洗衣剂里面的东西； “free & clear”

harmful substances found in many detergents:

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1. Surfactants (cleaning agents)

• Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS)

• Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats)
  Can irritate skin, eyes, and lungs. Toxic to aquatic life.

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2. Phosphates

• Help soften water and boost cleaning power.
  Environmentally harmful: cause algal blooms and water pollution.
  Largely banned in the U.S. for household detergents, but still present in some industrial and imported products.

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3. Optical Brighteners

• Chemicals that make clothes appear whiter/brighter by absorbing UV light.
  Can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.
  Persistent in the environment.

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4. Fragrances

• Often synthetic (phthalates, limonene, linalool).
  Linked to hormone disruption, asthma, and skin allergies.
  Can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.

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5. Dyes and Colorants

• Used mainly for marketing appeal.
  Possible allergens and environmental pollutants.

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6. Bleaching Agents

• Sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach), sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach).
  Corrosive, can burn skin and eyes.
  Toxic when mixed with ammonia or acids (forms chlorine gas).

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7. Preservatives

• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), benzisothiazolinone (BIT).
  Potent skin allergens, especially in people with eczema.

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8. Petroleum Distillates (Solvents)

• Sometimes added to dissolve oils.
  Can cause neurotoxic effects with long-term exposure.

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9. 1,4-Dioxane (contaminant)

• A byproduct of detergent manufacturing (not usually listed on labels).
  Classified as a probable human carcinogen.
  Found in trace amounts in some major detergent brands.

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Detergent Type	Probability of Harmful Chemicals	Stain Removal Performance
Cheap / budget	Not necessarily safer; may use harsher chemicals	Often weaker, but some exceptions (e.g., Kirkland)
Expensive / premium	Not always safer; depends on label and formulation	Often strong, but not always best
“Gentle” / “Free Clear” versions	Often safest regardless of cost	Slight trade-off in cleaning power possible

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