Why Use a Natural Laundry Detergent? Your Questions Answered

What is Natural Laundry Detergent?

There's no such thing as "chemical-free laundry detergent" because, well...everything is made of chemicals — as in, chemical compounds. It's important to note, though, that there are natural (earth-sourced) and synthetic (lab-made) chemicals, both of which can be used in soaps. Unless you're a scientist, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two when reading an ingredients list.

Having said that, all-natural laundry detergent might contain:

• Decyl glucoside (a gentle, plant-derived surfactant)

• Lauryl glucoside (a natural surfactant found in palm or coconut oil)

• Subtilisin, amylase, lipase or protease enzyme blends² (naturally derived stain-lifters)

• Coconut acid (a cleansing agent)

• Lactic acid (a softening agent found in natural sugars and corn)

• Citric acid (a water softener found in sugar, corn or wheat)

• Sodium citrate³ (a plant-derived cleaning aid and water softener)

• Sodium oleate⁴ (an emulsifying organic compound)

• Sodium chloride (a mineral-based gentle washing agent)

• Essential oils for fragrance

The main difference between natural and regular laundry soap is that the latter contains all (or mostly) synthetic ingredients, and some might be harmful to humans or the planet. This includes 1,4-dioxane,⁵ polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether,⁶ petroleum distillates, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, nonylphenol ethoxylate, diethanolamine, ethylene oxide and phosphates.⁷

In addition to emulsifiers, cleaning agents and stabilizers, traditional detergents often contain dyes and synthetic fragrances. For the most part, bluing agents are mixed in for aesthetic purposes, though they're sometimes used as optical brighteners (to make fabrics appear whiter and brighter).

While many people are accustomed to cobalt-colored soap, it can actually discolor your linens if too much is used or when it doesn't dissolve properly. To be sure, there's nothing wrong with nice-smelling laundry soap, but the lab-made variety can be overwhelming at best and irritating at worst.

Lots of folks are hesitant to switch to natural cleaning products out of concern they don't work as well as their synthetic counterparts. If you're on the fence about natural laundry detergent, you'll be glad to hear it's actually super effective at cleaning clothes, bed linens and other fabrics.

Those enzyme blends and earth-sourced surfactants mentioned above? They're workhorses in the washer, surrounding dirt, oils and other residues and pulling them away from your fabrics.

Benefits of Using Natural Laundry Detergent

While laundry soap is mostly rinsed away in the wash, residues can remain on the fabrics after drying. So, when you get dressed, dry yourself off with a towel or sleep in laundered bedding, your skin is coming into contact with the ingredients.

People with eczema⁸ and other skin conditions may experience reactions to formulas containing synthetic dyes, optical brighteners and fragrances. Also, anyone with sensitive skin might benefit from using a pared-down laundry detergent made with natural ingredients to avoid itching, rashes and other irritations.

Cleaning products made with synthetic cleaning agents and phosphates may be toxic to the environment when they get into the soil and water supply. To avoid potentially polluting the earth, poisoning fish and disrupting the ecosystem, your best bet is an eco-friendly laundry detergent formulated with natural ingredients. Sustainable laundry detergents are biodegradable, meaning they break down quickly and go back into the earth without causing any harm.

For resources on the quintessential eco-friendly products for around the house, read on:

Eco-Friendly Household Essentials: Best Environmentally Friendly Home Products

18 Best Sustainable & Organic Bathroom Products

Biodegradable laundry detergent (sometimes called green laundry detergent) is also better for your washer. It dissolves quickly and completely in cold, warm or hot water and is perfectly safe for your drain and septic system. What's more, natural formulas simultaneously clean the drum while laundering your linens.

Though natural laundry detergent is ruthless on dirt and stains, it handles your clothes with care. Synthetic additives aren't very kind to the earth, and the same goes for your fabrics. Naturally derived ingredients, on the other hand, are super gentle with fabric fibers, plus they're unlikely to cause fading, so your linens will look newer longer. What's not to love?

What to Look for in a Natural Laundry Detergent

As mentioned above, some plant-sourced ingredients found in environmentally friendly laundry detergents have synthetic-sounding names. You don't need to have them all memorized, but some of the all-stars include decyl glucoside, subtilisin enzymes, amylase enzymes, lipase enzymes, coconut acid, lactic acid and citric acid.

Concentrated formulas are ideal for a few reasons. For one, they dissolve quickly without excessive foaming. Also, you don't need to use as much, so you'll get more bang for your buck. And lower volumes of soap can be packaged in smaller containers, which is better for the planet.

For some, the smell of fresh laundry is comforting. And for others, fragrance makes them feel like their clothes are cleaner, even if it has nothing to do with cleaning power. In any case, switching to natural laundry detergent doesn't mean you have to forgo a scent. Natural formulas are often scented with essential oils. The natural laundry detergent you’ll find at Parachute is scented with calming lavender oil (appearing as lavandula angustifolia on the ingredients list).

You might also consider using a natural mist, like the Rest Linen Mist from Parachute, a soothing herbal blend free of synthetic ingredients and toxins. If you're not big on fragrances, have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies, look for one of Parachute’s popular  unscented options.

Tips for Using Natural Laundry Detergent

Best Natural Laundry Detergent - In Conclusion