Many wonder: “At last, what is the difference between common and ecological laundry…?” Differences exist and, to make the best choice, it is recommended to analyse every aspect: there are pros and cons, the trick is to figure out which aspect is really a “pro” and which is a “con”, according to one’s point of view.
Let us see Bensos’ opinion:
| “Non-eco” products | PROs | CONs |
|---|---|---|
| Optical brighteners and blue dyes |
Bright fluorescent whitening, stains covering | Brightening and covering go disappearing, replaced by a diffuse yellowing over time; optical brighteners are not biodegradable; in addition they are long-term toxic. Blue dyes are a kind of textile dyes, which may show long-term toxicity and cause allergies. |
| Enzymes |
Particularly efficient against some stains | They are strong allergens. The safety of the most common enzyme used in detergency (a protease) is unclear and questionable. |
| Fragrance |
Laundry perfumes strongly and for a long time | Common products fragrances are studied and intended to be persistent; often they contain allergens. Mainstream ecological products contain essential oils, showing long-term toxicities. |
| Chemical bleaching |
Present in powder detergents and additives | Effectiveness is strongly reduced by other ingredients, which act as “interfering agents”. Some products yet show sodium perborate as an ingredient, but it is repro-toxic against mammals. |
| Surfactants |
Good efficacy, since 2005 only easily biodegradable ones are allowed (Reg 648/2004/CE) | Many of them are highly toxic for aquatic organisms. Some show concerning long-term toxicities. |
| Sequestering agents |
They lower washing water hardness, enhancing detergent efficacy | Generally not biodegradable. Many of them show concerning long-term toxicities. |
| Dyes |
– | Generally not biodegradable. Many of them show concerning long-term toxicities. |
| Preservatives |
They provide conservation, protecting the product from microbes attacks. | Many of them are not biodegradable. Most show concerning long-term toxicities. Some are strong allergens. |
The presence of interfering agents into non-ecological bleaching powder mixtures was revealed during an interesting investigation, carried out by a Padua University near-graduate student, under the direction of Prof. M. Carraro together with Dr.ssa S. Palladini. Interfering agents lead to a marked decrease of efficacy, compared to pure sodium percarbonate.
Here are Bensos’ ecological laundry detergents pros and cons:
| Bensos’ ecological products | PROs | CONs |
|---|---|---|
| Optical brighteners and blue dyes |
Missing; they are replaced by chemical bleach | Whitening is not so bright, some stains must be pre-treated. |
| Enzymes |
Missing, as they are strong allergens | Some particular stains may be difficult to be removed. |
| Fragrance |
Missing, to be added separately (hypoallergenic fragrance) | The perfume, intended not to be persistent, disappears after few hours. |
| Chemical bleaching |
Perfectly efficient, as interfering agents are totally missing. | – |
| Surfactants |
Good efficacy, no long-term toxicity. Since 2005 only easily biodegradable ones are allowed (Reg 648/2004/CE). | – |
| Sequestering agents |
They lower washing water hardness, enhancing detergent efficacy. They are easily biodegradable and non-toxic. | – |
| Dyes |
Missing | – |
| Preservatives |
They provide conservation, protecting the product from microbes attacks. They are easily biodegradable and non-toxic. | They are dosed with the aim to preserve only the concentrated product, they do not work if the product is diluted and then stored for many days. |
Bensos makes only very ecological products, with neither allergens nor dyes, nor long-term toxic substances, to care for the consumers’ and Bensos’ workers’ health.
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