If you live with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardic Syndrome), small triggers can make your nervous system unpredictable.
Your heart rate spikes the moment you stand up… the intense brain fog… sudden fatigue…and something as simple as walking across the room can feel impossible.
Most people with POTS become extremely aware of their triggers: hydration, salt intake, sleep, stress…
But there’s one everyday exposure I never thought to question:
Laundry detergent.
Clothes sit against your skin 24/7 and certain detergents leave behind residues designed to stay on fabric, like dyes, fragrance blends, optical brighteners, and surfactants.
These harsh chemicals can trigger dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and even cancer, especially for those that are sensitive. Of course, switching detergents won’t cure POTS. But reducing unnecessary daily exposures can make a noticeable difference.
We researched dozens of popular detergents and ranked the 5 best options for people with POTS.
What I Looked For When Ranking These Detergents
When reviewing these detergents, we prioritized formulas that:
- Avoid harsh chemicals
- Minimize fragrance and unnecessary additives
- Rinse clean without leaving heavy residue
- Are easy to use on low-energy days (no heavy jugs to lift)
1. CLEAN PEOPLE Laundry Detergent
Clean People Laundry Detergent blew us away and was our favorite laundry detergent by far, earning 5 stars ★★★★★. I
Why it ranked #1: It has no dyes, optical brighteners, sulfates, 1,4-dioxane, and harsh fragrances that can trigger POTS symptoms (that’s why it’s hypoallergenic and certified by dermatologists). The lightweight sheets are pre-measured and fully dissolve, preventing buildup and leftover residue. Plus, there’s no lifting heavy plastic jugs which is great since lifting can be a nightmare for those that experience dizzy episodes.
Even without the harsh chemicals, it is effective at cleaning and eliminating odors – we washed sweaty gym clothes and kids clothes with stains. All the clothes came out fresh and clean. In other words, it works!
Finally, we love all the great reviews that Clean People has earned, including one from us!
Clean People comes in Fragrance Free and Fresh & Clean Scent. We love the Fragrance Free option but our favorite is Fresh & Clean!
This is what we recommend and use at home and thus earned the #1 spot.
UPDATE: Clean People has a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE BOGO Sale still live right now, use coupon code BOGO.
Thieves earned my #2 spot. Like #1 Clean People, Thieves is made from simple, effective ingredients. While Clean People is a laundry sheet, Thieves is liquid laundry. I love that it is easy to pour. Thieves offers strong cleaning power with clean ingredients and performs well on all my laundry. However, Thieves comes in a spicy aroma that might trigger people that are sensitive to fragrance.
The combination of cleaning power, ingredients, and little plastic earned Thieves my #2 spot.
Seventh Generation came in 3rd place and is a fragrance free formula. Seventh Generation did well at cleaning and removing odors. Seventh Generation uses simple, effective ingredients and is hypoallergenic. However, Seventh Generation’s ingredients include ingredients that we don’t like. First off, it includes SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) which can cause rashes and harm your skin. Additionally, the detergent includes preservatives (methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone) that are known to cause extreme allergic reactions in some people.
The plastic laundry detergent bottles are made mostly from recycled plastic which we like. But plastic laundry detergent bottles often end up in the landfill.
We loved the cleanliness. But the 1,4 dioxane & plastic bottle dropped Seventh Generation to our #3 spot.
Mrs. Myers came in 4th place. Mrs. Myers is what you think of when you think of clean Laundry Detergent. It has plant-derived ingredients, enzymes for cleaning, concentration (little goes a long way), and cruelty-free status. However, it does have some garden-inspired fragrance which can trigger those who are sensitive. It does have methylisothiazolinone which is a potential allergen and knocked it lower on my list.
We did love the scent and cleaning power, and based on the thousands of reviews that the product has on Amazon, so did many others.
Great product! And I love their aluminum containers (aluminum is infinitely recyclable which makes it an environmentally friendly option) but it is too expensive to make it make sense.
Buy it here.
Final Recommendation
If you have POTS, no laundry detergent will “fix” your symptoms.
But reducing unnecessary daily stressors, especially those that sit on your skin for hours, can make your environment feel more manageable.
My #1 pick is Clean People, whether you have POTS or are just looking for a safer detergent option!
Simple, effective ingredients, no gross ingredients, plastic free packaging, powerful at cleaning and stain removal, and you can get a 🚀 Limited-Time Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 FREE
#1 CLEAN PEOPLE Fresh & Clean: Buy It Here
#2 Thieves: Buy It Here
#3 Seventh Generation: Buy it Here
#4 Mrs. Myers: Buy it Here
#5 Dirty Labs: Buy it Here
