Mamavation | Healthy Living | Lifestyle | Detoxify Home | Product Recommendations

Mamavation » Blog » Product Investigations | Mamavation » Safest Green Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin 2021
Is Your Laundry Detergent Toxic? Safe & Toxic Brands Washing Your Clothes 18

//  by 

Google+0
LinkedIn0
Pinterest0

Need the best laundry detergent? The thought of clean laundry brings to my mind fresh clothing and crisp linens with a snuggly bear touting a particular brand of fabric softener. But what about the harsh chemicals used in most laundry detergents? It’s no wonder so many kids suffer rashes or eczema from detergent! You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cookware, safest kitchen appliances, & safest shampoos, now join us as we explore the best (& worst) non-toxic laundry detergents for sensitive skin and tips for what ingredients to avoid.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and was fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, RN, BSN. 
safe & toxic laundry detergents

What is Non Toxic Laundry Detergent?

Mamavation is looking for eco-friendly laundry detergent that is

  1. Non-toxic to the touch for people with sensitive skin & eczema
  2. The fragrances are safe to inhale from clothing the entire day
  3. Using ingredients that are safe for the environment.

Because we use so much washing soda for dirt and stains and it eventually makes its way into streams and other water systems, it’s important to consider purchasing from brands that prioritize green and non-toxic ingredients for our washing machines. We want to get those grease stains or other tough stains out while still using less water in high-efficiency washing machines. Are these laundry formulas out there? Yes, and they are available in both liquid form and powders.

Superhero boy and his mother doing laundry together in the living room.

14+ Toxic Chemicals Commonly Found in Brand Name Laundry Detergent

We looked at the most popular brands of laundry detergents and found that the amount of problematic ingredients is vast. This list includes everything from mild irritants and allergens to endocrine disruptors and cancer-causing agents that can be found in your local laundromat or in your home:

Fragrances

Although fragrances give you that sense of things smelling clean, they do more to trick you than actually help you. Your brain is hard-wired to associate certain scents with clean, but did you know that those scents can also contain hormone-disrupting chemicals? Sadly, they can trick your brain into thinking they are good for you in that regard.

Phthalates are plasticizer chemicals used to make scents carry longer around inside your indoor air and in the bottle. But they come with some health risks. Prenatal exposure in utero to phthalates are linked to attention problems in children. Phthalates are also closely linked to risks to children like attention deficit disorder (ADD), and other behavioral disorders.

However, phthalates are rarely on the label, so good luck finding them. But they are typically found in the ingredient “fragrance” on the label. Technically, thousands of chemicals are approved to list under the ingredient “fragrance.” But here’s more:

  • “Fragrance” and the ingredients included in that label are considered trade secrets and, therefore, companies are not required to disclose their components to the general public.
  • If you see “fragrance” or “perfume” on the ingredient list, the product may also contain chemicals such as acetone or ethanol, just two of thousands of possible ingredients you’d also want to avoid.
  • Only brands disclosing ingredients in their fragrance made our “best” list down below for washing machines.

Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs)

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen and are linked to both hormonal problems and cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NPEs have been associated with reproductive and developmental effects in lab studies on rodents and are highly toxic to aquatic life. They have been found in human breast milk, too. While the EPA is starting to take action on NPEs, they have not yet banned them.

1,4-Dioxane

Although this chemical is not supposed to be used in “eco-friendly” products, studies have discovered it in a number of laundry detergents anyways. 1,4-dioxane isn’t added directly to your laundry detergent, it’s a contaminant that gets in during a process called ethoxylation when ethylene oxide is added to other ingredients to make them less harsh in processing.

Ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate are ethoxylated because they are harsh on the skin. This process is what creates the contamination of 1,4-dioxane.

The EPA has determined that this chemical is a probable human carcinogen.

Measuring cup full of detergent in the washing machine

Synthetic and Petroleum-Based Surfactants

Surfactants help to clean your clothes, but when they are synthetically derived or petroleum-based, they are the most harmful. Surfactants can be divided into three categories:

  • Natural surfactants: Derived from vegetable or animal fats and they are the safest, however, some are still toxic to aquatic life.
  • Naturally derived surfactants: made by modifying coconut oil or other fatty acid plant-based ingredients. They may sound natural and safe, however, they are mostly known to be toxic and are known carcinogens.
    • Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) are examples of naturally derived surfactants but we will discuss. SLS and SLES are naturally derived surfactants but that doesn’t mean they are not harmful. Both have been shown to be a skin and eye irritant by the Journal of the American College of Toxicology. There is debate over whether SLS is a carcinogen, and some research indicates it may damage the immune system. Both are harmful to the environment.
  • Synthetic or petroleum-based surfactants: These surfactants are typically the worst and potential for contaminated ingredients is higher. Examples of synthetic surfactants are ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS).
    • Ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), which can cause moderate to severe skin and eye irritation, can also be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, which is a suspected carcinogen. The severity of the irritation will increase with the amount you are exposed to, but when combined with other chemicals, they can create nitrosamines, which are a potent class of carcinogens. ALES may also damage the skin’s immune system by causing skin layers to separate, inflame and age.
    • Polyethylene glycol (PEG), may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane is persistent, meaning it doesn’t easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the drain.

Phosphates

Phosphates are difficult to remove, even in wastewater processing systems, and can pose a threat to the environment. According to the EPA, they promote algae growth that decreases the oxygen that many aquatic life forms need to survive. Studies also link them to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and death in animals.

Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine bleach, such as Clorox, can burn the skin, and can cause eye damage and respiratory issues. It is classified as a hazardous chemical in its initial state.

Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers (Quats)

Lab studies have shown this chemical to harm fertility, cause miscarriages, and cause severe birth defects in animals. According to Chemical of the Day, they can also trigger skin and respiratory irritations as well as allergies. Some quats are also EDCs and some are toxic to aquatic life. Not much is known about its effect on humans, but this is definitely a chemical you don’t want around your children.

Benzyl Acetate, and Other Benzene Ingredients

According to its own material safety sheet, this benzyl acetate is toxic if inhaled or ingested. It’s also irritating to eyes, lungs, and skin. Benzene-based ingredients are often toxic.

2-Butoxyethanol

The EPA states that this chemical can irritate your throat, skin, or eyes and may have even more serious health effects. In animal lab studies, it has also been associated with harmful effects during pregnancy, neurological effects, and more.
toxic & safe laundry detergents

Optical Brighteners

These chemicals create the “optical illusion” of brighter whites. They “coat” your clothing and remain after washing, meaning that your family’s skin is constantly exposed to them. According to the material safety sheet, they are extremely toxic to aquatic life. They are also an irritant to skin, eyes, and lungs, and can be harmful if ingested.

Quaternium-15 & Formaldehyde

Quaternium-15 releases formaldehyde. Additionally, some companies add formaldehyde to their products. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and toxicant.

Artificial Colors and Preservatives

We know that artificial dyes are associated with ADHD. And artificial preservatives, like BHT and BHA, may be carcinogenic or an endocrine disruptor. You should avoid these as much as possible.

A Word About Silver Nanoparticles

More manufacturers are adding silver nanoparticles to clothing to combat odor-causing bacteria. These can seep back into wastewater, in this case, from your washing machine. They are harmful to ecosystems and can damage fish and other animals as well as their embryos, according to research. They can also prevent wastewater treatment systems from functioning properly. You may want to limit how many “odor-reducing” clothing articles you buy for your family.

Truly Free Laundry detergents

Mamavation’s Recommended Laundry Detergent — Truly Free

Mamavation is recommending you try out Truly Free laundry detergent if you would like a non-toxic brand that works on tough stains. This brand reduces your exposure to immune-impacting toxins that are typically found in laundry detergents, so you can confidently wash everyone’s laundry, including your infant, with this product.

Benefits of Truly Free Laundry Detergent Products 

  • Natural and free of harsh chemicals that irritate and cause skin reactions
  • Safe for infants
  • Free of all Thickeners, Dyes, Optical Brighteners
  • Uses Milled salts and Plant-Based Cleansing Ingredients (100% Vegan)
  • Helps Washer Clean More Efficiently
  • Better packaging — Uses reusable jug to help you save on plastics

Special Discount for Mamavation Fans

Truly Free has offered special discounts on their products for being a fan of Mamavation. Click here to automatically get a discount on Truly Free laundry detergent products. Here are some details and options:

  • Starter Kit Choice: Refillable Forever Laundry Wash Jug & 150 Loads of Signature Scent Laundry Wash Loads. Normally $54, but Mamavation discount makes it $48.
  • Buy 5 Get 2 Free: Refillable Forever Laundry Wash Jug & 350 Loads of Signature Scent Laundry Wash Loads. Normally $129, but Mamavation discount makes it $79.
  • Best Value Buy 6 Get 6 Free: Refillable Forever Laundry Wash Jug & 600 Loads of Signature Scent Laundry Wash Loads. Normally $219, but Mamavation discount makes it $99.
  • Washing Machine Cleaners: These cleaners will get the mold and gunk out of your laundry machine.

Mamavation Investigates Laundry Detergents 

Mamavation combed through 200+ Laundry Detergents online. Brands offering no or incomplete ingredient disclosure were deemed not our favorite. So were laundry detergents that cleaned with an abundance of ingredients harmful to the Planet and the humans on it.

Here are some additional investigations we thought you’d be interested in:

Worst Laundry Detergent Brands (i.e. Not Our Favorite) 

These brands contain many of the chemicals from our toxic ingredient list above. We specifically were looking for brands that had Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), benzisothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone. Please take note that some brands have other products in other categories.

  • 365 Whole Foods Market Powdered Laundry Detergent Unscented
  • 365 Whole Foods Market Liquid Detergent Laundry Packs Unscented
  • 365 Whole Foods Market Lavender Citrus Concentrated Laundry Detergent
  • Ajax (all products)
  • All (all other products)
  • All Free & Clear: Contains surfactants and brighteners
  • Amway Home SA8 Liquid Laundry Detergent
  • Amway Home SA8 Powder Laundry Detergent
  • Arm & Hammer Clean & Simple Laundry Detergent
  • Arm & Hammer Liquid Detergent Perfume & Dye-Free
  • Babyganics 3X Laundry Detergent Fragrance-Free
  • Biokleen Free & Clear Laundry Liquid
  • Biokleen Free & Clear Laundry Powder
  • Biokleen Citrus Essence Laundry Powder
  • Biokleen Baby Laundry Liquid
  • Biokleen Citrus Essence Laundry Liquid
  • Biokleen Lavender Lily Laundry Liquid
  • Biokleen Sport Laundry Liquid
  • Biokleen Cold Water Laundry Liquid
  • Botanical Origin Laundry Detergent Orange Blossom & Citrus Leaves
  • Cheer Free & Gentle
  • Cheer (all products)
  • Cosy House Collection Detergent Pacs Unscented
  • Cosy House Collection Detergent Pacs Fresh Scent
  • Dr. Bronners Sals Suds All Purpose Cleaner
  • Dreft Stage 1 Newborn Liquid Detergent
  • Dreft Baby Laundry Detergent Powder
  • Dynamo (all products)
  • EcosNext Liquidless Laundry Detergent Free & Clear
  • EcosNext Liquidless Laundry Detergent Lavender Vanilla
  • Ecover Zero Laundry Detergent Fragrance Free
  • Ecover Laundry Detergent Lavender Field
  • Era (all products)
  • Fab (all products)
  • Gain
  • Just The Basics (CVS) Laundry Detergent Fresh Scent
  • Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Premium Laundry Detergent Free & Clear
  • Lazy Coconuts Eco-friendly Detergent Strips
  • Method Laundry Detergent Packs Free + Clear
  • Method Laundry Detergent Packs (with fragrance)
  • Method Laundry Detergent Pour Free + Clear
  • Method Laundry Detergent Pour (with fragrance)
  • Modere Laundry Detergent Clean (liquid)
  • Norwex Liquid Laundry Detergent
  • Persil Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent
  • Persil ProClean Discs
  • Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent Free & Clear
  • Planet Ultra Laundry Detergent Free & Clear
  • Purex Free & Clear for Sensitive Skin
  • Purex for Baby Laundry Detergent
  • Purex 4-In-1 Packs Mountain Breeze
  • Purex Powder Detergent
  • Seventh Generation Ultra Plus Power Free & Clear
  • Seventh Generation Free & Clear for Baby’s Sensitive Skin
  • Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus 3-In-1 Fresh Citrus Scent
  • Tide (rest of brands)
  • Tide Purclean Plant Based Liquid Unscented
  • Tide Pods
  • Ultra (all products)
  • Wisk (all products)

The Better Brands

These brands are better but may contain 1 or 2 of the above ingredients. Most have naturally derived versions of certain chemicals and derive their scents naturally, and are clear of the worst of the “bad” chemicals. However, these are better products than those listed above and do not contain the worst offenders on the above list. That said, these chemicals do not pose a high risk but maybe something to avoid if you have sensitive skin, allergies, or are autoimmune compromised. One more thing to note about this section is it contains ALL additional “natural” brand that did not offer 100% fragrance disclosure. If we didn’t know what the fragrance was, we added it here.

The Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Brands

We are happy to announce that this list is long enough to provide you with plenty of options! All of these products are either MADE SAFE certified, do not contain the ingredients listed above, or are naturally/organically grown with no added chemicals. Pay attention to products because some brands have products in different categories.

Laundry Aides

If this list of toxic laundry detergents surprised you, I’m sorry to say that it gets worse. Almost all laundry aides – dryer sheets, fabric softener, and stain remover – use toxic chemicals. Most fabric softeners, for example, contain quats but they also have fragrance, or artificial preservatives and colors. Dryer sheets fare even worse.

If you want to use these products, here are some of the safest choices:

So what can you use in your high-efficiency washer and is laundry detergent toxic? Many brands are but you don’t have to stop washing your clothes. (Bad news for your teenager!) There are a lot of brands you can choose from to keep your family safe and freshly laundered. Or, take the plunge and DIY your laundry cleaners. You won’t regret it!

Recent Product Investigations

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Devyn Rowe

    I’ve heard bad things about Charlie’s soap. Such as the way it is produced doesn’t allow the lye to fully react, meaning there is active lye in the detergent and can cause burns. Can you speak to that?

    Reply

  2. Linda

    What about the Tyler laundry detergent. I didn’t see it on any lists they claim to use natural ingredients but don’t have them on their containers

    Reply

  3. Ginny

    I would love to see a test of Zum. They list fragrance but state it’s all natural. I reacted badly to it and am wondering how to find out what the fragrance is?

    Reply

    • Anonymous

      To my understanding ones that say fragrance with essential oils is made with EO, the others that don’t list EO I’m not sure on!

      Reply

  4. CB

    What about “sheets”???. They clean and I do not have a big jug of plastic to recycle when the biodegradable box is empty.

    Reply

  5. Joanna Kling

    How about Grove laundry detergent. I’ve bee\n using the lavender rosemary pods/packs. Do you know anything about their products?

    Reply

  6. Terri Sidell

    Lesh,
    I did find your lists for bad & good detergents. Thanks for doing the time to list all the info.
    Thanks!! Terri

    Reply

  8. Sue Ann Niehaus

    I am curious if any further research was done on the Norwex laundry soap. Specifically looking for your input on the Norwex powder detergent. I really like it but I want to use something that has been approved by you and your research. Thanks so much for all you do!

    Reply

  10. Nadine

    Hello. I am looking for a non-toxic, safe laundry detergent that cleans men’s really dirty clothes. Would you please provide me with your recommendation?

    Thanks,
    Nadine

    Reply

  11. G. Green

    I just found out yesterday that my normal laundry detergent, which I’ve really liked for the last few years, has been discontinued. [It was the own-brand, fragrance-free laundry detergent by the regional supermarket chain Fresh Thyme.] I have a lot of sensitivities, particularly to artificial fragrances, certain essential oils, and methylchloroisothiazolinone and related preservatives, so every time that my laundry detergent is discontinued or has something added to the formula that I can’t tolerate (which seems to happen every 2 to 3 years), I end up spending a lot of time researching what is currently available in the marketplace and delving into the ingredient lists — so that’s what I’ve done all evening.
    I have narrowed down the list of detergents that I am going to try out to about 3 or 4 that I will order online, to see if any of those work for me and my family.
    Sadly, it was only *after* all that work tonight that I found your site and this fantastic page of information that you have compiled! This is so helpful.
    I was surprised not to see 2 of the detergents that I am going to buy and try out anywhere on your list here. I think that because they are similarly named to one of the detergents that you do have on this list, maybe you overlooked them and thought that they were the same formula as the one you do have named here. But actually all 3 of them have different formulas, which I confirmed by going to the brand’s website and looking at the ingredient lists. These detergents are:
    1. Planet Ultra Laundry Detergent Free and Clear
    2. Planet 2X He Ultra Laundry Detergent Free and Clear
    3. Planet Delicate Laundry Wash Free and Clear
    Number 1 you have on your “worst” list above. And I agree with you, because they have one of the -isothiazolinone preservatives in it.
    But, number 2 and number 3 do not have any -isothiazolinone preservatives. They get pretty good write-ups on the EWG site. As far as I can see in their ingredient lists, I don’t see anything that I already know I am sensitive to. So I am going to give both of them a try.
    Also, a couple of months ago, when I found out that my old standby for dish soap, the Ecover Zero fragrance-free dishwashing detergent, actually has an -isothiazolinone preservative in it that they had not previously declared on their official ingredient list but which the California law forced them to list, I searched around for alternatives and the Planet fragrance-free dish soap seems to be okay for the various members of my family, so that gives me hope that the Planet laundry detergent might also be okay for us.
    Another brand that is going well for us is the Canadian Attitude brand — I have used their fragrance-free, gentle shampoo and conditioner for the last few years, so I have bought their dish detergent to try out and will soon buy their fragrance-free laundry detergent to try also (one variation of it anyway, the one that doesn’t have oats in it).
    You can find all 3 of Planet’s laundry detergents on Amazon, and I would encourage you to check out the 2 that you do not have on your list on this page, and slot them into whichever category you think they should go into. Again, they are:
    – Planet 2X He Ultra Laundry Detergent Free and Clear
    – Planet Delicate Laundry Wash Free and Clear
    ========
    If I may mention a different issue, I don’t know if you have any connections at the EWG website, but it’s really frustrating that their lists of ingredients and letter-grades of products are so outdated and totally misleading for certain brands.
    For example, they give the Ecover Zero products really good letter grades and list ingredient lists that are from 2012, which is nine years ago, and which are not at all accurate now. Having such good ratings on the EWG site is allowing brands like Ecover Zero to keep selling a lot of product to people like us who are looking for “clean” products, even though those products really have -isothiazolinone preservatives in them, which the company partially obfuscates.
    There are other cleaning and laundry products which the EWG gives great reviews to, but their ingredient lists also have long since changed and have had ‘bad stuff’ added to them.
    I am bringing this up here, because I looked a long time tonight on the EWG site to try to find a way to report this to them, to report that an ingredient list has changed, or in the very least to ask them to review their published list with the product’s manufacturer to make sure it’s up to date, but there seems to be no way to report to them that they have a terribly incorrect presentation of a lot of their highly-rated products.
    (Also, several of their highly-rated brands seem to have gone out of business, and they should take those items off their site, to save so many consumers from wasting their time trying to buy those products.)
    So if you have any contacts there, I wonder if you could pass those concerns along to them.
    ===
    I am really excited to look around at the other categories on your site in the coming weeks! Thank you so much for making your crucial research and analysis widely available.

    Reply

      • Alysa

        Learn about the ingredients. It makes it easier to find products then. The EWG can’t keep up I believe. Consider looking at Kind & Sheets which have simple ingredient lists and don’t require shipping water still & compare to the two Plant products you liked. I started looking a few weeks back since these dry detergents are available now and it’s getting harder to locate the brand I have been buying for years that is good. Some of these sheets are good, many were not.

        Reply

  13. Curio Centre

    Your writing is perfect!!!
    You gave me great joy!!!
    I simply need to offer a gigantic go-ahead for the decent data you have here on this post. I can be returning again to your blog for extra soon.

    Reply

  15. MARIE

    Any info on Beekman 1802. I have found their products to be great on my skin. They claim to be clean and appear great so far. Since you are more knowledgeable, I was hoping to pick your brain. They make clean beauty and have added household cleanning products to their line, including laundry detergent/soap.

    Reply

  19. Jillian R

    I used pure naturals for months and wanted to love it but sad to say it did a terrible job for us – didn’t remove odors, struggled with even the most basic stains. We are a pretty average three person family, not even hard on our clothes. It’s Sonett unscented sensitive all the way for us – I wish I knew what you find problematic about it specifically because other non-toxic bloggers I trust recommend it. For us, it’s odor fighting and stain fighting is unreal! Literally red wine out of white tablecloths no problem.

    Reply

  20. Ann

    Finally – I am using something on the best list and don’t need to find an alternative!!! Woo hoo. I run an AirBnB so use a lot of laundry detergent! Thank you so much for all the research, time and effort. I

    Reply

  21. Ann

    Molly’s Suds is a detergent! Look at the ingredient list and their website… not sure where you are getting YOUR information… I used to use and it was fine for septic and hardwater but terrible on clothes. Moved to My Green Refills two years ago and I am very happy with this product.

    Reply

  23. Maggie Smith

    Love My Green Fills! They’re in my hometown!! Also, was hoping to see Boulder on your list somewhere.

    Reply

  24. Amy

    That’s interesting. How did 2 versions of Tide end up on your BETTER list? This investigation has completely discredited all Mamavation investigations for me. You’re seriously misleading people with this poorly researched article.

    Reply

  25. Angela Young

    I was wondering why Indigo Wild Zum laundry detergent went from your best list to the better list this time.

    Reply

    • Leah Segedie

      Dawn come back and take a look! The site was dancing the funky chicken yesterday and wouldn’t update. Today, you can look and find that brand in there!

      Reply

  27. Gus

    any updates on Thrive Market? Their ingredients look good to me, I’m not seeing anything problematic and am wondering what your reasoning is or if they’ve already reformulated and y’all haven’t had time to update this article? Lmk!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.