| Detergents |
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So you have your green washing machine and you are making sure you do full loads at no more than 40C (104F), but you could ruin all your hard work if you do not pay attention to the detergent you use. Conventional washing powders contain many chemicals, such as pigments, fluorescent whitening agents and silicone defoamers. But many of these are not even listed on the packaging; a study by Ethical Consumer magazine found that a typical laundry detergent has 12-16 ingredients, only five or six of which are commonly listed. The problem with most of these chemicals is their impact on the environment both when they are manufactured and after use when they are dispatched into the sewerage system and potentially our waterways. For example: Phosphates and phosphonates, used as builders' to keep dirt from being redeposited on clothes, can cause algae blooms, which distort the natural balance in rivers and lakes; not all sewage plants can remove phosphates from the water, so they can go through to our waterways. Bleaches used in most mainstream powders can pollute waterways and undermine the bacterial action that helps break down sewage in sewage plants. Surfactants, such as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS), which reduce the surface tension of water in order to dislodge ingrained dirt, are slow to biodegrade and can damage plants and animals. Indeed, surfactants are considered by the Environmental Detergent Manufacturer's Association to be the most toxic constituents of laundry products. Optical brighteners and perfumes may be harmful to fish. Even when these products do biodegrade they can create other compounds which may be harmful. For example, the product of APEs breaking down has been shown in laboratory research to inhibit the growth of male sex cells. Some action has been taken by governments on these issues. Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland have legal restrictions on the use of phosphates in domestic detergents, and both Belgium and Ireland recently decided to ban the use of phosphates in washing powders. But, as a general rule, you should seek to use a phosphate-free washing powder, with as few other chemical additions as possible. Ideally, the ingredients should be plant based and biodegradability should be rapid. Concentrated varieties are usually a better green bet since they do not contain the non-active 'filler' ingredients used to bulk-up ordinary powders and they reduce the packaging and energy used in transport. Liquid clothes detergents generally contain two to four times as much surfactant as powders, and usually come in plastic bottles. Liquids are therefore less environmentally sound than powders. There is an increasingly large selection of eco-friendly laundry products available, so finding an alternative should not be hard. You could also try a device that promises to help you cut down on the amount of detergent you use. A doughnut-shaped ring made of hard-wearing recycled and recyclable polyethylene, called an Aquavator, can reduce the need for detergent by 49 per cent, according to the Fabric Care Research Association. It works by rubbing against clothes, helping to remove dirt and stains, and creating a jet of water through the hole in the middle which helps lather up a detergent. You may also like to consider opting out of detergents altogether by using a washing ball or discs which, when agitated in the machine, produce ionized oxygen which reduces the surface tension of the water, allowing it to penetrate fabrics and release dirt. You may save on detergents and feasibly dispense with the rinse cycle on your machine (if you are close enough to stop it) since there is nothing to rinse! Heavy stains will need to be treated prior to washing (see box, opposite, and it may take some getting used to the lack of scent in your clean clothes, but you could always put a few drops of lavender essential oil in your wash. Other products you may currently use in your wash include fabric softeners, stain removers and bleach. If you must use them, and you really should try to avoid them, choose eco-friendly brands, with as few petrochemicals as possible. With bleach, you should particularly avoid the chlorine variety, since it is highly reactive and can combine with other elements in the environment to create toxic substances. Opt for chlorine-free powdered bleaches if absolutely necessary. Other commonly used detergents in the kitchen are washing-up liquids. Again, the important issue here is the kind of surfactant used - make sure it is vegetable based - and avoid any product with synthetic perfume and colorings. |
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