Toxins in Laundry Detergent & Laundry Products
- Alayne
- Aug 25, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Laundry List: Harmful Chemicals in Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, & Dryer Sheets | Low-Tox Swaps
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? Let's sort through some of these toxins together.
In This Post:
Common Toxins in Laundry Detergent | Additional Bad Actors | Low-Tox Alternatives | Laundry Containers in Landfills | Sustainable Alternatives
Common Toxins in Laundry Detergent & Laundry Products
Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)
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.
Dyes
Petroleum and coal tar derived carcinogens which can be contaminated with arsenic and lead. FD&C/D&C dyes like D&C Violet No. 2, a common blue dye in laundry detergent, can cause skin irritation.
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.
Fragrance
A general umbrella term which could include toxins like phthalates (endocrine disruptors), parabens, formaldehyde-releasing agents, aldehydes, styrene (classified carcinogen), linalool, acetone, and more.
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.
Optical Brighteners
(e.g., Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, OBAs (optical brightening agents), FWAs (fluorescent whitening agents), Fluorescent Brightener #71)
Chemical dyes that absorb UV light and emit blue light to counteract yellowing. Reproductive toxicity concerns. Linked to skin irritation. Environmental persistence.
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.
Propylene Glycol
Synthetic by-product of fossil fuels and fermentation (if not specifically designated as plant-derived) found in brake fluid and antifreeze. May cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. Small enough molecular weight to enter bloodstream.
Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzene Sulfonate
Skin/eye/respiratory irritant.
Additional Bad Actors in Laundry Products
In addition to what's listed above, do your best to avoid whitening agents, sodium borate, polyquaternium, and alkyl dimethyl compounds. This list is not completely comprehensive, and labels can 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 the list.
Is Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Safe?
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.
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Low-Tox Laundry Detergent Swaps
Free of the Toxins and Chemical Compounds Listed Above
Bloop Natural Laundry Soap
Wyld25
25% off all orders
Free Shipping over $45
Excellent customer service and timely shipping
IS THE POLYSORBATE IN BLOOP SAFE?
Bloop uses food-grade polysorbate. I confirmed with the founder that it is 1,4-dioxane-free.
ARE BLOOP FRAGRANCES SAFE?
When 'fragrance' is listed as an ingredient, it calls for pause. For Bloop, their 'fragrance' comes from all-natural fragrance oils. My preference is that high-quality organic or pure essential oils are used for fragrance, however, that is nitpicking. Bloop Laundry Soap remains a better choice over other clean laundry detergents and especially conventional laundry detergents. Care Free is their fragrance-free option if you still are uneasy about fragrances (you can add your own favorite essential oils to Care Free).
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent
Free shipping over $40
or
IS THE PROPYLENE GLYCOL IN DIRTY LABS SAFE?
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.
ARE DIRTY LABS FRAGRANCES SAFE?
Dirty Labs allergen-free fragrances include natural and synthetic ingredients selected from the IFRA Transparency List. Dirty Labs exceeds industry standards by also eliminating CA Prop 65 chemicals of concern and EU listed fragrance allergens. I don't love that synthetic ingredients are used to create their fragrances, but Dirty Labs uses non-toxic ingredients that are much safer than the 'laundry list' of toxins in conventional laundry detergents. Dirty Labs also offers a fragrance-free option if this is a concern for you.
Laundry Detergent Containers in Landfills
The U.S. discards an estimated 700 million to 900 million laundry containers per year. On average, only 30% will be recycled. Typical mainstream laundry detergent jugs are HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and their footprint is massive when it comes to plastic pollution. I thought 500 years for a toothpaste tube to biodegrade was egregious. Toxins in Traditional Toothpaste & Natural Toothpaste serves up more toothpaste tube landfill stats. These wonky things can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Eco-conscious consumers and companies have made great strides in shrinking this footprint, but 900 million jugs per year for the U.S alone with the 1,000-year timer starting over every year is difficult to reconcile.
Sustainable Laundry Alternatives
Bloop Laundry Soap comes in lightweight cardboard containers, recyclable in most municipalities, and small glass jars (sample size). Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent comes in durable, recyclable aluminum bottles; 32 load and 80 load (hyper-concentrated formula). Bloop and Dirty Labs also use sustainable, eco-conscious ingredients which are safer for waterways, aquatic life, and the environment. Kindly recycle, please.
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.
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