Is your laundry detergent toxic?

Certain chemicals commonly found in laundry detergent have been known to be toxic to humans to some extent or another. Most of these chemicals can leave residue to be absorbed by your skin or evaporate into the air that you breathe -- leaving more than a "fresh clean" scent. One could make a valid case that toxins surround us every day and its virtually impossible to avoid all of them; although true, I can still try to keep my surroundings as healthy as I can without losing my mind. Here are some common chemicals found in detergents:

• Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to cancer
• Phenols, which can cause toxicity throughout the entire body
• Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammals
• Phosphates, which stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems
• Optical brighteners, which can be toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions

But, have no fear... the solution, for those who want to make the change, is here. Here is an easy recipe for homemade detergent. An added bonus is the $ you'll be pocketing by taking the time to make your own. I'll let you know how it is once I try it...
Add the following ingredients to each of your loads:
1 cup soap flakes - These can be bought, if you're lucky. In the old days this is all people would use to wash their clothes. They would come in boxes that looked similar to those dried potato flakes. Nowadays if you cant find them you can make them yourself by taking a bar of pure vegetable soap and grating with a cheese grater.
1/2 cup washing soda - Similar to baking soda, and made by arm&hammer. It has a ph of 11 so it can be somewhat irritating to your skin if you get it on your hands - I'd recommend wearing gloves if you touch it directly. I saw it at the health food store the other day, but if you cant find it you can call arm&hammer to ask for locations its sold in your area. It cuts grease and removes stains and odors the same way baking soda does, but dont use with silk or wool as it is a bit too harsh for those.
1/2 cup of borax - Household borax is a powder or crystalline salt. Technically, it is sodium borate, which is what is created when boric acid combines with sodium and turns into a salt. Borax is often used as a water softener and disinfectant. It also makes an excellent freshener when added to laundry and is an all-around deodorizer. You can find borax in most grocery or discount stores.
* If you have soft water, lower the washing soda to 1/4 cup. If you have hard water, increase to 1 cup each of all above ingredients.

Bonus tips: For softening fabric, use 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Most fabric softeners contain mercury-based ingredients. For whites, use 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide as a soak for 20-30 minutes then wash as usual. I've tried this and it works the same if not better than bleach, and doesn't leave clothes stiff like bleach does. Plus its way cheaper!

Happy laundering!