What the hell is in Tide Laundry Soap?
Secrets and more Secrets...

Posted by Staff on March 02, 2009 12:50 pm

Ever wonder what the ingredients are in Tide? Are they safe? Well you will never know. It is regarded by Tide to be a trade secret. We have tried to fill in the blanks. Generally speaking tide contains, biodegradable surfactants (anionic & nonionic) and enzymes.

The manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) does not state whether the ingredients are potential carcinogens. However MSDS states:

Emergency and First Aid Procedures:

Ingestion: Drink a glassful of water.

Eye Contact: Flush with water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Skin: If prolonged contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. If spilled on clothing, change clothes.

If symptoms persist or reoccur, seek medical attention. Other: Consumer product package has a caution statement: "CAUTION: Eye irritant. Harmful if swallowed. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. If swallowed, give a glassful of water. Call a physician. In case of eye contact, flush with water."

PTG cannot provide you with specific ingredients used in Tide for a couple reasons. First of all, Tide is not required by law to list their ingredients, and second their formulations are confidential. However, the following list of ingredients are commonly used in the other leading brands.

Alkyl benzene sulfonates. A class of synthetic surfactants

Alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanols.  This is a general name for a group of synthetic surfactants.

Artificial fragrances. They can often can cause allergies and skin or eye irritation.

Diethanolamines.  A synthetic family of surfactants

EDTA  A class of synthetic, phosphate-alternative compounds used to reduce calcium and magnesium hardness in water.

Optical brighteners. They can cause allergic reaction when in contact with skin that is then exposed to sunlight. Most optical brighteners are given trade names which consumers are unlikely to question.

More information:

Tide MSDS (new window)

http://www.pg.com/company/our_commitment/msds/fabric_home.shtml#2

Tide Brand alternatives: (new window)

Tide Free HE 2x Concentrated Liquid Detergent, 64-Load Bottle (Pack of 4)

Name (required)
Email (not published) (required)

What is 20 - 1?