The Ultimate Non Toxic Laundry Detergent Guide (2025 Edition)

Maia James
The Ultimate Non Toxic Laundry Detergent Guide (2025 Edition)
376 comments

I admit it: finding a non toxic laundry detergent that actually works is a challenge. When we had babies in the house, my husband used to joke (more like complain) that he knew we were using the #goodstuff when the bibs came out of the dryer with the spit-up still intact. And every time he came home with a “free and clear” version from the drug store, I would read the ingredients and veto it

But! Things have changed over the last decade. Non toxic laundry detergents work better, there are more environmentally friendly options, and the Sneaky Stuff has gotten less sneaky.

In this updated, comprehensive shopping guide, we’ve reviewed over 40 brands of detergent and found non toxic laundry detergent powders, pods, sheets, and liquid versions that meet our criteria for Good Stuff.

To bottom line it for you, we start with a cheat sheet of the nine brands of non toxic laundry detergent that we deemed Best Stuff. This means that they are:

  • 100% free of synthetic fragrance (including “natural fragrance oils”).
  • Contain no optical brighteners.
  • Use a preservative system that's free of formaldehyde releasers.
  • Is formulated with biodegradable surfactants only (plant-based, no petrochemicals).

This list includes only the cleanest of the clean when it comes to non toxic laundry detergents.

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Best Laundry Products

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1. Mama Suds

2. Christina Maser

3. Tandi's

4. Sonett

5. Meliora

6. Branch Basics Laundry

7. Earthley Laundry Detergent

8. Molly Suds Laundry Detergent

9. Aspen Clean Laundry Detergent

10. Rebel Green

Read on for more about the best non-toxic laundry detergents we love, what to look out for when choosing a detergent, and the 17 “natural” laundry detergent brands we’d advise you to avoid.

Toxins in Laundry Detergent

All laundry detergents leave a residue on clothing, which we then inhale and absorb through our skin. The ill effects of some of the chemicals in detergents range from skin or eye irritation to possibly much more serious, such as endocrine disruption.

The following common laundry detergent ingredients can be harmful to human and/or planet health:

  1. Phosphates: Found in many detergents, phosphates can contribute to water pollution, leading to issues like algal blooms and oxygen-deprived “dead zones” in water bodies.
  2. Surfactants: Some surfactants used in detergents can be derived from petrochemicals, which are non-renewable and contribute to carbon emissions. Others can be immunotoxins.
  3. Fragrances: Almost all conventional detergents use synthetic fragrances, which can contain phthalates and are linked to asthma, allergies, hormone disruption, and indoor air pollution (they off-gas from your clothes for days).
  4. Optical Brighteners: These chemicals, like stilbene and coumarin, are designed to make clothes appear brighter, but they can be irritating to the skin and are not easily biodegradable.
  5. Dyes: Synthetic dyes used in detergents can contain heavy metals and other harmful compounds.
  6. Chlorine Bleach: This common laundry additive can create harmful byproducts when mixed with other chemicals, and its production and use can contribute to environmental pollution.
  7. 1,4-Dioxane: This is a byproduct of the ethoxylation process used to make some surfactants, and it’s classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Do You Need a Special Detergent for Baby Clothes?

When I was pregnant and setting up a nursery that would never be used (Felix slept with us), everyone told me to wash all of his clothes in Dreft. After a bit of research, I decided against it (see below, under “The Bad Stuff”).

I’m sure there are people who separate baby linens from other household laundry–but if you’re using a nontoxic detergent there is no reason you cannot use it to wash all of the family’s clothing, including your baby’s!


More importantly, if my laundry detergent is an irritant for my babies’ skin (or worse), I don’t want to use it on my clothes! My own health aside, when my boys were infants, I spent about 30 percent of my day snuggling their little naked bodies to my clothed one, so I was determined to find a safe, natural laundry detergent.

Best Stuff

Aspen Clean

  • EWG-verified
  • Safe in both liquid and powder formulas. 
  • Uses decyl glucoside as its primary cleaning agent
  • Contains only essential oils for fragrance.

Price per ounce: $0.46
Price per pod: $0.56

Ingredients: Water / Eau, Decyl Glucoside (sustainable Coconut, Palm Kernel Oil derived / Dérivé de noix de coco et d'huile de palmiste durable), Sodium Chloride (Salt / Sel), Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Citrate, Organic Glycerine (Vegetables derived / Dérivé végétal), Lauryl Glucoside (sustainable Coconut, Palm Kernel Oil derived / Dérivé de noix de coco et d'huile de palmiste durable), Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Gluconate, Coconut (Noix de coco) Acid, Potassium Hydroxide.

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Aspen Clean

Branch Basics Laundry

  • I love Branch Basics planet-friendly cleaning system
  • Contains only the surfactants we’ve deemed safe (decyl glucoside and coco-glucoside).

Price per ounce: $0.70

Ingredients: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Percarbonate, Sodium Gluconate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Metasilicate, TAED, Protease, Amylase, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Poly (itaconic acid-co-AMPS) Sodium Salt

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Branch Basics Laundry

Christina Maser Vegan Concentrated Laundry Soap

  • Natural laundry soap rather than a detergent
  • perfect alternative for those of you who want a vegan option for your laundry
  • Find it in the Gimme the Good Stuff laundry detergent section
  • Start with a glass jar, and then refill with eco-friendly bags

Price per load: $0.35

Ingredients: Laundry soap (coconut oil, water, and lye), oxygen bleach, sodium bicarbonate, washing soda, pure essential oils (unless unscented)

Christina Maser Vegan Concentrated Laundry Soap

Earthley

  • Made with plant-based ingredients
  • free of sulfates, brighteners, fragrances, and dyes
  • It’s also biodegradable and septic safe.

Cost per load: $0.53

Ingredients: Washing Soda Citric Acid Saponified Organic Coconut Oil Saponified Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Saponified Organic Castor Oil Filtered Water Bromelain

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Earthley

MamaSuds Liquid Laundry

  • Deep cleaning, all-natural laundry soap that is safe for cloth diapers.
  • This is NOT a detergent, and therefore you will not need a fabric softener when using it.
  • MamaSuds household cleaning products are simple, nontoxic, and eco-friendly
  • Incredibly effective and completely free of the Bad Stuff

Note: This soap contains borax.

Price per ounce: $0.28

Ingredients: water, potassium olivate (saponified olive oil), sodium carbonate,sodium borate

MamaSuds Liquid Laundry

Meliora Laundry Powder

  • Most affordable per ounce
  • Great option for those who want to clean their clothes with less of an environmental impact.
  • All scents are free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and brighteners
  • Entire system is 100% plastic-free

Price per ounce: $0.20

Ingredients: [UNSCENTED]: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Vegetable Soap [Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water] [LAVENDER]: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Vegetable Soap [Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water], Organic Lavandula Hybrida Grosso (Lavender) Oil [LEMON]: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Vegetable Soap [Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water], Organic Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil

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Meliora Laundry Powder

Molly’s Suds

  • Whole line of laundry products is safe
  • Includes some organic ingredients, such as peppermint oil.

Price per load: $0.16

Ingredients: SODIUM CARBONATE (SOURCED FROM THE GREEN RIVER BASIN IN WYOMING); SODIUM BICARBONATE; MAGNESIUM SULFATE (HEPTAHYDRATE); MARIS SAL (UNREFINED SEA SALT)

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Molly’s Suds

Sonett Laundry Liquid

  • This is my favorite natural laundry detergent
  • Made in Germany, smells delish (although it’s also available in an unscented Neutral)
  • Gets our clothes super clean
  • Contains none of the questionable ingredients listed above

Price per ounce: $0.32

Ingredients: Aqua, potassium soap*, alkylpolyglucoside C8–16, sodium
C8–14, fatty alcohol sulphate, alcohol, sulphated castor oil, potassium citrate, perfume* (fragrance), linalool*
*certified organically grown

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Sonett Laundry Liquid

Tandi's Naturals

  • Suitable for regular and high-efficiency (HE) washers
  • Tandi's uses tallow as the basis for this soap, which she blends with natural cleaners like baking soda, plus essential oils for a delicate scent.
  • This soap does not contain borax or SLS/SLES, and is a very effective option.

Price per ounce: from $0.35 – $0.52 

Ingredients: Laundry soap (Lancaster County tallow, water, and lye), sodium percarbonate (oxygenated bleach) , sodium bicarbonate, washing soda, pure essential oils (unless unscented)

Tandi's Naturals

Rebel Green

  • Pure and natural ingredients
  • Scented with only organic oils

Cost per load: $0.35

Ingredients: Organic Aragum Juice, Organic Potassium Cocoate, Organic Glycerine, Potassium Carbonate, Xanthan Gum Clarified, Potassium Citrate

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Rebel Green

Laundry Detergent

We’ve highlighted some of our favorite non toxic laundry detergents above, but a bunch of other brands meet our criteria for Good Stuff. You’ll find those, plus the brands we consider Okay, Bad, and Sneaky in the sections that follow. Here's what to know about these brands of detergents:

  • Good Stuff detergents, unlike those we've called Best Stuff, may use a mild synthetic preservative (like sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate) and/or use biodegradable but lab-synthesized surfactants (like coco-glucoside or sodium cocoyl isethionate). Importantly, Good Stuff brands will never contain PFAS, optical brighteners, or dyes. You can feel confident that the brands in this category are non toxic laundry detergent, just slightly less all natural than the Best Stuff brands.
  • Okay Stuff detergents are much better than Tide or Gain, but might use more synthetics, and/or have less ingredient transparency. Like the Best and Good categories, Okay Stuff never contains any of the truly problematic ingredients like phthalates or optical brighteners.
  • Sneaky Stuff brands include those that are greenwashed, lack transparency, or use PVA/PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) film in pods or strips. Brands market this as “biodegradable,” but wastewater studies show it often passes treatment plants intact and contributes to microplastic pollution.

Good Stuff

9 Elements

  • Plant-based
  • Great for people with sensitive skin or allergies
  • Biodegradable
  • Does not contain any phosphates or dyes 

Cost per load: $0.14

Ingredients: Water,Plant Based Cleaning Agent (Citric Acid),Cleaning Agent (C12-16 Pareth),Cleaning Agent (Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate),Plant Based Solvent (Propylene Glycol),Plant Based Water Softener (Sodium Citrate),Fragrances,Vinegar,Contains Fragrance Allergens (Limonene; Hexyl Cinnamal; Benzyl Salicylate; Linalool)

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9 Elements

Attitude Laundry Detergent

  • This laundry liquid’s formula changed since we last updated this guide, and is now safer.
  • The surfactants used have been changed to sodium coco sulfate and lauryl glucoside, both of which are of low concern.

Price per load: $0.34

Ingredients: 5-15% anionic surfactants / agents de surface anioniques (Sodium Coco-Sulfate), 5-15% non-ionic surfactants / agents de surface non-ioniques (Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glucoside). Contains also / Contient aussi : Aqua / Water / Eau, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis (Tea) Leaf Extract.

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Attitude Laundry Detergent

Blueland Laundry Tablets

  • Unlike laundry pods, they contain no polyvinyl alcohol
  • Refills are packaged in compostable paper pouches
  • Ingredients are clean

Price per ounce: from $0.28 to $0.35

Ingredients: Sodium carbonate, citric acid, microcrystalline cellulose, subtilisin, lauryl/myristyl glucoside, amylase, sorbitan caprylate, mannanase, sodium citrate, cellulase, hydrated silica.

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Blueland Laundry Tablets

Common Good Laundry Detergent

  • Moved from Sneaky to Good since they got rid of almost all of their problematic ingredients–really all that is left is sodium benzoate, and I’m not so worried about that in this case.
  • They even use just essential oils for the fragrance, and I LOVED how my clothes smelled when I used this one.
  • Extra points for the option of a refillable glass bottle!

Price per ounce: $0.81

Ingredients: Water, decyl glucoside, sodium cocoamphoacetate, lauramine oxide, lactic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium gluconate, sodium citrate, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, amylase enzyme, lipase enzyme, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil.

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Common Good Laundry Detergent

Eco-Me Laundry Detergent

  • My favorite liquid natural laundry detergent
  • Safe ingredients list
  • Sorks well, and smells nice

Price per load: $0.22

Ingredients: Water, Potassium Cocoate (Coconut Oil Soap), Glyceryl Caprylate Caprate (Vegetable-Derived Thickener), Potassium Olivate (Olive Oil Soap), Potassium Jojobate (Jojoba Oil Soap), Rosmarinus (Rosemary Oil Extract) Officinalis Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Natural Fragrance Plant Essential Oils Blend.

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Eco-Me Laundry Detergent

Esembly Baby Laundry Detergent

  • Best brand for cloth-diapering moms
  • Works really well on workout clothes
  • Made in the USA
  • Ahort list of clean ingredients

Discount code: GOODSTUFF*10* for 10% off.

Price per ounce: $0.16

Ingredients: Sodium carbonate (CAS # 497-19-8), sodium sulfate (CAS # 7757-82-6), sodium percarbonate (CAS # 15630-89-4), hydrous sodium silicate (CAS # 133-09-8), ethoxylated alcohols c12-13 (CAS # 66455-14-9), ethoxylated alcohols c12-15 (CAS # 68131-39-5)

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Esembly Baby Laundry Detergent

Everneat

  • Plant-based ingredients
  • Compatible for HE washers
  • Safe for baby clothes and sensitive skin

Cost per load: $0.44

Ingredients:

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Everneat

GreenShield Laundry Detergent

  • Main cleaning agent here is saponified organic coconut oil
  • Unscented variety is great for even those with the most sensitive skin (like babies)
  • EWG score: A

Price per load: $0.26

Ingredients: Water, Sapindus Mukorissi (Organic Soap Nuts), Cocos Nucifera & Potassium Hydroxide (Saponified Organic Coconut Oil), Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (Organic Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Organic), Sea Salt, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum (Organic Guar Gum), Alcohol (Organic), Calcium Chloride, Quillaja Saponaria (Organic Soap Bark)

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GreenShield Laundry Detergent

Healthybaby Laundry Detergent Concentrate

  • 100% plant and mineral-based and is safe for a baby
  • Designed to be neurologically-safe and microbiome-friendly
  • I also really like how easy Healthybaby laundry detergent is to use. You can pump it directly into your washing machine without any spillage (it’s easy for my kids to do their own laundry with this one!)
  • Barely misses the Best Stuff designation because of sodium benzoate (but I am not worried about it here)

Price per ounce: $1.76 (but you need very little–this lasts forever!)

Use code GIMME15 for 15% off, including subscriptions.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Gluconic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil*, Linalool+, dI-Limonene+

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Healthybaby Laundry Detergent Concentrate

Hello Bello Organic Laundry Detergent

  • Among my favorite of the celebrity-run clean products brands
  • Legitimately safe list of ingredients

Price per ounce: $0.22

Ingredients: Water, Sapindus Mukorossi (Organic Soapberry) Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Organic Coconut) Oil & Potassium Hydroxide*, Sodium Citrate, Lonicera Japonica (Organic Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol (Organic), Sodium Chloride, Natural Fragrance, Sodium Carbonate, Glycerin (Organic) *None remains in the finished product

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Hello Bello Organic Laundry Detergent

Rockin Green

  • Plant-based ingredients
  • Free of harsh chemicals
  • Moved from Sneaky to Good Stuff since they now disclose that their fragrance is comprised of just essential oils

Cost per load: $0.26

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Rockin Green

Rosey (Thrive Market)

Cost per load: $0.10

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Laureth-7 (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Sodium Methyl-2 Sulfolaurate (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Sodium Bicarbonate (Mineral-Based pH Adjuster), Sodium Chloride (Mineral-Based Viscosity Modifier), Methyl Soyate (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent).

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Rosey (Thrive Market)

Rustic Strength

  • Uses only named essential oils – no “fragrance,” “parfum,” or blends
  • No synthetic fragrance oils or phthalates
  • Essential oils are plant-derived, biodegradable, and transparent
  • Linalool is naturally occurring (not synthetic)
  • The formula is free of optical brighteners, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and uses plant-based biodegradable surfactants
  • Would be considered Best Stuff if they removed phenoxyethanol as their preservative
  • Available in glass bottle

Cost per load: $0.25

Ingredients: Charcoal Filtered Deionized Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Vegetable Glycerin, Dimethyl 9-Decenamide, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Common Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Stoechas (French Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Latifolia (Portuguese Lavender) Herb Oil, Lavandula Hybrida (Hybrid Lavender) Oil, Linalool.

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Rustic Strength

Truly Free

  • Free of harsh chemicals and contains natural, plant-based ingredients
  • Helps your washing machine run smoother
  • Cuts down on plastic waste with refillable jugs

Cost per load: $0.40

Ingredients: Alkyl Polyglucoside,Citral (Citrus) ,Clove Leaf Oil-Plant Based,Eucalyptus Oil-Plant Based,Fir Needle Oil-Plant Based,Lavandin Grosso-Plant Based,Lime Oil-Plant Based,Limonene (Citrus),TetraSodium Salt,Precipitated Silica,Sodium Polyacrylate,Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate,Sodium Carbonate,Sodium Cocoate,Sodium Citrate,Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate,Hypromellose ,Cinnamal (Cinnamon) ,Coumarin (Cinnamon),Eugenol (Clove Leaf Oil) ,Evernia Furfuracea (Treemoss),Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss),Farnesol (Lemongrass),Geraniol (Geranium),Citronellol,Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange Peel Oil)

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Truly Free

Zum Clean Laundry Soap

  • Almost all of Zum’s formulas are safe, with three primary ingredients: vegetable glycerin, saponified coconut oil, and baking soda
  • Avoid the Frankincense & Myrrh formula as it contains synthetic fragrance (although it is free of phthalates)
  • EWG score: B-C, depending on the formula

Price per load: $0.34

Ingredients: water, potassium cocoate (saponified 100% coconut oil), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), fragrance (essential oils) and glycerin (vegetable)

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Zum Clean Laundry Soap

Clean People Liquid Laundry

  • Good avoidance of many high-risk additives (SLS, synthetic dyes, parabens, etc.).
  • Uses more biodegradable surfactants.
  • Environmentally conscious packaging. 
  • Some ingredients are still synthetic or semi-synthetic.

Cost per load: $0.26

Ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Oleate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Protease, Mannanase, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid.

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Clean People Liquid Laundry

Okay Stuff

365 Concentrated Laundry Detergent

  • Made without phosphates, chlorine, or artificial fragrances and dyes
  • Designed for HE washing machines, so you only need to use a small amount per load
  • The reason we call this one just Okay Stuff is that it uses synthetics and preservatives
  • It's not so different from mainstream “free & clear” detergents

Cost per ounce: $0.10

Ingredients: Water, Sapindus Mukorossi (Organic Soapberry) Fruit Extract, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Citrate, Lonicera Japonica (Organic Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol (Organic), Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Glycerin (Organic).

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365 Concentrated Laundry Detergent

BabyGanics Laundry Detergent

  • We are happy to move this laundry detergent from Sneaky Stuff to Okay Stuff because Babyganics finally ditched the SLES
  • It doesn't land in Good Stuff because of the benzisothiazolinone and phenoxyethanol, but I'm not especially worried about these in a rinse-out product (versus something you leave on your skin)
  • Contains more synthetics that other brands we like
  • Historically less transparent

Cost per ounce: $0.30


Ingredients: water, lauryl glucoside, propanediol, potassium cocoate, oleic acid, sodium citrate, lauramine oxide, protease, amylase, citric acid, sodium gluconate, benzisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride

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BabyGanics Laundry Detergent

Bloop

  • Designed for HE Washing machines

Cost per load: $0.78

Ingredients: Water, Coco Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoate, Glycerin, Polysorbate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Benzoate

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Bloop

Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent

  • Plant-based power to clean clothes gently
  • EWG-verified, meeting strict safety standards
  • We rate it “Okay Stuff” due to its synthetic fragrance
  • Transparent about all ingredients, and none are of concern
  • Dirty Labs does not use PFAS, brighteners, or dyes, either

Price per load: from $0.30 - $0.50

Ingredients: Lauryl glucoside (110615-47-9), Water (7732-18-5), Caprylyl/Capryl glucoside (68515-73-1), Glycerine (56-81-5), Capryloyl/Caproyl methyl glucamide (1591782-62-5), Coconut fatty acid (61788-47-4), Protease (Subtilisin) (aep) (9014-01-1), Sodium citrate (6132-04-3), Potassium hydroxide (1310-58-3), Propanediol (504-63-2), Alpha-Amylase (aep) (9000-90-2), Cellulase (aep) (9012-54-8), Mannanase (37288-54-3), Pectate lyase (9015-75-2), Sodium hydroxide (1310-73-2), Propylene glycol (57-55-6).

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Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent

Dropps Sensitive Skin & Baby Detergent

  • No dyes, phosphates, phthalates, or optical brighteners
  • We are calling this just Okay Stuff because the Pods are made of a PVA film (a bioplastic, but not plastic-free)

New customers can use code Gimme25 for 25% off and existing customers can use Gimme15 for 15% off.

Price per load: $0.54

Ingredients: Alcohols, C12-16, ethoxylated (cleaning agent), glycerin (dissolves ingredients)*, water (dissolves ingredients), alkyl glucoside (cleaning agent)*, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate (boosts cleaning power)*, lauramine oxide (cleaning agent)*, myristamine oxide (cleaning agent)*, subtilisin (enzyme), amylase (enzyme), lipase (enzyme), pectate lyase (enzyme), mannanase (enzyme), citric acid (stabilizer)*, polyvinyl alcohol (synthetic water soluble film with bittering agent). *Denotes plant or mineral origin.

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Dropps Sensitive Skin & Baby Detergent

Grab Green Laundry Detergent

  • If you love a detergent pod, this one does the job
  • Grab Green contains a few mildly concerning ingredients (such as sodium metasilicate, which may have respiratory effects), but only in small concentrations
  • The EWG score is a B
  • Okay Stuff because they come in plastic pods

PLEASE NOTE: Grab Green recently switched to synthetic fragrance (phthalate-free), so we only recommend the unscented natural laundry detergent.

Price per load: $0.31

Ingredients: sodium carbonate peroxide, sodium carbonate, Sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium metasilicate, tetraacetylethylenedidmaine, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, c9-11 pareth-6, hydrated silica, citric acid, protease enzyme blend (subtilisin), lipase enzyme blend, alpha-amylase enzyme blend, polyvinyl alcohol

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Grab Green Laundry Detergent

Kind Laundry Sheets

  • We are no longer recommending anything with plastic as Good Stuff, because of environmental concerns.
  • We've become more concerned about microplastics in the waterways (because sheets like this use PVA as a binder)

Cost per sheet:$0.36

Ingredients: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (Plant-Derived Cleaning Agent), Fatty Alcohol Polyglycol Ether (Biodegradable Grease Remover), Polyvinyl Alcohol (Biodegradable Polymer), Tea Seed Oil, Deionized Water, Fragrance

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Kind Laundry Sheets

Nellie’s Laundry Soda

  • We’ve moved Nellies from Sneaky to Okay Stuff, since they removed a few of their most concerning ingredients, and now garner an A from the EWG
  • We still don’t love alcohol ethoxylates and sodium metasilicate
  • Overall, we like that Nellie's is simply, but it's not as minimal as Meliora, so we prefer that one

Price per load: $0.27

Ingredients: Sodium Carbonate, Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metasilicate.

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Planet Laundry Detergent

  • Okay choice if you can’t find any of the Good Stuff
  • Contains laureth-7, which contains a bunch of contamination concerns
  • It's a fairly simple ingredients list, but not quite as minimal as we'd like for Good Stuff brands.

Price per ounce: $0.20

Ingredients: Water (carrier). Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-7 (plant-based cleaning agents). Sodium Chloride (mineral viscosity adjuster). Lauramine Oxide, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (plant-based cleaning agents). Sodium Sesquicarbonate (mineral alkalinity adjuster). Sodium Laurate (incidental ingredient).

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Bad Stuff

Most big name and generic laundry detergents have the same bad stuff in them; if a bottle doesn’t list its specific ingredients on the label, I wouldn’t use it.

Dreft, as we all know, is marketed as being special for babies and recommended by many pediatricians. Amazingly, nowhere on Dreft.com are ingredients mentioned. The closest they come is under their FAQ:

Q: How is Dreft formulated for my baby’s laundry needs?

A: The Dreft® formula is designed to not only help fight tough baby and toddler stains, but also provide a gentle clean for baby.

With a bit more sleuthing, I was at last able to dig up a list of Dreft ingredients. Fragrance, propylene glycol,ethanolamine, ethanol, sodium hydroxide, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 4000 (which Skin Deep scores as 5-8), and about a dozen other ingredients make up the “gentle” clean of Dreft.  EWG score: D-F, depending on the formula.

Tide has a section of its website devoted to product ingredients, and a quick scan reveals that it’s made up of lots of stuff that the EWG’s Skin Deep Database scores as moderately to highly hazardous—such as benzisothiazolinone, fragrance, FD&C Yellow 3, and laureth-9. EWG score: D-F, depending on the formula.

Sneaky Stuff

Better Life was once a Good Stuff fave for its natural, plant-based formula, but it has taken a turn we can’t support. They’ve added benzisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, preservatives known to irritate skin and potentially cause allergies.

BioKleen uses cocamidopropyl betaine as a surfactant, so I cannot call this Okay Stuff.

Caldrea Laundry Detergent. Also contains neurotoxic methylisothiazolinone and sodium laureth sulfate. EWG score: F.

Charlie’s Soap is the perennial favorite on tons of natural living blogs, and having used their powder formula, I can attest to its effectiveness.

Like other producers, Charlie’s is unwilling to provide their exact ingredients, and would only say this when I probed them further: “Our formulas are what make us special. They have been fully tested for toxicity (Duke University), biodegradability (Japan Food Research Labs), and effectiveness (SGS US Testing Labs). They are unique and (following the practices of Coca-Cola) secret. Their formula is secret too, but that doesn’t keep folks from drinking it.”

Hmmm, comparing themselves to Coke probably isn’t Charlie’s savviest PR move—The Coca-Cola Company is not exactly exemplary when it comes to concern for the health of its consumers. While Charlie’s denies using SLS or SLES, one of the ingredients they disclosed is sodium metasilicate–which Skin Deeps considers moderately hazardous and which the Journal of Reproduction and Fertility found to show reproductive effects in animals at low doses. EWG Score: D

Looks like Charlie's now lists ingredients but C12-16 pareth-9 and theC10-14 alcohol ethoxylate both come with possible contamination with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.

Citra-Suds has also been moved from Good Stuff to Sneaky Stuff. One of my readers suspected that their laundry detergent contains sodium laureth sulfate and I followed up to discover that it does. When doing the initial review, I had an email exchange with a company representative and I asked twice if their laundry detergent contained SLES. I was told that it did not.

I suspect that the woman I talked to was just uninformed, but this is no excuse. In addition, some Citra products (laundry and otherwise) contain limonene, a potential carcinogen, and definite respiratory irritant. I was told they used orange oil for fragrance, which is a misleading answer as orange oil is technically a different (and harmless) ingredient. It also contains neurotoxic methylisothiazolinon. EWG Score: C.

Clean Cult - Calls itself a plastic-free brand while uses plastic for sheets

Dapple’s various laundry detergents contain tetrasodium iminodisuccinate (which gets a C from EWG) and benzisothiazolinone, which is a concerning preservative.

DedCool is fragrance heavy and not transparent about their ingredients.

Earth Breeze uses PVA strips

Earth Friendly ECOS laundry detergents contain bad surfactants (like cocamidopropyl betaine) and preservatives (neurotoxic methylisothiazolinone).

Ecover gets an A from EWG, but because it contains sodium laureth sulfate, which is known to be contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane, I consider it to be Sneaky Stuff.

Grove Collaborative’s Ultra-Concentrated Laundry Detergent has plant-based power and eco-friendly features. But a closer look at the ingredients list reveals benzisothiazolinone  and methylisothiazolinone. 

Melaleuca Mela Power Laundry is going to remain here in Sneaky Stuff until this brand gets back to me with a list of any of the ingredients found in it. 

Method laundry products contain a number of concerning ingredients, from synthetic fragrances to PEG chemicals and preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone, a suspected neurotoxin.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Laundry Detergent. Contains synthetic fragrance (though phthalate-free), and preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone, a suspected neurotoxin. EWG Score: F.

Puracy laundry detergent contains borax, which doesn’t worry me, but which I know many of my readers would prefer to avoid. Worse, it uses cocamidopropyl betaine as a surfactant.

Sopadilla Lovely Liquid Laundry Liquid contains cocamidopropyl betaine.

Seventh Generation Liquid Formulas also contain methylisothiazolinone. The powder formulas are okay, but not quite Good Stuff. EWG Score: D.

Tide Free & Gentle contains 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen. (A recent New York Times blog post discussed Tide Free & Gentle Tide Free & Gentle specifically.) EWG Score: F.

While Trader Joe’s laundry has removed some problematic ingredients (like optical brighteners and synthetic fragrance), they still use cocamidopropyl betaine as their surfactant.

While Grove Collaborative emphasizes its plant-based cleaning power and eco-friendly packaging, it contains benzisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone.

Tru Earth laundry detergent is a popular brand that comes in strips for easy use. While it avoids some harsher chemicals, it contains cocamidopropyl betaine and synthetic fragrance, which doesn’t meet our criteria for the Good Stuff list.

I hope you found this guide helpful in your quest to find the best natural laundry detergent. Please comment below with other brands you’d like us to review–and we will include them in the next update of this guide.

Stay sane,
Author's Signature

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff! 

Tags:Cleaning Product Guides

376 comments

Maia James

I tried to look it up for you, but they don’t seem to list their ingredients on their website. If you let me know what’s in their formula, I’m happy to take a look. Thanks!
-M

Terry

Hi Maia, Anita and Stephanie,

What are your thoughts on Method’s Baby Laundry detergent (apparently only come in a liquid formula, unfortunately as I agree with you on Powder vs. Liquid Anita)? And in general, what are your thoughts on Free and Clear formulas? While generally I don’t disagree with you, Anita, on SLS it is not suitable for us because of an allergy in our family to SLS and SLES – and Dapple contains Sodium Coco Sulfate, chemically the same as SLS. Any suggestions? Many thanks, Terry

Patti Hovdenes

Hi Maia,
I found NearBayou laundry soap at my local grocer while looking for a safer laundry detergent/soap. I purchased and used it the last couple of months and I am very happy with it. Have you researched and used it and if so, what are your findings?

Maia James

I don’t like it, mostly because of the cocamidopropyl betaine. Otherwise, it’s okay. I just think there are better options out there!

Grace

What’s your opinion on Biokleen Free & Clear liquid laundry detergent? It was recommended on another site, though I can’t remember what site that was at the moment.

Thanks!

victor

Hi my name is victor I have exactly what you are looking for SA8 detergent my email is vic.l.more86@gmail.com you can contact me for more information

Tess Tenney

Hi Amy,

We are a small family business doing our best to help our community. We make our own soap from a Castile base, which is also homemade. My in-laws started making this soap because they had a lot of children(16 children altogether) and needed an economical, yet safe alternative to commercial laundry detergent.Her little abbies were all in cloth diapers and were breaking out in rashes because of their laundry detergent. Our soap is plant based and all our ingredients are listed on our website – www.nearbayou.com We sell scented and unscented laundry soap. You may check out my Etsy store for cheap homemade laundry soap at https://www.etsy.com/shop/NearBayouNaturals?ref=hdr_shop_menu I do hope it is what you were looking for. Regards, Tess

Halie

What about Ecos?? Ive been using that for my baby girlsclothes!

Amy

Hi! I really enjoy reading your Safe Product Guides. Thank you for taking the time to create them! What would you recommend as a more economical alternative for detergents? We are on a fixed income and do a ton a laundry, so I’m looking for a safe yet affordable detergent I can commit to (without creating my own). Thank you!

Shearl

What about the Ecos brand laundry detergent?? I believe you once had it as “the Good Stuff”.

Esan Korede

Thanks for the response in your mail.

I will check on EWG but then let me ask again – I ve been doing some readings on Alkyl Ployglucoside and discovered that it is a family of safe surfactants. Which variants in your opinion iare good for laundry (good foaming, wetting, and cleaning)? Pls if you have a document on the list of all Alkyl Ployglucosides and application of each, kindly post? A billion thanks this time

Kayla

I am curious what detergents you recommend that fit the requirements you laid out?

Stephanie

The EWG is NOT a good resource for evidence-based (read: scientific) information.

Nicole

Hi! What about Full Circle Laundry Detergent? Thank you for all your info and help!

Anita

Honest is not so honest with some of their claims (e.g. “No SLS” but they use sodium coco sulfate which chemically is the same) but their detergent is fine anyway. I would recommend Dapple natural baby laundry pods. They clean better

Brenda

What about Honest Landry detergent?

Anita

Ok.. I just can’t stand it any more. I’m a PhD chemist and I formulate laundry detergents. The misinformation that is propagated by posts like this is just mind boggling. I am a mom too and I totally understand that you’re concern with health and safety of your children. Also I’m very “green”. I care deeply about the environment and try to pollute as little as possible. But please, let’s not get obsessed! Everything is toxic- it all depends on concentration. Water will kill you if you drink too much of it.
Let me share with some facts:
– petrochemicals are just as good/bad as “naturally derived” chemicals. It’s the chemical that is good/bad not the source/raw material
– phospahtes are bad for the environment but laundry waste water is a tiny fraction of the pollution. Overdosing and uneducated use of fertilizers is much bigger issue that should be addressed. Besides nobody uses phosphates in laundry anymore anyway (even though they work great!)
– SLS is not toxic/carcinogenic. In fact it is a great surfactant (cleaning agent). If it is applied directly on skin it can cause irritation (because it washes off protective oil on your skin so well) but when used in laundry it will be washed off and will not contact your skin.
– sodium metasilicate is totally safe cleaning agent/pH adjuster/soil redeposition agent. It can have “respiratory effect” if you want to breath it in.. But I wouldn’t recommend to sniff your powder detergent :) And BTW essential oils can cause respiratory effect too if you breath the vapors but again it’s all about concentration.
– bleach is safe! Just don’t drink it or sniff it! And read the instructions about dilutions. The chlorine is there in a form of sodium hypochlorite and not in a form of toxic gas (unless you mix it with acidic toilet bowl cleaner…). It’s like saying eating table salt will kill you (salt contains chlorine and sodium).
In general you’re safe using most of the detergents.
However I have to agree on some of the points the author makes:
– I wouldn’t recommend optical brighteners – they are design to stay on the clothes so they appear whiter that they really are. They can cause some irritation to sensitive skin. Just dry your clothes outside if possible. Good old sun will do the brightening for you.
– avoid fragrance in general. You really don’t need it. Clean laundry should smell.. like nothing. That’s indication of clean laundry. At very low concentrations they are fine if you really want your laundry to smell but they can irritate sensitive skin
– dyes are totally unnecessary. And can be irritating. They add them for purely esthetical reasons.
– make sure ingredients are biodegradable. Just be nice for the environment.
I also recommend to use concentrated powders instead of liquids for two reasons:
1. don’t pay for water and extra packaging
2. to reduce the amount of chemicals. In liquid you have to add special chemicals (that don’t do any cleaning) to keep all ingredients “together” so they won’t phase separate but also won’t deactivate each other.
I can attach references if you ’re interested. And please let me know if you have any questions. I would love to debunk some of the urban legends circulating around this topic.
Stay happy and healthy!

Maia James

Sonett is my favorite:)

Maia James

Nellie’s is Sneaky Stuff:(

Maia James

Hi Stephanie!
Yes, I would feel comfortable using any of the Good Stuff on baby clothes.

Maia James

Hi Anna-
Yes, Rockin Green looks good!

Stephanie

LOVED finding this site! Question on the detergents… are ALL of the “good” detergents 100% safe for baby skin (minus any allergies / sensitivities per baby)? THANK YOU!!!

Amy Dell

Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into these guides!

I cloth diaper and am wondering if any of “The Good Stuff” Landry detergents would not work well for cloth diapering. Are there a few you think will clean them best? Thanks!

Amy

What about Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda?

Tonya

You mention that both Sonett & Eco-Me are your favorite. I’m not sure when this post was written, but I’m curious if you still like them both equally or if your opinion has changed on either. Thanks!

Anna

Thanks for this post…I was surprised to find my usual clothing detergent (Seventh Generation) on the ‘Sneaky’ list. I use ‘Rockin’ Green’ powered detergent on my cloth diapers and it does an excellent job. Would you recommend it?

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