Laundry Detergent

ASP:09-04 Certification Standard for Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent products that are Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® are tested to the relevant sub-category in the ASP:09-04 suite of standards.

These Certification Standards utilize an algorithm of proprietary and recognized scientific techniques to assess laundry detergents for their impact on the indoor environment. Specifically, the impact the cleaning product may have on allergen removal and their potential to expose the consumer to irritant materials (e.g. VOCs) is reviewed. Product samples that pass certification testing are granted a certificate stating that they meet the requirements for the Asthma & Allergy Friendly^®Certification Program.

Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) subjects laundry detergents to biological, physical and chemical testing to ensure the product does not have properties that would contribute to triggers of asthma and allergy in the indoor environment.

Part 1: Allergen and dust removal assessment

Laundry detergent products are assessed by seeding fabric with allergen-containing test dust and comparing the allergen levels on the fabrics post-washing to unwashed controls.

Part 2: Constituent review

A constituent list of chemicals used in the product should be forwarded to Allergy Standards Limited where this will be reviewed. This information is treated as highly sensitive and is managed in the strictest confidence. The product must be non-sensitizing/non-allergenic, non-fragranced, and of the lowest possible toxicity as determined by appropriate clinical and scientific literature.

Part 3: Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission testing

A sample of the laundry detergent product is placed in an environmentally controlled chamber, where all of the VOCs released over 14 days are measured. The levels after 24, 48 and 336 hours are recorded to make sure that throughout this time period the levels remain low.

Part 4: Residual allergic, irritant, banned or restricted chemicals on fabrics post-washing

Residual laundry detergent chemicals persisting in a washed fabric is assessed by means of chemical testing. Certification requires that allergenic and irritant chemicals must be below stringent applicable international restrictions.

Part 5: Airborne particle levels (powder detergents)

Product formulation i.e. liquid, powder or tablet, should be considered in this context, as should airborne particle size where relevant. Where the laundry detergent is formulated as a powder, particle concentration that originates from the laundry detergent due to its use must remain below exposure limits.

Further Information

Further information is available at www.allergystandards.com, or more detailed requests can be submitted at https://www.allergystandards.com/contact-us/.

Why and how we certify laundry detergents – a Q&A

There is ever-increasing awareness of the chemicals and allergens we come into contact with every day, particularly if you or a member of your family has asthma or allergies. We created the Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® Certification Program to help you improve your indoor air environment by identifying products and services that can help to reduce allergens and create a healthier home environment.

Products like laundry detergents are – by their nature – composed of lots of different chemical compounds. But what is it that makes some laundry detergents better for the indoor environment than others, and where do we draw the line to decide to certify a laundry detergent as Asthma & Allergy Friendly^®? We hope that the questions below will clarify this. Let us know if you have more questions!

Why do we certify laundry detergents?

Our goal in the Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® Certification Program is to create a healthier indoor environment for you and your family, and so we look at all elements of the indoor air environment. Some of the chemicals commonly used in laundry detergent can cause allergic reactions, and many detergents release vapours when used.

We take a balanced approach in certifying products. It is not possible to make laundry detergent without using chemicals, and there are some chemicals which can have a negative effect but which are necessary for different reasons – more on that below. We want to identify laundry detergents that do not contain ingredients that are unnecessarily harmful. And we want to make sure that any necessary chemicals that can sometimes cause an allergic reaction are present at as low a level as is needed for them to function as intended.

What do we look for in laundry detergents?

We look at four things when we test a liquid laundry detergent and five when it is a powder.

1. VOC Emissions

The first is how many VOCs are emitted when the laundry detergent is used. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are chemical compounds that easily become vapours or gases. When you can smell paints, adhesives, cleaners, insect repellents, new furniture, printer fluid etc., these smells are caused by VOCs being released. We place a sample of the laundry detergent in an environmentally controlled chamber, where we can measure all of the VOCs released over 14 days. We record the levels after 24 and 336 hours, to make sure that throughout this time period the levels remain low.

Why do we do VOC tests?

Exposure to VOCs can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, headaches, dizziness, and other side-effects. These can impact more on people with sensitive respiratory systems, such as people with asthma and certain allergies. We want to make sure that VOC content and emissions are as low as possible. However, if you are someone with asthma or nasal allergies, it would still be better for you to avoid spending too much time in a room directly after using a laundry detergent.

2. Performance

The second is the laundry detergent’s performance – this means that we want a laundry detergent to remove allergens during a wash cycle. We test this by seeding both test and control fabrics with Allergen Test Dust (ATD). We then wash the test fabrics and compare them to the control fabrics.

Why do we look at laundry detergent performance?

As cleaning companies try to improve their laundry detergent by removing harmful chemicals and making sure they emit fewer VOCs, it is important that the laundry detergent still functions well, and maintains a high quality of allergen removal.

3. Constituent review

The third is the make-up of the laundry detergent. We do a detailed chemical assessment of all the constituents in the detergent, and what concentration they are present at. There are many chemicals which are known to irritate skin and/or eyes or to which certain people can be particularly sensitive. But if they are present at a suitably low level and used correctly this is unlikely to cause problems.

Why do we do a constituent review?

We want to make sure that any potentially irritant or sensitising chemicals are present at a low enough level that the probability of a reaction to them is as low as possible.

4. Residual chemicals on fabric post-washing

The fourth aspect of our testing is the evaluation of residual allergenic, irritant, banned or restricted chemicals on fabrics post-washing with the laundry detergent, to ensure that any residue left behind is at a suitably low level. A piece of fabric from a product already known to meet Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® certification requirements is washed once using the laundry detergent as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Chemical testing is carried out on the laundered fabric.

Why do we test for residual chemicals?

We want to make sure that any potentially irritant or sensitising chemicals are present at a low enough level that the probability of a reaction to them is as low as possible.

5. Airborne particle levels when using a powdered laundry detergent

The fifth and final area we review is for powered laundry detergent only. We monitor the particles in an environmental chamber while the powdered laundry detergent is in use. We require airborne particle levels to be below 2.5% of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for total respirable dust.

Why do we test for airborne particles?

Airborne particles can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. This can affect anyone, although the effects are likely to be stronger in those with asthma or allergies. This kind of irritation does not usually cause long-term damage.

Are there laundry detergents that are definitely safe?

Unfortunately, no. Given the variability between people, and the variety of sensitivities and allergic responses that different people can have, it is simply not possible to say that a laundry detergent is safe for everyone. In the same way, it is not possible to say that peanuts are safe for everyone, or that honey is safe for everyone, or that crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing is safe for everyone. But there are definitely some laundry detergents that create a better indoor environment than others, because they emit lower VOCs in your home over time, they perform well, and because any potentially sensitising chemicals are only present at a low level. However, if you have had a reaction to VOCs in the past or you know that you are sensitive to some of the chemicals that are in laundry detergents, you should take sensible precautions. Make sure that your laundry area is well-ventilated.

What else do we certify?

We have over 50 different Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® certification standards for products and services, addressing all areas of the indoor air environment. Some of these relate to products which remove allergens and dust from the indoor environment, like vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, dehumidifiers, and washing machines. Others relate to products which try to limit allergen build up, or allow for easy removal from them – such as bedding and toys. And some of them relate to household products that should make as little an impact on the indoor environment as possible – like paint.

You can find out which products are certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly^® and read more by clicking here.

Note: This is a summary of our laundry detergent standard which was written for those without a scientific background. For more detailed information, please see the Standard Abstract tab on this page, or contact us for more information.

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