how to tell if your laundry detergent is legal
A new law was passed in New York state that bans the sale of certain laundry detergents contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen. As of January 1, 2023, the maximum allowable concentration is 2 parts per million (ppm) of 1,4-dioxane in household cleansing and personal care products. By the end of 2023, that limit will be lowered to 1ppm.
Hooray for New York! However, it’s difficult for consumers to know how much 1,4-dioxane is in any product because it doesn’t show up on ingredients lists. It’s a compound created when chemicals are combined during the manufacturing process. Laundry detergents tend to have the highest 1,4-dioxane concentrations because of the way they’re manufactured. Conventional laundry detergents from Arm & Hammer, Tide, and Gain contain more than 3ppm 1,4-dioxane and, therefore, are banned from sale in New York. Products from Tide’s gentler lines and from plant-based manufacturers like Mrs. Meyers and Method were found to contain 1,4-dioxane as well, although at much lower, “acceptable” levels.
So, if 1,4-dioxane isn’t found on product ingredients lists, how can you tell if your laundry detergent is legal under this new law?
You could send your products out to a lab for 1,4-dioxane testing. Or you could read your product labels and watch out for these ingredients found in ethoxylated detergents, which are known to leave behind residual 1,4-dioxane:
- sodium laureth sulfate
- laureth-6 and laureth-7
- C12-16 pareth
- polyethelene glycol (PEG)
Or, you could shop worry free from a trusted non toxic products manufacturer whose products are available throughout the United States. All Pure Haven’s products are 100% safe and effective, never containing those ethoxylates mentioned above. Our laundry detergent is made with natural enzymes to get clothes clean safely.
Check out these ingredients to avoid (never found in Pure Haven products) and ask your Pure Haven Consultant about our laundry detergent and other non toxic home products.