Dirty laundry hasn’t changed much over time. Dirt is still dirt and comes in one of two forms—water-soluble or non-water-soluble. The science of getting laundry clean relies on surfactants and other agents that lift dirt, disperse it into the wash water, and prevent it from being re-deposited on fabrics. It may sound like a tall order from a natural product, but it’s not a lot to ask that it do the job without NPEs or ethyl-whatever.
Here’s a rundown of greener alternative ingredients that you want to see on the label and what they do:
Cleaning Use
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Ingredients
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Plant or vegetable-based surfactants
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Coconut, corn, palm
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Anti-redeposition agents
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Sodium citrate, borax
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Anti-foaming agents
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Oleic acid
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Preservatives
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Potassium sorbate
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Anti-bacterial agents and protein dissolvers
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Protease and cellulose (plant-based enzymes)
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Performance enhancers
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Magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride
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Water softening agents
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Soda ash, vinegar, sodium bicarbonate
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Non-chlorine bleaching agents
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Sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, hydrogen peroxide
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