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The Best Natural Detergent

Last updated on May 31, 2023

We looked at the top 13 Natural Detergents and dug through the reviews from 110 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Natural Detergents.

Best Organic Detergent

Our Review Process

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The University of Georgia conducted a study that revealed more and more Americans are having negative reactions to fragrances. In fact, one out of every 10 people surveyed were irritated by the fragrances that were added to their laundry detergents. If you find yourself among those statistics, you’ll want to consider switching to natural laundry detergents, which are made from all-natural ingredients that are better for your body.

When shopping for natural laundry detergent, keep the following information in mind:

If you want your laundry to have a pleasant odor, you’ll want to consider the scent. While some natural laundry detergents are scent-free, others use natural fragrances, like peppermint essential oil. Many brands actually come in a choice of scents, such as lemon verbena, lavender, basil and honeysuckle.

Check to ensure the ingredients are natural and that there are no harsh chemicals. You want your laundry detergent to be free of phosphates, chlorine, dyes, perfumes, sulfates, bleach and fillers.

Determine whether you’re looking for a liquid laundry detergent or a powdered detergent. Liquids often come in a concentrated formula, so you can get as many as 96 loads out of one bottle. Powdered detergents can also form a paste that can be used to pre-treat stains. They are also more eco-friendly, as they don’t come in plastic bottles.

Review the product packaging to determine whether the natural laundry detergent is safe for HE washing machines. Otherwise, you’ll only be able to use it in a standard machine. It’s also important to uncover whether the detergent works well in cold or hot water, whether it is safe for use on all fabric types and whether it is safe for septic systems (if you have one).

Look to see if the detergent is gentle on skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some natural detergents are actually formulated by doctors specifically for individuals who suffer from allergies and skin sensitivities. They are also a great choice if you have a newborn at home, as the ingredients won’t bother your baby’s skin.

Examine the natural laundry detergent’s ability to fight stains. Some detergents use a powerful triple enzyme formula to lift tough stains from fabric. Other detergents use mineral-based enzymes to also eliminate odors.

Don’t forget to choose a detergent that makes measuring and using the contents a breeze. Some bottles have a lid that doubles as a measuring cup, while others feature a no-drip pump that allows you to pump the detergent right in the washing machine.

Our Picks For The Top Natural Detergents

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day High Efficiency Natural Laundry Detergent, 128-Loads

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Mrs. Meyer’s

Clean Day High Efficiency Natural Laundry Detergent, 128-Loads

Skip harsh chemicals and irritants and get your family's laundry clean and smelling fresh with this natural detergent. The set includes two 64-ounce bottles that are formulated with plant-based ingredients and stain-fighting enzymes. Since the set can handle up to 128 loads of laundry, you won't have to make another purchase for quite a while.

Overall Take

Fresh Floral ScentIf you love the calming scent of lavender, you'll find this natural detergent heavenly.

Pros
" It contains no phthalates, chlorine, formaldehyde, artificial colors or other ingredients but it does provide everything it needs to clean your clothes and linens."
 Runner Up

ECOS Dye-Free Biodegradable Natural Detergent, 200-Loads

ECOS

Dye-Free Biodegradable Natural Detergent, 200-Loads

Made using plant-powered ingredients, this natural detergent is safe for use in homes with children and pets. It's dermatologist tested and formulated to be hypoallergenic. Users will appreciate that the detergent has a built-in fabric softener to reduce annoying static cling.

Overall Take

Hypoallergenic FormulaIf you have sensitive skin, this hypoallergenic natural detergent is an excellent option.

Pros
" The magnolia and lily scent is quite nice. The twice-concentrated formula saves product, and the built-in fabric softener keeps clothes soft and durable."
Cons
"It contains softeners, so isn’t suitable for cloth diapers."
 Strong Contender

BioKleen Eco Friendly & Non-Toxic Plant Based Natural Detergent, 300-Loads

BioKleen

Eco-Friendly Non-Toxic Plant Based Natural Detergent, 300-Loads

This eco-friendly natural detergent is free from artificial colors, fragrances and preservatives. It has a pleasant citrus scent that leaves your clothes smelling fresh and clean. The formula is also able to remove tough stains and odors without leaving any nasty residues behind.

Overall Take

Tackles Tough StainsWith this natural detergent, you'll be able to tackle tough stains without using harsh ingredients.

Pros
" For those who are bothered by lingering detergent smells, Biokleen's light citrus scent lasts briefly. Some buyers say the whole bottle lasts them a year. And the detergent can get rid of the toughest stains, including cloth diaper stains."
Cons
"It's pricey."
 We Also Like

Clean People Phosphate-Free Natural Detergent, 192-Loads

Clean People

Phosphate-Free Natural Detergent, 192-Loads

With this natural detergent package, you'll receive enough sheets to cover 192 loads of laundry. The sheets are safe for septic systems, as well as all types of washing machines. Each of the sheets is formulated using plant-based ingredients, which have cleaning and stain-fighting power.

Overall Take

Vegan-FriendlyNot only is this natural detergent eco-friendly, but it also arrives in recycled packaging.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
20

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the natural detergents available to purchase.
13

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

110

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: The Spruce, BestReviews, Mom Loves Best, Gadget Review, Best Seekers.

39,983

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 13 Natural Detergents and also dug through the reviews from 110 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Natural Detergents.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

BioKleen Eco Friendly & Non-Toxic Plant Based Natural Detergent, 300-Loads

Our Expert Score

9.0
9 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.2
854 user reviews

Our Take

This eco-friendly natural detergent is free from artificial colors, fragrances and preservatives. It has a pleasant citrus scent that leaves your clothes smelling fresh and clean. The formula is also able to remove tough stains and odors without leaving any nasty residues behind.

What other experts liked

For those who are bothered by lingering detergent smells, Biokleen's light citrus scent lasts briefly. Some buyers say the whole bottle lasts them a year. And the detergent can get rid of the toughest stains, including cloth diaper stains.
- BestReviews
Cleans well the clothes without leaving any residues that can ruin fabrics or irritate skins.
- The Z9
Made with plant-based surfactants and extracts of citrus and grapefruit, this detergent will leave your clothes sparkling and smelling good.
- The Thirty
This product is also free of petroleum solvents, chlorine, phosphates, metasilicate, or any of the other toxic ingredients that may be found in other products.
- French Garment Cleaners
Made with extracts of citrus and grapefruit seeds, it offers a relatively strong cleaning for stainless, odor-free clothes and fabrics.
- Gadget Review
Biokleen is a favorite at my farm for how effective it is at getting dirt and stains out of clothes, and for how much of a punch is packed into one container.
- Green Matters
The cleaning power comes from the extract of citrus and grapefruit seeds that lift the toughest stains and do the work that other chemical-based detergents do without the environmental impact.
- How to Home
Biokleen's 150-ounce bottle is 3x concentrated, making it equal to 300 high-efficiency loads or 150 standard loads.
- THE CLEANING INSTITUTE
It has a gentle scent, is eco-friendly, plant-based, non-toxic and does not contain any artificial colours, preservatives, caustics, borax, metasilicates or fragrance.
- Plant Based Perfect

What other experts didn't like

May leave white residue on certain fabrics.
- BestReviews
It's pricey.
- The Z9
One concern to note, however, is that no expiration date is provided, so there’s no way to know the shelf-life after the bottle has been opened.
- Gadget Review
On the downside, the company has recently updated the formula to make the detergent less viscous, which some people think has affected the performance.
- How to Home
This detergent is fragrance-free, which might not be desired by some buyers.
- THE CLEANING INSTITUTE
Can’t remove tough stains.
- Plant Based Perfect

What to Look For

  • Not all natural detergents are 100% natural, so you need to carefully read the product label to determine if there are any chemical additives.
  • Consider any extras before you make your final decision as to which natural laundry detergent to buy. Does the detergent use a vegan formula, is the product packaging 100% recyclable or does the company donate a portion of its proceeds to charity? You may also want to check that the detergent wasn’t tested on animals and that it doesn’t contain any animal-based ingredients.
  • Clean your washing machine regularly. Detergent can build up in your washer, as well as bacteria from dirty washcloths, towels and work clothing. It’s good practice to run your washer once a month using hot water only. Then, every quarter, run the machine again after adding a deep cleaner made for washing machines.
  • When comparing natural laundry detergent prices, you don’t want to bother looking at how many ounces are in each bottle. This is because each detergent has a different concentration. What you want to pay attention to is how many loads of wash you get out of each bottle for the price. The BioKleen Plant Based Natural Detergent, 300 Loads and ECOS 2X Liquid Natural Detergent, 200 Loads give you the best deal per load.

More to Explore

Did you know the Romans first created laundry detergent that’s main ingredients were water and human urine? Thankfully, detergents have come a long way since then. Of course, it wasn’t until 1907 that enzymes began to be used in laundry detergents to effectively break up dirt and stains. Otto Rohm, a German researcher, started a company and sold the first enzyme-based laundry detergent.

The mass production of laundry detergent didn’t happen in the United States until the 1930s. It was at this time that surfactants were discovered and added to detergents. The ’50s brought about fabric softeners and the ’60s prewash stain removers. Today you can even purchase an all-in-one laundry product that is sold in a pod.

Below are a few fun facts that you may not know about your laundry:

  • Approximately 21% of the water you use in your household is from doing your laundry.
  • You can’t always see dirt. In fact, 70% of the impurities on your clothing are actually invisible.
  • In Britain during the 19th century, households only washed their clothes once a week. Most homes completed this task on a Monday.
  • The average American household washes between eight and 10 loads of laundry each week.
  • Astronauts can’t wash their laundry, so they toss their dirty underwear out into space after wearing them for about a week.

More to explore