Switching to zero waste laundry detergents is one of the simplest ways to cut plastic waste, and reduce exposure to harsh chemicals at home. There are a few good brands made with natural ingredients, you’ll find them in some health shops and farm shops, but most likely need to order online (this saves money, if ordering in bulk).
Go for unscented laundry detergents if pregnant/nursing and for baby/pet bedding. Choose higher temperature washes for babies and weak immune systems, and use a microfibre filter, if washing synthetic fabrics.
Also read our post on drying clothes naturally.
Ingredients to avoid in Laundry Products
Most laundry brands (in plastic packaging) contain chemicals, artificial fragrance (which does not biodegrade and causes algae bloom, which harms marine wildlife) and optical brighteners (blue dyes, that make things appear ‘whiter than white’).
You should not even pour neat essential oils down drains, let alone these ingredients. Just stick to a plain unscented laundry powder (more economical and saves water) or liquid, and if choosing scents, only do so from brands that use mild dilutions of real essential oils.
Use Natural Oxygen Bleach for Stains
If you need to remove stains, avoid chlorine bleach and instead switch to oxygen bleach, which is activated wit warm water, then remainders can safely be poured down sinks and drains, to biodegrade.
Avoid Most ‘Biodegradable Laundry Sheets’
Most ‘biodegradable laundry sheets’ contain PVA (plastic polyvinyl alcohol). Plastic Pollution Coalition wants a ban on such terms being used, to greenwash consumers.
The law says that if 60% of something degrades into carbon dioxide and water within 28 days, it ‘passes the test’, even if the other 40% of plastic is still present, and leaches out to sea, after wastewater system treatment. As an example, salt also biodegrades, but it’s still in the water. Just like plastic pouches.
One environmentalist writes that in order to ‘trust items made with PVA’, she would want to know when, where and for how long PVA is coming into contact with such processes, as biodegradation needs certain times and temperatures, in order to safely break down. And as no company can promise this, she avoids them.
Good Zero Waste Laundry Detergents
Got chemical laundry products under the sink? You can bin empty containers (don’t rinse). For half-full items, take them to toxic waste at your local refuse centre.
Allavare Laundry Powder (4 ingredients)
Allavare Laundry Powder (use code ENGLAND99465 for 10% discount) is made locally, sold in a brown paper bag, with discount subscriptions (it also makes oxygen bleach and stain removal bars, if you want to bundle up).
Made with just 4 unscented ingredients, each bag gives up to 60 washes, sold alongside a coconut oil stain bar (just rub with warm water on fabric to watch stains disappear – also use for hand washing delicate garments)
Hexwash: A Laundry Detergent Alternative
Hexawash (use code ENGLANDNAT10 for 10% discount) is an organic laundry detergent that lasts for 300 loads. Made from organic cotton offcuts, just throw the pouch in the machine with your laundry, and the magnesium pellets mix with water to form hydrogen gas and magnesium hydroxide, to generate an alkaline solution that is the ideal PH to lift dirt and oil from clothes.
Proven 10 times more effective than laundry detergent to remove stubborn stains, use Hexwash in soft or hard water at any temperature, it’s safe for use with all washing machines. If your washing machine has no soak function, soak for an hour in a covered bucket first, for best results.
If you launder weekly, this invention should last a year, as the magnesium pellets gradually dissolve. You can then bin, compost or even bury it in the garden, where the organic cotton will break down, as will the magnesium which can fertilise the soil.
Miniml: Refillable Laundry Liquid
Miniml is a fab laundry brand, made in Yorkshire with local water (unscented or natural linen and coconut scents). Just send empty bottles in bulk (scan the QR code for a returns label) or drop off at your local post office for collection (or enter postcode to find refill stations).
Delphis Commercial Laundry Powder
Delphis Eco Laundry Powder (also in a commercial use version) is formulated to give incredible results, working out at just 30p per wash. The powerful cleaning action is tough on heavy stains, but gentle on fabrics, leaving laundry with a pleasant aroma.
Friendly Washing Powder from Yorkshire!
Friendly Laundry Powder is by a company in Yorkshire, known for making soaps. Now it’s turned its attention to making household products. Each pack gives 25 washes. It’s suitable for hand or machine-washing.
Bio-D Unscented Laundry Powder
Bio-D Unscented Laundry Powder is sold in a small cardboard box, to avoid shipping you fresh air! This fragrance-free laundry powder is accredited by Allergy UK, and is highly effective. One box offers 212 washes!
To use, add 1 to 2 tablespoons directly to the washing machine drawer, for a standard load. For hand-washing, dissolve a similar amount in warm water, ensure the powder is dissolved before soaking the garments, and rinsing thoroughly.
Blueland: Plastic-Free Laundry Detergent
Blueland Laundry Detergent is plastic-free, sold as a starter kit with a blue tin, and then just buy refills (the fragrance is naturally derived, and there’s a fragrance-free version too for pregnancy, babies, pets etc).
Along with oxygen bleach boosters and refills. Just add one tablet to the washing machine, or two tablets for heavy loads. We only recommend their unscented items, as scented ones contain fragrance oil.
Greenscents: Refillable Laundry Liquids
Greenscents is a great laundry liquid (in glass bottles, so don’t handle with wet hands). In Nonscents or natural scents (with essential oils), you can send empty bottles back to be washed and refilled. Not just good for the planet, but also good for your wallet, as you get discounts on further orders.
As stated above, you can replace this with twice the volume of their organic castile soap on a hot wash, to brighten whites, no need for optical brighteners!
An Eco Friendly Fabric softener (vinegar!)
Visit any supermarket and you’ll find an aisle packed with toxic fabric conditioners, all made with artificial fragrance and sold in plastic bottles (most are also tested on animals and contain palm oil).
But here’s the truth – you don’t need them. You can easily make clothes softer and reduce static cling, with other methods. Fabric conditioners also reduce absorbency (so not good for washable cloth nappies and feminine pads). And when tumble-dried, can even increase flammability of fabrics.
There’s a simple alternative to chemical fabric conditioners. Just add half a cup of unscented cleaning vinegar (not malt vinegar!) to the dispenser or final rinse cycle. The smell dissipates, so your clothes won’t smell like a bag of chips!
