Does Eco-Friendly Detergent Works

We all hate laundry days. All of us. Thinking of the fact that over one billion laundry jugs get trashed in the US every darn year, it’s safe to assume that everyone hates laundry days more than ever. 

That aside, the dangerous chemicals, non-biodegradable ingredients used by most “reputable” brands are worrisome. 

That’s where eco-friendly laundry detergents come to the rescue.

In my over a decade of experience testing different laundry detergents, I’ve concluded that most of these detergents are only laundry soaps.

 In fact, they might end up “squeezing” the quality off your clothes. In other words, you need to be careful with traditional detergents.

Most of them pack ingredients that are harmful to health and the environment. 

Most conventional detergents contain phosphate that develops in waterways to create eutrophication ( loads of algae that suck up water oxygen and destroy fish).

On the good side, there are eco-friendly laundry detergents out there that are safe for your health, safe for the environment, and mild on clothes for sparkling clean results.

That said, one of the many questions we get asked is that does eco-friendly detergents work? 

Yes, they actually work, you only need to make the right choice. A wise choice – which brings us to the next section. 

Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents – Why They Matters

There are lots of reasons you need to embrace natural, non-toxic detergents and what they can offer your health. 

Eco-friendly detergents save the environment from potential waste through their recycling properties. Not only are they eco friendly, but also saves money in the long run. 

Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents and the Health

The sad truth is, unlike you were made to believe, most detergent brands do not give a heck about you. Only the profit matters. Most traditional laundry detergents contain harsh chemicals and a strong smell. Even with their extremely negative impact on health, the company still uses “bait” to sell their product and make more money. 

 Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents and The Planet Health 

What happens to all of the water that gets drained out of your clothes washer? Regardless of the quality of the cloth washer, there are still lots of water to drain out. So where did this water go? Well, it goes straight into the water treatment facilities. However, not all the chemicals disappear. 

What to Look Out For in an Eco-Friendly Laundry Ingredient

So what qualities should you examine in a laundry detergent to consider them as safe, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic? Here are they: 

• Biodegradable 
• No artificial colors 
• Zero chlorine bleach
• No animal kiting 
• Natural fragrance 
• Recyclable products 

Keep in mind about fragrance 

The fragrance is a little complicated. There are still some safe, synthetic fragrances on the market. But I still prefer those from natural oils. 

Other Things To Watch Out For In An Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent 

USA-made – most of the brands we reviewed are USA-made. But ingredients are sourced globally! 

No plastic packaging 

Powdered laundry detergent is available in a recyclable cardboard box. Not plastic. 

Sport formula 

I’ve seen brands offer the ‘sport’ formula which is fine as it aggressively removes stinky stains and odors. 

What to avoid?

Always look out for products with the organic label. These products are trustworthy as they’re tested for human safety and the environment. 

Avoid Soap

As mentioned earlier, most eco-friendly detergents on the market are “only soap.”

And they can be extremely harmful. It’s important to know how to spot the difference between real detergent and ordinary laundry soap. The difference between soap and detergent is that detergents do not contain fats and oil (which can ruin the cloth) 

In addition, Soap contains build-ups that attract dirt ( you don’t want that) 

Best Eco-friendly Laundry Detergents Revealed

I get it. You must have been confused by the boatloads of information about laundry detergents. Do not fret. I’ve prepared a list of the best laundry detergents that are eco-friendly. These detergents are mild on the cloth, easy on the planets, and tough on dirt. Here we go. 

Dropps 

This eco-friendly laundry detergent packs a punch with a great stain fighting solution. Made out of premium quality ingredients like eucalyptus and lavender scents, this detergent produces lovable scents that fit just about your desired lifestyle. We also appreciate the plastic-free laundry detergent pods. 

They’re predominantly made using a nontoxic and solvable polyvinyl alcohol. When it comes to packaging, you can always trust its cardboard box’s fully recyclable and comfortable quality. It blends a mixture of the forest stewardship council-certified board and post-consumer recycled material. 

A Little Info About Drops

Dropps is a household name in the laundry detergent industry. The brand combines sustainability and cleaning. Dropps exclusively uses plant-based ingredients made in the US, and unlike most brands, does not experiment with animals. 

ETEE

What would you describe as the best eco-friendly laundry detergent? I guess it’s a detergent that works effortlessly well with zero plastic and affordable price. Etee ticks all the boxes. Unlike the pods ( containing PVA, polyvinyl acetate), the powder is plastic-free and well concentrated. 

You only need just one tablespoon per load. You’ll be using a safe, powerful, and biodegradable product that is tough on stains, containing no harsh chemicals. In fact, the paper bag from the brand has a biodegradable lining. That said, I’m not the only one amazed by the Etee quality display. The brand also gained recognition from National Geographics, food network, and Rachel. 

A Little Info About Etee

Etee was inspired by a kayaking trip gone wrong (thanks to that anyway) which inspired the owner to create Beeswat wrap. In addition to making detergents, the brand also adds a sustainable sparkle to our homes with their exclusive organic face moisturizer, body wash, dish soap, etc. Etee uses 100% organic ingredients and avoid plastics in its production process. The Canadian brand has accounted for over 100 million plastic being prevented from production. 

Ethique 

If you’re looking for a zero waste detergent for your home use, you might want to check out Ethique. 

Made with a combination of pure essential oil and biodegradable ingredients, ethique sets the bar with a scintillating smell that lasts longer than the average detergent. 

Because of its solid nature, ethique comes in decent packaging – an effortlessly recyclable cardboard sleeve. 

The prime point of focus is how effective this product has been when it comes to stain removal and item shine. And who wouldn’t love the long-lasting feature of this laundry detergent? (Last longer than your typical detergent) 

While it’s preferably used to wash clothes manually, it’s also reliable for camping, traveling, or just to wash the hands. Not suitable for washing machines (maybe we should just cut down on our washing machine usage, huh) 

A little info about Ethique 

Although Ethique started operations in New Zealand, their natural and plastic-free product now dominates the industry. 

We also love their exclusive zero waste deodorant and shampoo. 

Ethique does an incredible job in terms of sustainability. All their products are vegan-free, palm oil-free, and extremely non toxic. The products are sourced ethically and packaged thoughtfully. 

ECO NUTS

Sometimes, less is more. And that’s the case with Eco nuts. Anyone looking for natural and eco-friendly laundry detergents would love these nuts. 

While Eco nuts made a liquid version, we prefer the soap nuts. 

Soap nuts originated from a Himalayas tree. When sprinkled in water, they forms saponin, biodegradable surfactant (which clears off every water repellent oil in clothes)

You can reuse each nut up to 10 times. Soap berries are available in a plastic-free, recyclable box.  

A little info about Econuts 

Eco nuts started in an era when soap nuts received less attention, even after a decade of production. They also produce a variety of organic, eco-friendly products with great packaging. Their product is devoid of chemical residue, filler ingredients, or harmful odor. 

Meliona 

Suppose variety sits right at the top of your priority list. In that case, Meliona produces plastic-free laundry detergent for a variety of scent and cleaning requirements – from scented lemon to lemon lavender and more. They produce other home and body care products along with plastic-free collections. They also feature an active stain removal soap stick to add shine to your white. Their laundry products are safe, vegan, and harsh-free. They’re also available in a plastic-free canister. 

About Meliona 

Melina is another word for better. And they achieve Meliona by making their product better for people and the environment. Meliona is women-owned, uses decent packaging, and returns a percentage of its profit to support a foundation.