These Are the 6 Best Detergents to Wash Your Linen
Words by Jen Nurick
You wouldn’t bathe in harsh chemicals—and your linen shouldn’t either. Facts: choosing the perfect environmentally-friendly bedding should be easy and while you’ve come to the right place, spreading a new sheet set atop your mattress is only half of the battle.
Laundry detergents are an entirely different beast with a host of separate considerations. Cost per wash, eco-friendliness, kindness to sensitive skin, baby safety and biodegradability are all factors to keep at the forefront of your proverbial shopping trolley alongside everything else. Below, we kick intimidating ingredients to the curb and peel back the clever packaging to break down the seven best laundry detergents to maximise your linen’s longevity. Take note!
The Laundress x Le Labo Rose Signature Detergent
A heady combination of clever perfumery and high performance, the collaboration between The Laundress x Le Labo on their Signature Detergent in Rose ranks in at number one on our list. The tried-and-tested detergent formula is reinvented anew in a blend of 31 highly concentrated ingredients, with an estimated 32 washes per bottle. Notes of cumin, cedar and amber infuse the non-toxic, biodegradable and allergen-free product—which is also free of petroleum, phosphates, phthalates—basically anything that’s too hard to pronounce—and any artificial colours.La Clinica Organic For Home Fabric & Linen Laundry Wash Liquid Detergent
Founded originally to serve as a skincare solution, La Clinica is as good for your linen as it is for your face, so we’d keep this alternative in high rotation. Each bottle lends itself to 64 washes—double that of many competitors—without compromise of high performing ingredients. The Fabric & Linen Laundry Wash Liquid Detergent is eco-friendly and non-toxic, and will be kind to sensitive skin types and newborns thanks to its allergen-free and hypoallergenic formula. Instead of synthetic fragrances or perfumes, La Clinica is infused with plant-derived essential oils, rounding out an unassuming yet elegant scent of lavender, cedarwood and eucalyptus that won’t overwhelm your linen or get in the way of those elusive zzz’s.Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent
Expertly developed by doctors with allergy sufferers and sensitive skin types in mind, Puracy’s Natural Laundry Detergent is the clean, green laundry detergent par excellence to maintain a healthy household. The plant-based enzyme formula is gentle on all skin types but hard on stains and odours, working double time to improve the softness of your linen with each wash. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any nasties in here: there are no sulphates, petrochemicals or caustics. The formula is also entirely vegan, gluten free, hypoallergenic and biodegradable, making it an optimal choice for those with children or pets.Ecostore Laundry Liquid
Born out of New Zealand—where the air is arguably cleaner and the views superior—Ecostore’s philosophy is plain and simple: eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals in the home. Enter their Laundry Liquid—a formula derived from plant-based ingredients that is free from optical brighteners, phosphates and synthetic fragrances. Not only is it kind on sensitive skin and allergy sufferers, Ecostore’s offering is environment-safe too, meaning you can reuse any remaining product on flower gardens, trees and lawns. The bottles are 100% recyclable and will deliver 28 washes per litre, making this alternative a no-brainer—excepting the challenge of choosing between its attractive eucalyptus, geranium & orange or fragrance-free versions.Simply Clean Lemon Myrtle Laundry Liquid
Proudly Australian-made, Simply Clean’s Lemon Myrtle Laundry Liquid was formulated with a family-first approach in mind, making it a serious contender for top spot. Promising to deliver 40 washes per litre, Simply Clean’s solution is phosphate free, enzyme free, palm oil free, toxin free, sensitizer free and uses no animal products or artificial fragrances—simply put: Simply Clean is the heavyweight champion of laundry diets.Clean Cult Wool Dryer Balls
If you’ve read our no-nonsense, no dry-clean guide to keeping your linen super soft—or even if you haven’t!—allow us this diversion from detergents to dryer balls should you want to go the extra mile on laundry day. Based out of Puerto Rico and New York, Clean Cult’s Wool Dryer Balls are ethically sourced and imported from New Zealand, boasting 100% premium wool from the sheep capital itself. These balls are hard on wrinkles and gentle on skin, making them an obvious addition to any laundry cycle that needs some extra help. Clean Cult’s offering also promises to cut the drying time and improve the softness of your linen. Each dryer ball will even go one further—for every laundry package sold, another is donated to families and organisations rebuilding after Hurricane Maria, so you can give back with every load.
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