Switch to Clean: Why Natural Laundry Detergent Is the Future of Freshness

By: Tom | February 6, 2024
Natural detergents are made without the usual laundry list of toxic chemical ingredients. Green brands use mostly plant-based ingredients that are safer for your home and the environment. To be clear, all laundry detergents use some chemicals. But, you can take comfort in knowing not all chemicals are dangerous. The average human body contains as many as 60 known chemicals. Many of which are vital to our existence. What distinguishes natural from traditional detergents isn't the presence of chemicals, but rather the type of chemicals they contain.

Finding Natural Laundry Detergents

woman choosing laundry detergent
Even once you know what you want (or don't want), finding a truly natural laundry detergent can be a challenge. Manufacturers are not required by law to disclose the ingredients of their products. What's worse is many manufacturers confuse consumers with misleading product names. They incorporate words that suggest they are safe and natural, even when most use dangerous toxins. This marketing ploy is referred to as greenwashing and has become a common modern marketing practice. It plays on consumer's growing desire for safer, eco-friendly products and the lack of industry regulations. That is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Safer Choice Program. Certified products that carry this label must show all ingredients on their labels. Having full disclosure provides a safe haven for shoppers seeking  eco-friendly, sustainable products. We've taken the guesswork out by listing 6 EPA Certified Safer Choice laundry detergents. Making your home and the environment a safer place to live starts today!
*As an Amazon Associate, Greener Households earns from qualifying purchases. This occurs at no additional expense to consumers.

Shop Natural Laundry Detergents

Seventh Generation

Laundry Detergent Packs
seventh generation laundry packs
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • Natural Ingredients: This product is made with 96 percent plant-based ingredients
  • Eco-friendly Packaging:  Seventh Generation products use 100% recycled bottles and boxes.
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Seventh Generation

Concentrated Laundry Detergent
seventh generation concentrated laundry detergent
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • Natural Ingredients: All detergents are made with 96 percent plant-based ingredients
  • Eco-friendly Packaging: Seventh Generation product use 100% recycled bottles and boxes.
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Ecos

Naturaly clean Delicate laundry
ecos laundry detergent
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • 100% Vegan: No animals were harmed during the manufacturing of this product.
  • biodegradable and ph-balanced: Suitable for kitchens, restaurants, and nurseries.
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Grab Green

Natural 3 in 1 Laundry
grab green 3 in 1 laundry detergent
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • Non-Toxic Fragrance: Natural vanilla and lavender provide a fresh clean scent.  
  • Powerful Cleaning formula:  Concentrated detergent, stain remover, and brightener.
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Grab Green

Stoneworks Laundry Pods
stoneworks laundry detergent pods
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: 
    Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • Child Safe: A bitter tasting outer film and powder reduces the risk of ingestion.
  • Deep Cleaning:  Eliminates odors and fights stains while softening fabrics naturally.
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Grab Green

Delicate cleaning
grab green delicate detergent pods
  • EPA Certified Safer Choice: 
    Naturally cleans without optical brighteners, chlorine, or dyes.
  • Child Safe: A bitter tasting outer film and powder reduces the risk of ingestion. 
  • Gentle on Delicate Fabrics: Ideal for fine fabrics and linens like silk, satin, wool, and lace .
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Natural vs Traditional Detergents

Natural chemicals used in green detergents are made by nature and considered far safer for both people and the environment. Traditional detergents use synthetic chemicals produced in a lab. These chemicals are known to cause certain health and environmental problems. Well discuss in detail what makes natural laundry detergents the safer, more eco-friendly alternative.

Traditional Laundry Detergent Ingredients

  • Phosphates: These once widely used water softeners are a known cause of health and environmental issues. For this reason, all green and most traditional laundry detergents have abandoned their usage. The US laundry industry has had a voluntary ban on phosphates since 1994.*Note: phosphate usage is still allowed in dishwasher detergent.
  • Bleach: Commonly used for generations, bleach is known for its deep cleaning and whitening ability. It's also an extremely effective disinfectant and deodorizer. Yet, its usage does come with much risk. Bleach can cause skin and eye irritation and respiratory problems. Bleach also pollutes our waterways and poses a danger to aquatic life.
  • Surfactants, short for surface-active agents, are very effective at loosening soils from fabric. But, surfactants can also wreak havoc with our waterways. Once entering rivers and streams, they create a surface layer of foam and froth. This poses grave dangers for a variety of water species. Surfactants decrease the breeding ability of aquatic organisms. This ultimately disrupts the entire ecosystem. Chemicals found in surfactants are also a known cause of serious respiratory conditions in humans.
  • Fragrances: Traditional laundry detergents add chemical fragrances that mimic natural aromas. This creates the false illusion of freshness. Yet, a large number of these chemicals are actually dangerous carcinogens. These fragrances are then allowed to escape through dryer vents, spreading these dangerous toxins through your neighborhood.
  • Optical brighteners are added to detergent to create the appearance of brighter, more aesthetically pleasing colors. One common misconception is that these additives bring forth your clothing's existing color. What they actually do is add chemical pigments to the fabric surface. These chemicals are not biodegradable and pose long term dangers to waterways and aquatic life. Additionally, optical brighteners are known to cause severe irritation in those with sensitive skin.

Natural Laundry Detergent Ingredients

  • Plant-Based Surfactants are a natural alternative to petroleum-based surfactants. Biodegradable Ingredients like coconut,  corn, and soybean oils provide an eco-friendly alternative. 
  • Biosurfactants are manufactured from a variety of bacteria, yeast, and fungi microbes. Production requires no petroleum usage and has little to no negative environmental impact. So far, operational costs have limited usage of biosurfactants. But, as this growing technology expands, Expect biosurfactants to be the future for all types of laundry detergents.
  • Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) increases pH levels by removing minerals from hard water. This reduces the amount of detergent needed to deep clean clothing. Baking soda also helps whiten and brighten fabrics. When it comes to really tough stains, baking soda alone is not the most effective spot remover. But, as a part of a complete cleaning solution, it can add to a detergent's overall performance.
  • Natural Enzymes are made from fermented microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and yeast. They do an excellent job of breaking down tough stains caused by oils, & proteins. More importantly, they do so with no negative impact on the environment.
  • Essential oils offer a great alternative to toxic chemical fragrances.  Natural oils from peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and others leave clothing smelling fresh and clean. While these oils are eco-friendly and safe for the environment, essential oils can be flammable. As such, they should never be added to the dryer. But, to clarify, they are considered safe to add during the wash cycle as long as recommended amounts are used. 
  • Citric acid naturally softens clothing by neutralizing the alkalinity of detergents. Many traditional fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain known cancer causing carcinogens. Conversely, citric acid is regarded as a safe, natural and effective alternative to most chemical products. 

Why Should You Switch to Natural Detergents?

Natural detergent brands offer gentle yet effective cleaning. These products use eco-friendly ingredients that are safer for your skin and better for the planet. Unlike traditional detergents loaded with harsh chemicals, natural detergents have no negative environmental impact. Even better is that they do all this without sacrificing performance. Choosing natural detergents means making healthier choices for your family and the world around you. Ready to make the switch? Try a natural detergent today and experience the difference for yourself!
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