# Can laundry detergent make dioxins water soluble

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990 "2018-06-12T20:02:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990/1 "2018-06-12T20:02:24Z")

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Apparently dioxins are hydrophobic, but can laundry detergent make it water soluble?

Is there any hydrophobic substance that detergent cannot make water-dissolvable?

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**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990/2 "2018-06-12T20:41:39Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Apparently dioxins are hydrophobic, but can laundry detergent make it water soluble?

Yes. It’s a common method of contaminated soil treatment, though not very effective due to other reasons.

> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Is there any hydrophobic substance that detergent cannot make water-dissolvable?

Yes Silicones and fluorocarbons. Teflon for example.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990/3 "2018-06-12T21:05:12Z")

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> [@am77494](#):
>
> Yes. It’s a common method of contaminated soil treatment, though not very effective due to other reasons.

Oh ok. Too expensive?

I have clothing that’s been “fumed” by smoke/vapors from a plastic fire. Was wondering if washing it with detergent would help or if it’s hopeless.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-laundry-detergent-make-dioxins-water-soluble/815990/4 "2018-06-12T21:50:22Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Oh ok. Too expensive?
> 
> I have clothing that’s been “fumed” by smoke/vapors from a plastic fire. Was wondering if washing it with detergent would help or if it’s hopeless.

No not expensive but the dioxin binds to clay among other things. You get 70-95% of the dioxin out of soil after 3 washes or so.

Washing with detergents will certainly help your clothes. A few washes and it should be all gone.