Biodegradable Laundry Detergents (the best brands)

Most laundry detergents are packed with chemicals, harm aquatic life, irritate skin, are tested on animals and sold in plastic packaging. Here are some better choices. Also read the post on how to remove stains naturally (using oxygen bleach or natural stain removers). Never use chlorine bleach (nor mix any kind of bleach with vinegar, it causes toxic gases).

Launder at higher temperatures for babies, pet bedding and weak immunity. For synthetic fabrics, use a microfiber filter, to stop microplastics leaching from machines, into the sea. For hand-washing, use a sink filter.

Natural laundry powder (4 ingredients!)

Allavare is a beautiful little brand, which keeps things simple. By only offering three products. And although you can buy them separately, it makes sense to buy the affordable starter bundle which gives enough laundry powder and oxygen bleach for 60 washes, a stain removal bar and a laundry guide to stain removal.

Then you can just top up as and when, either ordering one product or three, as one purchase or on subscription.

Each batch carefully mixed from natural ingredients, it’s unscented and in a recipe that has been used by generations to keep clothes clean. It only contains four ingredients:

• Coconut oil (to naturally clean and soften)
• Sodium carbonate (washing soda, to boost cleaning and soften water)
• Sodium percarbonate (a chlorine-free alternative to bleach, with lifts stains using the powder of oxygen)
• Sodium gluconate (a salt that prevents residue.

This laundry powder works in all kinds of water (hard or soft, just adjust the amounts). To use:

• Add 1 tablespoon to the washing machine drum
• Dissolve in warm water, before washing by hand.

Greenscents Organic Laundry Liquid

Greenscents is a wonderful eco-cleaning company, everything is vegan-friendly with no palm oil, made with natural ingredients, not tested on animals and sold in refillable bottles, which also saves you money! Everything is also made in Somerset with Exmoor water.

Greenscents Laundry Liquid is made with organic ingredients, using soap nuts (don’t compost these as they contain natural insecticides) and shikakai pods. This family-friendly formula is non-biological and free from enzymes and synthetic additives. The scent-free Nonscents option is ideal for baby and pet bedding, pregnancy/nursing and people with allergies. 

Use code GSENGLANDNATURALLY for 15% off entire order (minimum purchase £20)

Also in bulk form, there is also a Nonscents range, ideal for pregnancy/nursing, cleaning near babies/pets (or for their bedding and bowls) and for allergies. All scents are naturally derived, and items are also certified organic. 

To use, just pop 4 to 5 teaspoons of liquid into the machine for a standard wash. You may need less for a quick wash, or more for areas with hard water (London, south east, Norfolk). You can also use it for hand-washing, use 20 to 25ml in a bowl of warm to hot water. Store in a cool place away from sunlight.

If you use the laundry conditioner, it’s one of the few brands without palm oil. However, avoid for cloth nappies and period pads (and soft towels) as it may reduce absorbency. Also don’t use on children’s clothing or fire-retardant clothing, as fabric conditioners can increase flammability in tumble dryers. 

You can soften clothes, simply by adding half a cup of cleaning vinegar to the rinse cycle (it breaks down detergent build-up and neutralises odours, without leaving a flammable coating). Or if you don’t have any to hand, do the same with bicarbonate-of-soda (just add half a cup to the wash cycle).

How does the refill scheme work?

You can buy 500ml glass amber bottles (don’t handle with wet hands) for everyday use (and retail sale). Then you can buy refillable items in 5 litre and 20 litre containers. Just return empties for sanitising and reuse, as simple as that! You can buy bundle sets to save money, with the refills included with your first order.

Use with one-time purchase pumps for easy use and refilling.

Miniml Eco Refillable Laundry Liquids

Miniml Laundry Liquid are the ideal swap to keep on hand, for machine or hand washing, to remove dirt and stains, whilst being soft on skin. Made with biodegradable ingredients (including Yorkshire water – even the scents are naturally derived), these are vegan-friendly and not tested on animals, and sold in bottles that you can send back to be refilled!

These are concentrated, so a little goes a long way. At end of use, you can get the bottles refilled at stores that sell them, or use the QR code to send off empty bottles for refilling, and return.

The starter bottles are 500ml, and the refill bottles will last 165 washes!

To use, pour into machine dispenser (30, 50 or 50ml for light, medium or heavy loads. For hand wash, dilute 1 to 2 capfuls in a bowl of warm water. Submerge, and agitate the water and detergent with your hands, and soak items up to 30 minutes, before rinsing.

Choose from:

• Fresh Linen
• Tropical Coconut 

Miniml is a fresh new eco cleaning brand, started by two young entrepreneurs, who struggled to find household products that did not irritate the co-founder’s sensitive skin. So they decided to create something better, mixing formulas in the garage, until they came up with products that worked.

Still based in its own factory in Yorkshire (creating local jobs), the range is sold nationwide to shops, hotels and restaurants (there is no minimum orders on business accounts). There are discounts for regular subscriptions, and students.

Where to Recycle Laundry Products

If you have some toxic products that you no longer wish to use, don’t pour them down the sink, as this can harm waterways. You can recycle empty containers with household waste.

With bottles still containing product, your council should be able to collect via the hazardous waste department. The fact that this is where they should be taken, is good reason to switch to a more natural brand!