Lots and lots of laundry detergents are Made in China.
On top of that, laundry detergent can be packed full of chemicals like 1,4-Dioxane (a known carcinogen), SLS, parabens, synthetic dyes, optical brighteners, and more.
But don’t worry–I did the hard work for you. I bought and used the Top 5 “Assembled in the 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 Assembled in the 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: Clean People has a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE BOGO Sale still live right now, use coupon code BOGO.
Coming in second place is Thieves laundry detergent, Made in the USA. Just like #1 Clean People, Thieves 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 aroma.
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!), Thieves liquid did spill on the bottle as I was pouring which led to waste.
The packaging is unfortunately plastic, but Thieves is concentrated which is great
Although not as good as Clean People, Thieves is still a solid choice when switching to a Made in the USA detergent.
#3 is All Free & Clear. If you’re looking for a liquid detergent Made in the 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 the 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 the 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 Assembled in the 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: Buy It Here
#2 Thieves: Buy It Here
#3 All Free & Clear: Buy it Here
#4 Seventh Generation: Buy it Here
#5 Dirty Labs: Buy it Here
I love Clean People laundry sheets! My favorite are the Lavender scented ones. Made in USA AND super easy to use.
Lavender is my favorite scent too! So glad you love them–they’ve been a game changer in my house for sure.
Where can I buy Clean People?
You can get Clean People here: https://www.getcleanpeople.com/product/fresh-clean-laundry-detergent/
Right now they’re offering a BOGO deal for new customers! Buy a 96-Pack, get a 32-Pack FREE.
Will Clean People actually get my clothes clean? I get skeptical about non-toxic detergents, and the big brand detergent I use now gets the stains out easily.
I’ve used Clean People’s laundry sheets for 2 years now, and I’ve been shocked by how well they get stains out! I never expected a detergent without harsh chemicals to work as well as Clean People does, but I’m definitely glad I made the switch. My clothes are clean, and I love knowing the detergent is safer for my family!
The laundry detergent I’ve used for years is Made in China. Why should I care?
Great question! Laundry Detergent Made in China often contains toxic chemicals and byproducts like 1,4-Dioxane (a human carcinogen) because of a lack of manufacturing regulations. That’s why I love that Clean People is free from toxic chemicals and is Made in the USA!