How To Find The Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
Do the ingredients in your laundry detergent really matter? Turns out they matter a lot! Laundry detergent can play a role in your indoor air quality and cause things like skin irritation to much more serious health concerns.
The good news? There are plenty of great non-toxic laundry detergent options. And I’ve tried most of them. I spent a lot of time with each, washing a variety of laundry. From dog beds to sports clothes, it was a thorough test! After swimming in non-toxic laundry detergents for the last few months, I’ve found some all-stars.
What’s the scoop on laundry products? A study from the University of Washington found more than 25 VOCs, including 7 hazardous air pollutants, coming from dryer vents. That includes acetaldehyde and benzene, which are classified by the EPA as carcinogens, for which the agency has established no safe exposure level.
Before we get into the guide, let’s talk water. Depending on if you have hard or soft water, it can change how a certain detergent works for you. We have soft water where I live and tested these detergents. The detergents may perform differently in hard water.
At the bottom of this guide, I’ll share what ingredients to watch out for when shopping for laundry detergent.
Post contains some affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own.
The Clean Team: Truly Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
The following all meet my ingredient standards to be truly considered non-toxic laundry detergents. I’ve tested all but a few, which I’ll note. In this guide, I’m breaking down how well each worked and the cost.
365 Organic Laundry Detergent– Impeccable ingredients. Not so much with the ability to clean though. This performed the worst out of all that I tested.
$24.99/133 HE loads or 100 regular loads ($0.19-0.25 per load)
AspenClean– Again, great ingredients. I didn’t end up trying this one as the ingredients were very similar to another on the list which didn’t work well for me. Though overall, this tends to get good reviews.
$28.99/64 loads ($0.45/load)
Branch Basics– I have a full review here. This works really well for me, though I’ve found that I have to use the oxygen boost with it to get its full potential. This makes it a more expensive option overall. Code MAISONPUR saves on their site.
Branch Basics says it costs $0.27 per load. It’s hard to quantify due to the refill system.
Charlie’s Soap Powder– A surprising favorite! For whatever reason, I wasn’t expecting much but this is one of the best performers on this list. Clothes come out smelling fresh and stains/marks are faded if not gone entirely. I think it may be my go-to now.
Prices vary by package size/ (between 15-25 cents per load). Additional savings when you subscribe and save through Amazon.
Country Save (powder version only)- This is a similar formula to Charlie’s Soap but performed slightly less. Our clothes came out a little more fresh with Charlie’s Soap though this did a pretty decent job overall.
$20.63/80 HE loads or 40 regular loads ($0.26-0.51 per load)
Defunkify– There are a few versions, but I’m reviewing the unscented powder version here. Clothes come out looking clean and smelling fresh. No complaints!
$0.28 per load
Grab Green 3-in-1 Laundry Powder + Pods– I tested the unscented pods and found them to work well with getting clothes clean. It didn’t leave clothes quite as fresh as my favorite, Charlie’s Soap, but the clothes did come out satisfactory. My biggest complaint is the cost- the pods go quickly (you have to use 2 for big loads). This does come in some scented versions. From what I’ve found, the scent appears to be natural. The unscented is a great choice though if you’re concerned about scents.
$19.50/60 pods ($0.32-0.65 per load)
Meliora– This wins for most eco-friendly, as there’s not a lick of plastic in any of the packaging. even the scoop is metal. This works well and I feel like the laundry is really fresh smelling with it, though I’ve had more luck with Charlie’s Soap for stains. The kids always have something on their school clothes (markers, food, mud) and I noticed them not getting out as well with this.
$21.99/128 HE loads or 64 standard loads ($0.17-0.34 per load)
Milantrix– This is a bit of a different option and no, I didn’t test it. It’s just pure magnesium in a polyester pouch that you throw into the wash. Unsure about pricing per load as you have to replace after the bag goes below a certain weight.
Molly’s Suds– This is for the powder version only. This works for basic laundry, but for tough stains, especially oily or greasy stains, this doesn’t perform as well as others on the list. This also doesn’t work as well for things like dog beds. The dog smell just doesn’t fade (we don’t call him stanky Frankie for nothing!). That said, this does a fine job with lightly soiled laundry.
$22.99 /120 loads (About $0.19 per load)
Root + Splendor– This was one that a couple of readers suggested and though I didn’t test it, I wanted to include it as the ingredients are great.
$30 / 100 loads ($0.30 per load)
Truly Free– I included this because the ingredients are good and I like the refill system, however I didn’t test it. To get the best price, you have to sign up for a membership. Also, I came across several fake pages selling it, so a heads up to be sure you’re at the real site if you do order it.
Price varies by membership & how much you order/ Starts around $0.40-$0.36 per load
Not Quite There
These are all close to being good options but perhaps have a few issues.
Clean Mama Laundry Spray– The ingredients are extremely vague, just using general terms instead of listing specific ingredients. Without transparency, I can’t recommend it.
Honest Company– Despite the drama surrounding their detergent several years ago, the current version is actually not too bad. Though it does have a couple of things that kept it from the top list.
Rocking Green– The unspecified surfactants and fragrance used in some of the detergents keep this brand from the top list. If you choose this one, the best bet would be sticking with unscented.
7th Generation– This one has few products that meet my ingredient standards so overall, I’ve left it out of the top list.
Options I’d Skip
Since I opened up reader suggestions for which detergents I should include in this, I want to be sure I address most of the brands people mentioned to me. My opinion to skip the following is based on information available to me regarding ingredients, manufacturing processes, fake fragrances, etc.
Better Life
BioKleen
Dropps
Ecos
Everspring
Method
Mrs. Meyers
Planet 2X Ultra
Presto! Laundry
Shopping for detergent? Save the guide below to reference when you come across new brands!
Have you tried any of the laundry detergents listed in this post? I’m always curious to hear your thoughts! Share how it worked for you in the comments below.
Resources:
I’ve been using the Truly Free and I’m happy it’s Molly approved. It seems to works well and smells good too. My only complaint is their marketing! If anyone has bought it, they will completely understand.
Interesting list! Lot of nontoxic bloggers are all about the pods like Dropps – what’s your reasoning against pods? I personally do not use them because I’ve read the PVA is not fully biodegradable and contributes to microplastics. I’ve used Puracy (no complaints!) which I didn’t see on your list but wanted to get away from the plastic packaging. I’m now using Simply Co powder which is probably similar to Charlie’s or Meliora. I have hard water, an old washer, and living in a rental so I’ve been reluctant to use some of the powders since I’ve seen reviews claiming the powder gunked up the pipes and damaged the washer – saw this complaint for dishwashers and powder detergent there too (currently using Blueland unscented tablets). I just run warm water for a minute while the powder dissolves then add the clothes and switch the water temp to cool. Thoughts?
Hi Rebecca! While Dropps certainly isn’t the worst option out there (ingredient-wise) it does use ethoxylated ingredients. The ethoxylation process commonly produces byproducts that are known to be carcinogenic, however, these are not listed on the label as they’re a component of the ingredient listed. They also use some synthetic fragrance chemicals. Since there are so many options without those, in my opinion this wasn’t a good option for the top list.
As for powder dissolving, I haven’t had any issues with powder detergent. It’s recommended to add it to the washer first (prior to adding clothes) so it can fully dissolve.
Thanks for reading!
Molly
Hi Shelia!
Happy to hear that it works well! I had a feeling about the marketing, so it’s interesting to get your feedback on that. At least the ingredients are good!
Thanks for reading,
Molly
What are your thoughts on using Dr. Bronners soap as a laundry detergent ? Ive been using Aspen Clean for years . My boyfriend has itchy skin often and blames the laundry detergent , i dont think thats the curlpit though! Is there anything in aspen clean that you think could be contributing to the itch? I plan on trying Charlies as well!
Hi Traci! I think you could make Dr. Bronner’s work, but it doesn’t have some of the components that these other detergents do that would help with deodorizing, etc.
As far as Aspen, I don’t see anything that would seem irritating, but of course, people can develop allergies to many normally safe ingredients. If other products bother him, you may want to compare labels to see if they share any similar ingredients so you can identify the culprit(s)!
Hi Shelia,
Thank you for providing this information. I know people who are making their own laundry detergent from washing soda, borax, and grated Fels-Napa soap due to the toxic chemicals of commercial detergents and cost of safer alternatives. Can you provide information on the safety of each ingredient?
Also where is there a list of ingredients on the chemical makeup of any detergents? This is not listed on any product I find at the stores. To be honest I stopped looking due to never seeing this. Can you please rate fabric softeners and dryer sheets?
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a govt regulation on detergents requiring manufacturers to list ALL ingredients like required on skin and hair products? In addition a number rating system of 1, 2 or 3
with 1 being the safest ingredients would allow consumers to know what they are purchasing and possibly force the industry to improve what they provide. Europe and Canada have better regulations on skin and hair products. Do they on detergents?
Hi Violet,
not sure if this comment was for me or for the other commenter, Shelia, but you can find the ingredients usually on the back of the packaging. Sometimes the ingredient lists use general terms, so you may not know some specifics. Hope that helps with your search!
Molly
Hi! Did you look into the attitude line? I do see it is EWG verified but not sure if you agree with everything approved by EWG.
Hello and thanks for this blog as I always appreciate the efforts of those seeking clean products.
I do however have a concern which I believe is part of a grand deception (along with many ingredients that are “hidden” by other names in everything we consume): Citric Acid (also related to it’s derived salts which go by the name “sodium citrate”among others). Now while this extremely prevalent ingredient (found in almost EVERYTHING we consume – check your labels!) is touted as ‘natural’ and even ‘organic’ and sourced from citrus fruits, it seems that therein lies the deception…as it is found that actually, about 98% of it on the market is MAC (manufactured citric acid) and derived instead from Asergillus Niger, a mold varietal that is toxic to humans. And now while the FDA and the GRAS list has deemed it as “safe”, some believe that the ingredient remains toxic, even if at a vibrational level. Additionally, it seems that only a few sites reveal the truth about citric acid, and so I wonder, why ? Think about that. In my experience, the FDA these days seems bought and sold, and not to be relied on for truthful information. I welcome any thoughts you may have, as I continue my search for a truly “clean” detergent.
…As an addendum to my previous comment, going through your list and checking every ingredient list, I see that the “MELIORA” brand appears to be clear of anything citric acid-related. (Of course without knowing exactly where these companies are sourcing their citric acid from, I must assume that it might be the mold-derived version)….So thanks to you, Meliora is what I will order for now! So thanks for that find!
Glad you were able to find a good option on this list! Many brands (especially smaller, independent brands) are usually happy to share how certain ingredients are sourced if you reach out and ask them. May be helpful if you’re looking at new products in the future!
Thanks, Molly
What about earth breeze sheets?
Hi Melissa,
They contain ethoxylated ingredients as well as fragrance. I personally would skip it as there are plenty of options without those things. Thanks for reading! -Molly
Hello, I have been using Trader Joes liquid laundry detergent for 1 year now. I find that I use a lot for each load and although I dont have many complaints, I just dont feel like it works that well. I am looking for a liquid detergent that is affordable. I would like to try charlies, but some of the reviews on other blogs i have seen say it causes burns, although that is on babies. I live in Iowa and have very hard water, so need to find a work around that too.
Thanks!
Hi Libby! Unfortunately it’s much harder to formulate a liquid detergent that is truly natural, so there’s not many to choose from. But hopefully there’s an option above that will work for you. I’d just suggest getting smaller sizes and testing a few out. I compiled this list based off of ingredient safety and my own experience with how well they work. Of course, differences in your local water can come into play too. As far as Charlie’s, I’ve not had that experience nor heard of that happening. So I’m not sure I can speak to that.
Thanks!
Molly
Hey there! Thanks for the thorough post! Wanted to let you know your Charlie’s Suds link isn’t working. I’ll click another Amazon link and then search for Charlie’s so you can get your affiliate commission!
Stina,
Thanks so much for the heads up (it’s fixed now!) and for being kind enough to search through another link. Truly appreciated! -Molly
Have you tried Norwex? I’m interested to see how it would compare to these other brands.
Hi Molly
What is C10-14 Alcohol Ethoxylate?
Hi there! Curious if you’ve had the chance to look at the ingredients in Blueland’s laundry tablets! Would love to know your opinion!
Great insights on the impact of laundry detergent ingredients—I’ve been looking for non-toxic options for my family’s sensitive skin, and your recommendations are just what I needed!
I’m new to the search for a laundry detergent that is truly safe for the family. I’m eyeing Clean People and wanted to get your thoughts on it. I’ve tried to compare their ingredients with others like Molly Suds and I “think” they seem okay. Am I missing anything?
Hi Steph! The least nerdy answer I can give is that it’s a surfactant and it’s used to help with foaming, breaking up grease, and things like that.
Hi Becky! I haven’t tried them or done a deep dive on their manufacturing but a brief look at the ingredients looks good. I have tried other products from them and they worked well.
Thanks so much!
Hi Sara! Unfortunately, they don’t list the ingredients on the site and I see they use fragrance. Truly clean brands will generally list the ingredients quite proudly so I’m always wary when there is a lack of transparency.
I’m not sure why they don’t have a direct link to it on their site but I did find the ingredient list for Clean People. https://www.getcleanpeople.com/ingredients/
I’m thinking the only thing might be the fragrance?
Hi! Thank you for the in depth article! I’m quite late to the discussion though! Seeing is from 2022? I believe… based on the comments! So hoping to still get a reply! I so see someone else asked one of my questions… what do you think of Norwex their U.P.P “laundry soap”? Also am curious if you’ve heard of Zum and RAD soap company and their laundry soaps? Right now I’m using Norwex and RAD soap, laundry soap…but RAD seems to have changed ingredients from when I started using. They used to always be out of stock and after calling a nd speaking to someone I found out that I guess they were going to pay Tide or Proctor & Gamble (I can’t remember, but was some larger corporation/ company to mass produce their product so they could keep in stock since had all been hand made previously) they reassured me ingredients wouldn’t change. However they certainly did I kept an old bag to compare…. anyways I was also curious why you say you’d stay away from Mrs Meyers? That currently is the only hand soap I use so wondering if there’s concern and I should switch? Thank you sooo very much! Really hoping to hear from you!
Have you checked out “Clean People”? I’m curious what your thought are about this one? It seems to clean well for us. Thank you for your information!
Molly
Hi!
I have been overwhelmed with the natural options and this post helped me narrow down the options for truly safe detergents! I am however, questioning the safety of Charlie’s Soap and why you write it is nontoxic. I would love to try it but I’m skeptical on the ingredients and how C12-16 Pareth-9 is derived from petroleum. I saw on EWG there could be some concern.
Thanks again!
To add on to my recent comment, regarding Charlie’s soap I’m concerned how the C12-16 Pareth-9 is from PEG and could be linked to 1-4 Dioxane as a byproduct of the PEG.
What about Nellie’s laundry soda?
Thanks
What do you think about laundry sheets like Hey Sunday?
Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the miniml Eco Laundry Liquid?
We are on a tight budget but would love to make changes in what we use. We’ve never used liquid before, always powder but all these options are working out so expensive as we do quite a bit of washing through the week.
Have you come across Heritage Park, and if so could you comment? Thanks.
Hi David, I’ve checked my notes and it doesn’t appear to be one that I’ve researched.
That’s not one I’ve researched. Taking a quick look, I’d be curious as to what the surfactants of vegetable origin are.
I haven’t done a deep dive on them but if you steer clear of ethoxylated ingredients, you may want to skip this one
Hi Tiffany, I reached out to them regarding ingredient sourcing and was satisfied with sourcing/purity from byproducts. However, I always encourage people to do their own research and go with the brand they feel the most comfortable using for their family. That way you feel good about what you’re using!
Thanks for the link! I do see fragrance too. I haven’t studied this brand in depth but that is the major red flag I see.
Hi Sally, I didn’t have the chance to research or test those brands for this article, however, anytime a clean/green brand is bought by a large company, it’s usually not good news. As for Mrs. Meyers, their products frequently include ingredients I avoid personally. Such as synthetic fragrance.
Hi Molly! Another reader linked to the ingredients on that one and I see it includes fragrance. Otherwise, I haven’t done a deep dive on it.
Thank you, I’m coming back to this post often ❤️
I tried ECOS long term and I realized it left my clothes so dingy. Don’t recommend.
Wow – love your insights and that you’ve tested most of these. Thank you!!
Thank you Bronwyn!