Let’s be honest–most laundry detergents are Made in China.
Because of this, they tend to have more relaxed regulations. This means your laundry detergent can be packed full of nasty chemicals like 1,4-Dioxane (a known cancer-causer!), SLS, parabens, synthetic dyes, optical brighteners (hormone disrupter), and more. Trust me–your skin is your largest organ, you do NOT want it absorbing any of these ingredients.
But don’t worry–I did the hard work for you. I bought and tested the Top 5 “Made in USA” laundry detergents to see which ones are worth making the switch, and which ones you can leave on the shelves.
SPOILER: My top pick is CLEAN PEOPLE laundry detergent sheets. They’re made without 1,4-Dioxane, SLS, parabens, optical brighteners, or any harsh chemicals! Plus they come in plastic-free packaging, clean well, and are the ONLY laundry sheets made in the USA.
1. CLEAN PEOPLE Laundry Detergent
I’ve never been more impressed with a detergent than I am with these Clean People laundry sheets! These were my favorite detergent by far, and I definitely give them 5 stars ★★★★★.
Not only are these the ONLY laundry sheets Made in USA, but they also got the gross smell out of my husband’s gym clothes (which is a MIRACLE, let me tell you!)
Clean People uses simple, effective ingredients, and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like 1,4 dioxane, optical brighteners, sulfates, phosphates, parabens, chlorine, or synthetic dyes (that’s why it’s hypoallergenic and certified by Dermatologists).
Plus, they’re made with 100% Plastic-Free packaging! It’s no wonder over 2 million people are loving these and have left thousands of great reviews.
Clean People is now my go-to detergent at home, so it definitely earned my #1 recommendation!
UPDATE:Right now Clean People is giving away a 32-pack of laundry sheets for FREE when you buy a 96-pack! Use code BOGO at checkout.
Coming in second place is Molly’s Suds laundry powder, Made in USA. Just like #1 Clean People, Molly’s Suds is free from all those harsh chemicals typically found in Made in China detergent.
While it did a great job of cleaning my kids’ clothes and got a few stains out, I’m still undecided on the powder format.
Unlike Clean People laundry sheets that are mess-free (you just toss an ultra-concentrated sheet in with your laundry and you’re good to go!), Molly’s Suds detergent powder did get everywhere as I tried to scoop it into my laundry machine.
The packaging is unfortunately plastic, but Molly’s Suds does get a few points for not being a liquid detergent.
Although not as good as Clean People, Molly’s Suds detergent powder is still a solid choice when switching to a Made in USA detergent.
#3 is All Free & Clear. If you’re looking for a liquid detergent Made in USA, this might be for you.
It is worth noting, however, that similar to Made in China detergents, All Free & Clear contains C12-15 PARETH-9 (which leads to trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane), parabens, phosphates, and other synthetic ingredients like brighteners. So it’s not as “free” as it may advertise.
Also, unlike the detergents I rated previously, even though All Free & Clear is Made in the USA it is owned by a German company. So it’s not as “American” as a company like Clean People, for example.
It does, however, have great cleaning power, and it smells great.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear is definitely a fan-favorite, so I was excited to try it. I love how it’s made with simple, effective ingredients and is hypoallergenic just like Clean People, however there are a few ingredients I was wary of.
First off, Free & Clear 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.
Plus, the real reason I ranked this so low: Seventh Generation isn’t actually guaranteed to be Made in USA! Turns out, after looking at the small print on the bottle, it’s actually “Assembled in America”, meaning they may be importing some ingredients from other countries.
Because of this, and because of the plastic jug that’ll probably end up in the landfill, I’m ranking Seventh Generation Free & Clear at #4.
It does have some good reviews, though.
And lastly, Dirty Labs detergent comes in at #5. I really did like this product! Great ingredients, cleans well, and is Made in USA.
It is, however, a small business, so the prices are way higher than I would typically spend on such a small amount of detergent.
But the aluminum packaging is great for the environment!
Buy it here.
Who’s the winner?
Clean People laundry sheets are by FAR my top choice when it comes to Made in USA detergent.
They’re made with simple, effective ingredients that are way safer for your family, they come in plastic-free packaging, and you can even get a pack for FREE when you buy one with code BOGO!
#1 CLEAN PEOPLE Lavender: Buy It Here
#2 Molly Suds: Buy It Here
#3 All Free & Clear: Buy it Here
#4 Seventh Generation: Buy it Here
#5 Dirty Labs: Buy it Here
