7 BEST NATURAL & NON-TOXIC LAUNDRY DETERGENT BRANDS THAT ARE TOUGH ON STAINS, NOT ON HEALTH
This blog post is all about the best natural & non-toxic laundry detergent brands!
Ahhhh, the lovely scent of freshly-washed clothes!
What better smell is there?
But while we can all agree that this smell feels comforting, did you know that it usually comes from toxic, synthetic chemicals hiding in laundry detergent?
And unfortunately, fragrance isn’t the only thing added to those products!
Conventional laundry detergent is loaded with harmful chemicals that can linger on our clothes and sheets long after we’ve washed them.
Thankfully, it doesn’t mean we have to stop using laundry products altogether!
Safe alternatives do exist, and if you’re ready to make the switch today, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, I’ve rounded up 7 of the best natural and non-toxic laundry detergent brands that are tough on stains, not on health.
You’ll find great options whether you prefer using liquid detergent, pods, tablets, powder, or sheets.
I’ve also made sure to only include sustainable and eco-friendly products!
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
Is laundry detergent toxic? Why switch to natural & non-toxic laundry detergent?
Most conventional laundry detergents contain toxic chemicals that can cause health issues, both in the short and long term.
Many of them, such as SLS, synthetic fragrances, or optical brighteners, can cause skin irritation and trigger allergies.
Others, including phthalates, parabens, and nonylphenol ethoxylates, are known endocrine disruptors.
Laundry detergents can even contain chemicals that are possibly carcinogenic to humans, like 1,4-dioxane or nitrosamides.
Plus, they can cause damage to the environment as well, especially to aquatic life.
While we are not ingesting them, those chemicals can linger on our clothes long after we’ve laundered them, so they are in direct contact with our skin almost all the time.
Not to mention that kids and babies, as well as people with sensitive skin or allergies, are even more vulnerable to them!
Thankfully, a growing number of brands offer safe alternatives made with non-toxic ingredients.
Now, you might be thinking: Does natural laundry detergent actually work?
Absolutely!
These healthier products are just as effective at cleaning and deodorizing our clothes as their conventional counterparts, but they don’t contain harsh chemicals.
So there’s no excuse not to make the switch!
Read more: Detox your home: How to make your home healthy?
What is the healthiest laundry detergent to use? What to look for when shopping for non-toxic & natural laundry detergent?
If you’re looking for non-toxic, natural laundry detergent and want to avoid unhealthy options, always read the ingredient list.
Just because a brand promotes itself as ‘non-toxic,’ ‘natural,’ or ‘eco-friendly’ doesn’t mean it actually is.
Make sure to stay away from products that contain the following ingredients:
- Phthalates
- Synthetic fragrances
- Artificial dyes
- Sulfates like SLS and SLES
- Formaldehyde releasers
- Chlorine bleach
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Nonylphenol ethoxylates
- Parabens
- Isothiazolinone preservatives
- 1,4-dioxane
- Optical brighteners
- Phosphates
Instead of chemical-laden products, buy natural, non-toxic laundry detergent made with mineral and plant-based ingredients such as:
- Sugar or coconut-based surfactants like decyl glucoside, coco glucoside, or lauryl glucoside
- Baking and/or washing soda
- Castile soap
- Sodium percarbonate
- Botanical extracts
Ideally, choose unscented products, or if you want non-toxic laundry detergent that smells good, pick one scented using 100% essential oils.
You may also want to look for third-party certifications such as MADE SAFE, USDA Organic, USDA Biobased, EPA Safer Choice, and EWG Verified.
I also always try to buy products that are cruelty-free and made with biodegradable ingredients.
If the brand uses sustainable packaging and has implemented eco-friendly practices, that’s even better!
Read more: How to make your wardrobe more sustainable?
7 best natural & non-toxic laundry detergent brands that are tough on stains, not on health
1. Dropps
Types: Pods, Oxi Booster Pods
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Dropps has several eco-friendly laundry detergent options, each targeting a specific need.
From its 4-in-1 oxi detergent to its pods specifically formulated for sensitive skin, they’re all made with non-toxic ingredients.
Their USDA Biobased-certified formula contains ingredients derived from renewable sources and is free of chlorine bleach, parabens, dyes, phosphates, and phthalates.
Its Oxi booster pods are also EWG-Verified!
Dropps products are effective in all water temperatures and compatible with both standard and HE machines.
A few lovely scents are available, but you can also get them in an unscented version if you prefer.
I love that the brand doesn’t test on animals, is B Corp certified, and provides carbon-neutral shipping!
Not to mention the plastic-free paperboard packaging.
2. Dirty Labs
Types: Liquid Detergent, Laundry Booster Powder
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Dirty Labs offers a clean non-toxic laundry detergent made with an advanced enzyme cleaning technology that targets stains and odors at their source.
It’s available in a small and large bottle, allowing you to do 32 or 80 loads of laundry.
The brand’s clothes detergent is formulated with natural, biodegradable ingredients and doesn’t contain any SLS, parabens, optical brighteners, chlorine bleach, dyes, EU-listed fragrance allergens, or California Prop 65 chemicals.
You can also choose from two lovely scents and a fragrance-free version recognized by the National Eczema Association.
Its highly-concentrated formula is effective in cold water and is 100% safe for sensitive skin (including babies).
What’s more, it’s vegan and cruelty-free and carries the USDA Biobased and EPA Safer Choice certifications!
Dirty Labs also sells a fragrance-free laundry detergent specially made for delicate, hand-wash-only garments like wools and silks.
Did I mention that these products all come in a 100% plastic-free, recyclable aluminum bottle?
3. Blueland
Types: Tablets, Laundry Booster Powder
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Blueland laundry detergent is a 100% plastic-free tablet formulated with mineral- and plant-based ingredients.
From food to grass to makeup, it’s proven to eliminate the toughest stains on your clothes!
Its vegan formula doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals like parabens, VOCs, phosphates, dyes, optical brighteners, phthalates, or PVA.
You can also choose from an unscented tablet (approved by the National Eczema Association) or two refreshing scents: Spring Bloom and Fresh Dew.
Blueland laundry tablets are certified by EPA Safer Choice, Cradle To Cradle, and Leaping Bunny, and you can buy them in a beautiful, refillable metal tin or as refills.
The brand also sells an Oxi laundry booster in powder form, which is designed to brighten your whites, lift stains, and remove unwanted odors.
4. Public Goods
Types: Detergent Sheets, Pods
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Do you like non-liquid washing detergent?
Public Goods has you covered with its natural laundry detergent pods and sheets!
Its pods are entirely made from plants, yet they tackle tough stains and leave your clothes clean, soft, and bright.
Their hypoallergenic, unscented formula is gentle even on sensitive skin, baby-safe, and biodegradable, and it works in both cold and hot water.
The detergent sheets, on the other hand, are available in both a fragrance-free and a scented version (a lovely fresh linen scent).
These are 100% plastic-free down to the packaging and will last you for up to 100 loads.
They are infused with Sapindus mukurossi fruit and aloe vera, and they do not leave any residue on your clothes as they dissolve entirely.
5. Zero Waste Store
Types: Detergent Sheets, Laundry Paste, Stain Stick Bars, Laundry Powder, Liquid Detergent, Oxi Booster Pods
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Zero Waste Store carries several natural laundry detergent brands such as The Home Farm, Waste Free Products, and Circular Bodies.
It also has its own laundry detergent sheets, which are made with 100% plant-based ingredients and work in HE machines.
These are vegan, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic.
The company also sells a citrus-scented organic laundry detergent (in liquid form), a multi-purpose non-toxic washing powder, and a laundry paste that dilutes to make enough detergent for up to 256 loads.
Zero Waste Store also has Oxi laundry boosters from the brands Meliora and Dropps.
Plus, it’s a member of 1% For The Planet and offers carbon-neutral shipping!
6. Attitude
Types: Liquid Detergent, Fabric Softener, Stain Remover Sprays
Scented? Unscented + Scented Options
Attitude laundry detergent, available in seven different scent options (including fragrance-free), is formulated with approximately 98% naturally derived ingredients.
Its concentrated, enzyme-free, and vegan formula effectively cleans your clothes thanks to its excellent deodorizing and detergent power.
As an EWG-Verified product, it doesn’t contain any ingredients of concern!
You can get this liquid washing detergent in a recyclable jug or in an eco-refill that allows you to do up to 160 loads of laundry.
Looking for the best non-toxic laundry detergent for babies?
Attitude has exactly what you’re looking for!
It offers an unscented one specially formulated to clean your little one’s clothing and cloth diapers, with no nasty chemicals in it.
7. Branch Basics
Types: Detergent Powder, Oxygen Boost
Scented? No
Branch Basics’ natural laundry detergent powder effectively whitens, lifts stains, brightens, and removes odors, even in cold or hard water settings.
Its biodegradable formula contains nothing more than plant- and mineral-based ingredients, like sodium percarbonate, sodium polyitaconate, and decyl glucoside.
It’s completely free of fragrances, endocrine disruptors, harmful preservatives, VOCs, bleach, ammonia, ethoxylates, 1,4-dioxane, and sulfates!
The powder will last you for about 90 loads of laundry and comes with a reusable scoop to help you measure.
Branch Basics also sells an all-natural oxygen boost.
And if you prefer using only one cleaning product all around your home and for your laundry, check out its Concentrate.
This one can replace dozens of household products and is 100% safe as well!
Final thoughts on the best non-toxic & natural laundry detergent brands
I hope you’ve found this article about the best natural & non-toxic laundry detergent brands helpful and that you could find products you’ll love!
Not only do these effectively clean, deodorize, and refresh our clothes, but they do that without exposing us to harmful substances.
If you want to read more articles on how to make your laundry and cleaning routine healthier and more sustainable, check out:
- 10 natural & sustainable alternatives to dryer sheets for soft, fresh & static-free laundry
- DIY laundry detergent recipe: all-natural and cheap
- 7 best reusable lint roller alternatives for removing lint & pet hair sustainably
- 10 brands selling natural, eco-friendly cleaning products
- 9 best natural & non-toxic dishwasher detergents, tablets & pods for a safe clean
Which natural laundry detergent have you decided to try?
Do you prefer using liquid detergent, tablets, laundry sheets, pods, or powder?
Please leave a comment and share your experience!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends so they can find clean non-toxic laundry detergent too.
Looking for more non-toxic & sustainable brands? Check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory!
It features conscious brands in various categories, from home goods and furniture to fashion and clean beauty!
You May Also Like
HOW TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR
9 BEST NATURAL, ORGANIC, CLEAN & NON-TOXIC BODY LOTION BRANDS THAT TRULY NOURISH YOUR SKIN
