UPDATED: FEBRUARY 2018
I remember fondly the days before I started using natural laundry detergents….While I was never was a big fan of cologne, I used to find a man who emitted the intoxicating scent of Tide to be irresistible.
For the last ten years, Daylon’s clothes have smelled like Tandi’s Naturals laundry soap—which is to say they smell like essentially nothing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Read on to learn more about why I made the switch the natural laundry soaps, what to look out for in conventional laundry products, and how to avoid the Sneaky Stuff.
My Top Pick for Natural Laundry Soap
I thought I would never fall in love with a powder laundry soap, until I met Tandi’s. Try it. You’ll see. (Plus it has absolutely nothing concerning in the ingredients).
$17.99 – $28.99Select options
Toxins in Laundry Detergent
All laundry detergents leave a residue on clothing, which is absorbed by our skin (and inhaled). 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 (some ingredients are even considered potential carcinogens, but I’m not going to suggest that if you don’t give up your Tide you’ll get cancer).
Best Natural Laundry Soap for Cloth Diapers
If you’re a cloth-diapering mama, then you need to know about Mama Suds.$17.00Select options
What Are the Ingredients in Tide?
Because of “trade secrets,” manufacturers are not required to disclose what’s in their laundry detergent, so the ingredient list is usually vague and not very helpful. Conventional laundry detergent generally contain the following:
- synthetic detergents, which are often made of petrochemicals
- phenols (established endocrine disruptors, of which BPA is the most notorious)
- beloved, delicious, and totally toxic fragrance (which usually contains phthalates)
- optical brighteners, which are often made from benzene, a definite carcinogen
- bleach, which contains chlorine (an environmental toxin–and possibly a carcinogen and endocrine disruptor)
- phosphates, which break down minerals and render detergent more effective, but with harmful environmental ramifications
Dirty Detergents
A 2008 study found that of all the top selling laundry detergent brands tested, each contained at least one ingredient considered hazardous under federal law. None of these ingredients was listed on the label and the study didn’t disclose which brands were tested—annoying, I know!
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–probably the same people who make their bed in the morning even if no one is coming over. While I envy such organization, I personally feel successful if a cloth diaper is washed separately from a cashmere sweater.
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.
Tallow-based laundry soap works as well as detergent and may not trigger eczema.
Who Uses Powder Detergent?
I used to think no one did, but then I tried it and it turns out it works just as well as liquid. The only one I use now is Tandi’s natural laundry soap, since almost every “natural” laundry detergent brand is not natural at all. Tandi’s contains nothing concerning and works so much better than the Sneaky Stuff we used to use (I remember washing Felix’s bibs in Seventh Generation detergent and then pulling them out of the dryer and seeing food still stuck on the fronts). I didn’t think I could fall in love with a tallow-based, powder detergent, but there you go. Tandi’s is the best natural laundry detergent for babies’ clothes and mine.
Here’s a video of my dad demonstrating the super cool dispenser on his favorite brand of Good Stuff laundry soap, Pure.
The Good Stuff
Better Life Laundry Detergent
Although this laundry liquid has a great safety profile, with an A from EWG, we had a number of customers complain that it faded the colors of their laundry, so we have chosen to stop carrying it in our online store.
Christina Maser Concentrated Laundry Soap
This is a natural laundry soap rather than a detergent, and a perfect alternative to Tandi’s for those of you who want a vegan option for your laundry. Start with a glass jar, and then refill with eco-friendly bags. You can even set it and forget it by ordering via a subscription.
$22.00 – $29.00Select options
Eco-Me Laundry Detergent
This is my favorite liquid natural laundry detergent–it’s got a safe ingredients list, works well, and smells nice. EWG score:
$13.75Select options
Fit Organic Laundry Detergent
You guys have been asking about this one for years, and I am pleased to say that–after reviewing the ingredients in Fit’s various lines of natural laundry detergents–it is definitely Good Stuff! The surfactant is saponified coconut oil, and Fit laundry detergent doesn’t contain any of the usual gross preservatives. EWG score: A
Grab Green Laundry Detergent
If you love a detergent pod, here is your safest bet. GrabGreen contains a few mildly concerning ingredients (such as sodium metasilicate, which may have respiratory effects), but only in small concentrations. EWG score: B
PLEASE NOTE: Grab Green recently switched to synthetic fragrance (phthalate-free), so we only recommend the unscented natural laundry detergent. And their dish soap and hand soap should be avoided as they both contain SLES.
GreenShield Laundry Detergent
This awesome natural laundry detergent has a totally safe ingredients list, with the main cleaning agent being saponified organic coconut oil. The unscented variety is great for even those with the most sensitive skin (like babies). EWG score: A
MamaSuds Liquid Laundry
MamaSuds is a 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. They are also incredibly effective and completely free of the Bad Stuff.
Note: This soap contains borax.
$17.00Select options
Molly’s Suds
Molly’s Suds line of laundry products are safe, and even include some organic ingredients, such as peppermint oil.
MyGreenFills Refillable Laundry Wash
MyGreenFills has a very cool concept (and would save a ton of plastic!). Their surfactant (sodium cocoate) is safe, but I wasn’t sure about the “fragrance from natural sources.” I did hear back from them and it’s 100% essential oils! I’m a convert:).
Pure Natural Laundry Detergent
This natural laundry liquid has quickly become one of our favorite new laundry soaps! It is made from soap berries and does a great job. A little bit goes a long way, and the container has an easy to use measuring chamber. They come in a 2-pack which will wash 128 loads in an HE machine! (Here’s a video that shows you how to use this natural laundry soap!)
$27.90Add to cart
Sonett Laundry Liquid
This is my favorite natural laundry detergent. It’s made in Germany, smells delish (although it’s also available in an unscented Neutral), and gets our clothes super clean. Of course, it contains none of the questionable ingredients listed above.
$27.99Select options
Tandi’s Naturals
Tandi’s concentrated laundry soap is suitable for regular and HE washers. Tandi 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.
$17.99 – $28.99Select options
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 formula
The Okay Stuff
Attitude
Attitude laundry detergent contains a few mildly concerning ingredients, like allyl caproate and sodium coco-sulfate, but isn’t a terrible option if the Good Stuff is unavailable.
Honest Co.’s 4 in 1 Laundry Pods
Honest Co.’s laundry pods are given an A by EWG, but I can only call them Okay Stuff, thanks to some semi-sketchy ingredients like polyvinyl alcohol.
Planet Laundry Detergent
Planet’s laundry detergent is an okay choice if you can’t find any of the Good Stuff, but I’m not crazy about the fact that it contains laureth-7, which contains a bunch of contamination concerns.
The 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 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 formula.
The Sneaky Stuff
BabyGanics Loads of Love Laundry Detergent. Contains SLES and undisclosed conditioning agents. I like that they are relatively transparent about all of their ingredients, and while nothing sounds particularly horrid, when I asked for more details on what was meant by “naturally derived plant based cleaning agents,” they admitted: “Our products do not contain SLS however some our products do have SLES in them.” Yuck! I’ve often made my peace with SLS, but definitely not with its more sinister cousin, which is sometimes contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a well-established carcinogen. EWG Score: F.
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) and 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
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 uniformed, 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.
Dapple’s various laundry detergents contain tetrasodium iminodisuccinate (which gets a C from EWG), cocamidopropyl betaine (which also gets a C), and benzisothiazolinone, which is a concerning preservative.
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.
Green Works Free & Clear Detergent contains a number of bad ingredients, including synthetic preservatives. EWG score: F.
If You Care’s laundry liquid contains yucky preservatives like methylisothiazolinone as well as PEG-chemicals.
Method laundry products contain a number of concerning ingredients, from synthetic fragrance to PEG chemicals.
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Laundry Detergent. Contains synthetic fragrance (though phthalate-free), and preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone, a suspected neurotoxin. EWG Score: F.
Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soap contains a number of ingredients of concern, including alcohol ethoxylates (which gets a D from EWG), sodium metasilicate (which gets an F), and cocomide DEA (another F).
Ology Laundry Liquid contains a bunch of ingredients that give me pause, from laureth-7 to cocamidopropyl betaine. I don’t know why EWG gives this laundry detergent an A, but I strongly disagree with this assessment.
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.
Seventh Generation Liquid Formulas. Also contains methylisothiazolinone. The powder formulas are okay, but not quite Good Stuff. EWG Score: D.
Tide Free & Gentle contains optical brighteners and 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen. (A recent New York Timesblog post discussed Tide Free & Gentle specifically.) EWG Score: F.
A Note on Drycleaning
Be wary of organic dry-cleaning establishments. These are almost always sneaky! Learn how to find truly safe professional cleaning services in our recent blog meh “The Truth About Organic Drycleaning.”
by
Anna says
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?
Maia James says
Hi Anna-
Yes, Rockin Green looks good!
Lauren says
Hi, did you ever hear anything about the detergent brand attitude for little ones.
Tamara says
Rockin green will not effectively clean diapers. I use to use it and ended up with ammonia which caused ammonia burns on my LO.
Ann says
what do you use instead? I am trying to get rid of the ammonia smell in my cloth diapers.
Renee says
Hi. Have you been able to find anything to get rid of the ammonia smell? I’m having the same problems, and they smell just down right funky once my little one urinates in them. I currently use Tandis, and it’s not working well. 🙁
Glenellen Maxwell says
OK, I am old school being over 70, but I used to use a diaper pail full of water and add a cup of Borax . I would immediately throw rinse diapers and stained clothing into soak until laundry time. The whole thing plus my laundry soap got dumped in the machine for super soft stain freeand fresh smelling baby clothes.
Judy says
I had the same issue with our cloth diapers. First i did a cold rinse then I added 3/4 cup of white vinegar to the bleach compartment (HE front loader) and washed with hot water. Problem solved!!
Kris says
If possible, dry cloth diapers outside in bright sunshine. Will get rid of the ammonia.
Juanita says
I throw in a little vinegar and it seems to have done the trick. I also hang outside and it helps.
angelina says
I am having a baby soon, wondering which detergent I should get to wash all her stuff in and that would be easy to get and supply….
looking at the Tandi’s, the Greenshield, or another company not sure if you have researched them yet, they are fairly new they are called MYGreenfills laundry detergent…. Let me know what you think.. and if any of these or if one you think works better than another.
Maia James says
My vote is for Tandi’s, and it’s what we use ourselves. I haven’t heard of MyGreenfills but will add it to the list for when we update this guide!
Vanessa says
Have you heard of Lion Bear Naked Soap? Funny name I know, it’s a company based out of Denton, TX. Not very known, but I tried out their unscented laundry powder after seeing they had high EWG ratings. Makes our clothes smell fresh! I love it but I hate that shipping costs as much as the product..
Also what are your thoughts on Dapple?
Maia James says
I am not familiar with Lion Bear soap, but will add to my list for a future investigation! Dapple is mostly okay, although there are other brands that I prefer.
Tonya says
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!
Maia James says
Sonett is my favorite:)
Amy says
What about Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda?
Maia James says
Nellie’s is Sneaky Stuff:(
Debbie says
What Ingredient in Nellie is considered sneaky? I want to go with tandi but it’s so incredibly expensive for a small amount and I am trying to find a detergent for my ezcema baby ?
Maia James says
Here are the ingredients the concern me in Nellie’s:
ttp://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/3124
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/5615
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substance_groups/55
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/1380
Amy Dell says
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!
Mamma B says
I’m wondering this too.
Audrey says
I need help finding a good cloth diaper laundry soap as well!
Nicole says
I’m struggling with the same thing. Unfortunately, all the detergents on this list seem to be “not recommended” for use with cloth diapers. According to the website Fluff Love University, they don’t recommend detergents if it “does not contain a sufficient concentration of surfactant to clean human waste from multi-layered cloth diapers when used at up to three times the manufacturer’s recommended use amount, uses a formula that is known to cause burns to users, uses a formula that will cause damage to cloth diapers or impede their function (as by coating fibers to trap soil or cause repelling of liquids), has been consistently shown to be ineffective among users in our Facebook troubleshooting group.”
Here’s a site I use to check: http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/detergent-index/
Personal results may vary, but in the mean time, I’m still searching!
Alison says
I’m struggling with this exact same issue! The best detergent I’ve found that fluff love university recommends is Attitude, but I’m not sure if it would be considered “Good Stuff”….
Stephanie says
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!!!
Maia James says
Hi Stephanie!
Yes, I would feel comfortable using any of the Good Stuff on baby clothes.
Anita says
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!
Kayla says
I am curious what detergents you recommend that fit the requirements you laid out?
victor says
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
Terry says
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
Maia James says
Hi Terry-
I don’t like Method–their baby detergent contains synthetic fragrance (although free of phthalates), optical brighteners, and PEG-chemicals. Free & Clear formulas vary by brand–some I think are good, others just pure greenwashing. Have you checked out Tandi’s laundry detergent? It’s made of beef tallow, which sounds weird, but it’s worked very well for us, and developed sort of a cult following.
Angie says
So it doesn’t matter what time of laundry soap just avoid optical brighteners and make sure it is biodegradable. I have been trying to eliminate toxins in my house and it has been very overwhelming.
Maia James says
Hi Angie-
I know how overwhelming it can be, and it sounds like you’re off to a great start! In terms of laundry detergent, you definitely want to avoid optical brighteners and any synthetic fragrance. I hope the list of Good Stuff above will be helpful!
Camilla says
Thanks for the clarification and alternate perspective. After reading your thoughts/input I’m curious to know, what detergent to you use for your own family?
Maia James says
We use Tandi’s! As do the other Gimme the Good Stuff owners;)
Kayla says
I really respect what you said and how you said it. I’m wondering what resources you have to share for non scientists to review.
I’m also wondering what you think about the EWG.
As for the validity of avoiding “chemicals,” for some it is a matter of health. Chemical sensitivity is real- recognized by the CDC and HUD (requiring housing modifications for section 8 housing recipients who have MCS disorder). Most of us who are researching recommendations such as this site has to give are seeking resolutions after experiencing immune complications.
For me, I prefer to keep things as simple as possible. Including not using soaps that remove my skin’s oil because it isn’t meant to be disturbed. Our bodies don’t need soap- they need oil and warm water to be cleaned.
Another interesting tidbit is the New Zealand study that illuminated SIDS by sealing the crib mattresses to illuminate off gassing. SIDS dropped from 150-some odd cases to zero. That is significant. If not for picking a non surfactant laundry detergent, avoiding the things mentioned for mattresses and furniture could be very valid.
And anyway, the way I generally feel about things is that we have choices for a reason. Different bodies respond to different household items the same way they respond to foods differently. It’s ok for someone to find a way of purchasing things that works for them that might be contrary to what chemists think, because scientific opinion changes. Particularly in regard to what’s deemed as safe in our homes and bodies.
Kayla says
Eliminate not illuminate
David Block II says
What detergent is best for flame resistant clothing? Tallow is not supposed to be used at all so they say. I just want my FR clothing to stay FR since I am a lineman. Meaning I work on 4100 KV to 500000KV.
Maia James says
I’m sorry, but this is outside my area of expertise! Maybe someone else will chime in with an answer!
Brenda says
What about Honest Landry detergent?
Anita says
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
Nicole says
Hi! What about Full Circle Laundry Detergent? Thank you for all your info and help!
Stephanie says
The EWG is NOT a good resource for evidence-based (read: scientific) information.
Esan Korede says
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
Shearl says
What about the Ecos brand laundry detergent?? I believe you once had it as “the Good Stuff”.
Maia James says
Hi Shearl-
See my comments on Ecos below (I’m not a fan).
Amy says
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!
Tess Tenney says
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 – http://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 says
What about Ecos?? Ive been using that for my baby girlsclothes!
Maia James says
I don’t love some of the ingredients in Ecos, including the preservative methylisothiazolinone.
Brie says
You don’t like some ingredients listed even though you have it under “good stuff”?
Candice says
Ecos is a completely different brand from
Eco-me FYI
Grace says
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!
Maia James says
I don’t like it, mostly because of the cocamidopropyl betaine. Otherwise, it’s okay. I just think there are better options out there!
Patti Hovdenes says
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 says
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
Tess Tenney says
Hi Maia, This is Tess from NearBayou. I would be happy to share a full list of our ingredients with you. What would be a good email address to reach you at?
And Patti, I am glad you like our soap. Thank you for supporting us! Much appreciated 🙂
Regards,
Tess
Nicole says
I have been using Ology detergent since my son was born, it got an A rating for their free & clear on EWG and a B rating for their Lavender/Vanilla. I like it alot, it cleans the clothes nicely and is pretty cost effective. It’s actually made by Wagreens I think. Anyone else try it? Maia any thoughts?
Angie says
Hi Maia,
I am trying to make the changes to remove all of the toxins from my house. I was wondering about seventh generation free and clear laundry detergent or Dr Bonners soap. Thank you in advance for your help.
Maia James says
Dr. Bronner’s is definitely Good Stuff:). You can see my thoughts on 7th Gen above, under Sneaky Stuff.
Tamara says
Hi, I read under your description that Tandi’s powdered laundry soap is not for use on wool and silk fabrics. What do you use to wash your wool and silk laundry?
Thanks!
Maia James says
At the moment I am using this, but will need to find a replacement since it’s no longer being imported to the US:
http://amzn.to/1PXzTTS
Kelly says
Hi! Just curious what your thoughts are on the Honest Company laundry pods. I saw a comment above from someone else, but was curious what you thought. Thanks!
Maia James says
Some of the ingredients aren’t great, but overall I think the pods are fine…
Erica says
Hi Maia,
We just started using If You Care laundry detergent after failing to find Green Shield at any Whole Foods near us. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Erica
Maia James says
I’ll respond on FB now, but looks like Good Stuff! 🙂
Maia James says
I stand corrected—If You Care’s laundry liquid is Sneaky.
Zaira says
Hello… Let me start by saying a big THANK YOU for what you do for us.
Have you heard of Nellie’s laundry soda? What do you think of it?
Z
Maia James says
Sneaky Stuff, unfortunately:(
Debbie says
What makes it sneaky? What do you think about Eco zone balls?
Maia James says
These are the ingredients in Nellie’s products that concern me:
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/3124
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/5615
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substance_groups/55
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/1380
I am sorry, but I am not familiar with Eco Zone Balls–will check them out!
Sarah says
Do u recommend borax in homemade laundry detergent?
Maia James says
I haven’t found any studies to suggest that borax is truly toxic, but I know some people really worry about this ingredient (including EWG), so it’s really a personal call.
Christine says
Do you know if Eco-Me laundry Detergent is safe for cloth diapers?
michelle says
What are your thoughts on country save detergent?
Maia James says
I don’t know that brand, but will add it to the list! 🙂
Sarah D. says
Thanks for adding to your list–it’s what was recommended to me for cloth diapers and has worked great for me. But it’s not on EWG either, so I’d love an opinion; thanks! 🙂
Stephanie says
Hi Maia,
Any recommendations on stain remover that is safe for baby clothing? I find that the EcoMe detergent sometimes needs a little help for tougher stains.
Thanks!
Stephanie
Maia James says
The Ecover one is the one I use–not perfect, but the least bad I’ve found.
Melissa says
How about Sonnet stain remover? Thanks
Maia James says
Safe!
Katie says
What is the best detergent for cloth diapers as far as safe and effective? Does anyone know much about Charlie Banana?
lm1212 says
I just ordered Tandi’s laundry soap and wanted to know if it’s safe for use on cloth diapers?
Thanks!
Amanda says
Can you use any of the safe products in high efficiency washing machine? Or any recommendations for high efficiency washing machines and what about dryer sheets?
Thank you
Maia says
Yes, they are all fine for HE machines. Instead of dryer sheets, we recommend these: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/soaring-heart-organic-wool-dryer-balls-2-pack/
Kelly says
What are your thoughts on ALL Free and Clear?
Maia James says
sneaky:(
Debbie says
What are the sneaky ingredients?
Maia James says
Here’s a list: http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/6360-AllLiquidDetergentFreeClear
Yukino says
Hi Maia,
Have you heard of The Soap Works? I am wondering if their “Pure Laundry Soap Powder” is pretty much the same as the Tandi’s product… and considered Good Stuff? (http://puresoapworks.com/laundrypowder.htm)
Thank you!
Maia James says
Hi Yukino-
there are a few differences, mainly that this soap contains borax, and Tandi’s does not. Some people think borax is toxic, but I’m not particularly worried about it.
Ashley Lewis says
Mia,
What would you recommend for getting whites whiter or removing stains?. I have a 20 month old and can’t seem to get the stains from his lighter clothing. (Stains from oranges). I use greenshield organic laundry detergent
Maia James says
I use this: http://amzn.to/1RYg0xh
I would say it’s Okay Stuff, not really Good Stuff, but considering I don’t use much of it, I’m fine with it!
Ashley says
My 4 month old son has really bad eczema, and I’m thinking it could be due to my laundry detergent. Is Tandi’s gentle enough for babies with eczema, or can it be harsh? I have also read that laundry soap can decrease the flame retardant properties of clothes. Is this a concern with Tandi’s?
Maia James says
Hi Ashley-
I actually recommend Tandi’s for clients with eczema because it contains no detergent–it’s old fashioned tallow soap. And clothing is no longer treated with flame retardant chemicals, which is a good thing:).
Debbie says
What other brands from the good stuff list would you recommend for babies with ezcema? I am trying to find a more affordable option than tandi’s.
Thanks!
Maia James says
If you want to use a true laundry soap (rather than a detergent), check out MamaSuds: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/mamasuds-liquid-laundry/
Sarah says
Have you heard of Molly’s Suds? Would you consider that “Good Stuff”?
Maia James says
Yes Molly’s is Good Stuff:)
Natasha says
What you think about Aden and Anais laundry detergent?
Maia James says
i can’t find their ingredients listed anywhere! if you can send along, I am happy to weigh in.
Sarah D. says
Have you found a new detergent to use for wool? How would you recommend washing wool–I’ve heard variations and don’t want to damage my mattress covering that I’m going to start using (thanks to your site for introducing me to the idea of using wool for that, by the way!) Also, would you re-lanolize it on a regular basis and if so, how do you do that and do you have a link for what/where to get it? Thanks for creating such a helpful site as we try to take steps toward detoxing our home!
Maia James says
The only good wool cleaner I know is Sonnet, but it is no longer being imported to the US. You could contact Sonett USA http://sonett.us.com/ and see if they have any left in stock that they could send you!
Melissa says
I am from Canada, and I can’t find any of the good stuff here. Is there another list of any that would be available here?
Kelly says
I was also wondering about Molly Suds. This is what I found.
Ingredients
Proprietary blend of: sodium carbonate (sourced from the Green River Basin in WY), sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate (heptahydrate), unrefined sea salt, organic peppermint (menthe piperita) oil.
Maia James says
Yes, Molly’s is Good Stuff:)
Kim says
I know Molly’s Suds is safe, but have you tried it? I went through 2 bags of it to give it a fair chance but really did not clean my laundry well. I even emailed them asking for tips and they suggested hot water, which shrunk my clothes! Anyway, I’m curious if Tandi’s is similar in cleaning to Molly’s Suds because I am considering trying Tandi’s but want something that works much better than Molly’s Suds. Thanks!
Maia James says
I THINK Molly’s sent me samples a long time ago and I tried it, but all the samples are bleeding together in my mind, so I can’t promise my memory is accurate! In any event, I do truly love the Tandi’s detergent, and it is the single best seller in our store, so others do too:). The ingredients are totally different from Molly’s (it is tallow-based), so I would say it’s worth a try! My clothes come out of the dryer totally clean.
Robin says
What are your thoughts about Dapple Fragrance Free Natural Baby Laundry Detergent. According to their website, the ingredients are as follows:
Water, citric acid, tetrasodium iminodisuccinate (natural complexing agent), sodium citrate (natural water softener derived from citric acid), glycerin (natural emollient), coconut fatty acid (natural cleaner derived from coconut), sodium lauroamphoacetate (natural cleaner derived from tree oils and glucose), lauryl glucoside (natural cleaner derived from glucose), protease & amylase (natural enzymes to enhance cleaning power), cellulose (natural derived thickening agent), benzisothiazolinone (preservative).
Robin says
What do you think about Dapple baby detergent. The website list the following ingredients:
Water, citric acid, tetrasodium iminodisuccinate (natural complexing agent), sodium citrate (natural water softener derived from citric acid), glycerin (natural emollient), coconut fatty acid (natural cleaner derived from coconut), sodium lauroamphoacetate (natural cleaner derived from tree oils and glucose), lauryl glucoside (natural cleaner derived from glucose), protease & amylase (natural enzymes to enhance cleaning power), cellulose (natural derived thickening agent), benzisothiazolinone (preservative).
Maia James says
The only ingredient I am not really into is benzisothiazolinone. You can check our glossary for more on why:)
Sal says
Is Sonett laundry liquid Lavender as good as the Clear Sonett.
Maia James says
Yes, they work equally well.
Sal says
Is the Sonett laundry liquid lavender as good as the Sonett clear detergent. Thanks.
Maia James says
Yes, all are equally safe.
Phil says
do you have any experience with the better life brand? I am becoming a big fan of their’s and wondering how their laundry detergent is.
http://www.cleanhappens.com/products/spin-credible-laundry-detergent?variant=383598258
Maia James says
I would call Better Life laundry detergent Good Stuff, despite some surfactants with a lack of safety data.
jennifer says
We recently switched from Ecos to Grab Green, and I’m loving their lavender pods. After finding your site, I looked into it a little more, and the package itself it doesn’t list it, but on their website, they list “sodium sulfate” as an ingredient. I’ve emailed the company to understand if that’s SLS or something else. But it’s not even listed on my package so I’m downright confused.
Miss G says
http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/detergent-index/
For those interested, here’s a good index of laundry detergents and their effectiveness for cloth diapers based on user input.
Alicia says
Hi Maia! I have been looking at the links to Greenshield and Eco-me laundry detergent that you provided. I noticed you only have certain ones pictured, so are all of their detergents safe or just the ones you have pictured under your good stuff list? Thanks is advance! And thank you for providing all of this information!
Maia James says
Everything from Eco-Me is safe. Greenshield has changed their ingredients so I now want to look into them again to make sure they still are Good Stuff:)
Alicia says
Great! Thank you so much! Would you consider Eco-me dish soap and liquid hand soap good stuff as well??
Alicia says
Thank you! I was just looking over your blog again and I see you also have Eco-me dish soap listed and you had commented that their hand soap is good as well! I will be trying these products out! I struggle finding a good liquid hand soap!
Kaileigh says
Hi Maia. Did you look into the changes that GreenShield has made? I am looking into getting their detergent. Thank you!
Melissa says
Any ingredients of concern in Attitude’s BABY LAUNDRY DETERGENT -Fragrance-free?
aqua <100%
anionic surfactant derived from coconut <30%
non-ionic surfactants derived from corn and coconut <7%
sodium citrate <5%
sodium gluconate <5%
Lauren says
I noticed the newly added liquid detergent, mama suds, contains borax. You still consider this safe?
Maia James says
Yes, I do. There is a ton of confusion around borax–mostly people confusing sodium tetraborate with boric acid. The bottom line is that I just cannot find evidence that the former is harmful unless ingested in large amounts. I do plan to write a blog on this soon to provide more detail. Thanks for being vigilant!
Brie says
What are your thoughts on Eco-Baby?
Maia James says
Not sure what brand that is–could you provide a list of ingredients?
Brie says
What are your thoughts on Disney Baby Eco? Also, I see the Eco is on your “good stuff” list but then you explained to someone that you do not like their ingredients.
Pat says
Thoughts on Ecover Zero laundry detergent? EWG gave it an “A”.
Maia James says
I don’t know why they rate it an A, as it contains sodium laureth sulfate.
Laura says
Since Sonett seemed to be your go to for all household items and they are no longer being shipped to the US, is there one particular brand that you would recommend for all household items? Laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, all purpose cleaners, bleach alternatives, bathroom cleaners? Something that is a good bang for your buck? I’m so upset to see that Method sprays and cleaners are not safe as they truly worked for me. $14 for 32oz of EcoMe detergent is a bit ridiculous and Greenshield has reviews where people say it doesn’t clean. It’s quite overwelming and having to pick and chose items from different brands gets to be too much.
Alicia says
I agree with the above comment, it does get to be too much. I stumbled across a brand called Puracy. I haven’t had time to really look into that brand. What are your thoughts on Puracy? Good, bad, sneaky??
Maia James says
From the research I’ve done so far, it looks Okay-ish. I don’t like some of the preservatives they use, though. They wouldn’t be my first choice.
Alicia says
Sorry, that posted twice!
Maia James says
Three brands that are across-the-board good, in my opinion: Better Life, Eco-Me, MamaSuds.
Shelley says
I’m curious if you ever review any of the Kirkland brand products, such as the Environmentally Responsible detergent.
Maia James says
In general, I consider Kirkland Bad or Sneaky Stuff, but I have not reviewed their entire line.
Kelly says
Any thoughts on Fit Organic detergent? I read thru the posts and didn’t see anyone else ask. Thanks!
Maia James says
I don’t know this one but I’ll add it to the list to research.
Jessica Brooks-Forgan says
Any results on Fit Organic yet? Just curious. Thanks!
Maia James says
No, we haven’t done a review of this yet! We will, I promise!
Sherry says
What are your thoughts on The Pink Solution? It contains sea kelp, vegetable tallow, coconut oil, soda ash & water. It comes as a concentrate and you mix it with warm water. Would it be cloth diaper safe?
Maia James says
Sounds safe to me. I’d reach out to the company to find out if it’s safe for cloth diapers.
Chelsi poteat says
What are your thoughts on “Molly’s suds ” laundry detergent ..?
Kaileigh says
In response to other comments, she said it’s Good Stuff 🙂
Ty DLS says
Hi, love your website. I am a new Mom and struggling so much to find the best & affordable baby wash & laundry detergent before my baby girl gets here. I’ve so far only heard of the honest co. , dapple, & ecos being the most natural products I can find & that are available in the store. Please let me know your opinion on those & also if you have recommendations of better washes & detergents.
Thanks so much
Ty
Maia James says
Any of those will be much better than conventional detergents, and you should feel fine using them on your baby’s clothes. If it were my baby, I would choose Honest out of those three.
Ty DLS says
Thanks so much. So , do you recommend honest’s baby shampoo & body wash as well? Or Aveeno baby wash? It’s the one with the light blue cap..suppose to be for sensitive skin.. I also saw you like babo botanicals & the Shea moisturizer but i saw some red flags on their ewg review & they are a little more pricey
Natalie says
Is dapple baby laundry detergent safe?
Maia James says
We will look into this for when we update the Safe Detergent Guide!
molly says
i checked greenshield in the Ewg and it shows that its high in asthma/respitory affects. my sonhas sleep apnea. i want to know what EWG means by that.
Brittany says
Do you have any recommendations for fabric softeners or dryer sheets?
Maia James says
Here are some of my favorites:
Dryer Sheets/Balls
https://www.amazon.com/Attitude-Anti-Static-Eliminator-Cloth-Sheet/dp/B005E74TCO?tag=gimthegoostu-20
https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Green-Natural-Sheets-Lavender/dp/B001KUQHEW?tag=gimthegoostu-20
https://www.amazon.com/Seventh-Generation-Fabric-Softener-80-Count/dp/B002NL044Q?tag=gimthegoostu-20
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/soaring-heart-organic-wool-dryer-balls-2-pack/ (which also make clothes dry faster)
Fabric Softener
https://www.amazon.com/Ecover-Natural-Plant-based-Softener-Morning/dp/B00B97OGT4?tag=gimthegoostu-20
https://www.amazon.com/Greenshield-Organic-Fabric-Softener-Lavender/dp/B0058GP13M?tag=gimthegoostu-20
Natalie says
Eco me detergent safe for babies too?
Maia James says
Yes, sure is 🙂
Robin J. says
Maia,
I see that Mamasuds makes a borax-free laundry soap, will GTGS be carrying it too?
Maia James says
Yes, we do plan to carry this in the future (as we make more room in our warehouse!).
Kayla says
What about Country Save? EWG gives it an A. They also make an oxyclean – any thoughts on oxygen bleach?
Maia James says
Sounds like it’s Good Stuff!
Sheryl says
I see that Seventh Gen is on the sneaky list but their eucalyptus/lavender detergent is the only thing I’ve found that will not make my youngest rash out. I think I’ll have to take a little sneaky to keep her from scratching her skin raw.
Melissa says
Any suggestions for Fabric fresheners? I see that Caldrea’s and Laundress aren’t that great…any DIY suggestions to spot clean and refresh/ get rid of bacteria for clothes in between washes? Thanks!
Maia James says
Hmmm, I am sorry to say that no, I have never researched fabric fresheners! So sorry.
Jesiska says
Hi Maia,
What do u think of laundry detergent with listed composition:
Decyl glucoside, alkyl polyglycosides, cocamidopropyl betadine, acrylic acid homopolymer, 2.4 dichloro 2 hydroxy diphenyl ether, phytoliquid camomile bg, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, Methylisothiazolinone
Thank you.
Maia James says
I don’t love this list of ingredients. It isn’t terrible, but you can do better!
Alikea says
Hi Maia,
I love your website, thank you ! I have been using for myself : Whole Foods Market, organic laundry detergent, 3X concentrated , unscented.
Ingredients : aqua (filtered water), sapindus mukorossi (organic soap nuts), saponified cocos nucifera oil (saponified organic coconut oil), aloe barbadensis (organic aloe vera leaf juice powder), thymus satureioides (organic thyme leaf oil), sea salt, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, xanthum gum, acacia senegal (organic gum arabic), cyamopsis tetragonolobus gum (organic guar gum), organic glycerin, quillaja saponaria (organic soap bark). 200 FL OZ.
It is rated B on EWG. I have a sensitive skin and it has been working great on me. I am planning to use it also on my baby clothes (baby should arrive in a few weeks ! 🙂 and I was wondering what was your opinion on this product? I don’t see reviews either on the Internet about this one, that I buy at Whole Foods.
I also just see they are selling a Whole Foods Market a baby laundry detergent, unscented. However, it doesn’t seem to be organic. I have only find it online, I have to check in store to have the list of ingredients. I see already it is hypo-allergenic, free of dyes, no phosphates, phtalates, chlorine or petrochemicals. I haven’t found it on EWG. I was wondering if you knew this one as well ? I will try to get the ingredients list otherwise.
Thank you so much!!
Maia James says
The ingredients you listed in the detergent you are using are safe, and fine to use on baby clothes:).
Alikea says
Thank you so much Maia !! :))
Annie says
I noticed the Seventh Generation free & clear pods don’t have methylisothiazolinone in them like the liquid detergent does. The pods received an A+ rating on EWG. Wondering your take on all of this and if there are any ingredients you see in the pods I should stay away from?
Thanks!!
Annie
Maia James says
Nope! Those pods are fine:)
Melody says
Have you any thoughts yet on the fit baby organic laundry detergent?
Maia James says
Not yet, but it’s on our list for a future review!
caitlin says
Whats your take on the Honest company detergent?
Maia James says
I think it’s Okay Stuff (even with the SLS that it was found to contain).
Meg says
I have a question about Tandi’s. How much do you use? Just one scoop for a full load of clothes (HE washer). Or more than that if you’re filling the washer with a full load of clothes? Just seems like such a small amount.
Suzanne says
These are the instructions from Tandi
small load 1tbsp
regular load 11/2 tbsp
large load 2 tbsp
Use about half for HE machines
It is concentrated so that you don’t need that much.
Suzanne says
Tandi’s is concentrated so you do not need very much.
On the package it says: Small load—–1tbsp
Regular load—–1 1/2 tbsp
Large load—–2 tbsp
Use about half with HE machines
Jh115 says
Has anyone tried GNLD? Plant based and chemical free. I hope they’re not on the sneaky list.
Maia James says
We will add to our list to investigate!
Nicole says
What about Planet’s detergents?
http://www.planetinc.com/ingredients.htm
Thank you so much for all that you do for us!!!
Maia James says
I’m not a fan as most of their formulas contain sodium laureth sulfate.
Jess says
I was wondering this too. They have an EWG score if A?
Christa says
Hi there! I love your posts! Thank you for all of the work and research you do to help others!!
I’m wondering if there is a Fabric Softner, and a Stain remover you would recommend? Like a pre-treat stain remover?
Thanks so much!!!
Maia James says
If you sign up to be on our mailing list (upper right of our homepage), you will receive the Safe Cleaning Products Guide, which has recommendations for both.
Heather says
Hi. I am looking for a natural detergent that is totally coconut free. My 3 year old seems to react to coconut oil and he has a major dry skin problem. He reacted to Dreft and then I switched to Charlie’s Soap and had no problems but I have been wanting to try something new because our clothes just don’t stay smelling fresh with Charlie’s Soap. So I bought Dapple and it’s base detergent is coconut base and we are having issues with our son waking up in the middle of the night scratching all over again. I don’t want to be stuck with Charlie’s Soap but it seems all other truly safe natural detergents use coconut as the main plant based detergent. Any help/advice would be great. Thank you!
Maia James says
I wrote a post about eczema, and a major part of it was about avoiding detergents (which is where a lot of those coconut ingredients hide). Here’s a link to that: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/natural-eczema-treatment-for-babies-kids .
In terms of laundry soap without coconut, here’s one that I use myself and have found to be extremely effective: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/tandis-naturals-concentrated-laundry-soap/
Danielle says
The greenshield detergent link is a different one than the one that is pictured. There is also a baby version is that best to use?
Maia James says
Either one is fine:).
Brianne says
Hello, wondering your thoughts on Fit Organic baby laundry detergent? EWG gave it an “A” rating.
Thank you in advance!
Maia James says
We haven’t looked into this brand yet but it’s on our list!
Maven says
I’m a huge fan of Molly’s Suds, all three formulations … is there a reason her line is excluded!
Maia James says
We consider Molly’s Good Stuff:). Our lists are never exhaustive, but I will add Molly’s to the list for when we update!
Julianna says
Im looking for a laundry detergent to wash my babys clothes in, i really wanted to go with Tandis but i cant get past the beef tallow thats used. I looked into the eco me one as you said that was your favorite but i have read its not that great on stains, i am wondering what you would recommend? Also just out of curiosity did you wash you baby cothes before bringing baby home from the hospital? Thanks in advance 🙂
Maia James says
Yes, I would definitely recommend washing everything before putting it on your baby. I happen to love the Tandi’s laundry, but you might also try MamaSuds, which does not contain any tallow. https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/mamasuds-liquid-laundry/
Nika Leila says
Hello, I have a bundle of joy on the way,
I was wondering what laundry detergent do you recommend from the eco me (unscented, lavender blossom, etc… )?
I also plan on doing cloth diapers will it be safe to wash the diapers in this detergent?
If I use a fabric softer or a stain remover on some stains that don’t come off, which fabric softer and stain remover do you recommend that I could use for baby clothes and the diapers?
Please help. Thank You!
Maia James says
I like any of the Eco-Me scents, and would probably lean toward an unscented one or baby clothes and diapers. If you sign up for our newsletter (upper right box on the homepage), you’ll get a Cheat Sheet on cleaning products, including my favorites.
Deniz says
Hi,
I live in Turkey and the only two “green” options are Seventh Generation, Frosch, Friendly and Sodasan. I saw that Seventh Generation falls under the sneaky stuff, how about Frosch, Friendly and Sodasan?
Maia James says
I don’t know those other brands, but I will add them our list for a future investigation. In the meanwhile, Seventh Generation has changed some of their formulas and overall I would call it Okay Stuff.
Kari Lapins says
What are your thoughts on CrystalWash?
https://secure.crystalwash.com/order/?w=crystalwash.com&flid=25off&cp=13300
Maia James says
Haven’t researched, but it’s on the list for a future investigation!
Karen says
Also wondering about a Canadian made liquid laundry detergent called ‘Souris Verte’. Looks like it’s Eco certified. However, I’m unable to locate the product on skin deep’s site.
Maia James says
I don’t know that one, but will look into it!
Karen says
Thanks! Really appreciate it!
Reina says
Hi, I am a Lebanese mother living in Dubai and find your website so useful! If I can’t find the products that you recommend here, I tend to just buy online and get the stuff shipped over to us in Dubai. So first and foremost- thanks for all the information you share!
With regards to laundry detergents, I have been using “natural olive oil soap flakes” or “Aleppo soap flakes (made with laurel oil)”. these are similar to French “Savon de Marseilles”, and have been known for being delicate and organic. Almost all mothers in Lebanon use these soaps for their babies.
However, I am reading the packet of one of the brands of soap flakes that I use, and the following ingredients are listed: sodium palmate & oleate, aqua, perfume, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, sodium chloride.
I would be most grateful if you could let me know if and how these chemicals are toxic to babies (I should assume most of them are (bar sodoum chloride), which is utterly disappointing!! ).
Many thanks!
Maia James says
The only red flag I see is “fragrance,” which usually is a proprietary chemical blend (including phthalates) unless it specifies otherwise.
eva says
Hello … love your site!
What do you think of Eco’s detergent?
sumiyah says
I was just coming down here to ask the same question as the person above me!
what about ecos laundry detergent?
Kaileigh says
What do you think about Attitude Baby Laundry Detergent?
The ingredients are: Aqua/water/eau, vegetable anionic surfactants (sodium coco sulfate), vegetable non-ionic surfactants (lauryl glucoside), sodium citrate, sodium gluconate.
Tankeryanker says
Tallowate (Sodium tallowate) is made from dead animals. You do not need a dead calf to clean your clothes or your skin.
Ashley says
Hi – I am a soon to be mom and have been reading through your reviews on various items. A lot to process and research that is for sure, but very helpful! As for the detergent, what do you think about Method (Method Naturally Derived 8X Concentrated Laundry Detergent Pump)? I’ve heard this is a good product from another site but didn’t see it on yours or in any of the comments here.
I wanted to get the Eco-Med laundry detergent, but I read some reviews that it does not get out really bad stains well. If you know anything about that let me know, thank you!
Emine says
What about better life unscented laundry and dish washing detergent?
Kelsey says
I haven’t come across any comments about the ‘Attitudes’ company and their line of products… have you looked into or personally used any of their products?
AJ says
Hi Maia,
I noticed many stain/cloth diaper questions above. I’ll be there in a few months with our first and only would consider cloth due to finding pure oxygen bleach (aka no fillers- only sodium percabonate and sodium bicarbonate). I found it to work amazing on just about everything (way more than just clothing stains or a laundry booster) Good stuff ?
Thanks.
Esther says
What about Ivory Snow liquid detergent and/or powder detergent. Haven’t been able to find it in local stores anymore, but it’s still available on Amazon.
Maia James says
I consider this Sneaky Stuff.
Esther says
Thanks Maia! I have a new 9 week old grandson and I’ve been helping my daughter to sleuth out what laundry products are safest. She (and I) have both fallen in love with the light scents of Dreft and Ivory Snow. A little sad to learn that both of these products are full of harmful chemicals. As a mom of 10, I always used Ivory Snow for my babies’ laundry (as did my mother lol). Most recently I started using it again for my youngest daughter (college-age) who has been having a terrible time with eczema. I see your info about Dreft, but could you please explain what makes Ivory Snow “sneaky”? …The dermatologist is now recommending ALL CLEAR. …Thanks for all your work!
Maia James says
Hi Esther!
Here is the easiest way to show the Bad Stuff in Ivory Snow: http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/1799-IvoryUltraSnowLiquidLaundryDetergent
These companies are super sneaky!
Angela says
Hi Maia, Im located in France and having trouble finding an all-natural and safe laundry liquid for my little one who suffers from eczema (and also for one thats safe enough to use on my newborn arriving soon.) The only detergent from your list I can seem to find here online is Sonnett but can see you have crossed it out. Is that purely because its no longer available in the US? Do you still recommend it?
Maia James says
Yes, I still very much recommend Sonnet!
Audrey says
Hi Maia!
I see that you have Better Life detergent in your good stuff store. I am wondering if you feel that their stain and odor remover is also good stuff? I tried to look up the ingredients on your glossary, but not many of them were on there. It looks good to me, but I just wanted to make sure.
Thank you!
Maia James says
Yes:)
Christine says
Found this website, http://natcapint.com, that states it’s the US distributor of Sonett. Have you tried it?
Christine says
Also, contacted Sonett USA on Facebook and was informed they still have product for sale. 2ltr for $19.99. They are shipping out of NY.
Christine says
Natcapint stated product could be purchased through them, if you signed up as a buyer, or on Amazon.
grace says
Hello, what are your thoughts on Ecover Powder laundry detergent? I use cloth diapers for my daughter and that was one of the approved detergents for the diapers.
Thanks!
Janell McKenney says
What about Purex?
sandy says
I was looking for an answer to Kayla as I need a soap for friends and family to use that will not make me ill. I have multiple chemical sensitivity… and react to a lot of things on the safe list. I have found my own best personal answer in bonners baby soap unscented with epsom salt… vinegar rinse real vinegar not the chemically made one.. Heinze is real.
But I live with other people who are not so willing to compromise .. and have family that I cannot stand to be in the same roomw with.. for many reasons…all scent related what they are wearing on body or clothing makes me ill. I am looking for something that will give them really clean clothing and not cause me to be sick. My question is does it exist…
I have tried many of the green brands suggest by EWG for grooming and cleaning.. many unscented that still causes reactions. I tried Nellies and can’t tolerate it have you tried it? Since it is used for diapers I thought it might be good but it is not good for me. I am bit leary trying more products as I have wasted a lot of money already how does the one your recommending stack up to Nellies?
I have a very large family stock is going up in whatever I can find that is both nonreactive and cleans well. The only hang ups people in my family have with bonnars is it does not clean that well and will not take out any stains unless you soak it forever and sometimes not even then… people don’t have the time for that… having to add the epsom salts and the price… it gets expensive. It is the only choice I have but I can’t impose that much onto them.
Kelly B. says
Hi Maia,
I could have sworn that at one point a year or so ago you said you recommended Biokleen. And now I don’t seen anything about it on your site. Is it still good stuff? Or has it become sneaky stuff now that it’s more readily available in the U.S.?…
Thanks!
Kelly
KR says
What is your thought about Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent?
Thanks
Paul Guerrero says
Hello,
Any thoughts on any Attitude detergent products?
Mel says
What is your thoughts about Attitude Little Ones Laundry Detergent?
Maia James says
Okay Stuff:).
Mel says
Hi Maia, I have a six month old baby and have been using Dreft. I came across your website and found it is a bad stuff. =(
I want to use a good detergent for him and I was wondering if you already checked the ingredients in Greenshield organic baby laundry detergent (free & clear)/Greenshield laundry detergent (free & clear)? I will appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!
Maia James says
Yes, GreenShield was good last time I checked:).
Em says
I found Sonett in Amazon. Do you still recommend this product? My son has eczema so I would like to change laundry detergent for his clothes.
Maia James says
Yup! I still think this is Good Stuff:).
Lisa Stone says
Is powder detergent as safe as liquid- since there is a chance you can inhale some of it?
Jay says
New mommy here and blog flower 🙂
What are your thoughts ingredient-wise on the eco max detergent?
Moe says
Hello, I find your website very interesting. Thank you for your research first off. What are your thoughts on Clorox 2 Stain Remover and Color Booster Liquid Detergent? What are your thoughts on Dove Detergents? I’m looking for a detergent that is fragrance free, non-chlorine, sulfate free and free from all other toxins and chemicals, which detergent would you recommend? Because I have asthma and allergies.
Patricia says
I am so happy Sonett soap return to business in USA , with office in NY and Miami
Elane says
Hi! I love the idea of all natural laundry detergent but I miss that fresh scent. Everything I’ve tried either has no scent at all, or worse, doesn’t take some of the dirty scents out of our clothes! Any recommendations for something all natural with a little fragrance? I’ve tried adding some lavender essential oil but haven’t noticed a difference…
Maia James says
Hi Elane!
It’s true that nontoxic detergents typically don’t have strong scents that are imparted on laundry. I’d say the best I’ve found is the Tandi’s–citrus or lavender. https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/tandis-naturals-concentrated-laundry-soap/
Patricia says
well Sonett have a beautiful scents or flower or lemon, also I tried one without scents and the clothes had a good fragance
Patty says
Hi,
I read on Tandi’s naturals website that it contains “oxygen bleach” what is that and is it safe?
Thank you
Suzanne Weaver-Goss says
Oxygen Bleach is very different from chlorine bleach which is not safe.With Oxygen Bleach you will get rid of stains and dirt without exposing yourself and your family to toxic chemicals. Powdered oxygen bleach is made from natural soda ash or borax and hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen bleach works by releasing its oxygen once it is exposed to water. This leaves only borax or natural soda ash as the by products, both of which are non-toxic to humans, animals and plants making them ideal for the person trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle
Patty says
Hi,
I’m gonna be Grandmother for the first time and am a Breast Cancer survivor and am looking to get rid of the toxins in my home. I am very overwhelmed with all this, as so much of what I use/used is bad for you! And most of the good stuff and organic products are so expensive!
I saw Sonett Laundry detergent on Amazon too and it’s described as having “Sonett Modular System with Sonett Softener and Sonett Bleach Complex.” What is that all and is it safe or the Good Stuff?
Thank you
Suzanne Weaver-Goss says
I am a Grandmother too! Sonett is definitely Good Stuff. We are now selling it again too.
Good for you Grandma for getting toxins out of your home. Don’t be overwhelmed, just take one step at a time and you will do a lot to improve your health and the health of your children and grandchildren. Suzanne/Nana
Patty says
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for your quick reply! Glad to here that both products are safe! I can’t wait for my grandson to be born and feel so lucky that my daughter and son in-law live with me! My husband and I started our family early, and have been ready to be grandparents for a long time. We are buying the nursery furniture and are having a hard time deciding on a crib to buy. I’ve done a lot of research online and still can’t decide what crib is best! Do you have any recommendations? Also, if you could only afford to change a few things at first, what would be the first few steps you’d take to improve the health of your family?
Thank you.
keith says
what is the definition of organic detergents? i dont know how to find it in the google. Please give me a sites.
Leigh says
Hello,
Have you looked at the ingredients in the young living thieves laundry detergent?
Maia James says
Not yet, but it’s on our list:).
Crystal says
Have you looked into Norwex laundry detergent? Thanks!
Karli says
How does Tandi’s handle adult stinky workout clothes?
Blaine Burgan says
Karli,
I am the founder of PURE Natural Laundry Detergent. Completely natural and we list our ingredients on the bottle. Made Safe certified! PURE is awesome at REMOVING odor naturally and not covering or masking it!
Blaine Burgan says
available from our website or Amazon….
Maia James says
Now available right here on Gimme the Good Stuff:)
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/pure-natural-laundry-detergent-2-bottles-per-order/
Layla says
Hi!
Is method free and clear detergent good to use on my baby’s clothes?
Maia James says
Unfortunately, I consider Method to be Sneaky Stuff. 🙁
Lori says
How about the Dapple baby products?
Christina says
Hi! Love your site, have used it a lot for our first little one – Savannah now 10 months 🙂 Someone may have asked already but what would you recommend as a safe product to remove stains? We are into solid foods now so avocado, blueberry, strawberry, pasta sauce – you name it and it is on her! Even the reoccurring blow out stains. Some I am able to catch fresh after they happen but most are not until the end of the day. Thank you for your hard work, this site is really fantastic!
Maia James says
Hi Christina-Have you gotten our cleaning product cheat sheet? You can find it here: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/thankyou/
Maggie says
Hello! First of all, thank you for your website. It has been invaluable to me as I try to raise my little one with clean products that are free of chemicals and “bad stuff” – I have found many (many!) of the items my household currently uses on this site. Regarding laundry detergent… I have been using a brand called Good Natured (www.goodnaturedbrand.com) – the ingredients seem simple enough: Plant-based (coconut) soap flakes, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate (some also include essential oils). It does a great job on our clothes. I get a little confused on the coconut based soap, however – it seems some forms are “good” and others are not. Thoughts on this one?
Amanda says
Hi Maia! I love your website. Period. I’m expecting baby #2 soon and we’d like to try cloth diapering this time. We love the idea of reducing exposure to chemicals found in many disposable brands, and I am all about the eco-friendly nature of cloth diapering. But I’ve come up against one challenge: according to the Fluff Love University website’s Detergent index (http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/detergent-index/) NONE of the detergents you have on the “good stuff” list are recommended for washing cloth diapers! Is there a brand you recommend for laundering cloth diapers? If not, which of Fluff Love’s “recommended” detergents are the safer/ safest options? Thank you!
Kayliegh says
Hi. I’m not sure if this has been asked yet but what do you think of MyGreenFills laundry products? I can’t seem to find actual ingredients anywhere.
Jessica says
What about Country Save? Also looking for a cloth diaper solution.
Jen says
What do you think of the Whole Foods brand unscented liquid detergent? The only ingredient on EWG that looks questionable is Acacia Senegal Gum but that is also in Green Shield.
Laura says
HI, I am having a problem getting my sheets as soft as they should be. I have tried Tandi’s and Mama
suds and I am wanting to try a fabric softener (as much as it makes me cringe), but there must be some “good ones”, no? Thanks
Maia James says
Have you gotten our cleaning product cheat sheet? You can find it here: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/thankyou/
Dryer sheets are on there.
Brandi says
How is the Biokleen powder detergent?
Ingredients are: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Sulfate, Laureth 7 (plant based surfactant), Sodium Silicate, Zeolite, Cellulose Gum (plant based chelator), Hydrogen Peroxide, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride.
Wasn’t sure how sodium sulfate was different from SLS or SLES.
Vanessa says
Hi!
I’m wondering if you think grabgreen’s “delicate fragrance free” pods are good stuff (as I know you’ve already recommended the 3in1 fragrance free pods)? Also, I’m wondering what you think of their fragrance free stoneworks dryer sheets?
Thanks!
Maia James says
Yes, I would consider any of those fine:)
Liz says
Hi,
I have heard that Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder is a good option for washing cloth diapers and clothes in general. What are your thoughts on this product?
Thanks,
Liz
Liz says
Sorry, I see now you have responded to this product before. Thanks
Sony says
Hi! Just curious what your thoughts are on Buckaroo laundry detergent?? I have been using this over a year now and I really like it.
https://www.buckaroo-organics.com/laundry/soapberry-suds-organic-laundry-detergent
Megan says
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!
John Goss says
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.
Thanks for your question!
Sarah says
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?
Jessie Kittrell says
Hi,
Do you guys know which of the good and ok products are the least expensive per load by any chance? If not, no problem! Thanks for all of your research!
Emma says
What do you think of the Boulder laundry detergent?
Anna says
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!
Kay Stemple says
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.
Nida says
Hi, I was wondering if Puracy products were good stuff?
Akki says
I guess every detergents have their own side effects on the skin.