Clean Clothes for Sensitive Souls
Date: 26-Feb-15
Author: Claire Bell
The list of ingredients in common washing powders can read like a recipe of synthetic chemicals.
It's easy to see how some products can trigger allergic reactions in both adults and children and cause harm to the environment as well.
Heavy-duty, synthetically enhanced laundry products can seem appealing, however, many use tricks like optical brighteners simply to make clothes look cleaner. Laundry products that eschew these nasty chemicals for more natural ingredients are better for you and for the planet.
Allergies and Sensitive Skin
According to the National Asthma Council Australia (NACA) optical brighteners, fragrances and enzymes can cause skin irritation in some people. They can also aggravate hay fever symptoms. Phosphorus-based ingredients (which are still used in some laundry powders) can feed blue-green algae when released into our waterways. It's for these reasons that it's important to look at the ingredients of washing powders and liquids before making the decision to purchase one of them.
Newborns and Toddlers
Newborn skin is delicate and so is a baby's immune system. By using laundry detergents that are fragrance and dye free, you are helping to protect your baby from skin irritation, dryness, chafing and rashes.
What to Buy
To avoid the sneezes, look for laundry products free from optical brighteners, fragrances, dyes and enzymes. Options in the supermarket are available; you just have to know where to look.
Planet Ark endorses the Aware Sensitive range as they contain no unnecessary additives, are palm oil free and are powerfully performing products. In fact, the entire Aware Sensitive range is approved by the National Asthma Council Australia's Sensitive Choice® program.
More Information
The Planet Ark Endorsed range of cleaning products helps keep your family and the planet healthy.

Claire is Planet Ark's Recycling Campaign Manager. After working in the communications industry and raising a young family, she joined Planet Ark to follow her passion for helping the environment.
Related News:
- Have yourselves a sustainable little Christmas »
- Top 6 holiday tips from RecyclingNearYou »
- Five things you shouldn't put in the recycling bin - ever! »
- National Recycling Week 11-17 November 2019 »
- 8 ways to spring clean sustainably »
- Choose to reuse and get on the Garage Sale Trail »
- Businesses urged to cease use of till receipts containing potentially harmful chemicals »
- Planet Ark meets Australia's new environment minister »
- Sustainable printing? Yes, it is possible! »
- Planet Ark to lead National Circular Economy Hub and Marketplace »
- The latest data on commercial and industrial waste »
- Research finds Aussies have faith in Planet Ark's endorsement program »
- Recycling is not a con. Here's why »
- Planet Ark's National Recycling Week 2018 recap »
- Planet Ark endorses Detpak's new coffee cup recycling system »
- Rethink - Sustainable clutter free living »
- Planet Ark announces media partnership with Australian Circular Fashion Conference »
- Important green dates for the 2019 school calendar »
- The new regifting - giving recycled products »
- 5 things you can create from your holiday waste »
- Keep your eco footprint small these holidays with Planet Ark's holiday hacks »
- Brisbane Tool Library takes share economy to the next level »
- Reboot your perspective on recycling this National Recycling Week »
- Unilever takes steps towards a circular economy »
- Naturale pledges to end recycling labelling confusion »
- New research sheds light on Australian attitudes towards environmental sustainability »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - Preloved clothing as your first fashion option »
- Make the Naturale choice at the supermarket »
- NSW gets its own revolutionary road »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - Ditching the glossy mags »
- Reflections on a Plastic Free July »
- Where are we with e-waste recycling? »
- China challenge an opportunity for the Australian recycling industry »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - New life for old things »
- National Tree Day Research 2018: Connect in Nature »
- Packaging industry moves towards better plastic recycling outcomes »
- A sustainable future for fashion »
- War on Waste is back! »
- How Cartridges 4 Planet Ark is part of the solution to plastic pollution »
- Planet Ark urges Ipswich Council to reverse decision to send valuable materials to landfill - and the Council agrees »
- The 'queen of green steel' launches landmark e-waste microfactory »
- Win the war on waste at work! »
- How online sharing groups are building communities »
- 8 ways to green your 2018 »
- Our green resolutions »
- Wynyard Station's old Wooden Escalators Repurposed Into a Public Artwork »
- Office paper flung all over the country »
- Pay it forward and get a recycled bargain on Buy It Back Day »
- Inspiring story: "Charging" up local battery recycling »
- Inspiring story: Making 3D printer parts from e-waste »
- Inspiring story: Building roads from cigarette butts »
- Inspiring story: Creating outdoor furniture from soft plastics »
- Inspiring story: Landscaping a garden bed from printer cartridges »
- 3 tips for businesses to buy recycled »
- There's still time for a Fling »
- The missing piece of the recycling puzzle »
- We're bursting with ideas, events and activities to share with you for National Recycling Week »
- Why buying it back is good for business and the environment »
- What's so special about Naturale? »
- Fight waste and get a bargain at the Big Aussie Swap »
- 5 ways to start your environmental sustainability journey today »
- Take the Schools Recycle Right Challenge »
- Sunshine Coast sisters launch Australian-first sustainability project »
- What do Smiths, Kathmandu and Jurlique have in common? »
- Keep on recycling »
- Australians celebrate 22 years of National Tree Day »
- Going plastic free: what does it take? »
- The Positive Results of the War on Waste »
- Australia's First Rescued Food Supermarket is a Win-win for the Planet and Those in Need. »
- Inspiration is in Our Nature »
- Do you print on 100% recycled office paper? Epson does! »
- 14 Items You Can Recycle - But Probably Aren't (Part One) »
- Architecture Students and Refugees Build a Timber Community Centre for a Refugee Camp in Mannheim, Germany. »
- Australia's Tallest Engineered Timber Building to be Built in Brisbane »
- Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to Feature a Wooden Arena »
- Spotted Gum and Ironbark Feature in ICC Sydney »
- Construction to Commence on the Otago Polytechnic Student Village »
- WoodTek Headquarters - Taiwan's First CLT Building »
- Two More Wood Encouragement Policies Introduced in Western Australia »
- Flings Save Tonnes of Paper »
- Kaikoura District Council Building Survives Major Earthquake Unscathed »
- Construction Commences on a 10-storey CLT Luxury Retirement Village in Sydney »
- Get Crafty this Christmas »
- How to Reduce Spending and Your Eco-Footprint This Christmas »
- Soft Plastic - Scrunch and Recycle »
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life Launched »
- Low Carbon Football Stadium Made of Sustainably Sourced Wood »
- Cleaning Up Confusion for National Recycling Week »
- Planet Ark Launches 100% Recycled Office Paper »
- Planet Ark Launches 100% Recycled Office Paper »
- Win a YEAR'S SUPPLY of Naturale Toilet Tissue »
- Taking Shape - South Australia's First Timber Apartment Building »
- Giving Coffee Pods Another Life »
- Canada Tops Out World's Tallest Wood-Frame Building »
- Post Back Your Post Packs »
- 5 Photos You Can Take to Help the Environment »
- Marist College, Bendigo Wins Sustainability Category in the 2016 Australian Timber Design Awards »
- New Nelson Airport to Showcase Engineered Wood »
- Our coordinators have done a tree-mendous job! »
- Donating Your Old Smartphone Could Change Someone's Life »
- Provide Feedback and Win One of Five Battery Chargers »
- Construction Milestone for World's Tallest Mass Timber Building »
- East Gippsland Shire Council Adopts a Wood Encouragement Policy »
- The Rise of the Coffee Pod Machine »
- Landmark Timber Skyscraper to be Built in Amsterdam »
- Community Garden Transformation Competition 2016 »
- Students grow more with nature »
- Using Timber to Assist in the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy - A UN Report »
- Grow a Green Thumb »
- How to Recycle Whitegoods »
- Recycle Right and Have a Cuppa »
- First Shipment of CLT Arrives in Campbelltown »
- Community Garden Competition »
- Official Opening of the Centre for Future Timber Structures at UQ »
- Toowoomba is Buzzing About Free Rechargeable Battery Recycling »
- Waste and Resource Recovery Facilities Workshops »
- Adding Trees - A Prescription for Health, Happiness and Fulfilment »
- A Quick Recycling Guide To 3 Tricky Items »
- Working It Out At Officeworks »
- Battery Stewardship Solutions for Australia »
- Come and Join us at SEE Sustainable Experience »
- The Importance of Green Public Spaces »
- The benefits of gardening for little people »
- Keeping Warm for the Planet »
- Learn From The New Wave In Innovation »
- Inspirational teachers share their story on improving student performance (CPD points) »
- World's Tallest Mass Timber Building Is Underway In Vancouver »
- Who Made the Top Ten Cartridge Recyclers »
- Cash For Containers In NSW - It Pays To Recycle »
- Mother's Day green gift ideas »
- 57m Tall Timber Building Wins Competition In France »
- Reimagining Rubbish as a Resource »
- Fashionable Questions - Who Made Your Clothes and Where Do They End Up? »
- Maleny Wood Expo 20th Anniversary »
- Does Timber High-Rise Equal High Risk? »
- Four Eyes For Recycling »
- Norwegian Project Breaks Tall Wood Building Record »
- A Tablet for Your Thoughts »
- 2015 Australian Timber Design Award »
- Have A Light Bulb Moment With Broken Bulbs »
- Power Tool Battery recycling creates buzz in Brisbane »
- New Code Allows for Eight-Storey Timber Buildings »
- Change Accelerates 'Wood First' Policies »
- Get Your 2016 Environment Action Planner »
- 'Tis the Season to De-Clutter »
- Discount Tickets for 'dirtgirl's get grubby the musical' at the Opera House »
- Drink Coffee? Take our Coffee Recycling Survey »
- Recycle Right »
- Recycle your old mobiles & help the Salvos »
- Have an Appy Christmas »
- Re-Wrap It Up »
- Schools Tree Day 2015 Winners Announced »
- Celebrate Recycling at Work »
- 'Appy' Christmas gift from Planet Ark »
- Save the date! 'Waste Not, Want Not' Day is coming »
- $50,000 Rebate Open for NSW Businesses to Increase Recycling »
- What's In a Label? »
- Is it Gold For Australia? »
- Make Recycling at Work, Work »
- Let the Flings Begin »
- Recycling Role Models »
- Inspiring Performers »
- Answers to the Big Recycling Questions »
- Test Your Recycling Knowledge! »
- Getting Your Recycling Sorted »
- Advanced Waste and Resource Recovery Facilities Training Workshop »
- Help Save Safe Toilet Paper! »
- Planet Ark's new packaging tool a finalist in Banksia Sustainability Awards »
- New Label Makes Recycling Easy »
- Garage Sale Trailing Right Around Australia »
- An Office Fling Is Good For Circulation »
- Awake to the Fun of Recycling »
- Planet Ark Project - Answering Kid's Questions »
- Declutter Your Office E-waste for FREE »
- Power Tool Battery Recycling Pilot Launches in Brisbane »
- Reduce Your Pet's Paw Print »
- Bagging Waste »
- Tree Cheers For Australia! »
- A Rock 'N' Roll Tree Day »
- Wise Words From An Eleven-Year-Old »
- E-Waste Busters »
- Identifying Asbestos »
- One House, Four Hours, Four Tonnes of Recycling »
- The art of upcycling »
- Happy Eco-Easter! »
- Creative Composting »
- PREP For Better Recycling »
- Turning Trash Into Treasure »
- Sourcing the right wood - Druce Davey »
- Recycling wooden pallets creates jobs »
- Wood - A Growing Answer to Climate Change »