You’ve chosen to live a life free from products that have chemical additives, test their products on animals or do harm to the environment. You’ve made a greater commitment to sustainable products and spend time reading the labels to ensure your products align with your beliefs. But can you find a non-toxic, vegan, biodegradable, etc. etc. product that will actually get out your stains?
In short: yes! When it comes to environmentally friendly and “green” laundry products there is a large array of choices. Below is a list of companies that offer eco-friendly laundry detergents. Many of these companies also believe in creating sustainable as well as socially responsible products. Be sure to follow the links and learn more about the specific ingredients.
Afraid that the cost of these green alternatives may be too high? Luckily for the consumer, organic and eco-friendly products are becoming more common and more attainable. Many of the companies listed below offer great detail as to the cost per load for their product compared with national brand products. And because many are concentrated a smaller amount of detergent may be needed to do the job.
Concerned that the green products may not work with your new high-efficiency washing machine? Many of the products listed below have HE compatible detergents. Be sure to read their suggested products for your particular machine.
The Clean Environment Company: This is a company geared toward commercial cleaning needs. They provide cleaning products for Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and over 50 other National Parks and many resorts located in National and State Parks
Cot’n Wash: Based in Pennsylvania, Cot’n Wash laundry products are phosphate-free, biodegradable and not tested on animals.
Ecover: Founded in Belgium in 1980, Ecover has been at the forefront of creating phosphate-free washing products. In 1992 they built the world’s first ecological factory with a grass (sedum) roof. They believe in products that have a minimum impact on aquatic life and are safe for septic systems.
The Good Home Co.: Uses aromatherapy and tests their products on people not animals. Their laundry products are biodegradable, paraben-free, phosphate-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free and 100% vegan.
The Laundress: This company was founded by two women with extensive fashion experience who realized that many of their high-quality clothes did not need to take an expensive trip to the dry cleaners. In their frustration they developed a non-toxic washing detergent that could get things clean yet was safe to use on delicate fabrics like cashmere and silk. The Laundress uses recycled materials and essential oils. Their products are allergen, phthalate, phosphate and paraben free and are 100% biodegradable. The Laundress offer a great price comparison chart illustrating load by load cost comparisons.
Method: The core of Method’s business is a Cradle to Cradle philosophy; meaning that technology is employed to create truly sustainable products, almost a reincarnation of materials. Their laundry products are sustainable, not tested on animals, and the ingredients are climate conscious. Their website has a philosophy of ingredients that is very interesting to read.
Mrs. Meyer’s: This was one of the first “gourmet” and green products to go mainstream. Their laundry products are biodegradable and phosphate free and made with natural essential oils.
Nellie’s: Based in North Vancouver, BC, Nellie’s offers pre-measured biodegradable laundry “nuggets” that can be dropped into your machine
Seventh Generation: A self-described socially responsible company, Seventh Generation offers laundry products that are non-toxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, free of phosphates and optical brighteners, safe for septic and greywater systems, not tested on animals and are kosher-certified.
Simply: This UK company produces a seriously green product. In fact, Scott Base (New Zealand’s leading Antarctic research center) uses their cleaning products to minimize environmental impact in this valuable environment. They are members of the Vegan Society and offer several different washing detergents to best suit your family’s needs.
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Melaleuca detergent has been very powerful in my experience.
Another, more general cleaner called Simple Green has done a good job at getting out stains for me. My husband uses it to clean small auto parts, greasy hands, etc. but I have found it to be useful for a wide variety of things. The smell is fantastic, too!
7th generation was terrible when I used it. My clothes faded so fast and looked so dingy. I ended up quitting using it because I figured having to get rid of my clothes in half the time wasn't very eco-friendly either. I'll look into some of these, tho! It would be nice to feel less guilt whenever I just want some clean socks.
I am currently using Eco and I like it so far...has pretty good cleaning power.
I love the new Method products. The packaging is light weight and I love the smell! Great at getting out stains!
I highly recommend making your own wash powder. Its a ton cheaper, works amazingly, and you can choose your own smell! In a pinch I recently tried Method and I think its the best eco-friendly AND affordable detergent on the market.
Soaking sweat or blood stains overnight in diluted hydrogen peroxide works wonders for getting out stains - I've even saved old pit-stained t-shirts this way. I've also been toying with making my own laundry detergent.
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
Over recent years, I have been discovering how good many basic ingredients are for a variety of purposes - vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, etc. - often times much, much better than expensive store cleaning products. Straight vinegar just cured my mold-growing cement basement, and diluted vinegar cleans windows better than Windex ever has.
Concocting your own detergents (powder) has given me the best luck, as I can choose my own scents and save tons of $ per load.
Also, I've completely eliminated the need for dryer sheets. I was a firm lover of these until I found that I could take aluminum foil, ball it up, and toss it in the dryer with the wet laundry. It removes static and never has to be changed. I've been using the same aluminum foil ball for over 6 months.
No, it doesn't add a 'summer rain' scent or anything, but it's far more environmentally friendly (no more stacks and stacks of dryer sheets being purchased and tossed) and a very inexpensive way to get the same effect.
Don't forget Country Save - inexpensive and green.
I'm not sure if it's good for your clothes (I'm not a clotheshorse, and don't notice fading) but I've used Bronner's for years, and it seems to work very well.
@angeladean: Country Save is also the best detergent for washing cloth diapers. I love it!
I was so excited to try the new Method detergent (not only because I'm a product junkie, but also because the small packaging takes up less space), but unfortunately it was really disappointing. First of all, it *stinks* (subjective, I know), but most of all it doesn't clean very well at all, leaving stains, etc. I definitely don't recommend it. Back to the giant jug for now :-(
I use borax as a booster (only with hot or warm water, so it dissolves better), or it can be made into a paste/mixture somehow, probably.
I've tried Seventh Generation, Trader Joe's and a few other "eco" brands. I haven't noticed much difference between them. Overall, they don't seem as powerful as non-eco brands.
Great suggestions! Another tip - you can get away with using far less detergent than the directions suggest, especially if you have a HE machine. They use such little water, about 1/4 of the recommended amount does the trick.
Borax as a booster for stains and great for hard water as mentioned it needs to dissolve with warm water first then use cold water and I've been loving Charlie's Soap Powder, no plastic and goes along way. I agree use less then what is recommended.
Make your own powder detergent:
3 c. borax
2 c. washing soda
2 c. baking soda
One castile bar, grated. (We prefer Bronners but have also used Kirk's)
Mix. Use 1/4 c. for large loads. We use a small amount of hot water to help it dissolve at first since we then wash in cold water. Also, we've had friends try this in their HE machines w/o a problem.
And I agree on the vinegar as a fabric softener, works great!
The Laundress stain solution is the BEST. It even got out pen when my daughter drew all over my white couches. I haven't had a stain yet that it hasn't gotten out--I love their products and they smell SOOOO good!
I've been using the Seventh Generation liquid fabric softener, which I've had only so-so luck with. It doesn't give me a rash like scented dryer sheets do, but it doesn't leave as much of a scent behind as I would like and it doesn't seem to do much to help with static. I was buying it because it was the only softener available here that didn't bother my skin, but now Target seems to have stopped carrying it.
I may have to start using the Method (probably the only one on the list available here), but I'm reluctant since I had such a bad experience with Method dishwasher soap.
Make your own detergent (if you have the space and/or equipment)! Also, Borax is great for boosting cleaning power, using less detergent/soap.
You forgot to mention Charlie's!
I've been making my own laundry detergent for a while. Not only is it loads cheaper and less wasteful, it seems to be gentler on my clothes and on my skin. no more itchy rashes from nasty chemicals!
http://jenfromtheblock.blogspot.com/2009/10/homemade-laundry-detergent.html
I also like Charlie's Soap, http://www.charliesoap.com/.
I've been using the Indian washing nuts for about three years and i still have the original bag!! If that ain't economical, I don't knw what is!!
Every now and then, I go to the laundrette to wash blankets or my duvet... bulky items in other words. In those cases, I use Ecover washing detergent. The nuts don't leave your laundry smelling of anything in particular but when the mood strikes me, I pour a few drops of essential oils on the little cloth bag you put the nuts in.
If I do have stained clothing I just use some borax...
Another vote for concocting your own laundry powder. I use a one ounce scoop per load. I make it up once a year, and keep it in a plastic 5 gallon pail with a gamma seal lid on it. It costs about $25 for the ingredients for a year's worth (we are a family of five).
For fabric softener, I use white vinegar, liberally scented with essential oils, in a Downy Ball.
If I'm machine drying, I also use the tinfoil ball.
For stains, I use a variety of purchased stain solutions, but when you are only buying stain pretreat, it's a lot easier to afford Mrs. Meyers or other ecofriendly stuff. Fels Naptha and a nail brush works well as pretreat, too, so does, as a pp noted, Simple Green.
I love Eco Store products. They're in the laundry, cleaning cupboard, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Great results with their laundry powders, fabric softeners and whiteners.
So far, I'm liking these. Less mess, less to schlep.
http://www.dropps.com/index.asp
Ten Thousand Villages (all fair trade, all the time) currently has soap beans with a bag for use. The amount sold is reportedly good for 150 washes. I picked some up on my latest volunteer shift, and will do laundry tomorrow so I will find out how they work! It's all-natural, no chemical, and sustainably harvested, so we'll see how it does.
wish i could believe these posts. have wonderful tap water. use h/e washer. have old porcelain fixtures & hexi tile. tried meyers, seventh gen, ecover, simple g; am back to questionable products (still phosphate-free) that work. would try method, but the dyes cause run to antihistimines. the hydr perox bleach for cloth does not work in the max quantity the h/e washer will accept; am back to chlorine (but it eats cloth). for fixtures, bon ami cleanser 'hasn't scratched yet' and works, esp in combo with the rest of the hydr perox bleach for cloth, and white vinegar w/old newprint works for glass. is there something between eco-useless & questionable for the clothes & floors?
I used the homemade version from simpledollar.com for almost 3 years, until the Maytag man insisted I stop using it in my HE machine. I really don't think it was the problem; the drain just had a leaf or something clogging it. I switched to the Method pump bottle, because it is lightweight and I have a bad shoulder. I am perfectly happy with the way it smells and cleans, but--about halfway through the bottle, it starts to balk at squirting unless it's absolutely upright, making it VERY difficult to squirt into the detergent cup. Poor package design. Tsk.