Did you know our skin is our biggest organ? It's also porous, which means it's easier for products and chemicals to absorb into our skin and bloodstream. You should always be mindful about what we're putting in and our our body, and one product to consider is laundry detergent. Many conventional laundry detergents in today's market are filled with toxic chemicals that can cause a myriad of health issues, like skin and respiratory irritation, endocrine disruption, fertility issues, etc. Here are some ingredients you should avoid when choosing your laundry detergent:

• SLS/SLES

  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are compounds called surfactants, commonly found in cleaning products, toothpaste, face washes, and laundry detergents. These make it easier for water and oil to bind together and clean, and also cause items to 'foam up.' These compounds, however, are known to cause skin irritation and cause dermatitis, edema, and rashes since they strip the skin of its natural oils. Those with sensitive or acne prone skin are best avoiding SLS/SLES and other sulfates of this nature.

• Phthalates

  • Phthalates are chemicals that help soften plastic and make fragrances last longer and are found in SO many products like shampoos, lotions, laundry detergents, cosmetics, etc. They are known endocrine disruptors, which can lead to fertility issues, reproductive health issues, birth defects, and other hormonal-related conditions. You won't outright see 'phthalates' listed on the ingredients list, but they are associated with fragrances, so if you see 'fragrance' listed on your detergent or other products, you should know that phthalates are probably involved, too. Fragrance is simply a blanket term and companies don't have to disclose exactly what 'fragrance' is used in their products, so be wary when you see that word. Or you can also look for abbreviated names, like DMP (dimethylphthalate), DBP (dibutylphthalate), and DEP (diethylphthlatate), which are some of the many phthalates hidden in products.

• Artificial Dyes and Optical Brighteners

  • Another culprit of causing skin irritation, allergic reactions, and rashes are artificial dyes and optical brighteners. They have also been found to be carcinogenic and endocrine disruptors. Many detergents add in blue dyes to give the illusion that your white clothing looks brighter. Optical brighteners are also used to absorb UV waves and enhance blue light and reduce the amount of yellow light to in turn make things seems whiter than they are; it's just a trick to make you think your clothes are cleaner simply because they are brighter. Brighteners to look out for include benzoxazole, stillbene, and phenylcumarine.

• 1,4 Dioxane

  • This isn't an ingredient in itself, but it is a byproduct of a process called ethoxylation, which can be used to make laundry detergents. It is a carcinogenic compound. Since it is a byproduct and not an ingredient, you must look for the ethoxylated ingredients like SLES; Potassium Laureth Sulfate; Polysorbate-20, -40, and -60; and any ingredients you see that contain -eth in them.

These are only some of the many chemicals you should avoid in laundry detergents and other conventional products you may use, like cosmetics, shampoo/conditioners, cleaning products, and more. Luckily, I've compiled a list of detergents that are non toxic and don't contain the aforementioned chemicals, so you don't have to worry about the potential health effects and you can have fresh, clean laundry.

Here's the 5 best non toxic laundry detergents:

Truly Free

With an impressive 4.3 stars on Amazon, customers that have sensitive skin love Truly Free laundry detergent. It's free from dyes, optical brighteners, phthalates, fragrance, and other toxic chemicals, so you know it's going to be safe for you and your family. Even without those pesky chemicals, it's great at removing stains and odors from your clothing and whatever else you choose to wash. I recently switched to Truly Free, and it has done a great job at keeping my clothes clean and fresh. It comes in 3 sizes and even has refill options, which is perfect for reusing your empty detergent containers.

Molly's Suds

This brand comes in both a powder and liquid form, so it's great for whatever you prefer. If you do like scented detergents, Molly's Suds has 7 scents in both forms, including unscented versions, and the scents come from essential oils, not artificial fragrances. It's made from plant-based ingredients, and is Leaping Bunny certified, meaning they don't test on animals.

Their 3-pound bag of the powder can last around 70 loads, which is quite a lot, but there are also 5 and 10-pound bags if you're looking to buy in bulk. The liquid detergent comes in 52-oz and 100-oz bottles, and can last 100-200 loads, which is also impressive. Whichever you choose, you will get your money's worth.

Thieves

Another option if you like scented laundry detergents is Thieves, from Young Living. Using their own essential oil blend of lemon, bergamot, clove, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus, your clothes will smell fresh and come out clean. It also contains natural enzymes that help break down dirt, oil, and stains, and can even be used as a pre-treatment before washing. This 32-oz bottle, however, comes with a heftier price tag at $48, but customers love the results they see with this detergent, including less skin-irritation and improvement of respiratory issues caused by other scented products.

Dirty Labs

This detergent is EWG-certified, so you know it is a safer, non toxic option for your laundry needs. This detergent is a concentrate and comes in 3 scents. The packaging is also plastic-free, and contains an enzyme blend to break down odors and stains more effectively. Customers love how successful it is at removing odors, but some complaints have been made about the bottle it comes in, since the detergent can drip down the sides a bit. I personally would recommend the unscented version of this detergent, since the 2 scented versions use the blanket term of 'fragrance' in their ingredient list, and I try to stay away from that, given the risk of exposure to phthalates and endocrine disruption. It comes in 8-oz and 21-oz bottles and can last 36-80 loads; given this, I think the 21-oz bottle is worth more your while since it'll last longer and only costs $12 dollars more than the 8-oz. It also comes out to $0.33 per load, versus $0.45 per load, so it is more cost effective.

NaturOli Soap Nuts/Soap Berries

A more unique way to wash your laundry, these soap nuts are completely plastic free and chemical free. You simply put a few of the nuts into the bag it comes in, soak them in hot water for a few minutes, and then put the bag in with your laundry; when the laundry is done, let the bag hang dry. Over time, the nuts will grow mushy and turn a grey-ish color, so that's when you know it's time to replace them. You can compost the old nuts, too! This is a great way to both clean your laundry and reduce the environment impact from the lack of plastic packaging. The only con is that it may be a little more time consuming, since you have the soak them first before using, but customers report that one bag lasts them a very long time, so if pre-soaking doesn't bother you, then you have a cost-effective option for your laundry needs, especially since it is only $20 for the 1-lb bag. Try them out, here!

*Disclosure: The links in the article above are affiliate links, so if you are inclined to make a purchase based on the recommendations, the author will make a small commission. Thank you for your support if you so choose.*