Have you ever put on your favorite sweatshirt, climbed into a freshly made bed, or walked by the dryer vent outside and smelled that intoxicating scent of fresh laundry?
I’m sure you have and I’m sure if you’re anything like me, you love it!
Breaking up with my laundry was the hardest safer switch I had to make and it’s no wonder that it’s the hardest thing for others too. Did you know that our sense of smell is the only fully developed scent a baby has and remains that way until the age of 10 when sight takes over? People often smell in color too! Think about smelling the aroma of citrus and how the mind takes us to a visualization of oranges or lemons.
Dangerous synthetic fragrances are responsible for the nostalgic scent you’re used to in most cases. Even when you read a label that says “free” or “clear” on the front of the packaging, if the word “fragrance” is in the label, that term allows the brand to conceal thousands of its ingredients, whether it’s marketed as being “free” of something or not.
Additionally, the common surfactants used in detergents are often skin irritants. If you or someone you love experiences skin rashes, eczema, respiratory issues, acne or headaches, I strongly encourage you to check your laundry label. Unfortunately, in most cases this is extremely challenging and you may find yourself on the brand’s site, searching for transparency.
Another word of advice: if you can not readily click on a product and see an “ingredients” label, you probably should consider a different product. There is no reason for a company not to list its ingredients on a label or within 1-2 clicks of landing on their website.
Today I challenge you to download the EWG app or visit EWG Skin Deep® and check the safety level of your laundry detergent. You may be shocked! I was horrified when I found out that my eco-friendly detergent, marketed as being clean and non-toxic to our waterways, actually contained ingredients linked to reproductive organ cancers. What was portrayed as wonderful to the environment was actually carcinogenic to humans and I was covering my family in it every single day.
I didn’t know any better, and maybe you don’t either, but now that you do I want to offer some simple ways to select a high quality, non toxic laundry detergent:
While laundry may not seem like your first priority or something you want to consider, remember that your skin is your largest organ and you are not only wearing these ingredients all day every day, you sleep in them, and you dry off from your shower in them.
Whether you currently struggle with any of the ailments mentioned above or not, our bodies all have a toxic load. Once your body has reached its threshold you may find yourself experiencing physical symptoms or issues. Minimize your toxic load today by making this simple switch.
