What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

Short of lifting an image of some toxic blue, green, pink, or red dish detergent, that doesn't foam very well, one squirt on a sponge will only wash 1 or 2 dishes, fill your house with toxic "perfume" fumes, give you a headache, and leave your hands dry at best, I decided to use a photo of how nicely our Instant Liquid Soap sudses up, on the left.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), also known as Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), also known as Sodium Laurilsulfate, is classified as an organic compound. This is a foaming agent otherwise known as a surfactant, which comes in the form of a white powder. When mixed with water and perfumes, it acts as soap, but is detergent.

SLS is known as skin irritant, when left on the skin for too long. When you hand wash dishes with an SLS dish detergent, and your skin feels dry and irritated afterwards, it is from touching the SLS. It is possible to hand wash dishes, and not irritate your skin, by using actual soap and water.

Lauryl Glucoside is a surfactant produced from lauryl alcohol and glucose.

Sodium Coco Sulfate is a surfactant produced from coconut or palm oil

When you see the word “organic”, it makes you feel as if you’ve purchased something safe and good for you. It gives the impression that you are purchasing something natural and approved by agencies, with impressive certifications, that look out for your health.

Generally, the word organic is associated with natural farming and gardening practices. It’s a label worthy term, with designated stickers to be easily spotted in a sea of products across grocery store shelves. This word litters the internet in the form of comforting advertising.

This word, organic, has a perceived aura of, “This is safe for me to use on my body and for me to eat.” But what is an organic compound?

The best example I can think of is comparing sugarcane to its derivative, white sugar.

In its natural form, sugarcane is full of sweet delicious nutrition. It is loaded with antioxidants to enhance immunity, is high in calcium, magnesium, iron and other electrolytes. It contains vitamins B2, B1, C, and B6. I remember buying a piece of sugarcane in the grocery store and chewing on it.

You can make pies without sugar and simply taste the sweetness of the fruit. In my recipe, I put sugar as optional

Compare the natural form of sugarcane to its derivative, white sugar. The sucrose is extracted and refined into concentrated white granules, known as white sugar. We all know that eating a lot of white sugar is not good, and can lead to health problems.

Synthetic organic compounds, which can seems like an oxymoron, are derived from petrochemicals, consisting of hydrocarbons.

These are formed under pressure and high temperatures deep under the earth’s surface, like a very old compost pile. They are still naturally occurring, but not necessarily something you want to eat or wash anything with. Yet, millions of people do wash with them, and unfortunately eat them. In short, all organic and inorganic compounds are the root of all life on earth.