Decoding your detergent can be a tough thing if you’re not sure what to look for! Below, you’ll find a few tips that can help you understand what you’re purchasing, as well as, decide if it’s the best product for your laundry!
Decoding Laundry Detergents | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Have you ever seen detergent labels and had no clue what they meant? You’ve probably seen at least one of the following:
- All Natural
- Free & Clear
- HE
- Super Stain Fighting Power
- Ultra-Concentrated
You’ll find at least one of these labels on every detergent found in a typical grocery store or discount store. What do they all mean?
- HE – High Efficiency
- Free & Clear – All Natural
- All Natural – No environment harming ingredients
- Super Stain Fighting Power – Extra ingredients that help fight stains
- Ultra-Concentrated – A higher concentration of detergent so you don’t have to use as much in one load
If you’re worried about the ingredients in your favorite laundry detergent but aren’t sure how to decode what they are, it’s best to start with the things that are most harmful to both you and your laundry:
- 2-butoxyethanol
- Benzaldehyde
- Chlorine
- Diethanolamine
- ER/KSN/OB/OB-1 (optical brighteners)
- Ethyl acetate
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
- Fragrance
- Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates (LAS)
- Nonylphenol ethoxylate
- Perchlorethylene (perc)
- Petroleum distillates (also called naphthas)
- Phosphates
- Quaternium-15
If you’re still concerned about choosing an all natural detergent, it might be best to make your own. That way, you’ll know what’s in there, firsthand. Below, you’ll find a few previous blog posts that will offer detergent alternatives that are DIY.
Also, check with the Environmental Working Group to review specific brands and ingredients to see how safe they are. It’s important to know what we are using as laundry detergent.
For more tips from Laundry Express, coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC, be sure to visit back with our blog soon! Also, if you’re falling behind in your laundry and need some help catching up, stop by our coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC to use our state of the art washing and drying machines or our wash dry fold services!
