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Today we have a comparison of non-toxic laundry detergent options for you!

In January, we share this post on non-toxic dishwashing detergent options, and it has become one of the most popular blog posts we have published to this date on Chemistry Cachet.

It was a highly requested post, so I spent much of last year testing out the top brands for it.

Now I am sharing a comparison of non-toxic laundry options. For this, I also tested out the top brands in non-toxic laundry and used them for the last eight months. 

Here are my results:

Comparison of Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Options

What exactly makes a laundry detergent non-toxic?

The term. non-toxic can mean several things. Non- toxic laundry detergents typically avoid harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both humans and the environment.

Other things that can classify a laundry detergent as non-toxic are solutions that use plant-based materials like enzymes, essential oils, and mineral salts. Non-toxic detergents often avoid the use of phthalates, synthetic fragrances, chlorine, and other potentially harmful substances.

Another thing many non-toxic laundry detergents have are more environmentally friendly ingredients that are biodegradable.

I like to think of them as laundry detergents that are “better for you” than traditional ones. 

First, I am going to share with you all the ones I have been testing and compare how they worked for me. After this, be sure to read more information on drawbacks to better laundry detergents and also information on homemade detergents.

You can find all these non-toxic laundry options in this list on Amazon. 

Tru Earth Laundry Strips

These Tru Earth Laundry Detergent Eco-Strips™ are not only highly effective at cleaning fabrics in hot or cold water, they are also hypoallergenic! 

These strips are also paraben-free, phosphate-free, free of added dye, free of chlorine bleach, and free of 1,4-dioxane. These concentrated strips are space-saving plus they can be used in any type of washing machine including HE. 

My favorite part about these strips is they are mess-free. No sticky residue anywhere plus they don’t take up space. I really like how they clean our clothes.

🧺 4.8 out of 5 stars for Chemistry Cachet

Grab Green 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Pods

I have bought these in the gardenia scent. These pods are made from naturally derived plant and mineral based ingredients with no phosphates, phthalates, chlorine, toxins, dyes or masking agents. These pods smell great, and are also mess-free! The pod easily dissolves in hot or cold water. I love using these on sheets and towels because they smell so great, clean well, and remove stains.

🧺 4.5 out of 5 stars for Chemistry Cachet

Roobi Peach Lullaby Baby and Adult Laundry Sheets

A reader asked me to try these out! I really love the laundry sheet aspect which I mentioned on the Tru Earth section. I enjoyed this as well. These peach ones smells very lovely, but it isn’t too strong which I like. They have adult and baby laundry sheets, but I used the baby ones for my kids and us. It isn’t as powerful as the Tru Earth strips, but I thought they cleaned well. I especially like these strips for sheets and towels! This brand also has a non-toxic laundry strip booster. I got the linen breeze one to test out. My family loved this for our towels! This is a fabric deodorizer as well as a scent booster, so it makes a great option for extra dirty towels, sheets, or clothes. 

🧺 4.5 out of 5 Stars for Chemistry Cachet

Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent

If you remember, dirty labs was my favorite dishwashing detergent from this post. I continue to buy it, and it is my favorite. I decided to try out their laundry detergent too.  I think this cleans clothes very well especially anything that is soiled with grass or dirt. The smell is very pleasant too although they do have an unscented version.

The only drawback to this one is it is a little sticky. I bought their Erlenmeyer flask holder with a pump, and that helps, but it does leave stickiness on the container.

🧺 4 out of 5 Stars for Chemistry Cachet

Originally Yellow Laundry Detergent

I have used several of their products including their all-purpose vinegar based cleaner which I like. Their laundry detergent is also vinegar based with all plant-based ingredients. It comes in unscented or lavender, so I went with the lavender. I thought this cleaned well too. It is not as heavy duty as the others on this list, but it is a good basic cleaner. I used this for sheets and thought it cleaned well.

It is not as sticky as the Dirty Labs brand, but it also has a little bit of sickness to it so you will get residue on the container.

🧺 3.9 out of 5 Stars for Chemistry Cachet

Other Brands I Have Tested This Year For This Comparison of Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Options:

These other brands are not listed above because I didn’t like them at all.

🧺 Molly Suds – This didn’t clean my clothes much at all. It has basic ingredients you usually see when you make your own laundry detergent, and our clothes did not get clean.

🧺 Earth Breeze – Many people often confuse this brand with Tru Earth I shared above, but is not the same. I didn’t have luck with this brand, and it didn’t dissolve well.

🧺  Clean People  – This brand also has a laundry detergent sheet, I didn’t like these as well as Tru Earth either. They have some other products I will be testing soon, but I didn’t have success with the laundry detergent. 

🧺 Dropps – This brand left a residue on my clothes, so I did not finish using them. 

🧺 Rustic Strength – A reader asked me about this one, and I have not had a chance to try it out myself, but I wanted to include her review in case any other readers were curious about this one. Thank you Lisa C. for sending me this information. She says “I did not need to use any pre-treatments so I got to be able to really get a good idea on this detergent. Even thought the detergent had Lavender, it was a slight scent. Sometimes, I feel the vinegar is too harsh smelling as well, however, the clothes came out soft and had a nice, vague scent. I did not feel the clothes had a strong smell of lavender or vinegar so that was a nice surprise. I got the half gallon recycled plastic with a pump. You do not use a lot for each wash”

Is there a brand you would like me to test? Let me know, and I will buy it, test it, then add it to this list.

The Best Laundry Detergent Overall From This List?

Definitely the Tru Earth Strips. Not only did I like the way these clean the best, but they are also completely mess-free without having to use a pod. The packaging also takes up very little space! Price wise, these were also the cheapest per load (around $0.17 a load depending on the size). Second is the Grab Green pods. I keep these on hand for sheets and towels because they clean well and the scent lasts on the fabric. It is important to note that I would use any of these brands again I have shared on this list, but the Tru Earth is the favorite. Third, the Roobi sheets and scent booster and deodorizer.

What About Homemade Laundry Detergent?

I get asked so much about homemade laundry detergent. It is one of the few DIY cleaning options I do not have on my website. Here is why.

While homemade laundry detergent might seem like a budget-friendly option, there are several reasons why it’s often not as effective or safe as commercial, non-toxic alternatives:

1. Not as powerful for cleaning – Commercial detergents (even non-toxic alternatives) are formulated with specific surfactants and enzymes that break down dirt, grease, and stains effectively. Homemade detergents may lack these essential ingredients, resulting in less-than-ideal cleaning performance.  They aren’t tested in a lab, so it is hard to know specifically what the ingredients are doing to clean your clothes long term.
2. Residue – Homemade detergents can leave behind residue on your clothes, leading to dullness, stiffness, and even skin irritation. Commercial detergents are designed to rinse out thoroughly, leaving your clothes clean and soft. It can also leave residue and buildup in the machine itself. 
3. Mixing ingredients don’t necessarily work- I see many people online mixing ingredients that don’t work or can harm your machine. If you throw baking soda and vinegar inside your machine (I have seen this a lot), you are not doing anything for your clothes.  Too much powder based materials added together can also harm your machine. It takes precision and testing to get the right ratios that work for both cleaning clothes and making sure it works properly in the machine.

Do You Take Into Account the EWG Rating?

I am answering this FAQ in our post today. If you talk to any scientist, we take EWG ratings with a grain a salt. You are welcome to look it up just for an idea, but it shouldn’t be the end all be all of your decision. Critics argue that EWG’s methodology can be inconsistent and may not always follow established scientific principles. This can raise questions about the reliability of their ratings.

I have also seen discrepancies in their ratings, and have also seen them change drastically (an F to an A rating). So, I think it is fine for a reference, but it is not always reliable. 

Choosing a Better For You Laundry Detergent Is Always A Good Idea

By choosing a non-toxic commercial laundry detergent, you can enjoy the benefits of effective cleaning, safety, and convenience without compromising your health or the environment.

And frankly, I have tried all types of DIY laundry detergents, ratios, ingredients, and almost everything you can think of, and they do not clean our clothes. I prefer using one of these alternatives.

If you have a homemade detergent you use and like, that is totally fine. These are just my observations and comparisons of non-toxic laundry detergent options as a chemist, mom, and someone who does a lot of laundry 🙂

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