Laundry is one of those jobs that never seems to be finished when you have children. You get one load put away and there’s already enough for another. So, while I like the idea of using products with less fragrance or packaging, they still need to do a decent job of washing the clothes.
There are quite a few natural and eco laundry detergents to choose from now. Some come in refill bottles, some arrive through the letterbox, and others promise to replace the usual liquid altogether. It can be difficult to work out which would actually suit your washing.
I’d start by deciding what you want to change. Is it the scent left on the clothes? The number of plastic bottles you get through? Or do you want a detergent with clearer ingredient information? Those questions are more helpful than looking for the word “natural” on the front of a pack.
Below, I’ve put together the options I’d consider for different needs, along with the things I’d check before buying. I haven’t tested all of these side by side, so this is a researched buying guide rather than a claim that every product has been through our washing machine.
There are more household ideas in my Low-Tox Living guides if you’re making a few changes around the home.
Natural Laundry Detergents to Consider
If you’re having a quick look, these are the main options:
- Smol Bio: Worth considering when stain removal is your main concern.
- Bio-D Fragrance Free: A straightforward liquid option without added perfume.
- Ecover Zero: Another fragrance-free liquid to look for when doing your usual shopping.
- Ecoegg: A refillable system that may suit lighter everyday washing.
- Miniml: Worth a look if you want to buy larger refills.
- Earth Breeze and GreenSheets: Compact laundry sheets for anyone short on cupboard space.
They aren’t all fragrance-free, and they don’t all work in the same way. I’d check the exact version you’re ordering, particularly if you’re buying because a scented product hasn’t suited someone in your family.
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Smol Laundry Capsules
Smol would be one of the first options I’d look at for family washing. The capsules are already measured out, and regular deliveries can save you from realising the detergent has run out just as you’re putting a wash on.
The Guardian’s laundry detergent comparison selected Smol Bio as its overall winner.
Bio means the detergent contains enzymes, which help break down some of the stains left by food and everyday wear. That can be useful with children’s clothes, although you still need to follow the garment label. Wool and silk need particular care.
Smol sells different versions, so don’t assume they’re interchangeable. The Bio capsules are fragranced. If avoiding perfume is your priority, look at the fragrance-free non-bio option instead. A recommendation for one version doesn’t establish how every other formula will perform.
The subscription is something I’d think about before ordering. You can adjust, pause or cancel deliveries, but you’ll still need to keep an eye on how quickly you use the packs. Some people will love the convenience; others will prefer picking up detergent with their groceries.
You can compare the options in the official Smol laundry range. Check the current dose instructions too, as a very large or heavily soiled load may need more than your usual wash.
Bio-D Fragrance Free Laundry Liquid
If I wanted to remove added perfume from the washing, Bio-D would be on my shortlist. It’s a non-bio liquid, so you use it much as you would a conventional laundry liquid rather than learning a new routine.
It has Allergy UK recognition and comes in larger refill sizes as well as smaller bottles. That makes it worth considering if you find a product that suits your household and want to keep using it without buying lots of little containers.
The main attraction for me is the fragrance-free formula. Not everyone wants freshly washed clothes to carry a strong scent, and leaving perfume out can be a sensible place to start if you’re trying to simplify the products you use.
I wouldn’t buy a huge refill straight away, though. Try a smaller bottle on your normal washing first. It’s only good value if you’re happy with it, and you’ll also need somewhere safe to store the larger container.
You can read the ingredients and dosing guidance on the Bio-D Fragrance Free Laundry Liquid page. Allergy recognition is useful information, but it can’t promise that a product will suit every person.
Ecover Zero Non-Bio Laundry Liquid
Ecover Zero is another option if you want a laundry liquid without added fragrance. It has no added colour or enzymes either, and carries Allergy UK approval.
I like the practicality of being able to look for a product as part of an ordinary shopping order. A change is easier to keep up when you don’t have to arrange a separate delivery every time you need another bottle.
Make sure you choose Zero if fragrance is the reason you’re buying it. Other Ecover laundry products have different formulas and scents, so the brand name alone isn’t enough to go by.
Ecover describes its ingredients as plant- and mineral-based. That doesn’t mean the bottle contains only raw plant ingredients, or that nobody could react to it. It still contains the cleaning ingredients needed to wash clothes.
If you’re comparing refill sizes, look at the price per wash using the dose you’d actually need.
Ecoegg Laundry Egg
Ecoegg works differently from a bottle of liquid or a capsule. You fill a reusable plastic egg with detergent pellets, put it in the drum with the clothes and replace the pellets when needed. You keep the outer egg.
The appeal is easy to understand. There’s no liquid to measure for each wash, and you don’t throw away the whole container when the detergent runs out.
I’d consider it for lighter washing first, rather than assuming it will deal with every mark on a school uniform. If your usual loads include stubborn food marks or ground-in dirt, check how it handles those before making it your only laundry product. Pre-treating stains may still be needed.
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The Ecoegg Laundry Egg at Lakeland is sold with Fresh Linen pellets for up to 70 washes. Check the product instructions for refill timing and load sizes.
Fresh Linen is scented. If you’re trying to avoid perfume, don’t order this version simply because it appears in a natural laundry guide. Check the fragrance-free version and its current availability separately.
It’s also worth remembering that the egg itself is plastic. The benefit is being able to reuse it, rather than having a completely plastic-free washing routine.
Miniml Non-Bio Laundry Liquid
Miniml is worth a look if refilling is the change you want to make. The brand offers larger containers and a return-and-reuse system for bulk packaging, which may work well if you have enough storage or a local refill shop.
I’d think about how you’ll use a large refill before buying one. It needs to be easy to dispense into a smaller bottle, and both containers should be labelled and kept safely away from children.
The Refreshing Linen liquid contains fragrance of natural origin. That may sound appealing, but it’s still fragrance. If you want to avoid perfume altogether, this isn’t the same thing as a fragrance-free detergent.
Miniml publishes a cleaning ingredient guide, which is helpful if you want to understand what the different ingredients do. Read it alongside the information for the exact laundry product, as formulas vary across the range.
For me, the reason to consider this one would be the refill arrangements. I wouldn’t choose it over a fragrance-free product if avoiding scent was the main aim.
Earth Breeze and GreenSheets Laundry Sheets
Laundry sheets are handy when cupboard space is limited. They’re thin strips of detergent, so you don’t have to store a bulky bottle or box. They can also be convenient to pack for a holiday where you’ll have access to a washing machine.
I’ve already written separate reviews of Earth Breeze laundry sheets and GreenSheets eco laundry detergent, so you can read more about each there.
I’d try a small pack on your own washing before ordering lots. Follow the instructions for where to place the sheet and how much to use. Load size, temperature and cycle length can all affect the result.
The small packet is appealing, but packaging alone doesn’t tell you the whole environmental story. The formula and how well it cleans matter too. If you regularly have to wash clothes again, that’s extra water, energy and detergent.
Sheets are an option to consider for convenience. I’d want to see how they dealt with our usual loads before relying on them for everything.
What Does Natural Laundry Detergent Mean
This is where shopping can get confusing. “Natural” doesn’t tell you one clear thing about a laundry product. A brand might be talking about the source of some ingredients, the fragrance, or its approach to packaging.
I’d look for specific information instead. Does it contain added perfume? Can I find the ingredients? Is there a refill? What does the dose work out at per wash?
Cleaning ingredients can have unfamiliar names without that making them harmful. Equally, an essential oil doesn’t become suitable for everyone just because it comes from a plant.
You don’t need to understand every part of the formula to make a useful choice. Start with the change you want to make, then check whether the product actually offers it.
Fragrance-Free Laundry and Sensitive Skin
Fragrance-free is worth considering if scent is something you’re trying to remove from your washing. Essential oils still add fragrance, so a lavender or citrus product isn’t a fragrance-free alternative.
I’d also read the ingredients rather than relying entirely on a description such as “gentle” or “sensitive”. My guide to fragrance-free cleaning products covers the same point for other household products.
The NHS explains that soaps and detergents can irritate skin. If someone has a persistent rash, it’s worth speaking to a pharmacist or GP rather than repeatedly buying different detergents and hoping one will solve it.
Use the recommended amount and avoid overfilling the machine so clothes can rinse properly. You might also leave out fragranced fabric conditioner while working out what suits your household. Follow any advice from your healthcare team about rinsing or avoiding particular ingredients.
Bio or Non-Bio for Family Washing
Bio detergent contains enzymes; non-bio leaves them out. Enzymes can help with common stains, which is why I’d consider a bio product when cleaning performance is the main concern.
Non-bio may still do everything you need for everyday clothes. A difficult mark might need treatment before washing, and the cycle you choose matters as well.
The decision doesn’t have to be complicated. Look at what you wash, what your family tolerates and the fabric-care labels. Don’t use a product on wool, silk or other delicate items unless the instructions say it’s suitable.
Getting Better Results From Your Wash
Before changing detergent, it’s worth checking how you’re using the one you already have.
Measure it. An extra splash isn’t always helpful. Use the guidance for your load size, how dirty the clothes are and the hardness of your water.
Leave space in the drum. Clothes need room to move. Cramming in the last few items can mean they don’t wash or rinse as well.
Treat marks early. Follow the garment label and stain-treatment instructions. Some marks are much harder to remove once they’ve dried or been through a hot tumble dryer.
Choose a suitable cycle. A quick wash is useful for lightly worn clothes, but it may not be enough for a full load of dirty washing.
Look after the machine. Check the filter and seal, clean the drawer and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. A detergent change won’t fix a dirty machine.
The Energy Saving Trust’s washing advice is useful if you’re also trying to reduce energy use. Cooler washes can suit many everyday loads, but follow fabric labels and any relevant hygiene advice.
Storing Laundry Products With Children Around
Keep capsules in their original closed packaging, out of reach of children. Don’t decant them into an open jar, even if it looks neater on a shelf.
Liquids, powders, sheets and refill containers need safe storage too. A natural or eco label doesn’t make a cleaning product safe to play with. Follow the first-aid directions on the pack and seek urgent advice after swallowing detergent or getting it in the eyes.
Choosing One That Works for You
I’d look at Smol Bio first if stain removal was the main priority, and Bio-D or Ecover Zero if I wanted a liquid without added perfume. Miniml is worth comparing for refills, while Ecoegg and laundry sheets offer different ways to cut down on the containers you use or store.
There’s no need to change everything at once. Try a smaller pack, use it on the washing you normally do and see whether you’re happy with the result. A product that fits your routine is much easier to stick with.
If you’re looking at other cleaning products too, you might like my guides to lower-fragrance washing-up liquids and lower-fragrance dishwasher tablets.