20 Best Natural Laundry Detergents

20 Best Natural Laundry Detergents For The Ethical Consumer

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We live in an age of eco-friendly products, and rightfully so, as we need to start worrying about protecting our planet and nature from ourselves.

Over the past few decades, a wide variety of eco-friendly detergents have been released, enabling us to wash our clothes without polluting the environment. Naturally, with so many products competing on the market, setting aside the real deals from impostors can turn out difficult.

The key to finding your perfect natural laundry detergent is knowing where to start. Here’s our eco laundry detergent review.

Eco Laundry Detergent Review – Top 20 Options

Eco Nuts

Green Shield's Go Organic

Molly's Suds Natural Laundry Detergent

Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent

Mrs. Myer's Laundry Detergent Lemon

Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder

Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Pods

Better Life Natural Planet-Based Detergent

Sun & Earth Natural Laundry Detergent

Eco Laundry Detergent Review – Top 20 Options

Eco Nuts

Green Shield's Go Organic

Molly's Suds Natural Laundry Detergent

Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent

Mrs. Myer's Laundry Detergent Lemon

Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder

Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Detergent Pods

Better Life Natural Planet-Based Laundry Detergent

Sun & Earth Natural Laundry Detergent

Method Beach Sage

The Honest Company Free & Clear

Charlie's Soap

Indigo Wild Zum Clean

NaturOli Soap Nuts

Earth Friendly Products

Tangie Laundry

Lion Bear Naked Soap

Branch Basics

Love Home and Planet

1. Eco Nuts

The Eco Nuts are completely organic, natural, and contain no chemicals. They are skin-delicate, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic. Eco Nuts are cruelty-free and USDA-certified organic. Only sheep wool is used for product testing. The product comes with a cotton wash bag that can take hundreds of washes.

Pros:

  • 100% organic
  • Contain no chemicals
  • Skin-delicate
  • Cruelty-free
  • Cons:

  • Must be used with hot water

  • 2. Green Shield's Go Organic

    This product is USDA-certified and is there for delicate baby skin. The Green Shield’s Go Organic contains no dyes, harsh chemicals, or fragrances. The product uses organic soapberries for deep cleaning that prevent residue buildup, meaning that it’s also great for your laundry machine. This Green Shield’s product uses a sulfate-free, no-to-low sodding formula.

    The packaging bottles are made from sugar cane resin and are 100% recyclable. The product doesn’t contain GMOs, and no animal testing was or is involved in the manufacturing process.

    Pros:

  • USDA-certified
  • 100% recyclable
  • Excellent for babies’ clothes
  • Efficient
  • Cons:

  • Fragrance-free formula might not work for everyone

  • 3. Molly's Suds Natural Laundry Detergent

    The Molly’s Suds Natural Laundry Detergent does a great job of getting and keeping your clothes clean, but it has another cool purpose. If you make it into a paste, you can use it to pre-treat stains, which is incredibly efficient for the greasy, stubborn ones.

    It consists of only five ingredients, all of which are listed on the packaging, so you know what you’re getting. All ingredients are gentle enough for sensitive skin.

    Pros:

  • Certified vegan
  • Certified cruelty-free
  • Can pre-treat stains
  • Only five ingredients
  • Cons:

  • May not clean white stains on dark clothes

  • 4. Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

    The Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent was created by doctors. It can wash 192 loads (which is a lot), and it is very gentle on the skin. This product contains no harsh chemicals, and it is safe to use in septic systems

    It features a concentrated formula, which means less energy spent and less waste created. Its formula is completely plant-powered. You may need to do a bit of experimenting to achieve the best results.

    Pros:

  • Created by doctors
  • Completely plant-powered
  • No harsh chemicals
  • Energy- and waste-smart
  • Cons:

  • May require some experimenting

  • 5. Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent

    If you’re looking for a more “typical” laundry detergent, the Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent might be just the thing for you. It is ideal for those with fragrance allergies as it is fragrance-free.

    Its triple-enzyme formula works great against even the toughest of stains. It is EPA Safer Choice-certified and works with HE and standard washing machines.

    Pros:

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Triple-enzyme formula
  • EPA Safer Choice-certified
  • Works with HE and standard machines
  • Cons:

  • Isn’t 100% natural

  • 6. Mrs. Myer's Laundry Detergent Lemon

    If you’re looking for a more “typical” laundry detergent, the Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent might be just the thing for you. It is ideal for those with fragrance allergies as it is fragrance-free.

    Its triple-enzyme formula works great against even the toughest of stains. It is EPA Safer Choice-certified and works with HE and standard washing machines.

    Pros:

  • Unique natural lemon scent
  • Bottle biodegradable in 28 days
  • Plant surfactants
  • No chemical fragrance
  • Cons:

  • Only 64 loads

  • 7. Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder

    The Biokleen Laundry Detergent Powder is brilliant for people who suffer from allergies. It is skin-sensitive and completely dye and fragrance-free. Biokleen’s list of ingredients is nontoxic, eco-friendly, and plant-based. It may not be ideal for darks, though.

    Pros:

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Dye-free
  • Fragrance-free
  • Great for sensitive skin
  • Cons:

  • Doesn’t agree with darks

  • 8. Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Detergent Pods

    Your average natural laundry detergent doesn’t have as much fighting power against stains as traditional ones. With the Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Detergent Pods, however, you get almost as much stopping power as you would with a traditional product.

    That means fantastic stain removal properties. Its fragrance is hypoallergenic, and it features a non-toxic formula. The product is gentle on septic tanks and has a pleasant smell.

    Pros:

  • Amazing stain-fighting properties
  • Hypoallergenic fragrance
  • Non-toxic formula
  • Gentle on septic tanks
  • Cons:

  • Pods may not always dissolve

  • 9. Better Life Natural Planet-Based Laundry Detergent

    If you’re looking for a natural detergent that is as tough on stains as it is easy on the environment, the Better Life Natural Plant-Based Laundry Detergent is a perfect choice. It is completely derived from plants, and it is biodegradable as well as cruelty-free. It works wonders with colored and mixed loads and performs surprisingly well with cold water.

    Pros:

  • Biodegradable
  • Excellent with colored/mixed loads
  • Works with cold water
  • 100% plant-derived
  • Cons:

  • Not ideal for heavier loads

  • 10. Sun & Earth Natural Laundry Detergent

    The Sun & Earth Natural Laundry Detergent is one of the best grass stain removers out there. It is hypoallergenic, contains no added perfumes, preservatives, or dyes, and is hot- and cold-water ready. It works with HE as well as standard washers, no matter how soft or hard your water may be.

    Pros:

  • No preservatives, perfumes, or dyes
  • Hot- and cold-water ready
  • Efficiently remove grass stains
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Cons:

  • Lavender may smell odd

  • 11. Method Beach Sage

    The Beach Sage by Method is one of the strongest allies you and your washing machine can have. This natural detergent offers the scent of the beach on a misty morning, but you, thankfully, don’t get sand along with the scent.

    The smell is pleasant and pretty powerful, lasting up to 12 weeks. The beads completely dissolve during the washing, so there’s nothing to worry about. The company has B Corp certification, and all of its products are cruelty-free.

    Pros:

  • Non-toxic formula
  • Cruelty-free
  • Naturally derived ingredients
  • Available in different packages
  • Cons:

  • Some might find the scent too strong

  • 12. The Honest Company Free & Clear

    If you have a baby, you know how important it is to get the best natural laundry detergent. There should be no compromise when it comes to the health of our little ones. The Honest Company understands that, and its answer is the Honest Baby laundry Detergent.

    It is fragrance-free, and features plant-based cleansers. It is hypoallergenic, sensitive skin-friendly, and tested by independent dermatologists. This detergent is also free of dyes, SLS, SLES, methylisothiazolinone, and formaldehyde donors. It is available in 2-liter bottles and is quite affordable.

    Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Non-toxic
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Fragrance-free
  • Cons:

  • Some might find its smell strange

  • 13. Charlie's Soap

    No eco laundry detergent review can be complete without Charlie’s Soap. This fantastic soap is powerful, but sensitive enough that you can even wash cloth diapers with it.

    It is free of fragrances, and other toxic compounds. That also means that it won’t mask unpleasant smells and stains.

    Charlie’s Soap is also hypo-allergenic, and it has the Safer Choice certification from the EPA. You can buy it in powder form, and also in packets. The company also offers various multi-packs that include other cleaning products.

    Pros:

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Natural ingredients
  • Fragrance-free
  • No residue
  • Cons:

  • Measurement scoop has only one marker – 14.7cc

  • 14. Indigo Wild Zum Clean

    Indigo Wild Zum Clean is a great option if you’re looking for a natural laundry detergent. Indigo Wild offers this laundry soap in a staggering range of scents and fragrances. You can get anything from lavender to rosemary-mint, frankincense and myrrh, and patchouli.

    Also, Zum Clean is available in several packages – 64 oz. and 32 oz. bottles, and sample packs. Small aroma refill bottles are also available.

    This soap is hypoallergenic, and gentle enough for people with sensitive skin.

    Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Natural ingredients
  • Wide range of scents
  • Multiple sizes
  • Cons:

  • Nothing between 32 oz. bottles and sample packs

  • 15. NaturOli Soap Nuts

    Who said that a laundry detergent has to be liquid? NaturOli™ offers soap nuts for your laundry needs. You simply throw these nuts into the washing machine with your dirty clothes and let them do their magic.

    Since they’re natural and organic, NaturOli’s soap nuts are safe and mild enough for even the most expensive clothes and sensitive skin. They feature no artificial fragrances or dangerous chemicals. Also, there’s no gluten in these soap nuts.

    Pros:

  • Gluten-free
  • Organic
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Cons:

  • Not the best solution for cloth diapers

  • 16. Earth Friendly Products

    Earth Friendly Products line from ECOS contains some of the best natural laundry detergent options on the market. You can choose between several pleasant scents, including honeydew, fresh geranium, lemongrass, and others. There’s also a baby-friendly option, scent-free, of course.

    The Earth Friendly detergents are cruelty-free (not tested on animals), greywater septic safe, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free. They’re also compatible with all washing machines. Finally, you can get them in various packages.

    Pros:

  • Cruelty-free
  • Organic
  • Scent-free baby option
  • Gluten-free and vegan
  • Cons:

  • Not for heavy stains

  • 17. Tangie Laundry

    Tangie offers affordable and natural laundry detergent products. You can choose between several types of dryer balls, pastes, and laundry bars. What’s common to all of them is that they’re all organic, environment-friendly, and mild enough for those with sensitive skin. Most importantly, they’re all pretty affordable.

    Tangie funds planting of one tree for every purchase. Also, the company is dedicated to reducing waste and recycling. The site even features a comprehensive guide on sustainable shopping.

    Pros:

  • Eco-friendly packaging
  • Organic formulas
  • Biodegradable
  • Environmentally responsible company
  • Cons:

  • Not for super-tough stains

  • 18. Lion Bear Naked Soap

    Lion Bear Naked Soap, as its name suggests, offers a range of laundry soaps. At the moment of writing, the official site featured a 2 lb. soap powder bag and a 960-load soap powder container.

    All Lion Bear Naked Soap products are organic and safe for daily use. The official site also features a list of ingredients that the company considers unacceptable – parabens, phosphates, mineral oil, ammonium, and synthetic fragrances are just some of them.

    lion bear naked soap

    Pros:

  • Organic formula
  • Scent-free
  • Affordable
  • Available in bulk packs
  • Cons:

  • Can cause eye irritation

  • 19. Branch Basics

    The Laundry Kit from Branch Basics has all you need to wash your and your family’s clothes in a safe, eco-friendly manner. The kit includes the one Laundry bottle, one Oxygen Boost, and one bottle of Concentrate.

    You should use Laundry for regular stains, while the Oxygen Boost is there for soaking and scrubbing, both on whites and colors. Use Concentrate for more resistant stains.

    The company is completely transparent about the ingredients it uses, and its products proudly wear the Made Safe badge.

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    Pros:

  • Versatile
  • Powerful
  • Made Safe badge
  • Cons:

  • No alternative packaging sizes

  • 20. Love Home and Planet

    Love Home and Planet Laundry Detergent is one of the best natural detergents out there. It features an organic, eco-friendly formula, and is available in several variants. These include Rose Petal & Murumuru, Lavender & Argan, and Coconut Water.

    Love Home and Planet also offers laundry packets, fabric softener, dryer sheets, and dry wash sprays. All products are dermatologically tested and safe to use. The company is dedicated to minimizing its carbon footprint and donates a portion of its profits to a carbon tax fund.

    Pros:

  • Strong, concentrated formula
  • Vegan, 80% recycled bottle
  • Ethically sourced
  • Plant-derived cleansers
  • Cons:

  • Some might find the scent too strong

  • The Best Natural Laundry Detergent

    What makes a natural laundry detergent environmentally friendly is the absence of toxic chemicals. Don’t think that natural detergents can’t be as efficient as the ones you may be used to, because they can. Also, many of them are hypoallergenic, environment-friendly, and cruelty-free.

    Hopefully, this eco laundry detergent review has helped you pick the right one for you and your family.

    Now It's Your Turn

    Now I’d like to hear from you:


    Which ingredients do you try to avoid?


    Are you going try any of these laundry detergent brands?


    Or maybe there's a different brand that I missed.

     

    Either way, leave me a quick comment below to let me know.

    9 months ago
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