Living, Sustainability

5 Eco-Friendly laundry detergents, good for you and the planet

Once you switch, you won’t look back.

words by: Natasha Marsh
Mar 17, 2022

In an effort to clean up my act, I’ve invested in eco-friendly laundry detergents. While striving to live a more sustainable lifestyle may seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. It’s best to start small and find simple ways you can begin introducing cleaner, eco-friendly products into your everyday life, like laundry detergent.

 

Trading standard detergent for an organic, natural, vegan, or plant-based alternative won’t only help you live both greener and safer, but it can also improve the way your skin, clothes, and linens feel. Unlike their chemically infused counterparts, eco-friendly detergents are sustainably packaged, biodegradable, and free of parabens, phosphates, dyes, artificial colors and fragrances, and allergens.

 

Plus, most eco-friendly detergents are labeled hypoallergenic by dermatologists, making them an ideal product for those with skin or fragrance sensitivities.

 

The benefits of switching to an eco-friendly detergent are great for both you and the environment, but they do vary by brand and formula—so, please double-check the label to make sure the detergent hits all your eco-friendly needs! Ahead, shop the best eco-friendly detergents on the market right now.

 

1. ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent

An EPA Safer Choice-certified laundry product, ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent is an all-in-one plant-powered detergent made and packaged in a carbon- and water-neutral factory that runs solely on renewable energy.

 

Also vegan and pH-balanced, the hypoallergenic detergent is dermatologist-tested and recommended for sensitive skin types. But wait, it gets better—it has a built-in softener, and can be added to any water temperature or color load, including whites.

 

Amazon.com: ECOS® Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent, Magnolia Lily, 200 Loads, 100oz Bottle by Earth Friendly Products (Pack of 2) : Health & Household

 

2. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Laundry Detergent

Similar to other Mrs. Meyer’s products, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Laundry Detergent is a cruelty-free and biodegradable formula, made with plant-derived cleaning ingredients, with dirt- and stain-fighting enzymes sans any artificial colors, phthalates, or parabens. Choose from a variety of aromatherapy scents, all of which are infused with essential oils for a fresher, cleaner experience.

 

Amazon.com: Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Laundry Detergent, Cruelty Free and Biodegradable Formula Infused with Essential Oils, Lavender Scent, 64 oz - Pack of 2 (128 Loads) : Everything Else

 

3. Dropps Stain & Odor Detergent Pods

The sustainable ingredients behind Dropps Stain & Odor Detergent Pods are just as impressive and eco-friendly as the product’s compostable cardboard packaging. Never tested on animals, this plant-based formula is free of optical brighteners, parabens, phosphates, and phthalates. It’s safe for high-efficiency, standard, front-loading, and top-loading washing machines.

 

Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent Pods, Unscented – Dropps

 

4. Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Detergent Pods

Each bag of Grab Green Stoneworks Laundry Detergent Pods includes 50 powder pods that work to eliminate odors and fight stains in the most natural and organic way. This nontoxic product is made with naturally derived ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about phosphate, chlorine, or dye mixing in with your delicates. These pods can be used in both cold and hot water.

 

Amazon.com: Grab Green Stoneworks Natural Laundry Detergent Pods 5 Piece Mini Sample Kit : Health & Household

 

5. Ethique Flash! Laundry Bar & Stain Stick

Thanks to the Ethique Flash! Laundry Bar & Stain Stick, scrubbing out stubborn, caked-in stains has never been easier! Whether you have garments that need to be washed by hand or need a laundry solution you can trust while traveling or camping, this bar has your back. Plus, with its compostable packaging and biodegradable, cruelty-free, and vegan formula, it’s one of the most eco-friendly laundry products on the market.

 

For every bar purchased, three fewer plastic bottles are created and disposed of.

 

Amazon.com: Ethique Eco-Friendly Laundry Bar & Stain Stick, Flash! Sustainable Natural Laundry Bar to Wash Clothing, Dishes & even Hands, Plastic Free, Vegan, Plant Based, 100% Compostable and Zero Waste, 3.88oz :

 

While we’re on the subject of sustainability and clothing, here’s some sustainable fashion trends you can check out.