It's a Wash

A review of six green laundry detergents 21

Let's get down and dirty ... about your laundry habits. You may think you're in the clear, but every time you use your conventional, chemical-filled detergent, you could be affecting your health -- as well as the health of waterways downstream.

That doesn't sound so fresh (and so clean, clean), so I decided to seek out green laundry detergents and find out which one performs best.

Lean, green, cleaning machines?

Photo: Sarah van Schagen

While shopping, I kept an eye out for the nasty stuff -- the surfactant nonylphenol ethoxylate or NPE, an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimic; phosphates, which help remove minerals and food bits but cause harmful algal blooms in waterways (these have been phased out by U.S. companies); and bleach, which gets it white, but doesn't treat your lungs right. The problem is, most detergents don't so much list ingredients in that sort of detail -- and they're not required by law to disclose their ingredients to consumers even when asked. Instead, they use more vague terms like "surfactant" or "washing soda" or "brightener," so I found myself looking at their various eco-claims -- that is, what they say their products don't contain.

I also decided to go with detergents "free and clear" of dyes and perfumes, because why bother with possible irritants and allergens if you have the option? A number of the bottles proudly announce that their contents are biodegradable or petroleum-free. According to the Seventh Generation bottle, if every U.S. household replaced one bottle of petroleum-based detergent with a plant-based one, 149,000 barrels of oil could be saved -- enough to heat and cool 8,500 homes for a year.

GRIST'S PICK

Seventh Generation Free & Clear
32 fl. oz./2X ultra concentrated
$6.99

I chose relatively small bottles of detergent as well. Normally, I'm a fan of buying in bulk to save packaging, but I knew I'd be lugging them all home in a backpack, by foot, uphill both ways in the rain. Most of them are also labeled as "concentrated" -- an important distinction because, as the Method bottle states, over 400 million gallons of water are used to dilute conventional laundry detergents. The concentrated formulas use less water but still rinse clean -- and work in both conventional and high-efficiency machines.

To test the detergents, I planned to do a load of clothes with each. But my clothes don't usually get very dirty -- me working a posh desk job and all -- so I wanted to do some elaborate stain experimenting like they do in all the commercials.

This is where I went wrong.

Using cotton T-shirts that were headed to the Goodwill anyway, I applied six-inch stains of ketchup, balsamic vinaigrette, blueberries, and red wine to the front side, and then rubbed the back of each shirt in mud. All without thinking about how detergents on their own aren't really meant to get out stains that tough, and if I were really doing laundry, I'd use vinegar and club soda and whatever else until I was sure it would wash clean. Instead, all I did was follow the instructions on each bottle for pre-treatment.

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Do you know how hard it is to get blueberries out? I'm no Lady Macbeth, but by the end of the trial, I was pretty close to cursing those damned spots and washing my hands of the entire project. That hitch aside, the rest of my clothes came out just fine with each load -- so the real differences lie in the eco-claims, the smell, and the bang for your buck.

Here are the results:

Biokleen Free & Clear Laundry Liquid
64 fl. oz./1 oz. per load/64 loads/3X concentrated
$9.99
Eco-claims: Fragrance free; clear of dyes and brighteners; environmentally friendly with no negative effects on rivers, streams, plants, or wildlife; kind to those with chemical sensitivities and allergies; no artificial fragrance, colors, or preservatives; rapidly biodegrades and ozone safe; no animal testing and no animal ingredients; contains no phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DEA (diethanolamine; no SARA Title III, CA 65, or EPA priority pollutants; no material listed by the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) as hazardous.
Ingredients: Surfactants and conditioners from coconut and/or corn, grapefruit seed and pulp extract, linear sulfonate, filtered water.
Stain instructions: Pre-treat stains by applying directly to stain, gently rub in and launder as directed.
Actual smell: Soapy, like a bottle of bubbles, but not overpowering.

This bottle is the least exciting looking of all of them, but it has some hefty eco-cred. The laundry list of chemicals it doesn't contain makes me wonder about what all is in the other detergents I tested. Still, this is a performance review, and with that in mind, I have to comment on the claim that this one "removes the toughest dirt, grease, stains, and odors." It just didn't happen. Most of the dirt is gone from the back of the shirt and the ketchup and vinaigrette are hardly visible, but the blueberries and red wine did this one in.

The winner is clear as mud.

Photo: Sarah van Schagen

Earth Friendly Products Ultra ECOS Free and Clear All Natural Laundry Detergent
100 fl. oz./1 oz. per load/100 loads in HE machines, 50 in non-HE machines
$12.99
Eco-claims: Phosphate-, formaldehyde-, and petrochemical-free; kind to sensitive skin; neutral pH; plant-based, non-polluting ingredients; septic safe and gray-water safe; 100 percent biodegradable; sodium lauryl sulfate-free and free of non-ionic surfactants derived from SLS; not tested on animals and no animal ingredients.
Ingredients: 100 percent natural anionic coconut kernel oil-based surfactant, soap bark, chamomile, horsetail plant, and purified water.
Stain instructions: Pour some directly onto stained area, rub lightly, and wash as usual.
Actual smell: Slight vinegary scent.

Interestingly, this one says it's "designed to quickly remove ground-in dirt and stains" -- a claim I'd have to question, seeing as how the dirt that I ground in is still very much visible and the blueberry stain still looks good enough to eat. The ketchup and vinaigrette stains are mostly faded, though, so perhaps this one works better on grease.

Method Free + Clear Laundry Detergent
32 fl. oz./1 oz. per load/32 loads/3X concentrated
$9.99
Eco-claims: Contains no perfumes or dyes; phosphate-free; biodegradable; never tested on animals.
Ingredients: Anionic and non-ionic surfactants, enzymes, buffering agents, stabilizer, stain penetrant, brightener, and foam control agents.
Stain instructions: If heavily soiled, add an extra 1/2 oz. of detergent.
Actual smell: Like baby powder and rubber, or the inside of a latex balloon.

The Method-washed shirt still has about half its dirt, maybe all of its red wine, and visible amounts of the ketchup, vinaigrette, and blueberries -- though the blueberries are more faded than some detergents left them. This one does come in one of the more stylish bottles, though, which I applaud -- but performance is key.

Mountain Green Skin Sensitive Free & Clear All Natural Ultra Laundry Detergent
32 fl. oz./1 oz. per load/32 loads/3X concentrated
$11.99
Eco-claims: No harsh perfumes, alcohol, dyes, chlorine bleach, petroleum-based ingredients, enzymes, optical brighteners, SLS, or parabens; neutral pH; cruelty-free; readily biodegradable, nontoxic, 100 percent phosphate and phosphorus free; safe for septic systems and for gray-water use.
Ingredients: Purified mountain water, vegetable-based cleaning agents (derived from coconut/palm oil), mild preservatives (food grade).
Stain instructions: Apply directly onto stained area, rub gently, and soak before normal wash.
Actual smell: Like a lemon pie, a slight sugary lemon scent.

All of the stains on this tester are still visible, though a bit fainter. The vinaigrette seems to have given it the most trouble, while the red wine is the most faded. If you can look past the stain-fighting abilities of this one, it does have an impressive list of eco-claims and the scent was by far the sweetest.

Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent
50 fl. oz./4 oz per load/12.5 loads
$6.49
Eco-claims: Certified biodegradable, no added dyes or fragrances, not tested on animals, 100 percent phosphate free, hypoallergenic.
Ingredients: Coconut oil based cleaners, salt, washing soda, ethoxylated alcohol (an alternative to NPE).
Stain instructions: If heavily soiled, add an extra 1 oz. of detergent.
Actual smell: Almost odorless, very slight vinegar scent

I recommend eating your balsamic vinaigrette verrry carefully if you'll be using this detergent to clean your soiled shirt. This oily stain stands out the most among the faded blueberries, ketchup, and, to a lesser degree, red wine. Half the dirt remains as well.

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent
32 fl. oz./1.6 oz. per load/20 loads/2X ultra concentrated
$6.99
Eco-claims: No optical brighteners, no dyes or fragrance, no phosphates; safe for septic and gray-water systems; no animal derived ingredients; all ingredients disclosed.
Ingredients: A low-foaming blend of naturally derived cleaning agents (coconut-derived surfactants, glycerin), natural water softeners, alkalinity builders, anti-redeposition agents (sodium citrate, borax), non-animal derived enzymes to remove protein and starch stains and protect fabrics, plant derived anti-foaming agents (glycerol monooleate, oleic acid), cleaning enhancer (calcium chloride), preservative (less than 0.05 percent), water.
Stain instructions: Sort and pretreat (pour directly on stained fabric and rub gently; allow to soak before washing); use a full cap for heavily soiled loads.
Actual smell: Like Play-Doh.

Of all the detergents, this is the only one that claims to disclose all of its ingredients and appears to do so -- even if that means listing chemicals we can't pronounce. It also does a great job of explaining what that all means. In terms of the stains, the dirt is only visible upon close examination and the ketchup is gone. The remaining vinaigrette, blueberries, and red wine are pretty well faded -- this detergent was the best at removing most of all of the stains.

All Small & Mighty Free & Clear
32 fl. oz./1 oz. per load/32 loads/3X concentrated
$7.45
Eco-claims: Free of perfume and clear of dyes, No. 1 recommended by dermatologists and allergists, safe for septic tanks, does not contain phosphorus, surfactants are biodegradable.
Ingredients: Cleaning agents (anionic and non-ionic surfactants), buffering agent, stabilizer, and brightening agent.
Stain instructions: Rub a small amount directly into the stain before washing.
Actual smell: Virtually odorless, faint scent of clay

I added this detergent into the mix after all the rest of my trials came back with stains. I wanted to make sure my experiment wasn't just taking the eco-brands to the cleaners. This one still couldn't make a clean sweep of it, though. The dirt and ketchup are gone, and the red wine is mostly faded, but the vinaigrette and the blueberries are still causing trouble.

The bottom line: It's a wash -- none of the detergents fully removed all of the stains, but they all produced otherwise-clean clothes. And though all claimed to be free of perfumes, each had a singular scent. For maximum eco-claim and stain removal with the lowest price and least-perfumy scent, we suggest Seventh Generation Free & Clear.

Sarah van Schagen is Grist’s Seattle editor.

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  1. jaybarnes Posted 4:01 am
    26 Feb 2008

    Green Laundry DetergentIn Massachusetts I have seen a green laundry detergent for sale called Global Balance.  It has a couple of interesting features.




    The somewhat plain looking container it comes in is made from 50% post-consumer plastic.


    It is manufactured in Massachusetts so if you live in Massachusetts, presumably you are 'buying local'.


    It is significantly less expensive than the competition.




    Has anyone outside of Massachusetts seen it?  If so, it might be worth Sarah taking a look at it.
    -Jay

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  2. raevynn Posted 4:09 am
    26 Feb 2008

    Another OptionI use Maggie's Soap Nuts, which has NO chemicals at all... they are, literally, dried nuts from a tree!

    The rinds contain a natural saponin that does a decent job of cleaning clothes.
    No chemicals. No rashes. No need for fabric softeners.
    Here's an article about them: http://www.naturalnews.com/021875.html
    I got mine here: http://www.betterlifegoods.com

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  3. typetive Posted 7:35 am
    26 Feb 2008

    no trader joe's?I was curious how TJ's does against these. Not that I'm going to change ... it has a neutral lavender scent only during the wash and gets my clothes clean.

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  4. bibigol Posted 12:13 am
    27 Feb 2008

    powder detergentsThanks Sarah. I notice that all the detergents tested are liquid. Any plans to test the "green" powder ones?

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  5. ecochica Posted 3:48 am
    27 Feb 2008

    ditto on powder detergentI always assumed powder detergents were greener--less packaging, less bulk.  Is this wrong?

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  6. mxphile Posted 6:08 am
    27 Feb 2008

    powder vs. liquidI can't comment on if powder is greener or not but two things apply to our situation:


     Local recycling is horrendous and we can recycle #1 and #2 plastics easier than non-corrugated cardboard.
     We're on a septic system and recently had to have the tank pumped (earlier than expected given our household and septic tank sizes) because of a clog created by powder dishwasher and laundry detergents, which are not septic friendly.  It doesn't matter how hot the water is; the powder doesn't dissolve completely.  I imagine city sewage treatment plants have some mechanism for dealing with undissolved powder residue, but on the other hand, using liquid might ease the burden on them, too.


    I have no idea what the difference is between the manufacture of liquid versus powder detergents.
    We use the BioKleen concentrate liquid detergent that we got in a five gallon tub from Azure Standard and, at one ounce per use, will probably last close to five years lol.  I've noticed that it doesn't remove greasy stains that well even with pre-treating.  So on greasy stains I pre-treat with plain old Dr. Bronner's soap before laundering.

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  7. jedimomma Posted 10:58 pm
    27 Feb 2008

    too expensive.Huh.
    I just use a couple tablespoons of Super Washing Soda (basically baking soda on steroids), and maybe a few tablespoons of Borax (especially for whites).  Vastly cheaper than the above-mentioned stuff, vastly fewer chemicals, and it works just as well.  Fabric softener?  Get a Downey ball and put some vinegar in it.  Works a treat and will not (I swear) make your clothes smell like vinegar.  This stuff might not get all of the above stains out, but from the results of the testing, I'd say it does just about the same job as the expensive cleaners.

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  8. willa Posted 1:10 am
    28 Feb 2008

    You missed the best oneSun & Earth detergent blows 7th Gen out of the water.  It cleans better, smells better (pleasantly citrusy), comes in 5-gallon buckets (as well as "normal" sizes), and best of all doesn't build up a residue over time.  When I used to use 7th Gen, I found that after a few months my clothes looked dull and had a permanent off-scent, as if they weren't really clean.  I think it's the fabric-softening stuff in it that's the problem.
    I also use vinegar, though I skip the Downy ball.  I just pour a half cup or so into the fabric softener receptacle in my washer.  It boosts the pleasant fresh smell, and I think it also helps get stains out.  The main reason I use it, though, is that if I forget to hang stuff up right away, the vinegar keeps it from getting mildewed as quickly.  I've left wet laundry in for up to 24 hours and had it be fine without re-washing when I used vinegar, where without it I don't think it would last half that long.  Of course, not forgetting about the laundry in the first place would be optimal, but I do what I can...

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  9. snowfawn Posted 9:18 am
    28 Feb 2008

    Nuts! that's the way to go!Though I can't claim it will get the dreaded blueberry stains out! They work really good! I have really sensitive skin and since using them I no longer get the rash that I normally have on my chest. They are grand! Plus you can put in a little drop of your own essential oil sent. Oh and it's true, you don't need fabric softner.
    I love nuts!

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  10. Delfino Posted 9:07 am
    02 Mar 2008

    Chemicals?Just have to add that it is of course naive to say that anything, including this laundry cleaner made of nuts, contains NO(!) chemicals.  And of course once the word "saponin" enters in, we're back in the wonderful world of chemicals.  Contrary to the company's website, it is also incorrect to claim that this tree is unique in its production of saponins.  Saponins are abundant throughout the plant world, from the bitter coating on quinoa to the root Chlorogalum pomeridianum, which was used by Native Americans to kill fish (all the better to catch them).  

    I use Trader Joe's "Next to Godliness" brand of powdered detergent, in a front-loader.  At 1/8 cup per load, seems like it's maybe a bit moot, and for everyday laundry, it does a great job.  

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  11. mizberri Posted 10:17 pm
    03 Mar 2008

    Shaklee offers a Liquid and a Powder that rock.Clean credentials...Natural, Nontoxic, Biodegradable surfactants, Concentrated, Hypoallergenic, No phosphates, No chlorine bleach. The Liquid doubles as a spotter and works great!

    The set of laundry products include dryer sheets of recyclable paper, fabric softener, and a booster and stain remover.

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  12. kasek Posted 2:11 am
    04 Mar 2008

    droppsanyone tried dropps? http://www.dropps.com

    just toss in a premeasured pillow-pack which dissolves, releases detergent into the wash. comes in "free & clear" & has claims of being earth- and clothes-friendly. i'm curious about how dropps stack up against other eco options.

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  13. lizard78 Posted 12:39 am
    06 Mar 2008

    biokleen powderI spilled an entire glass of red wine on a dress last summer.  Figuring it was probably a lost cause anyway, I chucked in in the wash with other clothes and Biokleen power and cold water washed it, no pretreating or anything.  The entire stain came out.  I'll never use anything else.  

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  14. mwildfire Posted 11:56 am
    06 Mar 2008

    expansion of research, pleaseI was excited to see this question, because I was thinking about asking Umbra this very question--only my interest is not which "green" detergent is best at getting stains out, but which is acceptable to use with a recycled-greywater system. I plan to collect rainwater for washing at the house we are about to build, and run all the greywater through a filter, then on to a mini pond for clarification, and then use it in my garden. Which laundry and dish detergents (and shampoos and hand soaps) are okay for that?

    I decided it was time to start experimenting and I tried Ecover Ultra. I used half the recommended amount--as is my usual practice--and it got the clothes clean enough but the scent is horrible, worse than conventional brands. It's supposed to be lavender, which should be pleasant, but citrus is also listed in the ingredients--I suspect the combination is unfortunate. I will cut the dose even more to try to reduce the offensive smell, thus it will take a while to use up, but then I will try the brand Umbra recommends.

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  15. Storm Dragon Posted 7:18 am
    07 Mar 2008

    stainsThe only thing I know of that removes berry and pomegranate stains is spot treatment with hot water-as hot as you can get it.  I wouldn't count on any detergent to do the job without help.

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  16. jessbran Posted 8:27 am
    10 Mar 2008

    laundry detergentsWas hoping to see Shaklees Get Clean laundry detergent in the mix?!

    It's great with the Basic H base and the company behind it is doing amazing things!!!

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  17. naturalguy Posted 6:24 am
    24 May 2008

    Mountain GreenI work with Mountain Green one of the tested detergents. We recently improved our stain removal and judging from the picture the product tested was an old formula.
    Another thing Mountain Green offers is 1,4 dioxane free which most of the tested items cannot claim. LA Times exposed the issue of the carcinogen in all these cleaners and the response from most of the companies was we are working on it or we are not natural.
    We work really hard to maintain an authentic product and a healthier clean. Please feel free to reach out to us if you want more information on what's really in these things. http://www.ahealthierclean.com

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  18. GreenTeam Posted 11:02 pm
    07 Jul 2008

    Amway Global/Quixtar SA8 Premium with BioquestGrist always overlooks the leaders.  I have no vested interest in this product line, but when testing the power of a earth friendly cleaner - never under estimate the 50 years of Amway's doing so.  Their SA8 is the best by far and comes with a 180 day money back guarantee.  Doubtful any other performs to this level with that strong of a guarantee.

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  19. Anjana Posted 4:03 pm
    14 Nov 2008

    Magnetic DetergentHas any one tried magnetic detergents. We are planning to order some and try.
    http://www.ecogreenconnect.com/eco-friendly-detergent.htm ...
    If any one has already tried would love to hear about their experience.

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  20. krisw Posted 7:02 am
    24 Nov 2008

    Green LaundryI was sick of lugging heavy detergent up and down my dorm stairs.  I recently tried the GreenWash Ball it's amazing! My clothes came out clean and bright!  Check it out- a great alternative to detergent.

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