Laundry detergent is typically very high in phosphates and is packaged in single-use plastic. There have been regulations written that prevent high phosphates in our detergents in the United States and much of Europe (not yet there in most developing countries). There has also been a lot of change in the way laundry detergent is being packaged and also what it can be made of.
Here are some alternatives that I consider every time I am in the need of detergent:
Soap nuts are a dried nut that comes from the Sapindus mukorossi tree. When in hot water, soap nuts release a soap that can be used for cleaning clothes, dishes, counters, sinks, or toilets. Soap nuts can be used 4-5 times before they can be composted to become dirt. They are typically grown in Nepal and India and therefore have a large impact on the Earth during transport around the globe. They are often packaged in sustainable recycled paperboard boxes. Since I wash my clothes in cold water, I create a soap nut concentrate by putting 5 of them in a pyrex container and pouring boiling water over them and waiting 20 minutes. I can then use that concentrate as a cleaner around the house or in my laundry. This product makes me so grateful for the inherent wisdom in nature around us– it really delivers everything that we need– the tree waste is a soap for us.
Concentrated liquid laundry detergent packaged in a recyclable plastic bag covered in a compostable paper container. I find Seventh Generation is a great example of a more sustainable product that also does a great job washing clothes. The liquid is contained in a plastic bag that can be put into the recycling bin. This doesn’t guarantee that it gets recycled, but if recycling and waste management improve their processes and we are able to grow companies that manufacture from post-consumer waste, then this product will be ready. Also, the majority of this product is compostable. Let it be known, liquid laundry detergent is not my favorite thing because it’s heavy and therefore has higher transport impacts like more gas and oil usage.Â
The last is a disappointment that I’m sure laboratories are working on. Laundry detergent dissolvable sheets by Tru Earth and Earth Breeze have been found to leave micro and nano plastics in our water systems. These are concentrated laundry detergent whose ingredients are held together by resin and dissolvable paper. Recent information says the resin is a non-dissolvable plastic and I am looking to find out what more studies show but I have stopped using mine. If they do contain plastic, they are no longer a wonderful alternative and are just like detergent pods made of PVOH. The idea is so smart– taking the water out of the detergent cuts down on its shipping weight and the volume of space it takes up on your shelf. And they are packaged in paper and can easily be delivered to your home. This product makes me excited for what’s to come in the future.
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