Laundry detergent is one of those products we use so often that we hardly think about it. But when you consider everything it touches—your clothes, sheets, towels, pajamas, and even the clothes your kids wear all day—it makes sense to be a little more thoughtful about what goes into the wash.
The good news? Choosing a cleaner laundry detergent doesn’t have to mean standing in the laundry aisle trying to decode a chemistry textbook.
Once you know a few things to look for—and a few ingredients you may want to skip—it gets much easier.
In This Article
- My Top Laundry Detergent Picks
- What to Look for in a Cleaner Detergent
- Ingredients I Prefer to Avoid
- Are Enzymes Safe and Useful?
- Liquid vs. Powder vs. Pods vs. Sheets
- Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents
- Budget & DIY Options
- How Much Detergent Should You Use?
- Frequently Asked Questions
At a Glance: My Top Picks for Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents
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If you just want to know what I would buy, start here:
- Best overall: Seventh Generation Free & Clear — fragrance-free, dye-free, no optical brighteners, contains stain-fighting enzymes, and EPA Safer Choice certified.
- Best simple powder: Molly’s Suds Unscented Laundry Powder — a concentrated powder with a short ingredient list and no synthetic fragrance or dyes.
- Best affordable option: ECOS Free & Clear — a budget-friendly fragrance-free option that works well for everyday laundry.
- Best mainstream budget option: Tide Free & Gentle — easy to find, fragrance- and dye-free, and a good choice if you want strong cleaning performance without added perfume.
- Best laundry sheets: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Sheets — convenient, lightweight, fragrance-free, and made with stain-fighting enzymes.
- Prefer to make your own? Try my Homemade Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent for a simple, budget-friendly DIY option.
My biggest tip: Don’t feel like you have to buy the most expensive “clean” laundry detergent on the shelf. A simple fragrance-free formula that cleans your clothes well can be a perfectly reasonable swap.
So, What Should You Look for in a Laundry Detergent?
When I’m comparing detergents, I don’t worry about finding a product with a perfectly “natural” ingredient list.
Instead, I focus on a few things that make the biggest difference.
Ideally, I look for a detergent that is:
- Fragrance-free
- Free from synthetic dyes
- Made without optical brighteners
- Transparent about its ingredients
- Effective enough that I don’t need a pile of extra laundry products
And when I see the EPA Safer Choice label, I consider that a nice bonus.
Let’s break those down.
1. Choose Fragrance-Free When You Can
This is probably the first thing I look for.
That fresh-laundry smell may be something we’ve been taught to associate with “clean,” but fragrance doesn’t actually make our clothes cleaner. It’s simply there to make them smell a certain way.
And because laundry fragrance is designed to stick around on fabric, we’re exposed to it long after the wash cycle ends.
One little label-reading tip: fragrance-free and unscented aren’t always the same thing.
A fragrance-free product is intended to contain no added fragrance ingredients. An “unscented” product may sometimes contain ingredients used to neutralize or mask the smell of the formula.
So if avoiding added fragrance is your goal, fragrance-free is usually the wording I look for first.
And don’t worry—fragrance-free laundry shouldn’t smell bad.
Clean laundry really doesn’t need to smell like anything.
2. Skip the Dyes and Optical Brighteners
Dyes are another easy ingredient category to skip. They don’t help clean your clothes—they’re primarily there to change the appearance of the detergent itself.
Optical brighteners are a little different.
They are compounds that attach to fabric and interact with light, making whites and colors appear brighter. In other words, they help your laundry look brighter rather than actually removing more dirt.
Do you need to panic if you’ve used them for years? Absolutely not.
They’re simply one of those extras I don’t personally think we need, especially when there are plenty of detergents available without them.
Look for phrases such as:
“No dyes or optical brighteners” or “Free from dyes and artificial brighteners.”
3. Don't Be Afraid of Enzymes
This is one place where “fewer ingredients” doesn’t necessarily mean a better detergent.
Enzymes can actually be really helpful.
Different laundry enzymes help break down different types of everyday stains:
- Protease helps with protein-based stains
- Amylase helps break down starches
- Lipase helps with oils and grease
- Mannanase can help with certain food-based stains
That’s why a well-formulated fragrance-free detergent with enzymes may clean significantly better than an ultra-simple detergent.
If you’ve tried a “natural” detergent before and thought:
“Why do my clothes still look dingy?”
…the detergent may simply not have had enough cleaning power.
Cleaner ingredients are great—but the product still needs to actually clean your laundry.
4. Don't Get Too Hung Up on "Plant-Based"
I love plant-based products, but I’ve learned not to let that phrase make the entire decision for me.
Laundry detergent needs surfactants, which are the ingredients that help loosen oils and dirt so they can be rinsed away.
Some surfactants are plant-derived. Others are synthetic.
Neither automatically tells you whether the finished formula is a good or bad choice.
Instead of looking only for words like:
- natural
- green
- eco-friendly
- plant-based
- clean
…I pay more attention to whether the company actually tells me what’s in the product.
Ingredient transparency matters more to me than pretty green packaging.
What About EPA Safer Choice?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by ingredient lists, this is one certification worth knowing.
The EPA Safer Choice program reviews the ingredients in qualifying cleaning products against specific human-health and environmental criteria.
That doesn’t mean every product without the logo is automatically bad.
It simply gives you another useful shortcut when you’re standing in the laundry aisle comparing bottles.
One important distinction: a regular Safer Choice product can still contain an approved fragrance. If avoiding fragrance is important to you, look specifically for a fragrance-free formula as well.
What Laundry Labels Actually Mean
Laundry packaging is full of reassuring-sounding words, but they don’t all mean the same thing.
“Free & Clear”
Usually means the product is made without fragrance and dyes—but still flip the bottle over and check.
“Hypoallergenic”
Can be helpful, especially if you have sensitive skin, but it doesn’t automatically tell you everything about the formula.
“Plant-Based”
Tells you something about the source of certain ingredients, but not necessarily how mild or effective the finished detergent is.
“Natural”
This isn’t the shortcut I would use to choose a detergent. I’d rather see an actual ingredient list.
“Non-Toxic”
You’ll see this word everywhere in the clean-living world—including on products I like—but it’s still important to look beyond the front of the package.
The ingredient list tells you much more than the marketing does.
Liquid vs. Powder vs. Pods vs. Laundry Sheets
Once you’ve found a formula you feel good about, the next question is usually:
What kind should I buy?
There isn’t one perfect answer. It really comes down to your washing habits, budget, and what matters most to you.
Liquid Detergent
Best for: everyday convenience and cold-water washing
Liquid dissolves easily and is simple to use, which is probably why it’s still the most popular option.
The downside?
It’s very easy to use too much.
Those giant detergent caps are not doing us any favors.
Powder Detergent
Best for: value and reducing plastic packaging
Powder tends to be concentrated, lightweight, and affordable per load. It’s also one of my favorite formats if you’re trying to cut down on big plastic laundry jugs.
The trade-off is that some powders don’t dissolve as well in very cold water or short wash cycles.
Laundry Pods
Best for: convenience
Pods make dosing ridiculously easy—toss one in and you’re done.
But they don’t give you much flexibility if you’re washing a tiny load, and they need to be stored very carefully away from children and pets.
Laundry Detergent Sheets
Best for: small spaces, travel, and reducing bulky packaging
Laundry sheets are probably the most convenient option of all.
They’re lightweight, easy to store, and there’s no giant jug taking up half the laundry-room shelf.
Cleaning performance can vary quite a bit between brands, though, so I prefer sheets that include enzymes rather than choosing one based on packaging alone.
My Favorite Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents
If you’d rather skip the label-reading altogether, here are a few options I’d start with.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear
My pick for: Best Overall
SHOP SEVENTH GENERATION FREE & CLEAR
This is one of the easiest detergents for me to recommend because it checks so many boxes without being overly complicated.
It’s fragrance-free, dye-free, made without optical brighteners, includes cleaning enzymes, and is EPA Safer Choice certified.
It’s also widely available, which matters. A healthier swap isn’t very practical if you have to order it from a specialty store every time you run out.
Molly's Suds Unscented Laundry Powder
My pick for: Best Simple Powder
If you prefer a powder and like a shorter ingredient list, Molly’s Suds is worth a look.
It’s concentrated, fragrance-free, and especially appealing if you’re trying to simplify your laundry routine.
For really dirty clothes or stubborn stains, you may want to pair a simple powder with an occasional stain treatment rather than expecting one product to do absolutely everything.
ECOS Free & Clear
My pick for: Best Budget-Friendly Choice
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make a better laundry swap.
ECOS Free & Clear is often considerably less expensive than boutique clean-laundry brands and gives you a fragrance-free option that works for everyday family laundry.
This is a great reminder that non-toxic living doesn’t have to mean buying the most expensive product.
Tide Free & Gentle
My pick for: Best Easy-to-Find Option
This might surprise you.
Sometimes the best swap isn’t the product with the prettiest “natural” packaging.
If you want something you can grab at almost any grocery store or big-box retailer, Tide Free & Gentle is free from dyes and perfumes and offers the stronger cleaning performance many families want.
For someone moving away from heavily fragranced conventional detergent, this can be a very realistic first step.
And I’m a big believer that better is better—you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Sheets
My pick for: Best Laundry Sheets
SHOP SEVENTH GENERATION LAUNDRY SHEETS
If you love the convenience of detergent sheets, this is one I’d consider because the fragrance-free formula also contains enzymes to help with stains.
They’re especially convenient for travel, small laundry spaces, or anyone who is simply tired of hauling giant detergent bottles around.
Want the Most Budget-Friendly Option? Make Your Own
If you’re trying to save money—or you simply like knowing exactly what you’re using—you can also make your own laundry detergent.
DIY detergent isn’t necessarily the right choice for every washer, water type, or family, and homemade formulas may clean differently than commercial detergents.
But for everyday laundry, it can be an incredibly inexpensive option.
I’ve put together my simple recipe here:
How to Make Homemade Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent →
I’ve included some links to what I love to use:
One More Laundry Tip: You May Be Using Too Much Detergent
This is one of the easiest changes you can make—and it doesn’t cost anything.
More detergent does not automatically mean cleaner clothes.
Using too much can make detergent harder to rinse away and may leave residue on your clothes or inside your washing machine.
Start with the amount recommended for your washer, water hardness, and load size rather than automatically filling the cap.
If your laundry regularly comes out stiff, overly scented, soapy, or coated-feeling, it’s worth experimenting with a little less.
Sometimes the simplest clean-living swap is simply using less of what you already have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does fragrance-free laundry detergent clean as well?
Absolutely. Fragrance isn’t what cleans your clothing.
The cleaning work comes primarily from ingredients such as surfactants, builders, and enzymes. A well-formulated fragrance-free detergent can clean every bit as effectively as a scented one.
What's the best non-toxic laundry detergent for sensitive skin?
I would start with a fragrance-free and dye-free formula.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear, ECOS Free & Clear, and Tide Free & Gentle are three accessible options to compare.
Everyone’s skin is different, though, so even a fragrance-free product may not work perfectly for every person.
Is powder or liquid laundry detergent better?
Neither is automatically better.
Liquid is convenient and dissolves easily in cold water, while powder is concentrated, easy to store, and often more economical.
Choose the formula first and the format second.
Do I need a special baby laundry detergent?
Usually, a separate bottle isn’t necessary just because something is marketed for babies.
A fragrance-free, dye-free detergent that works for your household can often simplify things—you can wash everyone’s clothes with the same product instead of buying another specialty detergent.
Always follow garment-care instructions and any guidance from your child’s healthcare professional if they have specific skin concerns.
Are laundry detergent sheets better for the environment?
They definitely have some practical advantages: they’re lightweight, compact, and eliminate the need for a large liquid detergent jug.
But “better for the environment” is a much bigger question than packaging alone.
I would choose laundry sheets because you like the convenience and formula—not because the package automatically makes them the perfect environmental choice.
What if I love the smell of fresh laundry?
I get it. We’ve been conditioned to think clean laundry should smell like something.
One of the strangest parts of switching to fragrance-free laundry is realizing that clean doesn’t really have a scent.
After a while, freshly washed sheets that simply smell like…nothing…start to feel pretty wonderful.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to memorize a hundred questionable ingredients to choose a better laundry detergent.
Start simple.
Look for a formula that is fragrance-free and dye-free, skip unnecessary extras such as optical brighteners when you can, look for ingredient transparency, and make sure the detergent still has enough cleaning power to actually do its job.
If you want an additional shortcut, look for EPA Safer Choice certification.
And remember: creating a lower-tox home isn’t about throwing everything away and replacing it all at once.
Use what you have. Learn what matters. And when it’s time to replace something, choose a better option.
Small swaps add up—and your laundry room is a pretty easy place to start.
This is one section of the Non-Toxic Laundry Guide, which covers softeners, dryer sheets, stain removal, and machine care.