The Ultimate Non Toxic Laundry Detergent Guide (2025 Edition)

Hi, my 1 year old daughter has eczema. I just wanted to find out if KODOMO baby laundry detergent is safe?

How safe is the Rockin Green brand? I love their hard rock detergent.

I have been using Tandi’s natural and my clothes just don’t smell clean. No I am not looking for tide smell. I just don’t want them to smell like workout clothes or other yucky laundry smells. Any suggestions on what to try that would help get out those smells. Busy mom who doesn’t have time to separate all the smelly laundry from the not and do extra loads!

Hello! Which detergent do you think is the most natural and the best for protecting the dark colors from fading? I am using Woolite dark right now for dark clothes but I am sure Woolite is not safe LOL

I’d like your thoughts on Norwex detergent as well! Thank You!

I believe they changed the formula a few years ago. Before that, I bought the free and clear and all was o.k. But then after a long time using it, I opened a new container of the Kirkland free and clear and it reeked of fragrance. I got very sick and had to run out of the laundry room. I do not trust it at all, personally, based on my experience. I cannot comment on the safety of its ingredients. I have MCS, and this product is a no-no for me. I use Better Life. I love it. I’ve had no problem with it fading clothes as was mentioned in this article.

What about Norwex? Just received some as a sample and it works pretty well!

What about Kirkland free and clear? Good stuff or sneaky stuff? Thank you!!

Hi! so I got the My Green Fill after using Better Life for years. I haven’t had something that smelled so potent and is natural in years!! I have asthma and so chemicals reek havoc on my lungs. In saying that, it smells so much like the “bad stuff” Im nervous of their fragrance. I haven’t had a reaction yet either. I know they say its 100% plant based oils and essential oils…. but this feels too good to be true. I just want to double check that its completely safe. I think I’ve fallen in love, but if I had to get their unscented and add essential oils to it, Im scared I wouldn’t love it as much!! Please assure me that plant based oil is ok for scent!

Why is cocamidopropyl betaine bad? The biokleen works great esp on cloth diapers. Thanks!

What about Dropps laundry detergent pacs (baby)? Thanks!

Has anyone looked at the new Hello Bello line of products? I’m always on the hunt for good AND cheap :)

Mamasuds has an EWG score of “F” ????

Has anyone tried any of these with hard water/well water ? I’ve used Grab Green and Eco Me but they leave odd stains that I know weren’t on the clothes before putting them into the laundry. I have a whole house water softer but doesn’t seem to do the trick. Any suggestions ?

Which of these (if any) are okay to use with washing machines that require HE (high efficiency) detergent? Thank you!

It was nice to see this natural laundry detergent guide. I am looking into finding some biodegradable laundry soap to help me be more respectful to the environment. I think that it would make me feel a lot better!

Hi Maia, have you heard of dropps?

Thoughts on EcoMax hypoallergenic laundry detergent?:
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Food Grade Sodium Citrate, Food Grade Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Food Grade Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose, Food Grade Xanthan Gum.
Thanks :)

Hi, is Molly Suds considered a “soap” or a “detergent”? I’m making the switch to soap products for my home, and some of these “sodium xxx” ingredients are quite confusing. Thanks!

I see that My Green Fills is on your good list. I’m a bit confused because I was under the impression that two of the ingredients in it are pretty bad. Tetrasodium Salt and Polyacrylic Acid Sodium Salt. The research I’ve found says that Tetrasodium EDTA is made from formaldehyde and sodium cyanide and OSHA deems Polyacrylic Acid Sodium Salt hazardous as well. I would love to hear your insight. We’re about to start our cloth diaper journey. Currently we use Rockin Green and love it, but I’d like to find something to use in case it doesn’t work well with our diapers. I’m so torn because I know Tide works really well, but it’s so toxic and my son gets hives every time we’ve tried it. I don’t even want to risk it with my daughter.

Hi, What do you think about the product Dropps?

Can you tell me what is Good Stuff for washing wool? I love buying wool for myself and kids as base layers for the winter. I don’t wash it often (a great thing about wool, it doesn’t get dirty like other fabric), but when I need to wash it what would you recommend? I had been using Euclan, than realized that a lot of the ingredients had bad ratings on EWG. I use Molly’s suds for my regular laundry and have been happy with that.

Hi! I saw someone else asked about Norwex but there was no response. Have you since researched into that brand?

“Let’s not get obsessed’…., “Everything is toxic…”, “water will kill you…”
It’s possible you MAY have had some good insights to share but when you start off by spouting the same buzzwords all the other pro chemical gmo people do I shut down. We AREN’T stupid, even natural things like mushrooms can kill you if you eat the wrong one! And who are you to judge how much risk (aka how ’obsessed) we should or should not take with our health and the health of our families?

Which natural detergent would you recommend for well water? Our water is very hard and is high in iron. Thank you in advance!

Hi, great post and very helpful information included. Thank you! But I am surprised more innovative green products were not mentioned in this article. Like Dreambly laundry sheets. What I like about dreambly is #1 it works amazing but its everything you need for laundry in just one sheet. I was a bit skeptical at first as I couldn’t believe you can actually do this but sure enough what they claim actually works. Each sheet is 100% organic and biodegradable in just 10 days so its a true eco-friendly product which I am all about. What i do is put two sheets in the wash for the best results and drop a couple drips of my fav organic essential oil (Lavender) and then take same sheet out of wash drip oil on the sheet again and toss in the dryer. Clothes come out so clean and smelling great… it is so simple… plus they offer subscription for discount and automatically ship and the sheets are great for travel too. Here is link to their website to check them out- https://dreambly.com/products/dreambly-wash-dry-sheets-40ct-special?rfsn=1596216.2b8bd4&subid=GTGS

Love to read this article. Thank you so much for your article. It really gives me information that I am looking for :)

EWG does not like Borax. We have the studies and we are ok with Borax in laundry soaps.

I’m so confused on this! I was going to order some MamaSuds but EWG gives it an F rating and says borax is not safe. Can you give me some insight please!

What are your thoughts on Amazon’s brand Presto! laundry detergent?

DO you know much about Whole Foods lavender detergent ?

Hi Maia,

It has a review an A on EWG as of November of 2017, but this is after a formula change. Within this rating, EWG has specifically noted that there is some concern in terms of Asthma/Respiratory issues as well as some concern with cancer.

What about Cleancult pods? Any opinions about them?

I’m confused by your statement regarding Charlie’s. It ranks as a A on EWG? Did they change their ingredients?

Hi, Thanks for all the valuable information! I’m stocking up for a new baby and your site has been really helpful. Any thoughts on the GO by Greenshield Organic Laundry Detergent for Free & Clear for baby or regular? https://www.greenshieldorganic.com/product/organic-laundry/

Did you know that ewg rated mamasuds an F due to the sodium borate? I know borax gets mixed reviews but I havent made up my mind on it yet. I need a new soap for everything but I has to work for diapers too. What are your thoughts on branch basics especially after their reformulation?

Saponified coconut oil is really NOT THAT SAFE! Look at the research here or google it yourself – genotoxicity… https://academic.oup.com/mutage/article/19/6/441/1053259

Is saponified coconut oil really THAT safe? What about research studies on its genotoxicity? https://academic.oup.com/mutage/article/19/6/441/1053259

I am in the same boat. Have always wanted to use a eco friendly, non toxic detergent for diapers and came here for recommendations, but we have VERY hard water and the only thing that doesn’t leave strong ammonia smells and funk is TIDE free and clear powder. Before reluctantly switching to TIDE, I was using Mighty Bubbles and adding Calgon to manage the build up and it still didn’t solve my washing problems. I fear that cloth diapers and hard water are incompatible for finding a safer detergent if you don’t want to be dealing with build up and bad odors.

Do you know anything about Dropps laundry detergent? I’ve started to see advertising for it. I always buy sensitive-skin products that are fragrance-free, but now I have a baby and I see this company makes a baby-specific product, too.

I guess every detergents have their own side effects on the skin.

Hi, I was wondering if Puracy products were good stuff?

I was wondering about some of these detergents being flammable. If you get cooking oil on your clothes, for example, you are supposed to wash them very thoroughly before drying them because it could catch on fire in the dryer. Could tallow, coconut oil or essential oils in the wash potentially cause a fire hazard for that reason? I want to switch to the best possible detergent (we were using Ecos – disappointed!) but I am also worried about the more immediate danger of fire.

Thanks for the updated guide. I currently use Canadian brand Bio-vert. It does a really good job cleaning our little one’s clothes. Any thoughts on if this detergent is “good stuff”?
Appreciate it!

What do you think of the Boulder laundry detergent?

Hi,

I always use Better Life and Eco-Me and love them!
I was just wondering about the used clothes I get for my daughter .. they smell strong .. that disgusting Tide fragrance or whatever is used.. I wash them once I get them but often they still have that scent.. is that ok? Or does it still have the same effect on my daughter?

Hi Megan,
Lye is actually potassium hydroxide, not sodium hydroxide, but they are very similar and I understand your concern.
Here is why it is not a concern.
Soap is the result of a chemical reaction called saponification that occurs between lye and a molecule called a triglyceride (a fat or oil), where both substances are chemically transformed, creating soap and natural glycerin. Neither of the original ingredients exists anymore. All the lye – either sodium hydroxide for bar soap or potassium hydroxide for liquid soap – is consumed in the reaction.
So the difference is in the language. A product MADE WITH LYE is entirely different from a product CONTAINING LYE.

I was thinking about getting tadi powder detergent but in its ingredient it list lye which is another name for sodium hydroxide right? Isn’t sodium hydroxide one of the ingredients to avoid? Im new to greener and healthier lifestyle and just trying to educate myself!