While some household, food and hygiene care products have actually become safer due to FDA, and EPA standards, others have become more volatile as research uncovers more about their effects. This is certainly the case with Detergents containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is often found in much higher doses than typical hygiene products.
Before Organics
Up until 40 years ago, the milk man was still delivering fresh milk with no additives to people’s doorsteps in the morning. Most fruits and vegetables where without chemical pesticides, and cereals and other food items rarely had toxic preservatives in them. In fact, the world of “organic” food was unheard of because almost all food was organic by standard. In addition, most body care products had little toxins that people worried about. Most bar soaps were all natural, such soaps as castile and glycerin were common place in the home. This isn’t to to say there haven’t been a number of harmful products exposed once the technology was in place to carry out accurate testing.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Today, one of the great offending toxins in detergents and personal care products is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This product is found in toothpaste, shampoo and detergents. Because of the “moderate level” of toxic compounds in this chemical, many people have sounded the alarm to reduce the amount of this chemical they use in their daily lives. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been linked to skin irritation, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity and disruption of the body’s endocrine system.
Since one of the main culprits of this chemical is found in laundry detergents, shampoos and soaps, the need to find healthy alternatives can be of great importance in reducing the adverse effects of this harsh chemical. Since many people like to wash their clothes often, the amount of residue of this chemical on the body can be extensive. Overall the concentration of this chemical agent can be higher in laundry detergents than in other hygiene products. However, since the compound is also found in shampoos and soaps the body is exposed to a constant onslaught of this toxin. Therefore the constant exposure to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in the combination of detergents and hygiene is said to be problematic for long term health.
SLS Free Detergents
The good news is, there is now a large number of green detergents available for sale that do not have this ingredient in it. These are known as SLS free detergents. Many of these products are also paraben free.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is used for foaming and works by lessening the surface tension of water. In more recent times natural foaming non-toxic ingredients have proven to be as effective for most applications such as toothpaste, shampoo and laundry detergent. It has been widely acknowledged that replacing the use of traditional detergents with more natural SLS free detergents can be an important way of reducing exposure to this harsh toxic chemical within the body.
Consumers who are health conscious or those who presently deal with skin ailments, hormonal imbalance or organ malfunction, should look into alternative Sodium Lauryl Sulfate free detergents. It’s important for those who have health concerns to ensure that they are exposed to the least amount of this chemical as possible.
Top Sulfate Free Laundry Detergent
Hands down, the best product is Molly Sud’s natural laundry detergent. It’s just a step above every other brand on the market. It uses only five natural ingredients. These ingredients do a tremendous job of removing stains, and giving your clothes a fresh scent. It’s especially good for children and those with sensitive skin.
