Can laundry detergents trigger allergies and make asthma worse?
Possibly. A 2025 mouse study found that inhaled laundry detergent residue enhances allergic sensitization and worsens airway inflammation.
What's actually in it
Laundry detergents contain surfactants, fragrances, preservatives, and optical brighteners. Residues remain on clothes and bedding after washing. When you wear these clothes or sleep on treated sheets, detergent chemicals contact your skin and become airborne as you move.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Allergy found that inhaled laundry detergent residue enhanced allergic sensitization to co-inhaled allergens and worsened airway inflammation in a mouse model. The detergent made the immune system overreact to otherwise harmless substances.
Use fragrance-free, dye-free detergent. Run an extra rinse cycle to remove more residue. Consider hypoallergenic detergents for bedding.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry Detergents Enhance Sensitization to Co-Inhaled Allergens and Exacerbate Airway Inflammation in Mice. | Allergy | 2025 |
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