Many laundry detergents and cleaning products on the market today are full of toxic chemicals which pose a risk for both ourselves and the environment.

It can be tricky to know what products are safe to bring into our homes when there’s a lot of confusing messaging and green-washing at play. 

Thankfully, washing your clothes doesn’t have to be a health risk or damaging to the environment. There are a number of tried and true ways to keep your clothes clean using natural ingredients that are safe and effective. 

Here’s our guide to keeping your laundry routine natural, nontoxic, safe for your family and kinder to the environment.

1. Go for natural laundry detergent alternatives

Many laundry detergents contain ingredients that pose a risk to human health and the health of our ecosystems. Common laundry products have been found to have endocrine-disrupting compounds and  asthma-related compounds. Some ingredients also have  suspected links to cancer. 

And just because a label reads ‘eco’ or ‘earth friendly’, doesn’t mean the product is necessarily so. We all know how difficult it can be to navigate green-washing.

Look out for products containing synthetic fragrances, dyes and optical brighteners. Avoid detergents containing phosphates, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and chlorine bleach. 

Also beware of alcohol ethoxylate, an ingredient in many products that are labelled eco. This chemical is toxic to aquatic life. 

Here are our recommended natural laundry detergent alternatives:

Sulfate and phosphate free laundry powder

Our recommendation for natural, safe washing is the  laundry powder from The Family Hub, which is made locally in Perth. This laundry powder contains only: sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, saponified coconut oil, citric acid, salt and neutralised sodium hydroxide. 

The powders are lightly scented with essential oils such as lavender, lemon or eucalyptus. Or you can buy a fragrance free powder too which is especially gentle on sensitive skin.

Soap berries / Soap nuts

Soap berries (aka soap nuts) from theSapindus mukorossi tree are natural cleaners that have been used for thousands of years in India, Nepal and China. The tree produces saponin in the shells that protect its fruit. These shells are gentle but effective at removing dirt and grime from your clothes. 

• Simply pop 4-6 shells in a small muslin bag and throw them in with your laundry. 

• They can be used for 4-6 washes, and afterwards can be composted or buried in your garden.

Read our guide:  How to wash your clothes with soap nuts.

Kin Kin Naturals Eco Laundry Liquid

If you’re looking for natural, nontoxic laundry liquid that rivals the power of mainstream laundry liquids, we highly recommend the  Kin Kin Naturals eco laundry liquid.

It is made from natural ingredients and is safe for septic and grey water systems. With a base of coconut-based anionic & non-ionic surfactants, this laundry liquid does not contain any alcohol ethoxylate, LAS or SLS. 

It’s also free from synthetic fragrances, and instead uses the essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang, rose geranium and lemon myrtle for their scents and antimicrobial properties.

Castile soap

Castile soap is a natural, vegetable based soap, typically made from olive and coconut oil. It has a long list of uses for both body care and household cleaning purposes and is gentle, making it great for sensitive skin or delicate clothes.

Here’s some ways you can use castile soap in the laundry:

• Laundry liquid – Add 3-6 tablespoons of castile soap to water and use in your washing machine like a traditional laundry liquid.

• Presoak – Add 1-2 tablespoons of castile soap to a bucket of water and use as a presoak before washing.

• Spot cleaning – Add 1 tablespoon of castile soap to a cup of water and use for spots and stains.

2. Try natural stain removers

Synthetic stain removers tend to be more powerful, but carry a health risk. To get rid of stains and stubborn grime with natural methods, time and agitation are your friends. 

Here are our top picks for natural stain removers:

Sodium bicarbonate

Good old baking soda! Its list of  uses are endless. In the laundry, use bicarb for: 

• Stain removal, including for blood, sweat, rust and soiled nappies. Apply a bicarb paste to the affected areas and leave for an hour or so.

• Add it to your washing as a natural fabric softener.

• Add a cup in your wash to boost the power of your regular washing powder / liquid.

Bring your own container and  buy sodium bicarbonate in bulk from our Victoria Park store.

Oxygen Bleach / Sodium Percarbonate

Sodium percarbonate is a natural cleaner and whitening agent – a safer, nontoxic and environmentally friendly alternative to chlorinated bleaches. 

How to use oxygen bleach in the laundry:

• Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons in water to presoak your whites or heavily soiled items. 

• For stubborn stains, make a paste with sodium percarbonate and water and apply to the stains. 

• To give your clothes a brightening boost, simply add 1-2 teaspoons to your regular wash.

BYO container and get as much or as little  sodium percarbonate as you need in our store in Victoria Park.

Kin Kin Naturals Eco Laundry Soaker

Our top recommendation for natural stain removal is the  Kin Kin Naturals Eco Laundry Soaker & Stain Remover. Safe for septic and grey water systems, highly effective but gentle enough for sensitive skin. 

This Australian-made soaker contains some of the ingredients mentioned above – sodium percarbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Plus, it uses sodium citrate as a natural water softener rather than relying on petrochemicals. 

• Use it as a presoak or add a small amount to your normal wash for a brightening effect.

Laundry soaps

Good, old fashioned laundry bar soaps are a great way to address stains or heavy soiling before it sets. Also a quick and easy way to hand wash items or take on the road when travelling. 

Look for soaps that are made from natural ingredients and free from palm oil, bleaches, detergents, ammonias or phosphates. Our favourite laundry bar soaps are:

• The Family Hub Stain Bar (made in Perth)

• No Planet B Laundry Soap

• Viva La Body Natural Laundry and Stain Bar

3. Explore natural fabric softeners

Fabric softeners make fabrics soft to the touch essentially by adding a layer of chemicals on their surface. The chemicals in fabric softeners can pose health risks, and can be particularly irritating on sensitive skins or for people with allergies. 

Plus, over time fabric softeners reduce the absorbency of fabrics – a problem particularly undesirable for towels and nappies. 

Going without a fabric softener altogether is an easy solution. But if you like that super soft feel to your clothes, try these nontoxic fabric softener alternatives:

Vinegar

Vinegar is a hero of the natural cleaning cupboard, and it can also be used as a natural fabric softener. Don’t worry, the vinegar smell doesn’t linger.

• Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing mashing during the rinse cycle.

• Alternatively, add some vinegar to a bucket of water and soak your clothes before washing.

100% Wool dryer balls

If you use a dryer, popping some  wool dryer balls in with your clothes will not only make the drying more efficient, the balls act like natural softeners too. More on these below.

4. Avoid plastic packaging and opt for refills

We’re becoming more and more aware of the  health risks that plastic poses for humans, not to mention the damage it does to our natural ecosystems. 

Thinking about the packaging of your laundry products, not just the ingredients contained within them, is another great step towards a healthier, safer laundry routine. 

Opt for plastic-free packaging where possible, or better yet, bring your own container to a bulk store to be refilled. At our Perth based eco store, we offer refills for laundry liquid, laundry powder, soap berries, bicarb soda, sodium percarbonate, citric acid and more. 

If you want to dive deeper, read our guide to  reducing plastic in the laundry.

5. Consider wool dryer balls

In sunny weather, air drying your laundry outside is easy and earth-friendly. However, if you live in a rainy climate or like us in Perth, have experienced a much wetter than usual winter, you may still rely on a dryer as part of your laundry routine. 

A great way to make your dryer more healthy and energy efficient is using wool dryer balls. Here are some of the benefits:

• By absorbing water, improving circulation and creating a more even distribution of heat, wool dryer balls speed up the drying time.

• The balls act like a natural fabric softener with their constant movement. Using them avoids the use of synthetic softeners which leave a coating of silicone oil on your clothes.

• Wool dryer balls are super low maintenance – simply leave in the sun or on a window sill to dry out after use. 

• Used for thousands of drying cycles, and at the end of their life, they can be composted.

Also read:  4 Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips

Start with one step at a time

When you start learning about the detrimental health and environmental effects of mainstream laundry products, it can be overwhelming. 

We recommend starting with one step at a time. When you’re ready to buy your next laundry powder, choose one that’s natural, nontoxic and safe. If you’ve run out of stain remover, try out one of the more natural options and see how it goes. 

Browse our range of  natural laundry cleaning products online, or pop into our store in Vic Park where we sell many laundry items in bulk.