the scoop on laundry supplies

**QuilterMom** · 03-13-2006, 09:58 AM

http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports...ct.mhtml?id=78

Part 1

PRODUCT REPORT

Laundry Supplies

INTRODUCTION

Laundry product manufacturers fill advertising images with mountainous landscapes, wildflowers and clean white sheets flapping in prairie winds to sell the idea that their products will leave your clothes feeling fresh and clean. These images also suggest that detergents clean clothes "naturally," yet manufacturers of laundry products rely on unnatural ingredients, like non-renewable petroleum, synthetic fragrances and chemical whiteners that can pollute your laundry room and the rest of your home.

Waterways aren't immune to these dangerous ingredients, either. As detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners get washed down your laundry room drain, they enter groundwater, where they react with other man-made and naturally occurring chemicals and seep into drinking water supplies. Chlorine bleach, for instance, reacts with carbon molecules to create organochlorines, such as dioxin. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found high percentages of dioxin in water surrounding the San Francisco Bay area. One suspected source: laundry water coming from municipal gray water discharges.

Additionally, because it is such a necessary, frequently tackled chore in many homes, laundry consumes a great deal of energy, which in turn produces greenhouse gas emissions, taking its environmental impact beyond waterways and into the air.

**QuilterMom** · 03-13-2006, 09:59 AM

Part 2

PRODUCT REPORT

Laundry Supplies

THE PROBLEMS

Personal Health

Laundry detergent and fabric softener ingredients pose a variety of health risks, ranging from relatively minor—like skin irritants and allergens—to the severe—cancer, poisoning and neurological problems. Knowing which ingredients to avoid, however, will help you control the number of toxins entering your home.

Laundry Detergents

Laundry detergents and laundry stain removers frequently contain alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), which are common surfactants. Surfactants, or surface active agents, are chemicals that make surfaces more susceptible to water, allowing cleaners to easily penetrate stains and wash them away. APEs can damage the immune system, and they're suspected hormone disruptors, which means they can mimic hormones in the body that regulate reproduction and development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned that ethoxylated alcohol surfactants, such as APEs, may be contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane, which penetrates skin. Tests conducted in 1997 by the Washington Toxics Coalition found that supermarket or drugstore labels are more likely to contain APEs than name brands.

Linear alkylate sulfonate (LAS), another surfactant used in laundry powders and liquids, causes contact dermatitis, respiratory irritation and, if ingested, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It is also corrosive to the eyes. In the environment, LAS substance decomposes on heating, producing toxic and corrosive fumes such as sulfur oxides.

Phosphates are water-softening mineral additives that were once widely used in laundry detergents and are sometimes referred to as builders, ingredients that enhance the performance of surfactants. Sodium tripolyphosphate, one of the more common phosphates used, can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested, and because it is corrosive, it can cause severe skin irritation. Because of their damaging environmental impact (see below), many states have banned the use of phosphates in laundry detergents; as a result most mainstream detergent manufacturers have eliminated them. However, on products that do use them, the percentage used should be disclosed on labels.

The fragrances in detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets may provoke skin irritation, allergic reactions and asthma, and they can contain phthalates, chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive system harm in lab tests. Unless they are labeled otherwise, laundry detergents contain synthetic fragrances. Fragrances can cling to fabrics for weeks after washing and may cause stuffy nose, sneezing, headache and other allergic symptoms in sensitive individuals, especially on clothing or bedding that's in close proximity to nose and mouth for extended periods of time.

Other ingredients turn dangerous when combined: Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), which are found in liquid detergents and used to cut through oils, can react with nitrites (an often-undisclosed preservative) to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Bleaching Agents

Chlorine bleach, otherwise known as sodium hypochlorite, is highly caustic and may cause skin irritation and redness. Its fumes can irritate eyes, nose and airways, and it can be fatal if swallowed. According to the EPA, 26,338 children were exposed to or poisoned by household chlorine bleach in 2002. Chlorine also poses a hazard because it can react with other cleaners to form toxic gases. If mixed with cleaners containing ammonia, chlorinated cleaning products form lung-damaging chloramine gases. Chlorine mixed with acids, such as those in some toilet bowl cleaners, can form toxic chlorine gas, which damages airways.

When released to waterways, chlorine bleach can create organochlorines that can contaminate drinking water. Organochlorines, which are suspected carcinogens as well as reproductive, neurological and immune-system toxins, have also been known to cause developmental disorders.

Another common bleach used in detergents is sodium perborate, which is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant. Ingestion of products containing sodium perborate can result in vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

Fabric Softeners

Fabric softeners can build up on clothing, making them look dull. They also hinder the absorptive abilities of towels, so if you do choose to use them on other clothing, never use them on towels. In terms of health risks, however, a study in the May 2000 issue of the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that they emit, among other chemicals, the neurotoxins toluene and trimethylbenzene, styrene (a possible carcinogen), the respiratory irritants phenol and xylene, and thymol, which can cause abdominal distress.

Environmental

Waterways and Aquatic Life

After bubbly detergents disappear down our drains, they are treated along with sewage and other wastewater at municipal treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not, threatening water quality or fish and other wildlife. Chlorine bleach combines with carbon molecules, creating harmful organochlorines such as dioxin. In 2000, the EPA found that the San Francisco Bay, which had high levels of dioxin, was being fed by municipal gray water that included, in large part, laundry water containing fabric-bleaching chemicals.

In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) found persistent detergent metabolites, which are detergent chemicals that have passed through microorganisms, in 69 percent of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants.

The detergent metabolites the USGS detected were APEs, including nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates. When discharged in municipal wastewater, nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates break down into nonylphenol and octylphenol, which are more toxic and do not readily biodegrade in soil and water. The presence of APEs have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, and their presence in water may be harming the reproduction and survival of salmon and other fish. For example, in Britain, researcher John Sumpter discovered that male fish exposed to APEs in rivers were producing female egg-yolk proteins.

According to the USGS, 3,500 kilograms of LAS are dumped into the Mississippi River basin every day, depriving water of oxygen and killing aquatic life.

Surfactants of all types are harmful to the environment because they don't biodegrade quickly. As they build up in ground water, they deprive the soil of moisture, essentially creating "water-repellant soil" that hinders the growth of plants.

When water-softening phosphates enter waterways, they act as a fertilizer, spawning overgrowth of algae. This overabundance of aquatic plant life eventually depletes the water's oxygen supply, killing off fish and other organisms.

The bleaching ingredient sodium perborate has been shown to harm aquatic life and to emit toxic fumes when heated during incineration.

Solid Waste

The plastic bottles used to package cleaning products pose another environmental problem by contributing to the mounds of solid waste that must be landfilled, incinerated or, in not enough cases, recycled. Most cleaners are bottled in high-density polyethylene (HDPE, #2) or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE, #1) which are accepted for recycling in a growing number of communities. However, some are bottled in polyvinyl chloride (PVC, #3). PVC, otherwise known as vinyl, is made from cancer-causing chemicals such as vinyl chloride, and it forms dioxin, a potent carcinogen, as a byproduct during production and incineration. As a final insult, most sanitation departments do not accept PVC for recycling; less than one percent of all PVC is recycled each year.

As a general environmental precaution, most laundry detergents, fabric softeners and stain removers are made from petroleum, contributing to the depletion of this non-renewable resource and increasing our nation's dependence on imported oil.

Dryer sheets are not made of readily biodegradable materials and pile up in landfills. Some companies have introduced re-usable products that will soften clothes and eliminate static cling; among the most advertised are dryer balls made from PVC, which as stated earlier, releases cancer-causing chemicals during production. Another alternative are so-called "static eliminator" dryer sheets that are made from polyester, itself made of non-renewable petroleum.

Energy

Laundry equipment consumes vast amounts of energy and water to clean a load of clothing. On average, washers are the second-largest water user in the home, consuming 40 gallons per load. According to the Energy Information Administration, dryers annually consume 1,079 kilowatt hours per household of energy, the production of which contributes up to 2,224 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that adds to global warming.

**QuilterMom** · 03-13-2006, 10:01 AM

Part 3

PRODUCT REPORT

Laundry Supplies

THE SOLUTIONS

What to look for

Unlike other household cleaning products, laundry products can't usually be replaced by homemade alternatives. However, by scrutinizing labels, you can decipher the language companies use to define their ingredients.

Although most laundry product labels don't list specific ingredients, you can learn something about a product's hazards by a signal word, such as "Danger," "Warning" or "Caution," which appears on every label and provides some indication of a product's toxicity. Products labeled "Danger" or "Poison" are typically most hazardous, because they contain ingredients that could explode or, if used improperly, cause death. Those bearing a "Warning" label are moderately hazardous, meaning that if ingested the product could cause serious health problems but not death. Formulas with a "Caution" label are considered slightly toxic, in that they can cause mild to severe irritation of the skin, eyes or respiratory tract if inhaled or exposed to the skin but probably won't cause severe health problems if ingested (although they may cause nausea or diarrhea). Because there are very few effective cleaning ingredients available, even some least-toxic detergents will bear the "Caution" label, but if you can find them, choose products that require none of the signal words above on their label.

Beside the signal word is usually a phrase that describes the nature of the hazard, such as "may cause skin irritation," "flammable," "vapors harmful," or "may cause burns on contact." Look for instructions on how to use the product, which may help you avoid injury. Some labels do list active ingredients, which may assist you in detecting caustic or irritating ingredients you may wish to avoid, such as sodium hypochlorite. A few manufacturers voluntarily list all ingredients. And don't stop with the product labeling. A few manufacturers list specific ingredients on their web sites simply because there isn't adequate room on the product itself.

When gauging ecological claims, look for specifics. For example, "biodegradable in 3 to 5 days" holds a lot more meaning than simply "biodegradable," as most substances will eventually break down if given enough time and the right ecological conditions. And claims like "no phosphates" or "plant-based" are more meaningful than vague terms like "ecologically-friendly" or "natural." When ingredients are listed, choose products made with plant-based, instead of petroleum-based, ingredients.

To reduce packaging waste, buy the largest size available. Select products in bottles made with at least some recycled plastic or in cardboard boxes made with 100 percent recycled content. And choose concentrated formulas, which require less packaging and fuel for shipping.

Avoid harsh fragrances by choosing detergents and fabric softeners labeled "fragrance free." While some less-toxic detergents are scented with essential or citrus oils, these plant-based fragrances can still aggravate allergies and cause contact dermatitis in extremely sensitive individuals.

What to look out for

Laundry product manufacturers like to lure people in with unsubstantiated claims like "non-toxic," "hypo-allergenic" and "natural." These claims aren't verified by third parties and are therefore meaningless.

Be aware that some labels that may make a product appear eco-friendly are actually meaningless. For example, many spray fabric stain removers and spray starches come in aerosol spray cans labeled "no CFCs" (or chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer), leading consumers to believe they are buying a more eco-friendly product by purchasing that brand. In reality, CFCs have been banned from aerosols since 1978, so no products are permitted to contain CFCs.

Buying products in "recyclable" packaging is not the same as buying those in "post consumer recycled" (PCR) packaging. Purchasing PCR supports companies that are providing a vital end-market for recycled paper and plastic, without which recycling would not be possible.

Shopping Suggestions

Laundry Detergents

The products below are all made with renewable, vegetable-based ingredients (corn, palm kernel or coconut oil) and are either fragrance-free or scented with essential oils.

Bi-O-Kleen All-Temperature Laundry Liquid and Laundry Powder (www.bi-o-kleen.com, 503-557-0216)

Cal Ben Seafoam Laundry Cleaner (www.calbenpuresoap.com, 800-340-7091)

ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergents and Delicate Wash (www.ecos.com, 800-335-ECOS)

Ecover Natural Laundry Powder and Natural Laundry Wash (www.ecover.com, 800-449-4925)

Seventh Generation Laundry powders (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Mountain Green Skin Sensitive (www.mtngreen.com, 866-686-4733)

Our House Concentrated Laundry Care (www.ourhouseworks.com, 877-236-8750)

Trader Joe's Next To Godliness (www.traderjoes.com)

Vermont Soap Aloe Castile Liquid Soaps in unscented and essential oil-scented varieties (www.vermontsoap.com, 866-SOAP-4U2)

Dr. Bronner's Liquid castile soaps (www.drbronner.com, 877-786-3649)

Fabric Softeners

Conventional fabric softeners contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Before buying any fabric softener, whether conventional or eco-friendly, try making your own at home with baking soda or white vinegar. For suggestions, see "Tips and Alternatives" below. If your home remedies don't work, consider these vegetable-based, essential oil-scented alternatives:

Seventh Generation Natural Lavender Scent Fabric Softener (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Ecover Natural Fabric Softener (www.ecover.com, 800-449-4925)

Bleaches and Stain Removers

Chlorine-based bleaches are harmful to your health and to the environment, while stain removers are frequently made with petroleum-based ingredients. Again, there are do-it-yourself solutions to bleaching and removing stains (see "Tips and Alternatives" below), but if those don't work, try these store-bought alternatives. The bleach alternatives are made with either hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate, an environmentally benign mixture of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide that breaks down into oxygen, water and soda ash.

Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach Plus (www.bi-o-kleen.com, 503-557-0216)

Naturally Yours Natural Bleach and Softener (www.naturallyyours.com, 888-801-7347)

Seventh Generation Non-Chlorine Bleach (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Ecover Laundry Bleach and Natural Non-Chlorine Bleach (www.ecover.com, 800-449-4925)

Bio Pac Non-Chlorine Bleach Powder (www.bio-pac.com)

Naturally Yours All-Purpose Spotter, (www.naturallyyoursstore.com, 888-801-7347)

Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator and Spray & Wipe Cleaner (www.bi-o-kleen.com, 503-557-0216)

Energy-Efficient Washers and Dryers

When looking for a new clothes washer, choose an Energy Star-certified appliance, which will use at least 50 percent less energy and up to 65 percent less water than a standard washer. For a complete list of Energy Star-certified washers, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...lothes_washers

Whirlpool Calypso GVW9959K is 63 percent more efficient than the federal standard and received a "very good" rating from Consumer Reports ($849.00; www.whirlpool.com).

GE Profile Harmony WPGT9360E also received a "very good" score from Consumer Reports and is 90 percent more efficient ($1,199; www.geappliances.com)

Whirlpool LHW0050 Compact 24-inch front-loading washer is the most efficient Energy Star-rated appliance, performing 168 percent better than the federal standard ($799, www.whirlpool.com).

Kenmore HE2 Front Load Washer 46462 was considered a Consumer Reports "Best Buy" and performs 102 percent better than the federal standard ($799; www.kenmore.com)

Energy Star does not certify dryers on the basis that dryers consume similar amounts of energy. However, they do recommend choosing dryers with a moisture sensor, which will shut your dryer off automatically when clothes are dry. Also conserve energy by choosing a high spin speed or extended spin cycle on your washer to eliminate as much water as possible from your clothes.

If time allows for it, line drying is the most ecologically safe alternative to energy-consuming appliances. Furthermore, sunshine works better on whitening whites than bleach. For those who live in apartments or don't have adequate outside space, place a drying rack by an open, sunny window.

Drying racks are available from Abundant Earth (from $22.95 to $75.95; www.abundantearth.com).

Tips and Alternatives

* If you need fabric softener, you can make your own by adding 1/4 cup of baking soda to the wash cycle. Adding 1/4 cup of white vinegar will also soften clothes, as well as eliminate static cling.

* You can eliminate static cling in the dryer by drying natural-fiber clothes and synthetic-material clothes separately. Better still, line dry the synthetic clothing, as those materials tend to dry faster than cotton.

* For stain removal, try soaking fabrics in water mixed with either borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.

* Scrubbing stained areas with a paste of washing soda and water effectively removes some stains, but be sure to wear gloves when using washing soda.

* Launder clothes on the warm or cold water setting for washing, and always use cold water to rinse clothes. Washing clothes in cold water can cut CO2 emissions down by 100 pounds and save you up to $64 a year on your energy bill.

* Clean your lint filter with every load and check your dryer exhaust frequently to make sure it's clean and that the flapper on the outside hood opens and closes freely. This will help improve its energy efficiency.