Natural Laundry: A Vicious Cycle
Laundry day has arrived yet again. We sort our clothes into piles. We wonder if we’ll find that missing sock. We decide which items get air-dried and which get tumbled. Special items take a trip to the dry cleaners. The easy part, though, is when we throw a load of laundry into the washer, add some liquid, and forget about it for a while. Right? Well, not to put a hamper on things, but it actually isn’t that simple. 30 billion loads of laundry per year in the U.S. is no joke, so we should know exactly what’s going into our detergent. Traditional laundry detergents often contain a variety of synthetic and sometimes toxic chemicals, some of which are tested on animals. These chemicals can be absorbed from your clothing through your skin, and can also affect your pets and children, as well as the environment. Those same companies are also not investing in more sustainable packaging, so we pile over half a billion non-recyclable detergent containers (more plastic) into landfills every year. If you’re like us, you don’t want to fold under that pressure. Fortunately, there are several natural laundry detergents with clean ingredients, so you can sleep well at night on your non-toxic pillowcase, knowing that you did your part.
But wait, there’s more to this chore. Let’s talk traditional dryer sheets for a minute. Many dryer sheets are made from synthetic polyester and are useful for about an hour before landing in the trash. There are solutions for this, too. If you’re a DIY-er, you can search through tons of info on how to make homemade dryer sheets. If not, don’t get hung up on it - we’ve got you covered.
For this week’s post, we tested eco-friendly liquid detergents, eco-friendly laundry pods, eco-friendly laundry packs, eco-friendly laundry powders, eco-friendly dryer sheets, and eco-friendly dryer balls. Okay, okay, enough fluff. Check out our recos for natural laundry detergent and more.
The Laundress:
Get On My Laun
Our featured favorite this week goes to the female-founded, New York-based company, The Laundress. Their Signature Detergent has become an absolute staple in our laundry routines. All of The Laundress’ products are non-toxic and biodegradable with ingredients that are plant-derived and free of parabens, allergens, or artificial dyes. Their products are so highly concentrated that a little goes a long way, reducing their use of packaging, energy, and water. Additionally, they detail on their site how 90% of “dry clean only” items can actually be washed, followed by instructions. While we’re gushing, we might as well mention that their Stain Solution has already saved us from numerous coffee mishaps and liberally dressed salads. It really is a must-have. Consider us permanently (im)pressed by The Laundress.
Seventh Generation
Another plant-based fave, this time from our Green Mountain state of Vermont. B Corp Seventh Generation works to source renewable ingredients and then lists all of those ingredients right on the packaging. We’ve used Seventh Generation laundry detergent so much over the years, and we have to announce: out of all the lavender scents in the eco-friendly product universe (and there are A LOT), theirs is our favorite. Just the right amount of lavender. More importantly, the detergent does a great job keeping clothes fresh and clean. Seventh Generation detergent comes in liquid, packs, and powder, depending on your preference. We’re also fans of the Seventh Gen dryer sheets, which are made from natural plant-based ingredients and are free of dyes. You just can’t go wrong with this company that holds a place on so many of our shelves.
Ecos
We at Check Your Eco officially encourage you to check out Ecos. One of our close friends has incredibly sensitive skin and is allergic to a multitude of scented products. For years, he has sworn by the Free & Clear Ecos laundry detergent. We gave it a shot and even though we’re used to scented deterg, we were so pleased with how powerfully the Ecos detergent cleaned our clothes, leaving all unwanted scents and stains behind. Ecos products are readily biodegradable, greywater & septic safe, and made in facilities using 100% renewable energy. This family-owned and operated company has been around for 50 years, which isn’t a number that just gets tossed around in this business. They are the real deal.
Dropps
The makers of the original laundry pod. Dropps’ recyclable and compostable cardboard packaging reads “Save Time” and “Save Plastic,” which is exactly what these packs do. The biodegradable “clean scent” formula was really effective when we tried it, and it just felt nice to drop and go. For those like us who are wondering about the “pod membrane,” Dropps explains that the polyvinyl alcohol film dissolves in the washer and into the water stream, where it is then broken down to water and carbon dioxide by micro-organisms that are commonly found in water plants (which seems so obvious NOW). After we were done with the laundry packs, we also took Dropps’ dryer balls for a spin. The name “dryer balls,” of course, lints itself to some bad jokes, but we won’t take that low hanging fruit. That being said, the dryer balls worked really well. They are zero-waste, reusable, reduce energy use, and you can create your own scent by placing a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto the woolen balls before throwing them in the dryer. Eco-friendly drying can be a rack it. Or it can be a ball. It’s up to you.
Mrs. Meyer’s
Mrs. Meyer herself is a mother of 9, so we can safely assume she knows what it takes to get dirt out of clothing. When we tried Mrs. Meyer’s Basil laundry soap, we began to understand, too. The scent and cleaning ingredients were equally strong. In their words, Mrs. Meyer’s laundry detergents “smell like the garden, yet clean like the dickens.” Their biodegradable products are plant-derived and formulated with essential oils and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Mrs. Meyer’s has a plethora of cleaning products outside of the laundry room as well. We happen to be fond of their lemon verbena hand soap. We also appreciate their willingness to give back through donations, partnerships, and campaigns for garden-related projects.
Puracy
Talk about bang for your buck. With Puracy’s Natural 10x Liquid Laundry Detergent, you can really save money laundering. Their highly efficient concentrated formula requires only ¼ ounce per load, which reduces so much waste on all fronts. The pump dispenser was the least messy option we tried, and the detergent definitely got the job done. Puracy was developed by doctors, and their ingredients are plant-based, child and pet-safe, and hypoallergenic. They also offer a money-back guarantee if you truly aren’t satisfied with the product. Based on their monumental rise in success over just 6 years, we hope to see more of Puracy.
Biokleen
Putting family and community first, BioKleen has remained a family-owned business, manufacturing from their facility in Washington state for over 20 years. We are big fans of the way in which Biokleen has worked to reduce packaging waste. Their Eco Bottle is made from 100% recycled cardboard and newspaper, allowing for a 70% reduction in plastic vs. traditional plastic bottles. The super-concentrated formula got all of our clothes sparkling clean, and the Citrus scent added a welcome bonus to laundry day.
Molly’s Suds
We, for no good reason, had always shied away from powdered detergents. So we sought out Molly’s Suds as our first laundry powder due to their short list of clean, earth-derived ingredients (5 total). We were pleasantly surprised with the ease of use, just 1 tablespoon of powder per load. We also loved the scent, thanks to the organic peppermint oil. Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder is ultra-concentrated, so one bag takes care of 120 loads of laundry. Our lazier west coast team member is currently thinking that could last him a very, very long time. The founders of Molly’s Suds have a personal history with toxins in their household, so they have set out not only to create an immaculate product but to educate others about the dangers of toxins beyond the ones we eat. Let’s hope their ingredient integrity is seen as a model for many others.