We've all seen laundry detergents that contain something called optical brighteners. And while that may sound ideal for dirty clothes, these additives aren’t as helpful as they seem.

Optical brighteners are chemicals that make fabrics seem brighter or whiter than they are. They remain behind on clean laundry as a coating of microscopic fluorescent particles. When invisible ultraviolet light hits these particles, they convert it into visible light to create an optical illusion that tricks the eye into thinking our clothes are super clean.

Many optical brighteners are derived from benzene, a very toxic compound. In addition, these chemicals generally don’t break down in the environment and remain in the waters they’re washed into, where they poison fish and other aquatic life. Optical brighteners can also cause allergic reactions in people via a process called phototoxicity. When they rub off on our skin from laundered clothes and come into contact with sunlight, they can create a rash or irritation that’s mistaken for sunburn.

That’s why a healthy laundry room is one that keeps optical brighteners out of its detergents, off our clothes, and away from the environment! Seventh Generation does not use optical brighteners in its laundry detergent.