What ingredients really make up Rinse Aid?
SIMPLY TUESDAY REVIEW|
FINISH RINSE AID
“Save yourself the water, the elbow-grease, and most importantly, the time – because in the end, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?” Finish website
🔹Oxirane= More commonly known as Ethylene oxide. A recognisedcarcinogen, recognised reproductive toxin. Skin and eyeirritants. Effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, developmental kidney, liver, immuno and neurotoxicity. Petroleum derived. Banned in Canada and the EU. Listed as potentially harmful to health.
🔹Methyl = AKA methyloxirane, polymer with oxirane with Monoisotridecyl ether= AKA Polyethylene Glycol Monoisotridecyl Ether= Eye irritant. It also contains Oxirane as mentioned above. This ingredient chain also contains (Phosphoric acid)= Used in making fertilizers and detergents and in food processing, mineral derived, caution advised. (Ethylene oxide)=) Ethylene oxide is mutagenic in humans and chronic exposure is linked to an increased risk of leukemia, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (Propylene oxide) According to the European ECHA this ingredient causes serious eye irritation, is harmful if inhaled and is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. The EWG lists this having some concern with Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity. Acrylate polymers are also known as POLYACRYLATES Biodegradation concerns. Some Concern: developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, general systemic/organ effects, cancer, damage to DNA, nervous system effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision, respiratory effects; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient. They do not list the ingredients here. This process has also been synthesised through 1-4 Dioxane which is a toxic contaminant and likely carcinogenic to humans. These ingredients, combined have acute aquatic toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity.
🔹Block sodium p-cumenesulphonate Mixture of: 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one [CAS No. 26172-55-4] and 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one [CAS No. 2682-20-4] = AKA Sodium cumene sulfonate. Eye irritant. Used as a surfactant.
🔹Methylchloroisothiazolinone= Banned in Canada and Japan. Used as a preservative. Known for allergic reactions, asthma, contact dermatitis. Suspected immunotoxicity. Synthetic.
🔹Methylisothiazolinone= Banned in Canada and Japan. Best avoided. Preservative. Allergic reactions, sensitisation, concentration limits apply. Synthetic. Aka (MI and MCI) both preservatives, meaning they keep bacteria from growing in your bottle of rinse aid. Both are capable of causing skin allergies and are sensitisers, meaning that if you’re exposed to them over and over again, you can develop an allergy.
🔹5-15% Non-Ionic Surfactants= undisclosed ingredients-Nonionic (no charge) Nonoinic surfactants contain no charge. They are commonly found in laundry and dishwasher detergents. They are the second most widely used surfactant after anionic. These molecules have no charge and so they are less likely to form a ‘soap scum’ in hard water. Most non ionic surfactants are relatively non-toxic.
🔹Potassium Sorbate= Potassium sorbate is a salt of sorbic acid which is naturally found in some fruits (like the berries of mountain Ash) although a disclaimer does state [While sorbic acid is naturally occurring in some berries, virtually all of the world’s production of sorbic acid, from which potassium sorbate is derived, is manufactured synthetically] on the EWG site it confirms that it’s not likely to be made from Mountain berries- Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring anti microbial compound; used as a preservative. Which means it’s synthetic. It’s function is a Fragrance Ingredient/Preservative. Known for contact dermatitis and skin and eye irritation. The EWG rates this as a moderate hazard.
🔹Acetic acid= May be genetically modified. May be made by bacterial fermentation. May be made synthetic from menthol. May be petroleum derived.
🔹Zinc salt= Zinc salts are an entire class of compounds where zinc molecules are bound to other elements to create the aforementioned neutral compound. These include: zinc nitrate, zinc chlorate, zinc sulfate, zincphosphate, zinc molybdate, zinc chromate, zinc ricinoleate, and more. Used for reducing metal corrosion and rust formation.
🔹Hydrate (2:1:2) 5970-45-6 <0.25= known as Zinc acetate. The zinc salt of a acetic acid. Safe for most people. Mineral derived.
🔹Various non-hazardous ingredients (secret) Non disclosed ingredients. Have no idea what they are or how many there are.
🔹This could be a non hazardous ingredient as mentioned above but I’m unable to confirm this as an ingredient. Why is rinse aid blue? Another source tells me they add in ACID BLUE 9 a colourant to this product. Acid Blue 9 or E133 can also be used in detergents, Inks & toners. Deemed a moderate human health priority. Best avoided, Asthma, Petroleum derived, suspected carcinogen, suspected mutagen, suspected neurotoxicity. Flagged for suspected persistence. (meaning it stays in our system for a very long time)
🔸Some of these ingredients are super harmful and hazardous to our health. Rinse Aid is a product used in our dishwashers in the final cycle to rinse the plates and cutlery. Rinse aid is a surfactant and prevents water from forming into droplets. Instead it drains off the surface in thin sheets. Any spots from dissolved minerals left behind from evaporated droplets are diminished. This is a complex chemical process and these ingredients are used to ensure great results and sparkling dishes but at what cost? Residue left behind on plates and cutlery that we use to ingest food, the smell of the steam with residue product when we open the dishwasher, touching the plates a cutlery when packing them away. Possibly touching or breathing in the rinse aid when adding it to the compartment. These are all sources of exposure.
🔸As an alternative to rinse aid a lot of people use white vinegar. This can be added straight into the rinse aid compartment. Vinegar over time, can degrade rubber seals because it is a strong acid. If you’re concerned about this, a cap of vinegar in the top rack of your machine can be another alternative. Some warranty manufacturers void warranty if vinegar is used so please check prior to using this option.
🔸Citric Acid mixed with water and added to the rinse aid compartment can also be used as a rinse aid. Citric acid prevents limescale and also cleans the dishwasher.
🔸If you’re not into DIY rinse aid, these are still low tox, not no tox, especially when in comparison to the above:
@ecostoreau ecostore Lemon Rinse Aid 🇳🇿
@ecover.uk Rinse Aid sparkling dishes 🇬🇧
@seventhgeneration Rinse Aid 🇺🇸
Many other brands claiming to be low-tox and natural rinse aids that I can find, do not disclose their ingredients on the bottle. If this is the case this is always a no from me.
