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.
1. 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
2. Cot’n Wash: Based in Pennsylvania, Cot’n Wash laundry products are phosphate-free, biodegradable and not tested on animals.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Nellie’s: Based in North Vancouver, BC, Nellie’s offers pre-measured biodegradable laundry “nuggets” that can be dropped into your machine
9. 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.
10. 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.
(Image: Flickr member
Posted originally from: AT:San Francisco
DIY Idea: Concrete Pendant Lamp
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
These are all great but my favorite laundry product is Kookaburra! They are a family run company based out of Colorado and they have some awesome all natural cleaning products. We use both both of their laundry products to wash everything! One is made with tea tree oil and lanolin and other is tea tree oil and lavender and they make your clothes feel and smell soooo good! We've turned all our friends on to Kookaburra.
I just found their website! You should check them out: http://kookaburraco.com
Any guidance on which of these detergents work with High Efficiency sideloading washers? From what I understand, HE detergents have foam inhibitors (and a few other chemical tricks) that allow them to wash more laundry with less water.
I recently started making my own laundry detergent, with great results. Laundry comes out of the dryer with no static of any kind and everything gets just as clean as it was before.
Making your own laundry detergent is surprisingly simple. The ingredients are widely available from supermarkets and health food stores and the results we’ve achieved in the Duess household are on par with commercial products, with none of the drawbacks.
White fabrics come out fresh and white, dark clothes stay dark and wool stays soft. Here’s what you need:
Home made laundry detergent for dark fabrics:
2 parts of natural soap flakes
1 part of Borax
1 part of washing soda
Home made laundry detergent for light fabrics:
2 parts of natural soap flakes
1 part of Borax
1 part of washing soda
1 part of safe bleach powder
That’s it. The ingredients are safe for the environment, and septic systems, and bio-degrade rapidly. They are free for foamers, making them ideal for high efficiency washers and front loaders. In addition, the ingredients needed are typically considerably cheaper than the commercial equivalent, making for welcome savings.
We buy our soap powder from the Toronto Soap Works, which has Borax already mixed in.
LOTS of great Etsy sellers make and sell laundry detergent, too, if you don't want to make your own. http://www.etsy.com/listing/26800921/laundry-detergent-fabric-softener-all-in
Hi,
Quick disclaimer. My name is Sherry Berkley and I am the owner of Berkley Green. Do'n get me wrong I have nothing against people making their own cleaning products.I would just like to make a few points. 1. Natural and Organic labels relate very little if at all to cleaning products from a true EPA standard of Safe Chemistry. Fragrance's and oils can have harmful effects in some cases since they can trigger asthma,and others have been shown to have an estrogenic effect. But the "Green Household Cleaning Product Market, is not regulated. To be safe I would look for the EPA certification. Enjoy the Free & Clear.Clean has no smell...
BREATH EASY..