Few people concern themselves with the safety of laundry detergents, since many think that “It’s going into the washing machine, not into my body, right?“…

However, recent scientific studies are exposing that many laundry detergents contain toxic chemicals and even carcinogens. According to the New York Times, a petrochemical solvent known as 1,4-dioxane which is also found in paints and varnishes is found in Tide laundry detergent [1].

The group Women’s Voices for the Earth made the discovery. They found that Tide detergent contained 63 PPM (parts per million) of this petrochemical. The Tide Free & Clear also contained this petrochemical at a slightly higher dosage of 89 PPM (parts per million) as well [2].

The EPA (Environment Protection Agency) considers this solvent a human carcinogen. This is taken directly from their website:

“1,4-Dioxane is used as a solvent. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans. It may also irritate the skin. Damage to the liver and kidneys has been observed in rats chronically (long-term) exposed. Tumors have been observed in orally exposed animals. EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.” [3]

As you can see there are acute affects simply by inhaling this chemical. Long term exposure causes more damage. This is an issue for several reasons. First and foremost, if you use any of Tide products you are contributing to this carcinogenic chemical being essentially diffused in your laundry room as well as kicked out into your yard, where your children probably play. Not only that but you wear the clothes and carry the scent of tide (and it’s chemical concoction) with you wherever you go, so you’re carrying this smell and inhaling this throughout the day.

If you sweat a bit here or there the moisture soaks into your clothing which causes the laundry detergent chemicals sitting on your clothes to absorb into your skin easier. Your armpits and groin sweat the most and these are also the areas that absorb up to 100% of what is applied to them topically. This mean that wearing clothes with chemical based ingredients and a little bit of sweat cause you to not only inhale but absorb these chemicals in your skin throughout the day.

This is just ONE of the ingredients in Tide’s laundry detergent. Another ingredient known as sodium hydroxide may be a possible carcinogen as well. Tide also contains propylene glycol which is a known endocrine (hormone) disruptor. It’s also a chemical used in anti-freeze!

Tide contains many more chemicals, it’s a chemical formulation that also includes fragrance which has it’s harmful effects. There are at least 2 known carcinogens in Tide detergent and probably a few more considering the list of chemicals in Tide is quite large. There is not one “natural” or pure plant based ingredient in tide except for water.

Every other ingredient is either a carcinogen, or irritant to the lungs or skin [4]. Any chemical that irritates the skin or lungs does more than just irritate, it’s foreign to the body so it has this reaction for a reason. Any foreign chemical introduced to the skin or by inhaling has much more harmful affects than a simple irritant.

Just take a look at the list of ingredients for Tide detergent:

• water
• alcoholethoxy sulfate
• linear alkylbenzene sulfonate
• propylene glycol
• citric acid
• sodium hydroxide
• borax
• ethanolamine
• ethanol
• alcohol sulfate
• polyethyleneimine ethoxylate
• sodium fatty acids
• diquaternium ethoxysulfate
• protease
• diethylene glycol
• laureth 9
• alkyldimethylamine oxide
• fragrance
• amylase
• disodium diaminostilbene disulfonate
• DTPA
• sodium formate
• calcium formate
• polyethylene glycol 4000
• mannanase
• Liquitint™ Blue (a dye)
• dimethicone

And there’s the list! If I had the time I’d research each ingredient individually but I do not have that much time on my hands! If knowing there are a few carcinogenic chemicals and other toxic hazardous chemicals are in Tide detergent doesn’t convince you to change your mind I don’t know what will.

Remember, the smell of the chemicals in Tide (from the washer/dryer), as well as on your clothes is constantly being inhaled by your family and you. Each time you sweat (especially near your groin or armpits) your body absorbs the residue your fabrics contain.

Take a look at the warming label on Tide-

It’s the usual “Beware, call the poison control center immediately if ANYTHING happens” tidbit. Any product with a label like this should be completely avoided. Introducing these products into your home only brings more chemicals and more of a toxic load on your health and the environment. You’ll feel better with a home that has less (or no) chemicals and cause less environmental harm as well.

Other detergents brands, such as Gain are not any better either. Check out the label; as you’ll see, it is exactly the same story as Tide:

If you want to free yourself, your family, and the environment from all the toxic and carcinogenic substances found in Tide, Gain and other toxic detergents, consider a brand NEW laundry detergent alternative that is completely safe and comes with a lot of other extra benefits:

1.    ZERO chemicals and zero exposure to chemical residues, meaning you can have peace of mind that you are not exposing yourself to health-wrecking and cancer-causing chemicals

2.    It SAVES you a ton of money long term, as you never have to buy laundry detergent ever again.

3.     It helps protect the environment by reducing the amount of chemicals from laundry detergent that flow into our rivers, streams, and groundwater, thereby helping to provide us ALL with cleaner drinking water, and less environmental harm.

This new laundry detergent alternative that I’m referring to is called The LifeMiracle Magnetic Laundry System , and I’m actually blown away by how this works, and the benefits for all of us!

Now, I will admit that I was HUGELY skeptical that this would actually work as a detergent alternative, but if you watch the short little video clip on their website, they explain the science of how it actually works for all the skeptics out there.  I just started using mine this week, and it really DOES work!

They also explain how you can still get your clothes smelling good (instead of smelling like nothing) without having to use detergent.

This is really impressive, and you’ll want to watch this super short video clip where they explain how it works…

> This new laundry detergent alternative that protects your body while saving you $ & the environment from harmful chemicals

Your body will thank you, as will your wallet and the environment!

Scientific References:

1. green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/mothers-challenge-trace-ingredient-in-detergent/
2. womensvoices.org/
3. epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrro_factsheet_contaminant_14-dioxane_january2014_final.pdf
4. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0738081X9500111R