Doing laundry is a necessary chore, but have you ever wondered if your laundry detergent is safe? Many conventional detergents contain harsh chemicals and fragrance additives that can irritate skin and harm the environment. Thankfully, there are some great non-toxic and environmentally-friendly options to keep your clothes fresh and clean!
Why You Should Use a Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
Conventional laundry detergents often contain chemicals like chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. These ingredients can cause issues like:
- Skin irritation or rashes
- Respiratory irritation from fragrance chemicals
- Hormone disruption from phthalates
- Water pollution from phosphates and other ingredients
By choosing a non-toxic detergent without these chemicals, you can avoid these risks while still getting clean, fresh-smelling laundry.
What Makes a Laundry Detergent Non-Toxic
When evaluating non-toxic detergents, look for these characteristics:
- No chlorine bleach – Choose oxygen or hydrogen peroxide bleaches instead
- No synthetic fragrances – Should use natural extracts for scent
- No phthalates or phosphates
- Plant-based, biodegradable ingredients
- Fragrance-free options available for sensitive skin
- Safer certification labels like EPA Safer Choice
Detergents with these properties are better for your health and the environment.
The Top 3 Safest Laundry Detergent Brands
After comparing numerous options based on the criteria above, these 3 brands stand out as the safest, non-toxic picks:
1. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Detergent
- Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic
- Made from plant-based ingredients
- Safer Choice certified
- Not tested on animals
- Available scented or unscented
2. Ecos Laundry Detergent
- Uses biodegradable plant-derived cleansing agents
- Scent comes from essential oils
- No 1,4-dioxane or other carcinogens
- Comes in various scents like lavender, magnolia & lily, rose, etc
3. Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent
- Certified cruelty-free and vegan
- Made in the USA from renewable plant-derived ingredients
- Free from chlorine, phosphates, petroleum solvents
- Compostable packaging
- Has original or sensitive skin unscented formulas
Based on their plant-based formulas and lack of harsh chemicals, these 3 options rise above the rest for non-toxic, hypoallergenic performance. Their range of scents and styles make it easy to find the right detergent for your needs as well. Give one of these eco-friendly brands a try for your next laundry day!
References
Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Ingredient List: https://www.seventhgeneration.com/laundry-detergent-free-clear
ECOS Laundry Detergent Certifications: https://ecos.com/certifications/
Molly’s Suds Original Laundry Powder Details: https://mollyssuds.com/products/original-laundry-powder
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.