Whether pregnancy or a new baby has you evaluating the toxins in your home, or you’re looking to reduce your family’s strain on the environment, switching to an eco-friendly laundry detergent is a great place to start.
Turns out, ditching conventional formulas in favor of an eco-friendly laundry detergent can have several benefits for both the planet and your health. For one thing, conventional laundry detergents often contain harsh chemicals that can pollute waterways, harm aquatic life, and negatively impact the ecosystem. What’s more, these chemicals can cause skin irritation and other health issues if you or your little ones have sensitive skin or allergies. Eco-friendly laundry detergents, on the other hand, are typically made with natural and biodegradable ingredients that are safer for the environment and humans alike.
What to look for in an eco-friendly laundry detergent
When purchasing an eco-friendly laundry detergent, it’s important to look for ingredients that are plant-based, biodegradable, and free from synthetic fragrances and dyes. But because labels can sometimes be a little tricky, here are some common ingredients to avoid:
- Phosphates: These are commonly used in laundry detergents to soften hard water and improve cleaning performance. However, they can contribute to algal blooms and other water pollution problems.
- Optical brighteners: These chemicals are often added to laundry detergents to make clothes appear brighter and whiter. However, they do not actually remove stains and can be harmful to aquatic life.
- Synthetic fragrances and dyes: These ingredients can cause skin irritation and other health problems, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies.
- Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs): These are surfactants commonly found in laundry detergents that can disrupt hormone function and harm aquatic life.
And it’s not just the inside that counts. Generally, these “green” detergents are made without excess water, reducing the size and weight of their packaging. Not only does that make them far easier to schlep into your house, it makes a huge difference in their carbon footprint as well.
I know what you might be thinking. There’s no way these natural detergents will get the job done. After all, no one soils clothes more thoroughly than kids. But after putting several to the test, I can attest to the fact they not only do the job, but they do it well. It’s also nice to know they’re still gentle enough to launder delicate baby clothes and blankets. One detergent to rule them all!
By making this eco-friendly swap, you can help protect the environment and promote better health for yourself and your family. From liquid detergents to convenient pods and eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets, here are some of my personal favorites.
My top picks for eco-friendly laundry detergent
LastObject
• $16.80
Unlike bulky bottles or boxes of liquid or powdered detergent, the LastObject Laundry Detergent Sheets don’t require a gym membership to drag into your house. Instead, the biodegradable and plastic-free detergent comes in a small, flat package that’s easy to store and transport. (Better yet, their lack of plastic and compact size means they reduce your carbon footprint by 90%!)
Each sheet is formulated with natural ingredients, including plant-based surfactants and enzymes, and are free from harmful chemicals like phosphates, optical brighteners, synthetic fragrances, and dyes. They dissolve completely (even in cold water) and they’re impressively effective even against stinky teenager sports gear. The fact they take up less space than a box of dryer sheets is just the icing on the cake.
(Price is for 90 sheets–the average amount for two months of laundry for a family of four.)
Branch Basics
• $69
What if we told you there’s a laundry detergent that can also be used to clean your kitchen and bathroom, your dishes and hands and even your mirrors and windows? And on top of that, it’s also toxin-free, plant-based and actually works?
Meet Branch Basics and their innovative Laundry Kit. Anchored by their simple and safe Concentrate which can be diluted with varying amounts of water to replace most household cleaners, the kit also includes a reusable and recyclable bottle and the mineral-based Oxygen Boost to brighten and deodorize. Just fill the laundry bottle to the marked line with water, then to the soap line with Concentrate, give it a shake and you’re ready to go. Each compact bottle of Concentrate is enough to make three bottles of detergent–192 loads of laundry in total!
The Concentrate is fragrance-free but still manages to leave clothes smelling fresh and clean and is suitable for even the most sensitive skin–babies included!
Blueland
• $22.50
The Blueland Laundry Starter Kit checks all the boxes and then some. Sustainable? Yes. Free from plastic? Sure thing. Compact and easy to store? Of course. Does it also look cute perched on your laundry station? Absolutely.
With the Starter Kit you get 60 fragrance and chemical-free laundry tablets which dissolve easily in hot or cold water. I’m personally a big fan of this style since it’s pre-measured and I never have to worry about one bursting and leaking all over or melting in-transit. (How can something that’s meant to clean make such a mess?!) The kit also includes an attractive pastel tin to store them in. When you run out, you can repurchase just the compostable bag of tablets to refill. (Or set it and forget it with a subscription!)
In my experience, a single tablet got the job done every time, but if you’ve got a particularly dirty or stinky load, just add a second for max power.
Dropps
• $19.50
Dropps was my first foray into eco-friendly detergent pods. I was looking for something economical and safe for my overly sensitive skin. I also wanted it delivered to my door without creating a giant carbon footprint. Dropps fit the bill and two years later, it still does.
The pod-style detergent is super effective at getting out stains from coffee to spaghetti sauce (the two main culprits in my house) and even the fragrance-free version leaves clothes smelling fresh. The outer membrane is far thinner than traditional laundry pods which means they dissolve fully and easily, but it also means you’ll need to ensure they’re stored in a cool, dry and shady spot.
And while it’s what’s inside that counts, I also have to give props to their zero-waste packaging. The pods come packaged in a compact, folding box that’s fully recyclable. Win-win!
(Price is for 64 pod subscription which can be delivered on the schedule of your choosing.)
Dirty Labs
• $15
I’ll be the first to admit that I was drawn to Dirty Labs for scent-based reasons only. After reading reviews that likened it to the luxe (and now defunct) Le Labo x Laundress detergent, I had to spend $15 deciding for myself.
Does it smell nice? Yes, absolutely. Does it smell like Le Labo? No, it does not. But I’m still including here because it does the most important part of the job–actually cleaning clothes–quite well.
One of the key benefits of Dirty Labs Bio Liquid Laundry Detergent is its effectiveness at removing dirt and stains from clothes. The formula is designed to penetrate deep into fabric fibers, lifting and removing dirt and grime without damaging the fabric or causing color fading. It is also certified by the USDA as a bio-based product, which means that a significant portion of its ingredients are derived from renewable resources. Since it’s hyper-concentrated, it packs 32 loads into a small aluminum bottle. Just measure what you need into the cute little silicone beaker and you’re all set. (It also makes a great bath toy when you’re done!)
Seventh Generation
• $27.94
As a Vermonter, I’m biased toward all things Seventh Generation, but they 100% earned this slot, all bias aside. The powerful pods manage to wash away any grime my family can bring home, without triggering sensitive skin issues. More impressively, these powdered laundry packs are also EPA Safer Choice Certified which means they meet strict criteria to be considered safe for humans and the planet.
As with other pod or sheet style detergents, it couldn’t be easier to pop one into the washer without waste or mess. And like Dirty Labs, they’re USDA certified as a bio-based product, made with 94% plant-based ingredients.
(Price is for a pack of 2.)
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