The 10 Best Natural Laundry Detergents
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Laundry detergent is a standard household product used to clean and freshen our clothes. Choosing a natural laundry detergent is crucial since so many brands have ingredients that can potentially harm our health. Some ingredients can cause skin irritation, allergies, cancer, respiratory issues, as well as complications with fetal development and reproductive health.
What Are The Harmful Chemicals In Laundry Detergent?
There are many ingredients to avoid in traditional laundry detergents. Here are some to name a few:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS, SLES)
- Phosphates
- Chlorine Bleach
- Dioxane
- Formaldehyde
- Ammonium Sulfate
- Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers
- Optical Brighteners
- Ethoxylated Compounds
- Benzyl Acetate
- Fragrance
- Dyes
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium Benzoate
What I’ve learned through my research of non-toxic products is that the only way to find out if a product is clean is to look through the ingredients. Does it take a lot longer than using an app? Yes, but I’ve found that there isn’t another tool/resource that is 100% reliable.
I’ve made my list below and have gone through all of the ingredients in these products. You’ll see that I added EWG ratings to some of the products. I used to go by EWG ratings before I started deep-diving into ingredients. Sometimes they can be helpful, but they are not 100% reliable. I have found some EWG-verfiied products that contain harmful ingredients. Despite that, I’ve included them below for anyone who prefers to see them.
What is the EWG? EWG stands for the Environmental Working Group. This organization employs a rating system ranging from A to F. EWG-verified products are supposed to be the cleanest, followed by those rated A, B, and so forth, with F indicating the highest level of potential hazards.
I have compiled a list of clean, safe, and non-toxic laundry detergents below. These laundry detergents are safe for the whole family. Are you looking for non-toxic laundry detergents for babies? Choose one of the detergents from this list! Even some laundry detergents that are supposed to be made for babies are not clean (just check the ingredients!) Check out my list below and I hope you find a great detergent that works for you and for your family.
1. AspenClean laundry detergent pods
EWG Rating: EWG Verified
These unscented natural laundry detergent pods are packaged in a 100% recycled paper container with NO plastic at all while being fully compostable so they’re safe for your family and the environment. These eco-friendly laundry soap pods are baby-safe, pet-safe, and safe for sensitive skin. They are suitable for all temperatures in standard and HE washing machines. These non-toxic pods have no synthetic fragrances and no harsh chemicals. They are certified by EcoCert (the world’s reference for organic home care).
2. Meliora Cleaning Products Laundry Powder, Unscented
EWG Rating: A
This clean laundry detergent can be used in HE (High Efficiency) and standard washing machines, and can also be used for handwashing clothes. It is vegan, and cruelty-free, and this company donates 2% of its annual income to environmental causes. This detergent is fragrance-free, dye-free, animal by-product-free, phthalate-free, and bleach-free. In addition, it is packaged to minimize waste and environmental impact and has a Made-Safe label. Shop now!
3. Blueland laundry detergent tablets
EWG Rating: EWG Verified
Blueland uses plastic-free tablets that are powered by enzymes that are proven by independent labs to lift the toughest stains, from grass, coffee, berries, chocolate, makeup, and more. They use only clean ingredients. This natural laundry detergent is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and optical brightener-free. They are also EPA Safer Choice, Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free, Vegan, B Corp Certified, and Climate Neutral Certified.
4. Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
EWG Rating: EWG Verified
In case you haven’t entered the world of castile soap, it’s amazing! It can be used for so many things including but not limited to handwashing, dish soap, body wash, all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaner, pet soap, face wash, laundry, and more. This non-toxic laundry detergent is made without synthetic preservatives, thickeners, or foaming agents. In addition, it’s made with 70% certified organic & fair trade ingredients,
How do you use Dr. Bronner’s for laundry detergent? Per the Dr. Bronner’s website: 1/3-1/2 c. (80-120 mL) soap for a large load in a regular washer. Add 1 c. (240 mL) vinegar to the rinse cycle. Optional: For whitening/deodorizing, add 1/2 c. (120 mL) baking soda to wash cycle. Halve these amounts for HE washers.
Do you want unscented or a different scent? There are several different options and they are all clean. Take your pick!
5. Earthley Wellness Laundry Detergent
EWG Rating: A
This clean laundry detergent contains only 4 ingredients (and essential oils if you get the scented version). It comes in different scents or unscented. It’s free from sulfates, fragrance, phosphates, petrochemicals, allergens (soy, corn, dairy, tree nuts, gluten, peanuts, sesame, fish), preservatives, formaldehyde, chlorine, ammonia and other harsh chemicals. One of the ingredients in this non-toxic laundry detergent is bromelain, an enzyme naturally derived from pineapples which they use to fight stains.
This clean laundry detergent is septic-safe, safe for baby clothes and cloth diapers, biodegradable, eco-friendly, safe for sensitive skin, and can be used with hard water. This detergent can also be used with HE washers although the company recommends mixing with a small amount of hot water before adding to the washer for best results. Earthley is a great company with very clean ingredients. Check out their site!
6. Molly’s Suds Original Laundry Detergent Powder Unscented
EWG Rating: A
The unscented version of this product is the only one I would buy since the scented ones contain “natural fragrances”. While natural fragrances may be ok, we don’t know what they are using unless we contact the company and ask. Just to be safe, use the unscented version. This all-natural laundry detergent is made in the USA with clean plant and earth-based ingredients that are peanut-free, vegan, and certified cruelty-free, leave no residue, and rinse clean. They are septic and grey water safe, soil tested. This is a clean baby laundry detergent, but it’s also safe for everyone including people with skin sensitivities.
7. Pronounce Laundry Powder
EWG Rating: No rating
This non-toxic laundry detergent is very clean and doesn’t need an EWG rating. This company lists their ingredients on the front of the bag (probably because they have nothing to hide!). This clean detergent contains washing soda, baking soda, Epsom salt, soapberries, enzymes, and lavender oil. That’s all!
It’s safe for regular washing machines and HE machines. It’s all-natural and safe for sensitive skin, eczema, and babies. In addition, it is free of artificial fragrances, perfumes, ethoxylates, sulfates, phthalates, dyes, forever chemicals, and other toxic ingredients that don’t belong in our homes. As a bonus, a portion of each sale is also donated to clean water charities to provide clean drinking water right here in the United States.
8. GreenShield Organic USDA Certified Organic Laundry Detergent, Free and Clear
EWG Rating: A
This free and clean laundry detergent is free from all harmful chemicals. It’s made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients and is a perfect laundry detergent for sensitive skin. This clean laundry detergent can be used in HE machines and regular machines. It’s GMO-free and sulfate-free. It also uses organic soapberries to help get rid of residue. I use this laundry detergent sometimes and have no complaints. If you’re looking for an organic laundry detergent for babies or for anyone, this is a great choice.
9. Whole Foods Market, Organic Natural Laundry Detergent Unscented
EWG Rating: None. Well, there is a B rating, but the EWG has different ingredients listed than what is actually in the detergent. Based on its actual ingredients, I would give this detergent an A or even make it EWG Verified.
This natural organic laundry detergent is free of all harsh ingredients. It’s USDA Certified Organic and can be used with HE and regular machines. This clean detergent is hypoallergenic, free of dyes and fragrances, and is tough on stains, grease, and dirt. At the time of this article, it’s also a great price! If you decide to go with this laundry detergent, make sure you get the organic one. There is another 365 laundry detergent that isn’t organic and is not clean.
10. Organic Soapnuts
EWG Rating: No Rating
Soapnuts are the cleanest option when it comes to laundry. A soapnut is actually a dried berry of the soapnut tree. It’s not a nut. These berries contain saponins that clean and lather up naturally to clean your clothes. Unlike other detergents, this laundry detergent option only has one ingredient. It’s just soapnuts! You put them in a mesh bag (bag included) and throw them in with your laundry. You can use them a few times before using new ones and this particular bag has enough to cover up to 20 loads of laundry. Bubble and Bee also gives you an instruction sheet which is helpful if you haven’t used them before. I haven’t tried them yet, but I know others who use them and have heard good things. It’s a great alternative to traditional laundry detergent and it’s the cleanest of the clean.
Hi! Thanks for posting this list of natural laundry detergents. What’s your thought on using vinegar and water with essential oils? I’ve never tried it but have heard about it.
I haven’t tried that before! I think that any DIY cleaner is always safer than what you would buy at the store, however, I’ve read that vinegar may damage the parts on your washing machine if you use it too much. I’ve used vinegar to clean my washing machine once in awhile, but for every day use, I would be nervous to damage my machine. I haven’t looked into DIY laundry detergent yet, but I’m sure there are some other great resources online!