Hi Pat. I have been using the ewg consumer guides for a while now, in attempts to do the same as you, lessen harmful chemicals in the home, specifically body care items. My cleaning products have been very difficult to give up, esp with my love of laundry products. I just recently started using safer laundry detergents for things that have direct contact with skin. I literally just got some grab green pods today gifted from a friend here on the forum, can't wait to try them! I don't expect I'll go completely "green" with everything, but trying to lessen chemical contact is a good thing to me. It is hard to find things that really work like the big names, hoping these GG pods are my laundry answer. Lol

its funny, as far as cancer causing chems, I had it all backwards. Seems like the detergents are more of the culprit than fabric softener. I thought it was the other way around until I really started researching into this. FS gets low ratings on ewg because of the heavy fragrances, but are low carcinogen concern. I thought that was interesting since I've always thought it was so bad for you.

EWG is very reliable. Anyone concerned should consult them. They don't rate everything but they have thousands of ratings. Sometimes it's quite a shock to see what's in various products.

I wouldn't use EWG as your sole source of information. They recommend against triclosan in toothpaste, even though the FDA says the benefits outweigh the risks in this application.

thanks for posting this. I didn't even know this existed. Grab Green is an A if fragrance free, and a B if it is scented. Persil Pearls is a C. Not great but not terrible either. The Persil liquids scored an F I believe.

Shocking that Charlie's Soap gets an D at EWG!

I have to avoid triclosan in toothpaste and on principle, everything else. I suspect the FDA falls victim to lobbyists, just like the USDA. I once had perioral dermatitis after a strong round of Prednisone, 10+ years ago. Using a toothpaste with triclosan for several years prior set me up as a candidate for it. My dermatologist told me to use the plainest toothpaste possible, that she was seeing more cases of it due to all the bells and whistles in toothpastes. Even the Clarins moisturizer I used back then was aggravating the perioral dermatitis. I tossed it when I saw triclosan as an ingredient.

Charlie's should probably be a B. Same ingredients as Nellie's, and that's their score. They're getting a poor grade due to 'poor' ingredient disclosure. Charlie's packaging has been updated to list all ingredients. They've requested a re-score a while back, but hasn't seemed to have happened.

EWG is a good resource, but you should always keep a critical eye open. The FDA is just plain corrupt and in the pocket of big pharma and chemical companies

Sad commentary rococogirl. All the worse because it is true...

It's all about trading off risks versus benefits. That's what anyone does when they choose a product that EWG rates lower than A. Plenty of talk about borax here, and no apparent concern that EWG rates it F.

Triclosan in toothpaste has significant benefits in gum health, and reducing plaque. Dental health is really important, as most everyone here is old enough to realize. Everyone should be able to make their own choice on the matter. EWG's mentioning only the downsides of triclosan, and not its benefits for dental health, makes me doubt whether they're my friend, or your friend either.

suburbanmd, not to make this thread about oral hygiene, (but I guess I will :) What are your thoughts on the mechanical cleaning of an electric toothbrush, without the use of triclosan. Would that be effective for keeping plaque in check? I don't personally suffer with these issues, but I do use an electric toothbrush and it sure beats mechanical for cleaning. I have a coworker that has complained about frequent issues, but I haven't commented, and I don't know if she has an electric toothbrush or not. My small circle of coworkers are very close and bringing something like this up would be a non issue.

Many years ago, before Amiee was born my sister tpld me about a child that died while still in the dentist office from floride so when Amiee came along I only used floride free toothpaste and she never had a floride treatment, she's 20 and continues this. Her gum health is excellent and she's only ever had 2 cavities one in a baby tooth and one in an adult.

The boys have also been on the same routine no floride treatments and floride, Triclosan free toothpaste. Chip is almost 8 no cavities, Tims 9 and had one cavity in a baby tooth. Dentist says whatever we do at home continue because they both have excellent oral health.

I do use a regular paste myself Colgate regular because that's what I'm used to. I've had 9 cavities. Most occuring during my pregnancys.

Boys both have electric brushes along with regular they use which ever one they are in the mood for lol.

Now Little Lil(dog) is a different story LOL.

Mamapinky, you're lucky to have such good oral health personally and in your family. My wife is similar. Me, I've finally gotten things under control through a combination of electric toothbrush and a prescription-only toothpaste with 4 times the regular amount of fluoride. It doesn't have triclosan.

enduring - my hubby uses plain Colgate and an electric toothbrush the dentist suggested, and it has been good for his plaque. He had plaque buildup prior to that.

Thanks cavimum!

Speaking of triclosan, when they take it out of Dial bar soap next year, I'm going to be one sad puppy! Nothing else keeps me clean and itch-free and you know my skin is really old!