Yummmm!
That’s the only appropriate response after devouring a scrumptious plate of biryani. Unfortunately, if you’re also the chef of said biryani, you’re probably dreading the draining task of scrubbing the multiple dishes which played their role in the kitchen before the meal. It’s no wonder you’re easily won over by taglines such as “armed with the power of 100 lemons''. Who wouldn’t want an arsenal of citric juices in your kitchen cleaners to fight off the dinner-grime from your bartan?
What if we told you that those lemons are a facade? And, that you’re actually dipping your hands into some deadly chemicals while doing the dishes! Surprised? We decoded the ingredients of the popular Vim Dishwash Liquid and their impact on your health and our environment, and were horrified by the information.
*Trigger warning: you’re never going to look at Vim with the same trusting eyes ever again.
What are Vim Dishwash Liquid’s Ingredients?
Here are Vim Dishwash Liquid’s ingredients as listed on the Bangladesh Unilever page. Ironically, they don’t feature them on the Hindustan Unilever page.. We wonder why?
1. Sodium LASTrust us, the only thing safe on that list is water! And, that also depends on where the aqua is sourced from. What’s so problematic about the rest of the ingredients? Let’s break each of them down.
What’s risky about Vim Dishwash Liquid?
1) Sodium LAS
Sodium Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) is a surfactant. What’s that? Surfactants reduce the surface tension between the soap and the water used to clean the vessels. Basically, it helps the product glide smoother when mixed with water.
Why is it harmful?
Sodium LAS is extremely harmful if swallowed. Yes, that’s right, lazy rinsing could lead to more than soapy food!1 Ingestion could cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, it’s extremely corrosive to our eyes.
2) Disodium EDTA
Bring on the bubbles! Since it’s a water softener, disodium ethylenediaminetetracetic acid helps soaps foam or lather more. It acts as a stabilizing agent in the soap formulation.
Why is it harmful?
While it doesn’t cause any direct damage, disodium EDTA disturbs the surface epithelial layer of your skin allowing other chemicals to absorb more easily into your body2 . Furthermore, it’s a non-biodegradable chemical. This means that it pollutes the water bodies it flows into and harms marine ecosystems with its presence.
3) SLES
Much like Sodium LAS, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is also a surfactant. In fact, it’s one of the most popular ingredients in soaps and detergents. It’s an extremely effective foaming agent, so it creates bubbles galore at accessible prices. However, it has also nudged many consumers onto their “go-green” journey.
Why is it harmful?
SLES is a skin and eye irritant. Furthermore, no matter how it is processed, small traces of 1,4 dioxane remain behind as impurities. While rashes and red eyes can be overlooked on occasion, 1,4 dioxane is a known carcinogen. Studies have flagged it as an anticipatory human carcinogen3, and a confirmed one for animals.
4) CI 42051
Also known as Patent Blue V, CI 42051 is a pH-dependent dye. This means that it emits colour according to the pH level of the water. It turns a deep blue in alkaline or weakly acidic mediums and showcases as a yellow–orange in stronger acidic conditions.
Why is it harmful?
Patent Blue V has been banned for use in both Australia and the US. It has been suspected to cause many allergic reactions ranging from nettle rash to nausea, lowered blood pressure, and anaphylactic shock (sudden narrowing of airways). Furthermore, intense or prolonged exposure to CI 42051 can be poisonous to both the liver and kidneys among a plethora of hypersensitivity reactions of the skin, eye and nose.4
What’s the alternative?
Don’t worry. We know that reading this information would have thrown you for a loop. Vim’s Dishwashing Liquid has been a household staple for most of us for decades, right? But, now that you’re wiser about its composition, you need to find a replacement. There’s no forgoing biryani dinners, and we definitely don’t want you to go the disposable container route. But, fret not! You don’t have to spend time searching for natural home cleaners. We’ve formulated them for you at Born Good! Our Dishwash Gel is 100% non-toxic, plant-based cleaner which is also USDA certified.
Here’s a quick breakdown of its ingredients:
| Ingredient | Function |
| Coconut Extracts from Cocamidopropyl Betaine | Fight germs and prevent redeposition of stains. |
| C-10 - C-12 Alkyl polyglucoside from vegetable oil | Reduces the surface tension between our product and the water and helps reduce stains. |
| Glycerine from sugarcane | Prevent water from sticking to the dishes. |
| Citric acid from Citrus fruits | Biodegradable water softeners |
| Potassium sorbate and Sodium benzoate | Natural preservatives |
| Baking Soda | Maintain neutral pH |
| Hypoallergenic fragrances from Essential oils | Impart a pet-friendly fragrance |
So, what are you waiting for? Cart your stock of our Dishwash Gel now! It’s gentle on your hands, leaves no chemical sticky residue behind and gets rid of all the grime.
P.S Don’t worry, we also armed it with some citrus power.
1 https://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.display?p_lang=en&p_card_id=1602&p_version=2
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12396676
