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Oct 2010 Optical Brighteners: Just Say No to the Glow!
118 comments
Cara Bondi, Research Chemist at Seventh Generation explains what optical brighteners are and why Seventh Generation doesn't use them: a real clean shouldn't be an optical illusion. Optical brighteners are synthetic chemicals that make fabrics appear to glow in the presence of ultraviolet light. They don't have anything to do with getting things clean -- they're only added to detergents to make us think our laundry is brighter and whiter than it really is. Designed to intentionally remain behind on our clothes and linens, optical brighteners rub off on our skin where they can cause a reaction that looks like sunburn. They're no fun for the environment either. Optical brighteners washed down our drains frequently survive wastewater treatment and escape into our lakes, rivers, and streams. Once there, they don't completely biodegrade and instead accumulate in fish.
Test Your Knowledge! Take this short quiz about optical brighteners after you watch the video.
118
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Comments (118)
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nana1968
Fri, Jan. 13, 2012
Enlightning
Very interesting.
I am glad I make my own homemade laundry detergant due to allergies and such.
However would like to learn more about all products offered.
Gypsie2012
Fri, Nov. 18, 2011
enlightening on the brightening
I knew if it was a brightener it could potentially be unhealthy in the long run, and have avoided them due to my daughters asthmatic reaction to certain dyes and chemicals. You guessed it folks,,some asthmatic sufferers can add brighteners to their long list of skin sensitivity and allergic reaction. Read those lables..if not for yourself, for your children...** cannot be proven** but I have seena difference in chem free detergents with my highly asthmatic child.,.:)
MommaWeeza
Thu, Nov. 17, 2011
Eye Opening
So glad I don't use conventional detergents anymore.
monique0531
Thu, Nov. 17, 2011
i love it
this is so great i love this stuff
maragret
Fri, Nov. 11, 2011
GLOW
glad i have been buying seventh since my kids were born thank you
classicofino1
Fri, Nov. 11, 2011
glad i make my own detergent
glad i make my own detergent
prplgurl
Thu, Nov. 10, 2011
Ewwww
Glad I haven't used stuff like that in years
lcg842
Wed, Nov. 09, 2011
At a loss for words
Definitely had the same feelings as other folks mentioned above. Thank you for this informative video.
Sunniesideup1981
Wed, Nov. 09, 2011
WOW!
That's very scary. Wonder what the long term effects are on people and the environment when using those detergents?
brandygrutter
Thu, Nov. 03, 2011
interesting...
and I always thought I just had sensitive skin!
molly3
Tue, Nov. 01, 2011
Yuck!
It musy have been those optical brighteners in my old laundry detergent that made my skin itch so badly!
mmatthees
Tue, Nov. 01, 2011
Nasty
This has made me switch to 7th gen. laundry for good!
itburps
Mon, Oct. 31, 2011
optical brightners
Watched the video - very informative - but no points:(
itburps@hotmail.com
kris791
Sun, Oct. 30, 2011
wow
I had no idea that is scary to what is actually put in laundry detergent.
siahs_mom
Sun, Oct. 30, 2011
wow
I had no idea!!! Will think twice b4 I buy laundry soap again!
Alicia
Thu, Oct. 27, 2011
Any white clothing that glows in the dark had optical whiteners?
Does this mean that if any clothing glows under blacklight it was washed with optical whiteners? I'm thinking of blacklight parties in college where everything white glowed.
Alicia
EddyNason
Wed, Oct. 26, 2011
no to the glow
Wow - good job I watched this! With a baby on the way, you can't be too careful!
angel4022
Mon, Oct. 17, 2011
Optical Brighteners, Just say No to the Glo
Hmmmm, never seen Optical brighteners glow before, wowwww it makes you wonder what else other companies put in their products to fool the eye, just to make you buy their products, this was certainly interesting, glad I watched I watched the video and demonstration.
malmola
Sat, Oct. 15, 2011
Interesting
That was so interesting! I had never even heard of optical brighteners.
oanac
Fri, Oct. 14, 2011
wow!
I never knew about it ... good info!
Informative
Interesting video. I love Seventh Generation products!
mcswinkels
Sun, Oct. 09, 2011
And to think I had no idea
And to think I had no idea why "white" clothes would glow under UV light... now I have something to teach the kids about if we're on a dark ride at Disneyland and they're happy that they're glowing! ;) Say no to the glow, kids!
mumzy57
Sat, Oct. 08, 2011
optical brighteners
I didn't know that most detergent added this stuff.
Aimiloo
Fri, Oct. 07, 2011
Wow
I had no idea and i'm normally pretty into thise stuff!
Jvachon
Mon, Oct. 03, 2011
Want safe products for my kids
Had no idea about this
MaryKayK-O
Sun, Oct. 02, 2011
Eye opener!
We've been using "All small & mighty" free & clear since our daughter is sensitive to fragrances and other additives. Makes sense to switch now.
nepobie
Fri, Sep. 30, 2011
now i'm not so clueless
now i'm not so clueless
Hos
Fri, Sep. 23, 2011
UV brighteners in hunting camo
The hunting clothes that China exports to the US are loaded with with UV/Optical brighteners in the camp patterns. Deer see UV light. This means that a jacket with the label "Made in China" will glow like an actylene torch. (No, just kidding about the torch; however, the jacket will glow some, and any glow in the UV range will make that jacket light up -- an undesirable thing when you are hunting deer.
healthminded
Fri, Sep. 23, 2011
Very interesting!
Thanks for enlightening us all about this! I never knew that if shirts light up under a black light that meant they had dangerous chemicals in them!
Thanks
I guess I knew they were bad, I just didn't know why. Thanks for the info.
IFALLSMICHELLE
Thu, Sep. 22, 2011
Very informative
Very informative, I learned something new. I will definately be staying away from brighteners.
ahyoka
Thu, Sep. 22, 2011
Why bright anyway?
I am not sure what happened that made us want to brighten our clothes in this way. Weird. I love Seventh Generation and have been a loyal customer for many years. I was so relieved to know there was HE laundry detergent when I bought my frontloader W/D set 5-6 years ago (and wonderful lavender scent!). The only times I haven't bought SG were when it was sold out and I hated buying some other "free" detergent. Thank you for wonderful products, and educational pieces like this!
jeymi
Thu, Sep. 22, 2011
that's crazy! i had no idea..
that's crazy! i had no idea..
Lindanell
Thu, Sep. 22, 2011
another reason I will not use
another reason I will not use any chemical laundry detergents ever again
annemking
Thu, Sep. 22, 2011
Good information
I already knew that but I liked the visual. Thanks!
stjimmy73
Sat, Sep. 10, 2011
All the advertising for Tide
All the advertising for Tide and Cheer do seem to center around "brightness" ..i had used some Arm and Hammer "free" detergent but i may switch to 7th Gen as i have with toilet paper , paper towels and for my cleaners. Using 7th Gen also makes my household think twice before wasting paper towels as i do point out, they cost ALOT more. I work for Kroger and with my emp discount i could get 3 store brand rolls for the price of one 7th Gen, however i do not think a tree needs to be cut down for a product used to wipe our faces or other parts :) The sad reality of 7th Gen is that most consumers will look at the price tag and immediately run..they do not realize the cheap price on the "bargain" brands is a very high cost for our planet. Thanks 7th Gen and keep up the high quality products!
ranchofeliz
Thu, Sep. 08, 2011
Optical Brighteners
I have been a primary care provider for over 20 years.
The black light (a Wood's lamp) is a tool that can be used for diagnosing certain skin conditions. Now I know why some patients clothes seem to glow in the dark.
Thanks for your interesting video!
Amberlovesyou
Sun, Sep. 04, 2011
Makes sense now.
I notice when I go out in the sun I get little raised bumps...especially where I sweat the most and clothes come into contact with skin. I wonder if that's an allergic reaction..hmmm...Haven't had the problem since I switched to 7th Gen. last month. Very interesting!!!
Thanks for sharing!
I wish we would have known this a long time ago...our kids have eczema and we've tried so many detergents to help their skin.
