Seventh Generation Natural 2X Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent, 33 Loads, Free & Clear 50 fl oz (1.47 L)

Worth the cost

I'm one of those that make up 25% of the population who are suddenly plagued by "contact hives" - I could carry a book in my arms and have raised welts/hives immediately...Read complete review

I'm one of those that make up 25% of the population who are suddenly plagued by "contact hives" - I could carry a book in my arms and have raised welts/hives immediately wherever the book touched, I routinely had hives under my bra straps, around my waist, around my thighs...anywhere my lingerie elastic touched.....and then "sympathetic hives" - hives all over my legs and arms and even the bottom of my feet (try sleeping with hives on the soles of your feet!). The only "cure" was Benedryl at night when the itching gets too much to handle, but impossible to take during the day and stay awake! However, a colleague saw the hives across my arms and neck one day and proclaimed "you've got bleached rubber syndrome" - desperate for a "cure" or a "cause" my research and a conversation with my physician revealed "it's entirely possible"....out went all of my lingerie (yeah, it wasn't easy and it wasn't cheap) - everything that had any scrap of rubber in it had to go for "conventional" laundry detergent has bleach in it, even a tiny drop that's not enough to actually bleach clothing is still too much bleach and it reacts to anything with rubber on/in it - bra straps, underwear elastic, slips, some types of pantyhose, thigh highs and so on. Yes, it was an expensive gamble, but I was desperate. With all the lingerie out went my "conventional" detergent and I've switched 100% to Seventh Generation for detergent, softener and even the noncholrine bleach. INSTANT improvement - what a thrill not to find lines of hives under my bra or around my waist...or endure sleepless nights because I had hives on the soles of my feet and even, sigh, my backside.....yes, that much of an improvement, that quickly (bleached-rubber syndrome is in the same "family/category" as a latex allergy, but generally not as severe as to include respiratory problems).

The bonus, I swear my clothes are wearing better...they don't seem to stain as easily, they don't seem to "wear out" as quickly, especially t-shirts or jersey-type materials. My white sheets always look and feel fresh and clean as does my lingerie and clothing in general.

I would say my "sudden hives" outbreaks have been reduced by at least 90% and it's getting better all the time. The one time I ran out of this detergent and dared to use some leftover "conventional" detergent I paid the price immediately. I thought it was just a "psychological" thing, you know....like I was too aware I was deviating from my norm, but I couldn't ignore the hives by the end of the day...out when that lingerie and no more "conventional detergent" back up to fall prey to again, not worth the agony!

Yes, it's a more costly product....but, not only is it good for me, it's good for the environment too!