Honest stories and practical tips about eco-friendly living and family life.
I Put 5 'Eco' Laundry Detergents to the Test — Here’s the One I’ll Be Buying All 2025
Updated by Linda Harper 14 days ago
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My skin flares up at the hint of harsh chemicals, so I can’t just grab any old detergent off the supermarket shelf. Add two mud-loving boys to the mix, and you’ll understand why I need a formula that’s tough on stains but gentle on us.
No time to read? Jump straight to my 2025 winner.
If you’re curious about why one product beat the rest, stick with me. I’ll break down:
Ready? Let’s dive in. 👇
How I Tested
I started by polling my Instagram community of eco-minded parents and café regulars; the same five “green” detergents kept appearing in my DMs, so those are the ones I ordered. I skipped the supermarket giants I’ve relied on for years—this experiment is about finding something better.
To keep things fair, I turned my laundry room into a mini lab:
- Five identical 100 % cotton white T-shirts from Penneys.
- Stains applied to each shirt in the same order: grass, tomato sauce, black coffee, café grease, and a swipe of foundation.
- Stains air-dried for 24 h so they could really set.
- One dose of each detergent, 40 °C cotton cycle, 1200 rpm spin—no fabric softener, boosters, or stain removers.
- Post-wash, I scored every shirt on stain removal, scent, residue/feel, and any skin reaction after wearing.
- Finally, I ran three real-life family loads (school uniforms, café aprons, and a dark mixed load) with each product to confirm the lab results.
Same stains, same wash, same judgment criteria—so the only variable was the detergent itself.
My Evaluation Criteria
After each wash I scored the detergents on five must-have points:
- Stain-removing power: Could it lift grass, tomato sauce, coffee and the usual daily grime?
- Scent: Fresh and pleasant—but never headache-strong.
- Residue & skin feel: No filmy leftovers and absolutely no itching or redness on our sensitive skin.
- Cost per load: My sweet spot is €0.25 or less for an average family wash.
- Ingredients: Plant-based, non-toxic and genuinely eco-friendly—no green-washing allowed.
Don't want to read the full blog post? Go here to see my pick for 2025
A note about eco laundry detergent sheets
I've been resisting to try them for a while now.
However with so much hype, I finally decided to give them a shot. Here’s why:- They're eco-friendly: that's a big plus for our family.
- They’re compact: easy to store, transport, and use, good for travel.
- Effective: many claim they’re just as effective as traditional detergents.
- Plastic-free packaging: they often come in plastic-free packaging.
- Better for sensitive skin: they’re marketed as being better for sensitive skin.
Spoiler alert!
After trying them out, I can say they live up to the hype! They’re just as effective at removing stains.
Other products tested
While I had high hopes for these products, they ultimately fell short in various ways. I decided to include them here so you can see what didn’t work for us and why.
- Ecover Liquid Detergent
While it’s eco-friendly, the plastic packaging and lack of stain removal effectiveness were deal-breakers for me.
- Arm & Hammer Powder Detergent
It’s a classic, but the strong scent and harsh chemicals made it unsuitable for our family.
- Fairy Non-bio Pods
Convenient but didn’t perform as well on tough stains, and the price was a bit high for what it offered.
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear
While it’s great for sensitive skin, the softening effect was minimal. It also comes in a large plastic bottle, which I’m not a fan of.
Experiment results 👇
After washing and drying each shirt, I evaluated the results based on stain removal, fabric feel, and any residual odors.
| Detergent | Stain Removal | Smell | Good for Skin | Cost per Load | Eco-friendliness | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick Friendly Rinse Laundry Sheets | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 | $$ | 5 / 5 | easy |
Runner up Tru Earth Laundry Strips | 4 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 5 / 5 | $$$ | 5 / 5 | easy |
Smol Laundry Capsules | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 4 / 5 | $$$ | 4 / 5 | medium |
My Verdict
After testing these five detergents, I found that Friendly Rinse Laundry Sheets was the clear winner for our family. It effectively tackled all the stains, left our clothes smelling fresh without being overpowering, and was gentle on our sensitive skin. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, which is a big win for us. Overall, this is what I choose as my go to detergent for 2025.
While it may not be as heavy duty as some traditional detergents, it still gets the job done effectively. For my family, we value the balance of effectiveness and safety, especially with two young children in the house. My skin has been very sensitive to certain chemicals, so finding a detergent that is both gentle and effective is a top priority for us.
🆕 Update for June, 2025
Since the time I originally posted I've tested a few more of eco-friendly laundry detergents. However, I still stand by my original pick for 2025, Friendly Rinse Laundry Sheets.
They have a generous discount happening right now on their website
So if you're considering trying it out, now might be a good time to grab it.
I order them in bulk to save money. This equates to around 0.21€ per load.
As always, thank you for reading my blog post! I hope you found it helpful in your search for the best eco-friendly laundry detergent. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on social media or leave a comment below. I love hearing from my readers and appreciate your support!