Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent: What Are They + 5 Brands I Found

To take my climate action up another notch, I’ve decided to switch to eco-friendly laundry detergent!

What’s wrong with conventional laundry detergent?

Firstly, conventional laundry detergents aren’t made with the best chemicals for us. I’ve seen my nephew develop rashes all over his body because of a detergent we used. It’s nasty. Some of the chemicals can also cause more serious issues like endocrine disruption and cancer.

Secondly, they usually come in large plastic jugs that are terrible for the environment because we have a plastic problem. Moreover, they’re bulky and heavy, making them carbon-intensive to transport.

Washing one load of laundry with a typical laundry detergent could create 1.3 to 1.9 pounds (0.6 – 0.9 kilograms) of carbon dioxide. It’s higher than driving a mile in a car (1 lb/0.5 kg of CO2)!

Thirdly, they often contain chemicals that can wreak havoc on the environment. They can cause toxicity to aquatic life or be persistent in the environment. Some of them can cause eutrophication that leads to excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion in a body of water.

Although wastewater is typically treated before they’re released, treatment plants can’t catch every pollutant. It’s best to reduce harmful chemical use rather than try to treat the consequences.

In short, conventional laundry detergent isn’t great.

Want to make the switch with me?

So, I did some online shopping for eco-friendly laundry detergents, and realized I’m not quite sure what to look for!

What makes a laundry detergent eco-friendly? What chemicals should I avoid?

Since choosing an eco-friendly laundry detergent is tricky, I turned my decision-making process into a post! You know, so you don’t have to waste your time! 🙂

Hopefully, it’ll help you switch over to a low-plastic way of doing laundry too – if/when you want to!

Amazon doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to the treatment of their employees and the packagings they use. However, most people in the US have access to Amazon, whereas supermarket stocks vary throughout the country.

Feel free to buy them somewhere else! However, if you purchase something through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!

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How do I identify an eco-friendly laundry detergent?

After consulting The Spruce, Mindful Momma, and TreeHugger, I learned that an eco-friendly detergent shouldn’t contain the following:

• Phosphate (these have been banned from US-produced detergents in the ’70s) – they’re persistent in the environment and causes eutrophication
• Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) surfactants: these can impair fishes’ ability to get oxygen
• Alkylphenol ethoxylated (APE) surfactants: these can hurt the immune system and disrupt hormones, also bad for aquatic life
• Optical brighteners: these aren’t readily biodegradable and can bioaccumulate, posing a risk to aquatic lives
• Chlorine bleach: they’re caustic and can cause toxic fumes when mixed with other household cleaners. They can also contaminate drinking water
• Petroleum-derived chemicals

They should be

• Unscented or scented with natural fragrances (essential oils)
• Never tested on animals
• A concentrated formula
• In a recycled/recyclable packaging
• Septic safe: mainly for homes not connected to the public sewer system

My criteria for the list

In coming up with a list, I looked for products that closely match the recommendations, and are also:

1. Affordable in the long run.*
2. Packaged with no plastic – no matter what they tell you about recycling, we’re using way too much plastic.
3. Effective. Since I haven’t tried these before, the product has to have decent reviews.
4. Hypoallergenic.
5. And yes, they have to be safe when released into the environment.

*The detergent we’ve been using costs $9.46 for 94 loads, which works up to $0.10 per load. Therefore, to make this list, the cost per load has to be under $0.25.

Please note that the prices per load may change.

After combing through Amazon and assessing the products to the best of my ability, here’s the list!

5 eco-friendly laundry detergents

Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder

• $0.15 – $0.24 per load depending on the efficiency of the washing machine
• Plastic-free packaging
• 4.2 stars rating
• Made in the USA
• Non-toxic and plant-based
• Free from phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvent, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, brighteners, artificial colors, artificial fragrances and preservatives
• Kind to those with chemical sensitivities and allergies
• Cruelty-free
• Rinses clean and leaves no harsh fumes or residue on fabrics
• EWG rating: B

Ingredients:

Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Sulfate, Laureth 7 (plant based surfactant), Sodium Silicate, Zeolite, Cellulose Gum (plant based chelator),
Hydrogen Peroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride

Notes:

There are some concerns with Laureth 7, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, and Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract posing aquatic toxicity risks. Otherwise, this seems to be a decent choice, especially for the price per load!

You can get Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder here.

Meliora Cleaning Products, Laundry Powder

• $0.16 – $0.32 per load depending on the efficiency of the washing machine
• Comes in a cardboard and steel canister
• Plastic-free packaging. It comes with a #5 plastic scoop. If you order from their site, you can choose to not have the scoop.
• 4.4 stars rating
• Made in the USA
• Dye-free, preservative-free, brightener-free, SLS-free, and synthetic fragrance-free
• Suitable for people with sensitive skin or allergies
• Septic-safe
• MADE SAFE® certified, Certified B Corporation
• Cruelty-free
• EWG rating: A

Ingredients: 

Unscented – Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda), Vegetable Soap [Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water]

Scented – (all scents include the Unscented ingredients, plus the following):[Lavender]: Organic Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil*
[Lemon]: Organic Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil**
[Lemon-Lavender-Clove]: Organic Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Organic Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil*, Organic Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil** (Scent made from certified organic essential oils which contain linalool* and d-limonene** )

Notes:

This product is impressive. It’s made with 5 ingredients that all scored As on EWG!

I wrote to the company to find out if the canisters can be recycled. They replied right away! The canisters are made from cardboard, with plated steel endcaps. In other words, they can be easily and completely recycled. Phew!

The canisters are designed to be reusable because Meliora sells refills. The refill isn’t available on Amazon because they don’t ship very well with Amazon’s packing system. However, you can get them on their site!

You can get the Meliora Laundry Powder Amazon or on their website!

Country Save Laundry Detergent Powder, Natural

• $0.17 to $0.37 depending on the type of washing machine
• Plastic-free packaging
• 4.3 stars rating
• Made in the USA
• EPA Certified Designed for the Environment
• Effectively dissolves in a small amount of water and rinses out completely
• No dyes, chlorine, optical brighteners, enzymes or synthetic fragrance
• Safe and gentle for sensitive skin, even for newborn babies
• Cruelty-free
• Safe for septic-tank
• EWG rating: B

Ingredients:

Sodium carbonate, Sodium sulfate, Sodium percarbonate, Sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate, and Linear alcohol ethoxylate

Notes:

This product is pretty simple too. It’s also made with 5 ingredients, but sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate and linear alcohol ethoxylated can cause aquatic toxicity.

According to the product description, this detergent powder is exceptionally good for cotton diapers. It can whiten and remove tough stains, yet it’s safe for babies. So if you need to wash cloth diapers or deal with stubborn stains, this may be perfect for you!

You can get the Country Save Laundry Detergent Powder here.

If you want something different…

ECOSNext™ Liquidless Laundry Detergent Squares

• Laundry detergent squares
• $0.22 per load
• Plastic-free packaging
• 4.2 stars ratings
• Made in China
• Hypoallergenic
• Made without dyes, optical brighteners, parabens, phosphates
• Readily biodegradable and septic and greywater-safe
• Cruelty-free
• Safe for humans and pets
• EWG Rating: Not listed

Ingredients:

Kaolin (mineral-based builder), Water (solvent), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (plant-derived surfactant), Polyvinyl Alcohol (polymer), Silica (builder), Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside (plant-derived surfactant), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (plant-derived surfactant), Glycerin (plant-derived solvent),
Sodium Citrate (builder), PEG-12 Dimethicone (defoaming agent), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant), Saponins (plant-derived surfactant), Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Protease Blend (enzyme stain remover), Citric Acid (pH adjuster), Dimethicone (polymer)

Notes:

I included this because this is such an ingenious idea! Having detergent in squares? That’s so convenient, especially for traveling since it’s very compact.

However, it contains sodium lauryl sulfate and Cocamidopropyl betaine, which cause aquatic toxicity. It also contains dimethicone, which is persistent in the environment. I think it’s worth noting that these are chemicals often found in shampoos. So, depending on how much you care, you may not mind them.

You can get the ECOSNext™ Liquidless Laundry Detergent here.

Dropps Sensitive Skin HE Natural Laundry Detergent Pods

• Laundry detergent pods in a cardboard box!
• $0.17 per load
• Plastic-free packaging
• 4.4 stars rating
• Made in the USA
• Natural, environmentally friendly, biodegradable plant-based formula
• Approved for EPA’s Safer Choice program
• Gentle on sensitive skin: scent-free, dye-free, enzyme-free, NPE-fee, phosphate-free and chlorine-free
• Cruelty-free
• Compatible with all fabrics
• EWG Rating for an older version of the product: B

Ingredients:

Ethoxylated alcohols, C12-16 (surfactant)*, glycerin (processing aid)*, linear alkyl benzenesulfonate (processing aid)*, water (processing aid),
triethanolamine (pH adjuster)*, polyvinyl alcohol film (PVA) with a bittering agent (synthetic water-soluble film)*. *Denotes plant or mineral origin. 

Notes:

Pods are getting popular! If you love pods, this is a good choice since they come in a cardboard box. Almost every other brand of laundry pods I came across is packaged in plastic tubs or pouches.

I prefer powder or strips because I can control the amount of detergent used depending on my load. Especially if I’m handwashing only a couple of clothes. However, if you’re concerned that powders and strips may not dissolve properly, you may prefer this.

This product contains ethoxylated alcohols and linear alkyl benzenesulfonate, which can cause aquatic toxicity.

You can get the Dropps Sensitive Skin HE Natural Laundry Detergent Pods here.

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Every bit of eco-friendliness counts

And that concludes my carefully-researched list of eco-friendly laundry detergent! Which one do you prefer?

As you can see, most of them aren’t entirely harmless, but as detergent goes, they’re much better than conventional ones. Interestingly, it’s not super expensive to switch to better laundry detergents! I can deal with $0.20 per load. What do you think?

If you’re using conventional laundry detergent, I hope you’ll consider switching to an eco-friendly option. It doesn’t even have to be from this list.

So many of us are doing laundry every day. Consequently, what looks like a harmless bit of bad chemical adds up quickly. Likewise, one huge jug of plastic per household every few months equals to a lot of plastic!

Every effort to make our habits more sustainable help! So, try to wash clothes on full loads, use a cool water setting, and line dry whenever possible. That’ll help us conserve water and lower our carbon footprint. We get to save money too!

I hope that you’ve found this post useful. If you’ve tried one of these brands, do leave your comments to let us know how it went!

Useful resources:

By the way, I’m no chemist, and chemicals are too confusing! I relied on these resources heavily to check the chemicals. I think you’ll find them handy too:

• Environmental Working Group: EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning
• Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List