Choosing The Eco Laundry Detergent That’s Right For You
Have you decided to ditch harsh chemicals and endless plastic from your laundry routine for good? You’re not alone. Today, more and more people are opting for eco-friendly washing detergents – not just because they’re sustainable, but because they’re known to be gentle on sensitive skin. Plus, they often work out cheaper than the big brands, your branded supermarket favourite laundry pods could be costing you anything between 22p to a whopping 31p per wash!
But with so many eco-friendly detergent options out there, how do you know which is right for you? From ecoeggs to washing strips to pods, the choices can be overwhelming. If you’re going to break up with your usual supermarket brand, you’ll want to know you’re making the right decision.
Luckily, we stock a wide range of eco laundry products here at SaveMoneyCutCarbon. We’re going to break down the differences between them, from their cost per wash to their eco credentials. Take a tour of these detergents with us, and we hope you’ll feel more confident making the switch by the end.
What difference do eco-friendly laundry products make?
But before we get into the ins and outs of these different eco-friendly detergents, what’s so bad about using normal ones? There’s a few reasons. Firstly, traditional laundry detergents can contain a whole host of synthetic cleaning chemicals, fragrances and dyes that can harm the environment by entering our waterways – and often, they never biodegrade.
Eco laundry detergents, on the other hand, are made from natural ingredients that aren’t environmentally damaging. Thanks to the lack of harsh chemicals, they’re also better for your skin – and gentler on your clothes, too. Finally, eco detergents come in plastic-free packaging that you can either recycle, compost or re-use.
So without further ado, here are our top 5 eco laundry products, broken down:
HomeThings Eco Laundry Pods Pack of 72, £13.55
- 19p per wash
- Works best at 30°c
- Plastic-free packaging
- Vegan, cruelty-free, allergy-friendly
- Carbon neutral
Used to chucking in a laundry pod with your clothes? You might prefer these eco pods by HomeThings, made from 100% natural, eco-friendly cleaning ingredients. They’re super-concentrated and small, which saves on transport costs and carbon (soft gel pods, on the other hand, have a higher water content).
HomeThings is a B-Corp, meaning their business is a force for good. They make all their products in the UK, and they’re certified vegan friendly, cruelty-free and carbon neutral. These laundry pods come in letterbox-friendly cardboard packaging, which takes up less space in your home – much better than a huge plastic bottle.
StripWash Strips Pack of 24, £6.00
- 25p per wash
- Super compact
- Vegan, cruelty-free, free from microplastics
- Tree planted for every pack sold
When it comes to space-saving, however, you won’t do better than these detergent strips by StripWash. Simply add one of these super-lightweight strips to the washing machine with your clothes, and it will quickly dissolve, providing all the cleaning power of your regular detergent.
Packing down into one plastic-free envelope, these laundry strips create 94% less carbon emissions compared to transporting heavy liquid or powder detergents. What’s more, StripWash detergent is biodegradable, vegan and cruelty-free – and they’ll plant a tree with every order.
eco-Mate Laundry Liquid 500ml, £4.80
- 37p per wash
- Plastic-free paper bottle
- Vegan, cruelty-free, allergy-friendly
- Choose from Lavender or Sandalwood & Cedarwood
- Combine with Eco-Mate fabric conditioner for £3.95
If you prefer measuring out the dosage of your detergent yourself, opt for this laundry liquid by eco-Mate, which is made from 100% naturally-derived plant-based ingredients. You won’t be lumped with a plastic container either, thanks to their world-first bottle design made from paper, natural latex and bamboo.
This laundry liquid is 100% vegan, free from animal testing, hypoallergenic and biodegradable. eco-Mate also makes a natural fabric conditioner, which protects your clothing’s fibres and leaves it static-free. Choose from two natural fragrances: Lavender, or Sandalwood & Cedarwood.
Bio-D Washing Powder 2kg, £9.65
- 29p per wash
- Vegan, cruelty-free, allergy-friendly
- Gentle even for very sensitive skin
- Safe for septic tanks
- Fragrance free
Used to measuring out washing powder? Stock up and save with this 2kg bag from Bio-D, made in the UK from a plant-based formula. It’s super gentle even on the most sensitive skin, and is free from any fragrances. Bio-D is an Ethical Consumer Best Buy, thanks to its B-Corp accreditation and rigorous supply chains.
All Bio-D products are vegan, cruelty-free and Allergy UK approved. Their cleaning products are also biodegradable, ethically sound and have minimal environmental impact thanks to the gentle, yet effective ingredients they select. This washing powder works at low temperatures, and a 2kg bag can last for up to 33 washes – so you won’t need to stock up for a while!
ecoegg Laundry Egg, £7.50 (£4.25 for refills)
- 14p per wash, then 10p per wash after refill
- Works well between 15°C and 60°C
- Refill the egg every 70 washes
- Washing machine ‘detox’ required
- Choose from Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom or Unfragranced
These laundry eggs by ecoegg are a revolutionary design which replaces both your detergent and fabric conditioner. The egg-shaped case contains mineral pellets, which naturally clean your clothes by drawing out dirt – without the use of any chemicals. This gentle cleaning method has been Allergy UK certified since 2011.
The pellets inside the egg should last around 70 washes, after which you simply need to refill them. The egg comes with a 10 year guarantee – but should you ever need to throw it away, it’s completely recyclable. In 2016, Ecoegg won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation for their design.
At just 14p per wash (reducing to 10p with refills), the ecoegg is incredibly cost effective. Just bear in mind that for the mineral pellets to work properly, you’ll first need to clean your washing machine of detergent residue with an ecoegg Detox Tablet. So if you share your machine with people who use other detergents, an ecoegg might not be for you.
More tips for an eco-friendly laundry routine
We hope you’re now feeling a little more confident about doing your laundry with a detergent that’s both eco-friendly and right for your needs. If you’re ready to make the switch, why not lower the impact of your laundry routine even further? Your energy bill will thank you too.
- Wash as cold as possible – see what the minimum temperature of your laundry detergent is, and try going lower for good.
- Air dry your laundry whenever possible, making the most of sunny or windy days. This also is better for your clothes than using a tumble dryer.
- Run a full load every time – as long as you can fit your hand in the drum of your washing machine, you haven’t overloaded it.
- Wash your clothes less often. Check whether your clothes really are dirty, or if you just think they are. Sometimes clothes just need to be aired out, or given a small spot clean.
- If you need to use a tumble dryer, an ecoegg Dryer Egg could reduce drying times by up to 28%. Don’t overload the dryer and clean out the lint regularly – this will help hot air circulate efficiently.
Looking to change your laundry routine for the better? Whether you’re looking for a hypoallergenic, natural detergent or simply trying to lower your impact, you’ll find what you need in our laundry collection. Take a look, and make the switch for good.
