chemical linked to skin/respiratory irritation and nervous system disorders. When heated, QACs release toxic chemicals into the air... problematic because this toxin is found in dryer sheets.
Diethyl Ester Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride: Also classified as a QAC (see toxicity above). Linked to asthma/skin rashes. Found in fabric softener.
Dihydrogenated Palmoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate: Also classified as a QAC (see toxicity above). Potentially linked to developmental/reproductive/organ toxicity. Found in fabric softener.
Dimethicone/Trimethylsiloxysilicate: Synthetic silicone-based polymers. Persistent in the environment and pose acute toxicity to aquatic life.
Ethoxylated Ingredients (e.g., SLES, Laureth-6, Laureth-7, C12-16 Pareth, Polyethylene Glycol): The ethoxylation process creates 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, known human carcinogens. Ethoxylated ingredients can contain trace amounts of these harmful byproducts.
Methylisothiazolinone (MI): Highly toxic biocide. Linked to neurotoxicity, lung toxicity, and nerve damage. Skin/eye/respiratory irritant.
Monoethanolamine (MEA): Ethanolamine compound. Skin irritant. Reacts with agents in preservatives found in cosmetics and personal care products to form cancer-causing chemicals.
Polyethyleneimine Alkoxylated: Linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, and genetic defects. Can contain impurities 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, known human carcinogens,
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Plastic that leaches phthalates (endocrine disruptors) and antimony, a toxic heavy metal linked to cancer and heart/liver/kidney damage. Linked to obesity, type-2 diabetes, asthma, and birth defects. Breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics. Found in dryer sheets.
Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzene Sulfonate: Skin/eye/respiratory irritant.
Additional bad actors in laundry products:
Whitening agents, dyes, synthetic fragrances, sodium borate, polyquaternium, and alkyl dimethyl compounds. This list is not completely comprehensive, and the labels become mind-numbing. Take a look at yours. If you ask yourself, what is that? It may very well be another item that belongs on this list.
Worth Noting:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate: Considered non-toxic but is a powerful surfactant that is drying on the skin. It can disrupt the skin barrier creating water loss from skin's uppermost layers even from brief exposure.
Bloop Natural Laundry Soap
Free of the Toxins and Chemical Compounds Listed Above
Use Wyld25 for 25% off first order
Orders placed via Collaboration Links attribute commissions at no expense to you.
* Bloop uses food-grade polysorbate. I confirmed with the founder that it is 1,4-dioxane-free.
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent
Orders placed via Collaboration Links attribute commissions at no expense to you.
* The propylene glycol in Dirty Labs is plant derived, not petroleum-based, and is completely soluble in water meaning it will rinse away completely with a proper wash cycle. Using warm water and being careful not to overdo it on the amount of detergent will ensure no residue remains on your laundry.
* Dirty Labs allergen-free fragrances include natural and synthetic ingredients selected from the IFRA Transparency List. It's disappointing that synthetic ingredients are used to create their fragrances, but overall, this brand is significantly cleaner and has far less toxins than conventional laundry detergents. Dirty Labs does offer a fragrance-free option to sidestep this concern.
Want more intel on Bloop Laundry Soap and Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent? Check out my Bloop Laundry Soap Review and Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent Review posts.
