Did you know most laundry detergents contain harsh ingredients that can do serious damage to your health?
Tons of detergents contain chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS–known to cause gut health issues), 1,4-Dioxane (linked to cancer and GI damage), Phthalates, Formaldehyde, Synthetic Dyes…the list goes on.
Your laundry detergent gets absorbed into your body through your skin (your largest organ) so it’s important to know what’s in your laundry detergent.
I decided to try dozens of laundry detergents WITHOUT these harsh chemicals–here are the 5 best!
TL;DR: Clean People’s Laundry Tablets was our favorite brand by far! No gross plastic PVA film, no harsh cancer-causing chemicals, and they got my laundry clean and smelling fresh without any nasty ingredients! I now use Clean People’s Laundry Tablets in my own home and absolutely love them.
1. Clean People Laundry Detergent Tablets
Clean People Laundry Detergent Tablets blew us away and was our favorite laundry detergent by far, earning 5 stars ★★★★★. These tablets aren’t just 100% plastic free! They’re also 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!
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). This stuff won’t irritate your gut!
We love that it’s 100% Plastic Free. That means you don’t have to worry about microplastics either.
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 BOGO Sale still live right now: Buy a 120 Pack of Laundry Tablets, get a FREE 4oz Stain Spray. This special BOGO deal is only available on their official website with code STAINBOGO. It’s not available on Amazon or anywhere else.
Nellie’s Laundry Cubes came in second place.
We love that this laundry detergent is made without harsh ingredients like SLS, synthetic dyes, and other phthalates or parabens.
These laundry cubes dissolve completely, and are the cutest little squares. They are a little pricey on a price per load but it was so fun to try this new type.
The cleaning power and less harsh ingredients landed Nellie’s at #2.
3. Branch Basics Laundry Powder
We ranked Branch Basics Laundry Powder at #3.
Thousands of people rave about Branch Basics in the “cleaner living” community, so we were excited to test this powder out.
Branch Basics is known to use safer, cleaner ingredients in their products. The detergent got our clothes clean, and it fully dissolved in our washer.
We liked how clean our clothes got, but the powder format is a bit too messy for us. We would have preferred a tablet. Because of this, Branch Basics secured our #3 spot!
Great product! The ingredients are safer and the packaging seems sustainable. We love that there’s no microplastics, but we do wish there were more scent options besides Free & Clear.
Fab Tab is one of the first results that pop up when you search for laundry tablets, so we were excited to try them.
While we do love that they’re plastic free, affordable, and have multiple scent options, the ingredient list wasn’t our favorite.
FabTab uses sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and sodium coco-sulfate—effective cleaning agents that may be irritating, particularly in concentrated form. For sensitive households, some of our higher-ranked picks felt like a better fit.
Because of this, Fab Tab is coming in at #5.
And the winner is…
The winner is CLEAN PEOPLE. Simple, effective ingredients, no hidden microplastics, a powerful clean, and you can get a FREE Stain Spray when you buy a 120 Pack now. Clean People is our #1 recommendation.
#1 CLEAN PEOPLE: Buy It Here
#2 Nellie’s: Buy It Here
#3 Branch Basics: Buy it Here
#4 Vove: Buy it Here
#5 Fab Tab: Buy it Here
Any tips on what to look out for on laundry detergent ingredient labels to avoid gut issues?
Great question! A few things I personally look out for in laundry detergent are alcohol ethoxylates, synthetic dyes, and potential contaminants like 1,4-dioxane (this causes cancer, too).
I definitely recommend Clean People Laundry Detergent—it’s an easy, affordable swap if you’re looking for a cleaner formula without a lot of the ingredients you may be trying to avoid!
I’ve used Clean People laundry sheets for years, and I was SO excited to see them release their new laundry tablets! Just placed an order and am looking forward to trying them.
Hi Lucy,
That’s great to hear! Same here, I had already used and loved Clean People’s laundry sheets. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I love their new laundry tablets even more! Let me know what you think after you try. 🙂
I use laundry pods. Do I ACTUALLY have to be worried about Microplastics?
Hi Rachel,
I was in the same boat! I used big brand laundry pods for YEARS. And I get it, it seems like such a small issue.
Microplastics are unfortunately in SO many things we’re exposed to every day. For me, it’s more about limiting that exposure where I realistically can. Switching laundry detergent is such an easy, affordable swap that I figured why not? I’d rather cut out one potential source without having to completely overhaul my life.
Plus, I love that Clean People tablets (my #1 pick above) are made with safer ingredients for my family! It’s a win-win.
Have you experienced any residue with any of the tablets you recommended?
Hey Emily,
Such a great question! One of my biggest pet peeves is laundry detergent residue sticking to clothes after washing.
Luckily, there was NO residue after using my #1 pick Clean People! Those tablets were great all around. Definitely recommend!
Is the Clean People BOGO legit?
Yes! But only if you order through the Clean People website with code STAINBOGO.
I ordered the Fresh + Clean 120 pack of laundry tablets, and sure enough I got a stain spray for FREE. Doesn’t get better than that!
I recommend Clean People to everyone I know! Such a great brand. Thanks for all the info!
Yay! So glad you love them too.
Our washing machine uses the liquid with “he” symbol on it such as the ALL detergent. Can the Clean People tablets, your #1 choice be used in all washing machines or just top loading ones?
Hi Ingrid,
Yes, you can use Clean People laundry tablets in HE (High Efficiency) washing machines. You can use them in front loaders and top loaders too.
You can also use them with hot or cold water temperature washes.