10 Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents

Can conventional laundry detergents damage our health and planet? Is there an eco-friendly option?

When we think about making our laundry room more eco-friendly, our minds often jump to the latest washing machines and dryers. True, energy-efficient appliances can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. But there's more to consider in keeping our clothes clean.

Today, I want to focus on using eco-friendly laundry detergents to lessen our environmental impact. I'll guide you through why it's crucial, what to look for on packaging and ingredient lists, and share a list of top products.

You naturally want a laundry detergent that cleans effectively. But it's equally important to choose one that doesn't expose your family or the environment to potentially harmful chemicals. 

To aid in this, GreenCitizen recently examined ten eco-friendly laundry detergents, representing a diverse market range.

We also tested two conventional detergents: Tide Original and Arm and Hammer Plus OxiClean.

Here's the good news: None of the five products we tested showed concerning levels of harmful chemicals. We specifically looked for 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen, and heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead. We also checked for phthalates and phosphorus. These substances are linked to various health issues and environmental problems, including toxic algae growth in waterways.

Another positive finding is label transparency.

Both eco-friendly and conventional products listed all ingredients clearly. This is crucial, especially for those with allergies who need to avoid certain substances. No hiding behind vague terms like “fragrances.”

10 Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents

What Makes A Laundry Detergent Eco-Friendly?

You may already be thinking about the environmental impact of your washing machine. But there's more to it.

Choosing eco-friendly laundry detergents is equally vital.

The Ingredients Matter

When examining detergent labels, look beyond misleading ads. Often, you'll find ingredients harmful to both the environment and your skin. 

First, check for phosphates; these aren’t found in biodegradable detergents. Chlorine bleach and brighteners should also be absent, as they introduce harmful chemicals into ecosystems.

These problematic ingredients often end up in our waterways. Unfortunately, many water treatment plants don't filter them out effectively.

Consider Concentrated Forms

Another aspect is choosing concentrated or powder detergents. These options have a smaller carbon footprint due to their lower weight-to-dosage ratio. 

Consequently, less carbon is associated with their transportation.

Packaging Insights

Let's talk about packaging.

If liquid detergents are your preference, opt for plastic-free, compostable bottles. These eco-friendlier options are increasingly available. Alternatively, ensure that the plastic bottles are fully recyclable to avoid landfill contribution.

For powder detergents, plastic-free packaging is key. It should be fully recyclable or compostable, avoiding landfill waste.

In essence, avoid products where packaging parts might end up in landfills or don't use recycled materials.

Beware Of Greenwashing

Greenwashing is an increasingly prevalent issue. 

Many companies make misleading eco-friendly claims. Some products are labeled 'eco-friendly' for having minor recycled content. However, their detergents may still contain harmful chemicals. 

Furthermore, the 'recycled' packaging might not be recyclable.

Harmful Detergent Ingredients In Your Detergents

I’ll recommend eco-friendly laundry detergents shortly. But the first thing you should do is check your existing stock of powder and liquid detergents.

And I’ve gathered a list of some ingredients that are very common in a traditional detergent. Unfortunately, common also means harmful to the environment, and these are things that you don’t want to find on an eco laundry detergent label.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

First of all, this difficult to pronounce chemical compound can be harmful to the skin and is often the main reason people with sensitive skin have reactions to certain laundry detergents. But did you also know that it’s a common organic herbicide?

So, when your laundry detergent ends up in nature it can actually kill off vegetation. 

Phosphates

Phosphates are very common in laundry detergent products, and they generally don't get filtered out in water treatment plants. When they enter natural waterways, they cause eutrophication which is a form of poisoning that kills marine animals. 

Optical Brighteners

These are generally quite irritating and not just to people with sensitive skin. There’s a reason detergents with these ingredients say that you have to keep it away from your eyes. But those optical brighteners also have a direct toxic impact on marine life. 

Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine is toxic even in small amounts. And you just have to spend some time in a chlorinated swimming pool without goggles to understand this effect. But that bleaching effect can also impact marine vegetation. 

Artificial Fragrance-Free

Synthetic fragrances are another common reason for allergic reactions, even in people who don’t have sensitive skin. There’s a lack of studies on their effect in nature, but if it irritates human skin, then it’s not really meant for exposure to living things.

Start by looking for a hypoallergenic laundry detergent to reduce this impact.

1,4-Dioxane

This has become less commonly used in detergents, but other cleaning products still have small amounts. It’s a known carcinogen to humans and really has no place in a laundry detergent. 

Dichlorobenzene

And the final chemical to avoid is another one that has a highly toxic effect on marine life and is almost impossible to remove once it has made it into water. While it’s not that common anymore in most laundry detergents, you still need to look out for it. 

Pick up These Eco-Friendly Laundry Habits

Here are five laundry tips that will make washing clothes a lot more eco-friendly. And they are so simple to follow. 

1. Wash Less Frequently

If you keep track of how often you load up the washer, then you’ll probably find that you have four loads per person each week. That is so much energy, water, and laundry detergent use.

In reality, most clothes that you put in the wash are likely not dirty or smelly. Yes, your underwear and socks should go in after one wear, but most other things can easily be worn 3 or 4 times. 

There’s nothing unhygienic about it, and in many ways, we’ve probably become too cautious about micro dirt and germs. So, keeping track of your clothes and wash frequency can really save up a lot of laundry detergent.

2. Don’t Use A Dryer

This is probably one of the biggest wastes of energy for any household. Even with the most energy-efficient models out there, you’ll end up using tons of energy. 

In the summer months, it’s easy to hang out clothes and let them naturally dry within a few hours. But even dry and windy days in winter could take care of most of the drying. 

And when you do have a load of washing that you need to dry quickly, then ditch those dryer and laundry detergent sheets.

3. Install A Water Softener

One thing you should do is have your water tested to see how much lime it contains. The more lime, the harder the water and the less effective it will be at mixing with powdered laundry detergent. 

But even if you look at the label on a liquid detergent, you’ll see that in hard water, you need to add a lot more laundry detergent.

Not only will a central water softener mean that you use less detergent, but it will make your appliances last a lot longer. And it’s much better for sensitive skin when you shower and wash your hair. 

4. Use Cool Wash Functions

Most modern washing machines will have cool wash functions that will be suitable for the majority of your clothes. Unless you regularly fill the machine with heavily stained and dirty clothes, a cool wash at about 85 degrees will give you enough cleaning power. 

Many eco-friendly laundry detergent products often work better at lower temperatures, and that will significantly lower the carbon footprint of your laundry routine. 

5. Reduce Synthetic Clothing

And finally, even when you use an eco-friendly laundry detergent, you could end up flushing plastic fibers down the drain. This is very common with synthetic fabrics like nylon, acrylic, and polyester. 

Yes, these are cheap, but regular washing will release some of the fibers. And it shouldn’t be a surprise what plastic accumulation is doing to wildlife. 

Final Thoughts

Reducing the carbon footprint of your laundry room is just one part of the puzzle to make your home more environmentally friendly. But with the best eco-friendly laundry detergents listed above, you can make another huge impact on nature. 

Not only do they avoid the use of toxic chemicals, but there are even options there that are completely plastic-free. That makes them almost zero waste products, and that will make a huge difference in animal and plant life. 

Out of all these products that I have tried, I keep going back to the Blueland Laundry Kit. They are so easy to use and have the lowest possible footprint. Order yours today and see how much of a difference they will make.