Skip to content
CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES)

  • Anionic surfactants
  • CAS 68585-34-2
  • IUPAC: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) (CAS 68585-34-2) appears in 4 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

Mild skin and eye irritant at high concentrations. Not classified as a carcinogen. The ethoxylated form (SLES, CAS 68585-34-2) is gentler than non-ethoxylated SLS at typical use concentrations.

Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES, CAS 68585-34-2) is an anionic surfactant widely used as a foaming and cleaning agent in consumer products. It is chemically similar to sodium laureth sulfate (CAS 9004-82-4) — both are ethoxylated forms of sodium lauryl sulfate. At typical in-product concentrations, SLES is well below irritation thresholds and is readily biodegradable in wastewater treatment systems.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
4/5
Purpose: Anionic foaming and cleaning surfactant

Common questions about Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES)

What is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) used for in car care?
Anionic foaming and cleaning surfactant
Is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) a VOC?
No. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) biodegradable?
Yes. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

4 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.