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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.
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momomama
Mon, Aug. 29, 2011
seventh generation
Wow scary, does seventh generation also make spotter?
I would like to get as many safe products as possible to replace the harmful ones.
drummergrl
Thu, Aug. 25, 2011
optical brightners- YUK!
I have been a loyal consumer of 7th Gen products for years. I am so pleased to see this kind of education here. I didn't know about the brighteners, but I'm not surprised. Bummer for those who don't know.
Lizmara
Thu, Aug. 25, 2011
One more thing to add
I forgot to add that if you want your whites to brighten up, dry them in the sun. It's the best natural whitener we have!
We cloth diaper and the sun removes 95% (if not 100%) of any stains in the diapers.
Lizmara
Thu, Aug. 25, 2011
Thanks for sharing!
Glad to know I made the right choice to choose 7th Gen detergent! Unless I plan on going clubbing (not anytime soon), optical brighteners are pretty scary stuff!
lalaramsay
Sat, Aug. 20, 2011
had no idea!
Thanks for the info. I had no idea.
alkiss
Wed, Aug. 17, 2011
sad and frustrating
I am frustrated--I hate the look of dingy clothes--wish it did not take opticak brighteners to make today's fabrics actually look white--good thing most of it is socks and underwear. I hate what these things do to the environment. I'm switching.
ongmingh
Tue, Aug. 16, 2011
scary!
good thing i've been using 7th gen for a long time now.
rachelmr
Sun, Aug. 14, 2011
great products
I love the products and they work great, and smell wonderful.
Laura Burgess
Thu, Aug. 11, 2011
brighteners
Since I have never believed or been swayed by ads, I have always felt that reasonably clean was good enough - anything that is a step above beating the clothes on rocks!
sroyse
Thu, Aug. 11, 2011
Very interesting...passing
Very interesting...passing this video along to some conventional laundry detergent friends!
edwong
Sun, Aug. 07, 2011
multi-surface cleaner -
I notice that I was reading your product ingredients.... thyme oil was 0.05% What are the other ingredients that is 99.99%. Why isn't it listed? Is it all natural plants?
What plant kills 99.99% of germs?
rosakamper
Fri, Aug. 05, 2011
Still clean
my clothing may not be as bright, but it is still clean! This detergent smells great with causing skin irritation in my kids, how great is that?!
molly3
Thu, Aug. 04, 2011
I'm so glad I know now…
I had no idea what these optical brighteners left behind, thanks for educating me.
kimbermata
Fri, Jul. 22, 2011
Yuck
That is why I'll continue to use my Seventh Generation laundry detergent!!
xaveria2
Thu, Jul. 07, 2011
I will change
I will now change my laundry habits forever. I don't want my family exposed to any new dangers.
lgalford
Thu, Jun. 16, 2011
unbelievable
not good to have unnecessary stuff in our detergent
goingreen
Thu, May. 26, 2011
Optical Brighteners
It never fails to amaze me at what a detergent company will add to their product in order to sell it to the public.
People with sensitivity to the chemicals in the optical brighteners now have some idea of why their skin felt a little itchy or they got got a rash that day after they wore an article of clothing washed in that stuff.Spread the word to dermatologists!!
This must be one of the
This must be one of the reasons why my dermatologist recommends all natural laundry detergents!!
laura_ward
Mon, May. 16, 2011
Amazing
I especially feel for military personnell who are unaware of this.
7th Generation
Glad I watched the video. I'll be looking for 7th Generation in the store more often.
I have used non-toxic, all
I have used non-toxic, all naturall, organic cleaning products since I learned I was pregnant and being healthy became vitally important to me. Thank You Seventh Generation.
AngelaClifford
Sat, Apr. 30, 2011
What will they think of next...
Yikes. I guess it's true that you learn something new every day. Glad I use 7th generation!
khallinan
Tue, Apr. 26, 2011
wow
Had no clue about this! I only use Seventh Gen detergent!
creatingquerencia
Sun, Apr. 24, 2011
What is frustrating-
Other laundry soaps aren't clearly labeled as to which contain optical brighteners and they ruin military uniforms rendering the camo useless. I destroyed several sets of ACUS rendering them essentially useless with different non labeled optical brightening detergents.. very frustrating..
carpeconnie
Sun, Apr. 17, 2011
I have used a black light in
I have used a black light in my home and everything white glows. Now I know.
Juanita1940
Thu, Apr. 14, 2011
Glowing clothes
I do not intende for my clothes to be glowing under a bright light I will change
Rita Hartman
Wed, Apr. 13, 2011
how can you tell if it is in a product?
Is there something on the label that idntifies it as having optical pbrighteners? how long does it take to wash out. I've only started using the 7th generation producs a few months ago due to allergies.
starxr
Wed, Apr. 13, 2011
Telling my friends
I knew conventional detergents were toxic - just didn't realize how far they took it! Thanks for the info.
ladyshady
Wed, Apr. 13, 2011
Clueless
I had no idea and I definitely don't feel good about that. I'm so glad I'm now in the know. I'll be more careful from here on out when purchasing products!
lindajune
Wed, Apr. 13, 2011
Optical brighteners
Learned something important today!
dakgulley
Wed, Apr. 13, 2011
Wow
It's scarey that we just don't know what some manufactors are putting into their products! Thank God for 7th Generation! :)
Interesting
Definitely something to think about.I never would have guessed.
Bperrier
Tue, Apr. 12, 2011
Geez!
Did not even know about that stuff! Poor fish! Poor people who eat the fish!
proud_mom
Tue, Apr. 12, 2011
Blinded by the light
Makes the dull white tee all the more attractive!
amandapet24
Tue, Apr. 12, 2011
That is crazy!! But I have
That is crazy!! But I have Been using Seventh Generation for years so I've not been worried about my clothing.
jack_leroy
Tue, Apr. 12, 2011
Shining the "Black" light on things
Thank You, Cara for shining the light on the truth. But it doesn't surprise me, since wholesalers have been using all kinds of similar tactics to make the items we buy from them appear to be more appealing like putting wax on cucumbers and apples to make them shine or dying salmon red. Enough already!
anfiveash
Tue, Apr. 12, 2011
More falsehoods!
It is amazing what is used to make us think things are actually working!
sasher420
Mon, Apr. 11, 2011
Crazy!
Thanks for keeping us consumers informed! We have the right to know what is in the products we use.
I had no idea about this. I
I had no idea about this. I wish that companies had to put on the label the things they are putting into their products. I just want to be healthy, white clothes don't matter that much to me.
something else...
more to look after... keep the coming, thanks for the heads up!
