Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

The quantity of chemicals going into our wastewater — and ultimately the environment — from laundry detergents alone is staggering. It has been estimated that Americans run 35 billion loads of laundry every year, and most of those use cleaning agents that contain harmful chemicals derived from fossil fuels. But a new detergent has been developed that uses a blend of enzymes called Phytolase® to target different types of stains. And once it’s down the drain, it rapidly biodegrades.

The bio-based detergent uses the same enzymes that are currently used as boosters in many conventional detergents, and performs as well or better to break down stains and prevent them from being redeposited back onto fabrics during the rest of the cycle. It comes in an ultra-concentrated liquid, requiring only two teaspoons (at a cost of about 25 cents) per load. It’s designed to work in cold water, which will also save money since 90 percent of the energy used by washing machines is dedicated to heating the water. Using cold water for four out of five loads would also reduce household carbon emissions by 864 pounds per year.

The company is aiming to get ahead of the curve on new legislation expected to hit as early as 2022. For example, in New York, products containing more than 2 parts per million of 1,4 dioxane (a common ingredient in today’s detergents and a likely carcinogen) will be banned by the end of next year; and by the end of 2023, that level is to be further reduced to 1 part per million. Some of today’s detergents contain up to 14 parts per million.