The Only 3 Non-Toxic Laundry Products You Need (Ditch Everything Else)
Learn why these are the best non-toxic laundry products on the market!
We don’t want living a non-toxic and eco-friendly lifestyle to feel like a chore or overwhelming. Having personally used this simplified list of non-toxic laundry products in my own home, I can assure you this is ALL you need! 🙌🏼
*I’m neither a scientist nor a doctor. This information is based on my personal experience, research, and opinion. You should always consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your current regimen or if you have questions.
Why skip traditional laundry products?
Most big-name laundry brands are packed with chemicals linked to hormone disruption, respiratory issues, and other long-term health concerns. And those chemicals don’t rinse away easily, as they can linger on fabrics and transfer to your skin.
Since your skin is your largest organ, what you wash your clothes in matters. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets come into constant contact with your body, and your skin can absorb the chemicals left behind. No thanks!
Here are just a few of the chemicals commonly found in traditional laundry products:
- 🛑 Borax – Toxic to humans, including reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity.
- 🛑 Formaldehyde – Can irritate eyes, nose, and throat.
- 🛑 Phenol – Impacts organs, nervous system, and other critical components – overexposure can lead to death.
- 🛑 Phthalates – Can impact your natural hormones and lead to serious health issues such as lower fertility, developmental issues, and a higher risk of cancer.
- 🛑 Synthetic Fragrances, “Parfum”, or “Fragrance” – May cause headaches, breathing difficulties, cardiovascular and neurological problems, mucosal irritation, and contact dermatitis. Higher risk of cancer.
Below are the BEST non toxic laundry products that are safe for you, your home, and the environment:
- Laundry Detergent – Molly’s Suds
- Stain Remover – Mama Suds Stain Stick
- Dryer – Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
1. Best Laundry Detergent: Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder
This non-toxic laundry detergent keeps things simple with just 5 ingredients without sacrificing performance. Beyond what’s inside the bag, the packaging stands out. It’s lightweight, recyclable, and even printed with non-toxic inks, making it a lower-waste option compared to bulky detergent jugs, especially if you don’t have access to a local zero-waste store.
To recap, here are the top 5 reasons why you should switch to Molly’s Suds:
- ✅ Only 5 Earth-derived ingredients (4 ingredients for unscented)
- ✅ 100% Biodegradable product
- ✅ Naturally stain-fighting
- ✅ Certified cruelty-free (NOT tested on animals)
- ✅ Competitive pricing to large-name brands
*Note that the packaging of this laundry detergent has changed since I took my photos.
2. Best Stain Remover: Mama Suds Stain Stick
*Coming Soon in Boxes!
This stain stick is incredibly concentrated, which is why it lasts so long. A single bar can go for a year or more with regular use. Made from just saponified olive oil, it’s effective without being harsh, is lightly scented, and leaves behind virtually no waste thanks to its minimal, recyclable packaging. For best results, use with cold water.
To recap, here are the top 5 reasons why you should switch to MamaSuds:
- ✅ Just one simple ingredient
- ✅ Long-lasting
- ✅ 100% Biodegradable
- ✅ Never tested on animals
- ✅ Travel-friendly
Note that baking soda (AKA Sodium Bicarbonate) + Hydrogen Peroxide can be great at getting out stains and is a very affordable alternative, but I opted not to include this as a top stain-removing option because Arm & Hammer, Bob’s Red Mill, and other large manufacturers of baking soda chemically produce their products.
Both MamaSuds and Molly’s Suds use baking soda that is mined in western Colorado by Natural Soda in its purest form, nahcolite. Their operation uses an efficient and environmentally friendly solution-mining process to recover pure, naturally occurring baking soda without any chemical alteration. Note that baking soda is not used in the above stain stick but is in other products from their brand.
3. Best for Drying: Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
Wool dryer balls are a simple swap for dryer sheets that cut down drying time and waste, especially compared to single-use options. These are made from tightly felted, extra-large balls of 100% New Zealand wool with no synthetic fillers, which is why they hold up – load after load. I’m still using my original set years later. If you like a little scent, a few drops of essential oil do the trick. (I use organic peppermint oil).
To recap, here are the top 5 reasons why you should switch to 100% wool balls:
- ✅ Endlessly reusable
- ✅ 100% Biodegradable
- ✅ Saves money and energy with faster drying time
- ✅ Baby- and animal-safe
- ✅ Made of renewable, sustainable resources
Hip Tip: To reduce static from dryer balls, attach safety pins to them. The pins provide conductivity, helping dissipate static. Use caution with delicate fabrics.
The stain stick you listed sounds like just what I need. You mentioned that Mama Suds uses a environmentally friendly mining of baking soda, but I want to be sure, baking soda is not in the stain stick product, correct?
Also do you know of a safe way to get dingy laundry bright again, like tees and towels?
This is a great new feature of Hip2save. Thanks!
Hey, ihearthip! Sodium Olivate (Saponified Olive Oil) is the ONLY ingredient in the stain stick – so there is no baking soda in that product. 🙂
I don’t currently have a toxic-free process I use to make whites brighter, but I will let you know if I hear of anything.
Thanks for the info! I was hoping you would do a post on laundry products. It is the one thing I was having trouble with converting over to natural.
You’re very welcome, Carol! I hope you enjoy these products as much as I do. 🙂
I’ve switched to all not toxic cleaning in an attempt to reduce symptoms from neurological conditions I have. I haven’t tried Molly’s Suds but I have read excellent reviews. Currently using Sal Suds for laundry and some cleaning, along with castille soap and baking soda. I love them both! I use vinegar as a fabric softener in the wash and with a few dryer balls. I look forward to other posts like these.
It sounds like you’ve already made some great swaps, amyh! Thanks so much for following along with our series.
Sara and Team – thank you for the info!
I much appreciate your research and knowledge 💕
I love my wool dryer balls, have been using them for years and rarely experience static, certainly not enough to need to add safety pins. Perhaps it’s geographical. We live in NC and Florida.
You’re so welcome, Julie! Thank you for following along with our Clean Series. 🙂 I do think you’re onto something with the geographical differences as the air is super dry where I live during the winter and during warmer months I don’t experience static at all. Maybe I should move south. 😉
If you’re vegan, try HEMP or BAMBOO dryer balls.
I have used Molly’s suds because it is concentrated, good for my sensitive skin, and has minimal packaging.
I was disappointed to read Consumer Reports rated Molly’s really low on their ratings scale.
Thanks for sharing your experience with Molly’s Suds, Kellie! 💕 From what I’ve seen, it looks like CR’s main feedback is that it may not have as strong of stain-lifting capabilities as other detergents they reviewed. If that’s something you’ve struggled with, we recommend the use of the Mama Suds Stain Stick that could help with those tougher stains. Hope this is helpful and that you can keep finding products that work well for your sensitive skin! ❤️🤞
These are great suggestions. Truly Free is also an amazing option! It smells so good and is squeaky clean. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this post! Thanks for letting us know about one of your faves to use too! 🤗❤️
Thank you so much for all of your research and information! Already use the dryer balls but switching to both the laundry detergent and stain remover. Appreciate you!
I’m so excited for you to try them, Kelly! And so glad this post was so helpful for you. Please let me know how your swap goes!
Thank you for taking the time to list out all the harmful effects. I’ll be switching once I’m finish with the current detergent. We’ve already stopped buying fabric softener as it can destroy the washing machine with gunk buildup.
I’m so glad you found this post helpful, Laura! When I started learning the “why” behind using clean products, I couldn’t go back and hope it’s the same for you! Thank you for being here. 🤍
Excited for more posts from you regarding non toxic living. Thanks!
You’re very welcome, Lori! I’m so glad you find it rewarding and thank you so much for following along! 🤍
Have you ever tried a bar of Fels Naptha soap for stain removal? It’s inexpensive, works on grass, mud, all sorts of difficult stains. Available online, and I’ve seen it at Walmart, CVS, etc. The most environmentally friendly tip I have to pass along is a clothesline. Every time I don’t use the dryer, (a utility company person told me), it cuts more than 50 cents off my bill. Since I got that information 20 years ago, and costs have gone way up, I figure I’ve saved our family thousands of dollars in the past 20+ years, and the sun just keeps on shining away.
Thanks for getting us back to basics, H2S!
Thank you so much for sharing, nldaadmin! I haven’t used Fels Naptha myself because I don’t love all of the ingredients, but I’ve definitely heard it’s effective on tough stains like grass and mud. And I love your tip about the clothesline—such a simple, lasting way to save energy and money. The sun really is one of the best tools we have!
Why do people care to have non toxic laundry detergent when most clothes are made of plastic?