Zero waste laundry detergent that is easy to use and works 

I want to be healthy, use products that are good for my health, and do not cause pollution with my lifestyle. I want to leave our waterways clean. Simplify my laundry routine. I do not want to spend a ton of time separating, pre-soaking, pretreating my clothes.
I have been on a quest for a cost-efficient and effective natural zero waste laundry detergent for years. I have tried the whole range, natural bar boars, soap nuts, DIY laundry soap, laundry powder, capsules and liquid washing agents, stain removers, you name it I tried it.

My absolute tops recommendations for zero waste laundry detergent are currently Terra Wash Mg and the Eco Egg.

To give you a bit of context, I do about 3 loads of laundry per week on average for 2 adults. No children, no animals. My main challenge is keeping my whites white, black black, colors vibrant, and getting all kinds of stains out of my kitchen towels. I want to keep my plastic and chemical waste to a minimum while staying in a reasonable price range.

Why use a zero waste laundry detergent?

Laundry detergents can pollute our water

Big concerns when using traditional laundry agents are harmful chemicals and microplastic in the detergent itself. All of that goes down the drain, into our sewage system, back into our rivers, lakes, soil…

The worst part of it is, companies aren’t required to disclose a full ingredient list on laundry detergents like we are used to seeing on other products.
See the ingredient list next time you are in the store.
Most of them read: 5-15% non-ionic surfactants, <5 % ionic surfactants, soap, enzymes, fragrance, and maybe some additional ingredients.
Someone might come along and say, but, wait, there is no plastic on the ingredient list?? Exactly.
They really didn’t make it easy on the consumer end, at this point we need to ask the brands directly and hope they will be transparent enough.

Certain chemicals, enzymes, and fragrances in laundry detergents can cause skin sensitivities and rashes. If you ever got a massive breakout after switching laundry detergent or softener, you know what I’m talking about. It is the first thing doctors ask when there is a skin problem.

Organic detergents are better because they abide by different standards and they are only allowed to use milder chemicals. However, not all organic detergents are microplastic free, for example, the Ecolabel certified DM Denkmit nature.

In this case, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer is the microplastic in the detergent, undisclosed on the packaging.

Plastic packaging

Laundry detergent bottles create a lot of waste in themselves. In Europe containers are normally a smaller size (depending), some now only for 20 washes, costing the same amount as before and most of that plastic just goes to the landfill.

In an effort to make packaging more plastic-free, some brands switched from hard plastic (type 1 or 2) to softer plastic pouches (normally plastic nb.5). The problem with that is that hard plastic bottles get recycled more (it’s a higher quality plastic) and only a few recycling centers across the world take the softer types. Plastic sleeves create more waste for incinerators and landfills.

Can I just wash my clothes with bar soap?

Yes, you can. But I wouldn’t recommend using bar soap as your primary detergent long term. I am planning to write a separate post on the topic, to address soap nuts, DIY laundry recipes, and alike. I tried them all and used soap nuts for about a year. In short, laundry detergents do not leave a scum residue on our clothes or inside our washing machine.

Related: Best zero waste natural-ish stain removers

The truth is, for most people on this planet, we do not need harsh chemicals to clean our clothes. Laundry detergents were made strong and harsh way back when (detergent was invented in 1914). Our jobs were different then, we were miners, construction workers, mechanics, farmers… Nowadays, our needs are different. Our clothes are mainly sweaty at best with an occasional stain.

Best low waste laundry detergent

Years ago I switched to Frosch which is a great eco company. I have contacted them several times and always got a transparent and real answer. Their laundry detergents and softeners are readily available all bigger stores across Europe.

Money-saving tip: I would buy my laundry detergent in bulk on sale, so the price was actually comparable to all other high-quality washing liquids. Their packaging is not plastic-free, they are using the plastic sleeve method.

If you are just transitioning to a more natural laundry system, zero waste laundry detergents and organic ones do not lather as much and have a milder scent.

Completely zero waste laundry detergent options

Option number 1: Zero waste laundry detergent from refill stations

I switched to my organic zero-waste store laundry detergent and I was quite happy. It did the job well. The problem, however, is that my nearest zero waste shop isn’t that close and I do not own a car. I would try to buy at least 2 liters of laundry detergent in one visit and with combined weight of my other shopping, it just isn’t sustainable.

Another problem is, that zero waste refill stations tend to be a lot more expensive than packaged laundry detergent.

In one of the local zero waste refill stations the have powder and liquid zero waste detergent. The Bio Bar powder amounts to 0.27c/ wash and Unisapon liquid detergent equals to 0.284c per wash using 10 ml and 0.568c/wash when using 20ml. The calculation is in EUR, price in Feb 2020.

However, there are 2 zero-waste laundry detergent options I have been dying to dry. First is called Ecoegg from the UK and the second one is TerraMg from Japan.
Both would fix my problems and are completely plastic-free, as natural as they come and sensitive skin/asthma appropriate. They keep winning awards and consistently good reviews in every single online shop.

Both work in a similar way, but with different ingredients. I guess they are like laundry detergents 2.0 changing the chemical structure of water to clean more efficiently, gently, and with less stuff. Both are truly eco-friendly laundry products.

When I first heard of these two options, it sounded to good to be true, so I also enlisted my partner with a masters degree in chemistry and phd in physics. The science checks out.

I’m hopping to write a seperate review of both in the future.

Option number 2: EcoEgg zero waste laundry detergent

Eco Egg replaces a traditional laundry detergent and softener. It is completely natural, eco-friendly, appropriate for sensitive skin, asthmatics and comes with very little waste. The casing is designed to be recyclable (check with your local recycling station) and would last about 3 years for a family of 4.

The pellets are biodegradable and without petrochemicals, enzymes, bleaches, phosphates, parabens, SLS/SLES, palm oil, or microplastics.

How does the EcoEgg work?

Cleaning pellets gently lift dirt and produce no chemical waste. It comes in a variety of scents and a fragrance-free option.

Full and extensive review of the Ecoegg here, with stain swatches.

The pellets themselves are made out of minerals that loosen up the dirt and ionize the oxygen molecules in the water. That is what washes our clothes. The pH of the water increases which has a natural softening effect. So no more plastic containers from fabric softeners either.

It is suitable for all fabric and works up to 60°C/140°F.

Where can you buy it?

You can get the EcoEgg and/or refills from their website, they ship out of the UK or Amazon. At the time of purchase, Amazon was by far the cheapest option. They are a lot more widespread so you might be able to get it in your local drug store or other natural online shops.
Oddly enough, I haven’t seen it in my local zero waste shops.

They also have a zero waste dryer ball and other accessories (that you probably do not need).

Option number 3: Zero waste laundry detergent TerraMg

I learned about Terra Wash when doing research for my trip to Japan. They have been around for years, creating a whole new way of doing laundry. They have a patented system of doing laundry with magnesium pellets, no harsh chemicals or even plastic needed.

It contains no toxic and synthetic chemicals and preserves fibers and colors, so your clothes will last longer as well. The zero waste washing pellets are suitable for all fabrics even the delicates. With every wash, the pellets reduce in size and you just refill the pouch, or you can place the small pellets on your plant soil as fertilizer. The pellets will dissolve ever so slightly every time you water the plant.

It really is incredible how science has come and Terra wash+ Mg managed to completely close the loop. There is absolutely no pollution after using this laundry detergent.

Their pellets have been rigorously tested and proven to remove dirt, smell, and a certain amount of oily stains as well. There is no fragrance in this eco-friendly laundry detergent, which is very good for asthmatics, babies, and people with sensitive skin.

Like in the EcoEgg, there is no soap involved, so you can save on the rinse cycle as well.

Again, the water pH will increase which has a natural softening effect.

Another advantage of the Terra Mg is that it cleans the inside of the washing machine of dirt and mold automatically, no additional products needed.

1 pouch with pellets is good for 1 year or 365 washes.

Where can you buy it?

Terra Wash is currently being sold worldwide via their webpage and shipped from Japan, which can involve hefty import taxes, depending on where you live. I haven’t seen it in specialized stores yet. So, we’re all back to Amazon.

In Europe, you can avoid import duties by buying it directly from Amazon.

Over to you, what is your favourite zero waste laundry detergent? Have you tried the Egg or Terra Wash already? How did it go?

Pin it for future reference or share with friends.