Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents in the UK

Laundry

Did you know that your regular laundry detergent could be irritating your skin, triggering a range of health conditions and polluting the land and oceans?

That’s why switching to a greener, non-toxic laundry detergent is an important step to take if you’re serious about living a more natural life.

In this article we’ll look at why you might want to avoid regular laundry detergent, which brands we recommend and give you some links to instructions if you’d prefer to make your own.

What’s the Problem with Regular Laundry Detergent?

Most regular laundry detergents contain potentially harmful chemicals which leave a residue on our clothing.

These chemicals are absorbed by our skin and can be inhaled into our lungs, potentially triggering eczema, skin irritation, asthma, and even disrupting the natural hormonal balance in our bodies. It can be especially bad for children and those with sensitive skin.

Laundry detergents can cause contact dermatitis, which is a condition that manifests itself as an itchy rash.

These chemicals also seep into the land and wash into the sea, harming and even killing plants and wildlife.

Boxes of washing powder and washing tablets often contain warnings about the dangerous ingredients found inside.

Potentially harmful or irritating chemicals found in laundry detergent include the following:

  • Sodium carbonate peroxide – This ingredient acts as a bleach and an anti-microbial agent. Over-exposure to this chemical can cause eye, skin, nose and respiratory irritation (source).
  • Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate – This ingredient is a surfactant that helps remove dirt and grease. It can irritate the skin and eyes (source).
  • Sodium C12-18 alkyl sulfate – This ingredient is a surfactant that helps remove dirt and produces a foam. It can cause respiratory irritation and could exacerbate asthma (source).

 

Choosing a Natural Laundry Detergent

Luckily, there are a range of eco-friendly alternatives to regular laundry detergent that won’t just reduce your exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals, they’ll also be kinder on your skin, great for all the family and minimise harm to the planet too.

These include products made from plants and minerals and products that are 100% biodegradable.

We’re about to share our top recommendations below, including links to a few recipes for making your own non-toxic laundry detergent if you’d prefer.

If you end up choosing a laundry detergent that isn’t on this list, be sure to find one that is free from harmful chemicals, artificial fragrances, bleach and dyes, and also look for something that is organic, cruelty-free and palm oil free.

Also look for a seal of approval or any awards by third parties. If you can find vegan laundry detergent then that’s even better.

Be sure to consider what kind of packaging is used.

It’s always better to minimise your plastic usage and choose a product that can be reused many times so you can keep plastic pollution out of the ocean and reduce your waste footprint.

If you’d like to check the eco ‘score’, have a look at the excellent guide to laundry detergents on the Ethical Consumer website.

Without any further ado, here are our favourite eco-friendly laundry detergent options.

Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents in the UK

1. Ecoegg Laundry Egg

Ecoegg, Fresh Linen, 720 Washes

Ecoegg is a clever invention that allows you to fill a reusable plastic egg with mineral pellets instead of harsh chemicals. Although the egg itself is made of plastic, you can simply refill it with eco-friendly washing pellets when needed.

The manufacturers also guarantee that it will last for ten years so you can keep filling it and filling it. This reduces your consumption of plastic laundry detergent bottles and fabric conditioner.

With long term use, minimal plastic, and being made in the UK, the Eco Egg is one of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents in the UK today.

The washing pellets are also vegan, cruelty-free, free from harmful chemicals, kind to skin and even certified by Allergy UK.

Pros

  • Saves a small fortune!
  • Made in the UK
  • Long term use
  • Minimal plastic
  • Pellets non toxic and chemical free
  • No bleaches
  • The Queens Award for Enterprise
  • Comes with instructions
  • Pellets are refillable
  • Easy to exchange

Cons

  • Takes time to get used to
  • Egg holder occasionally breaks
  • Not for heavily soiled clothes
  • Not for above 60 Celsius
  • Uses crystals

 

2. Ecover Non-Bio Washing Powder

Ecover Non-Bio Washing Powder, 3KG

Gentle yet powerful, this eco-friendly washing powder from Ecover will get your clothes clean without hurting the environment or the planet.

Free from animal testing, triclosan free, made with sustainable palm oil and suitable for septic tanks, it’s great for sensitive skins, made from natural plants and minerals and even works well at 30 degrees.

Although it comes in a cardboard box, it does contain a plastic inner liner so be aware if you’re working towards zero waste.

Pros

  • Made from natural plants and minerals
  • Made with sustainable palm oil
  • Packaging mostly recyclable
  • Natural fragrance
  • Uses biodegradable oxygen bleach

Cons

  • Not economical (3 kg = 40 washes)
  • Plastic use
  • Not for long term use
  • Uses bleaching

 

3. Ecozone Soap Nuts

Ecozone Soap Nuts Natural Laundry Detergent, 100% Organic Biodegradable Washing Machine Pellets, Plastic Free, Effective Cleaning for Clothing & Fabrics, Hypoallergenic Vegan & Eco Friendly (1kg Bag)

If you’ve never tried soap nuts before, I strongly encourage you to give them a try because they are wonderful. Naturally unscented, chemical-free, kind to skin, 100% biodegradable and great for the planet, they’re a natural surfactant which comes from the sapindus genus tree.

To use them, you simple pop a handful into the smaller bag they provide, throw it into your washing machine and you can allow the magic to unfold.

If you like, you can also make great natural hand soaps, shampoos and other detergents by using the soap nuts. Soap nuts are some of the most environmentally friendly cleaning products around, and so versatile.

They’re also vegan, eco-friendly, palm oil free, paraben-free, triclosan-free, phthalate-free, great for septic tanks, biodegradable and certified by Allergy UK. In fact, overall Ecozone soap nuts are one of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents available. They are reusable and soap nuts are easy to grow, thus sustainable.

Soap nuts do not even require the rinse cycle, because that is in place to rid clothes of unwanted chemicals, when using toxic laundry detergents.

Soap nuts have got to be the least toxic laundry detergent out there.

Pros

  • 100% natural and biodegradable
  • No scent
  • Eco-friendly
  • 330 washes!
  • Extremely economical
  • For use in all washing machines
  • Organically harvested
  • Can use to make other products

Cons

  • Takes time to get used to
  • Reliability of cleaning varies
  • Single use plastic
  • Sourced from India

 

4. Faith in Nature Super Concentrated Laundry Liquid

Faith In Nature Natural, Super Concentrated, Laundry Liquid with Aloe Vera and Rosemary Oil, Vegan and Cruelty Free, No SLS, Parabens or Phosphates, 5 L Refill Pack

For an eco-friendly laundry detergent that’s made with essential oils and is cruelty-free, SLS free and paraben-free, look no further than this effective concentrated laundry liquid from Faith in Nature.

Coming in a huge 5 litre bottle, you’ll get around 150 washes from just one package.

It’s also gentle on skin, works well and contains 98% natural ingredients. It has to be one of the least toxic laundry detergents available, since it contains no optimal whiteners.

However, the packaging itself is plastic, so again, it’s worth thinking carefully if you’re trying to reduce your plastic footprint.

Pros

  • Uses no bleaches, parabens, phosphates or enzymes
  • Made in the UK
  • Suitable for fine fabrics
  • Natural fragrance
  • SLS free
  • 150 washes
  • Concentrated

Cons

  • Huge plastic waste
  • Uses palm oil
  • Less economical compared to other alternatives
  • Depth of cleaning unsure
  • Scent disputable

 

5. Mangle & Wringer Pure Laundry Powder

This gorgeous award-winning natural laundry power is about as eco-friendly as it gets.

Made purely from 100% coconut oil soap, natural minerals and water softeners, and it comes in a biodegradable paper bag, reducing the amount of single use plastic in your life.

It’s free from synthetic detergents, phosphates, optical brighteners, enzymes, fragrances and preservatives, making it great for sensitive skins or anyone who cares about protecting their health or the environment.

Lightly scented and highly effective, I recommend you give this natural laundry power a try.

 

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes

Of course, you can also get creative and make your own natural laundry detergent if you’d prefer.

There are various options which range from the more traditional chemical-free options to the 100% plant-based version. Choose whichever works best for your skin and your principles.

Here are our favourites:

1. Traditional Liquid Laundry Soap by Wellness Mama

This homemade laundry soap contains soap, borax and sodium carbonate (washing soda).

2. Homemade Borax-Free Laundry Soap by Practically Functional

Using baking soda, citric acid, sea salt, washing soda and castile soap, this one is a great option if you’d prefer not to use borax.

3. Soap Nuts Laundry Detergent by Green Child Magazine

This versatile, 100% natural laundry detergent is fab for sensitive skins and can be used as a great eco-friendly alternative to shampoo, washing up liquid and hand soap. You just need soap nuts, water and vinegar.

 

Conclusion

Be kinder to your skin, your health and the environment by switching to a natural, eco-friendly laundry detergent. If you can opt for cruelty-free, vegan and plastic-free, even better.

For us, the best eco-friendly laundry detergent in the UK is the Eco Egg 720 washes, because for such a reasonable price, it lasts for 3 years of washing. It significantly cuts down on plastic use too with the egg lasting at least 10 years.

6 thoughts on “Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents in the UK”

  1. I really looked into the best eco friendly laundry detergent as soap nuts travel lots of miles and come in a plastic bag, so I bought an eco egg and I have never been more disappointed. My clothes absolutely stink after being washed to the extent where my husband is complaining the whole house smells when I am drying clothes. They are the biggest waste of money as I can’t go on with them so it will be back to soap nuts for me which are truly wonderful (even for my birder husbands clothes).

    1. Jacqui Stewart

      I’m so glad I read your reply. I was going to go for the ball, I used to use Method but as they changed hands I was unsure what to use next. Nuts it is then!! Thank you.

  2. I agree with the eco-egg. Our experience is that it is nice for the first 2-5 of washes, but then it does not clean and smells badly. Waste of money and materials.
    We have good results with nuts, especially with a little lavender oil. white wash however needs to be bleached.

  3. I have been using ecover for a year with their fabric softner. All my clothes and towels are like cardboard they don’t smell nice, I have also noticed a discolouration of my darks. Very disappointed. I am considering going back to my old powder as can’t see that there is a good eco alternative. Any suggestions ???

  4. I changed my Laundry detergent about 3 months ago from Surcare fragrance free to ecover fragrance free Unfortunately until two weeks ago when I spoke to lady in a cafe I go in saying she couldn’t use Ecover. I did not realised that was the reason my skin as gone extremely dry, red, sore and itchy. She had gone to a Bupa Specialist and he told her about a chemical starting with METHY can be the cause. She changed her detergent and now uses old fashioned soap flakes and told me she had also used one from a company called Skinsalve. I have gone back to Surcare and have had to wash everything again and we have noticed how soft our clothes, bedding and towels are now. I still trying to sort my skin but the lady in the cafe said it took it 6 weeks for skin to get sorted.
    My advice to anyone out there check what you are buying, check the ingredients and research. I wouldn’t wish anyone to be going through what I am at the moment.
    Hope this has will be help to all who read this

  5. As Ecover are now owned by SCJohnson I refuse to buy their products because SCJohnson test on animals and are not all their products are eco friendly.

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