Greener Laundry: 4 Simple Swaps for a Healthier Home
Laundry is an ongoing household task, and the products we use and the habits we keep can have a big impact on both our health and the environment. The good news? A few easy swaps can turn your laundry routine into a cleaner, greener routine that’s safer for your skin, your clothes, your health- and the planet. The tough news? Some steps are easier than others.
1. Easy- Ditch the Dryer Sheets—Say Hello to Wool Dryer Balls
Conventional dryer sheets might make your clothes feel soft and smell fresh, but they’re often made from nonwoven polyester (a form of plastic) that sheds microplastics into the air and water.
On top of that, they’re coated with a “fabric-softening agent”, or chemical- which leeches on your clothes and towels.
And, their fragrances often contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals that can irritate skin, disrupt hormones, and linger in your home.
As the dryer sheet warms, the chemicals are released onto your wet laundry. And this oily residue may block your link screen. Plus, as the dryer sheet is used, it releases micro- and nano-plastics into your laundry, and through the dryer vent into the outside air and soil.
Wool dryer balls are a natural, reusable alternative. They reduce static, soften fabric, help air flow to circulate, reduce wrinkles and cut drying time—all without synthetic fragrance or plastic waste.
Still want a subtle scent to your laundry? Just add a drop or two of essential oil to the dryer balls.
Where to find them? I bought mine at TJ Maxx, and I’ve seen them at Target, The Container Store, Amazon and Williams-Sonoma. I’m sure a quick online search will yield many more options. While the upfront cost is higher than a package of dryer sheets, they last for 2-5 years.
2. Easy Swap- Use Natural Materials for Laundry Storage & Wash Bags
Plastic hampers and baskets can crack, break, and leach chemicals over time—plus they’re not biodegradable. And plastic contribute to… yes, microplastics. The next time you’re in need of a new hamper, laundry basket or wash bags, swap them for:
A natural hamper:
Woven cotton rope baskets or wicker hampers made of rattan, willow, reed, or bamboo (not plastic) are breathable, lightweight options.
A metal mesh laundry hamper with or without a cotton lined insert is a great, long-lasting option, but is heavier and made to stay in your room and then transport laundry with a lighter weight basket.
Natural baskets or bags- To carry your laundry from bedroom to laundry area, try a collapsible canvas or cotton bag which are durable, breathable, and come in a variety of colors. Or use a lightweight wicker basket to add a cozy, natural touch to your laundry room.
Cotton wash bags- When washing delicates, use cotton delicates/ lingerie bags so your bra hooks don’t snag other fabrics and the straps don’t get stretched out. Use larger wash bags for delicate sweaters and shirts- or other items that can snag other fabrics (like velcro, or a heavy zipper) or small items that can get lost (like bike helmet pads).
3. Easy- Choose Cooler Water
Whenever possible, choose cool or warm water over hot. The energy required to heat the hot water is generally considered the largest environmentla impact to washing laundry. While helpful for washing whites and heaviy soiled clothes, warm or cool water is fine for everday use. Microplastics are more likely to shed from synthetic fabrics in hot water.
So, this one is pretty simple- use cooler water whenever possible.
4. Harder- Choose Safer Laundry Detergents
I want to wrap yourself with a warm, fresh towel and not worry about whether the chemicals in the detergent are going to cause health or environmental impacts.
I look for laundry detergents that clean well, and come in packaging that minimizes environmental impacts. Easier said than done- hence the harder of the three swaps.
One of my children has eczema and I’ve been reading labels on laundry detergent to help reduce flare-ups for twenty years!
Options have changed over time and more companies are being more transparent with their ingredients. As I’ve learned more about the chemicals in the detergents- and now the microplastics from the containers, I’ve been switching up what we use
Thankfully, it’s fairly easy these days to find many options of fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free liquid laundry detergents. The problem? The large plastic jugs largely end up in landfills and contribute to large-scale and micro-plastic pollution.
Nothing is perfect- but it’s important to have clean clothes, linens and towels, so we do what we can.
We’re currently using Dirty Labs concentrated liquid detergent, which comes in a recyclable aluminum bottle- no plastic! And we’re using Dropps pods- which come in a recyclable cardboard box and the pod casings are made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which dissolve in water and studies show they do not contribute to microplastic pollution. However, the effects of long-term, low concentration exposure to polyvinyl alcohol, are not well understood. (See footnote for environmental impacts). So- I’m using up the remaining laundry pods I have and moving on.
As always, I do the best I can with the knowledge I have at the time- and I’ll do my best to inform you!
As of Spring 2025, I look for:
Powdered detergents in recycled cardboard containers;
laundry sheets or pods when traveling; and
fragrance-free or naturally scented formulas
As of spring 2025, look for:
Powdered detergents in recyclable cardboard, and perfer oxi-powered options (oxygen is released into the stains, not the fabric) including Tide Ultra Oxy, Arm & Hammer Oxi Clean, Molly’s Suds, Branch Basics and Oxi Clean branded laundry detergent. (some of these come in plastic containers)
When traveling: Laundry sheets or pods- when I’m flying and know I’ll be doing laundry, and uncertain if there will be detergent, I look for lightweight options. Sheets and pods are low-waste, often come in recyclable cardboard packaging- but claims are uncertain.
Some sheets don’t clean tough stains well and some contain fragrances which can cause irritation. Look for pods without plastic casing, but even those using PVA have their environmental impacts. Look for: Blueland, DirtyLabs, Clean People, Tide PurClean, or Seventh Generation.
Fragrance-free or naturally scented formulas (I like DirtyLabs) but I’ve read great reviews about Grove Collective (comes in a thin plastic pouch with a pour-spout, not a huge jug), Clean People’s bottle suggests it uses 70% less plastic (less than it did, less than other brands?) Tide PurClean comes in a self-proclaimed “eco box” which uses “50% less plastic (again compared to what?).
There are over a dozen brands that offer fragrance-free, dye-free detergents, but it’s tough to find a detergent that’s eco-friendly, works well- and comes in a plastic-free container!
Stain Removers that Work- here’s where I will use whatever product I can find that takes out stains- from grass to wine to blood and olive oil- I prefer to keep the clothes I have in good, wearable shape for as long as I can. And sometimes it means a dash of an effective stain remover.
I rely on OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray, or I’ll soak an item in an OxiClean/ water solution, but for very tough stains, I will use a tougher Shout, Tide or other product that’s not necessarily “eco-friendly.” Why? I’d rather use a dash of that than toss a garment. Sustainability isn’t perfect!
I haven’t tried all the detergents which claim to be eco-friendly and the list is always changing (I just don’t have time!). And the greenwashing can even get to me… So, I check for certifications like EPA Safer Choice, Made Safe, or EWG Verified for added peace of mind.
💚 Small Swaps, Big Impact
Every load of laundry is a chance to choose better for your body and the environment. Start with just one change—like switching to wool dryer balls or trying a non-toxic detergent—and build from there. Soon, your laundry room will be a reflection of your healthy, eco-minded lifestyle.
📌 Want a DIY checklist for creating a healthier, low-tox home? Download it here!
📢 Share this post with a friend who wants to clean up his/her laundry routine—one wash at a time!
Footnote: *Although polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is not known to contribute to microplastic pollution, as it’s dissolvable, it contains ethylene (a petroleum-based product), which can remain intact even when dissolved, and could have negative effects once discharged from a wastewater treatment plant- impacting vegetation, which naturally produce and utilize ethylene.
It also has the potential to foam upon discharge, due to its surface properties, which can inhibit oxygen transfer, causing irreparable harm to aquatic life. Additionally, PVA has the potential to adsorb dangerous chemicals or contaminants such as antibiotics or heavy metals at high concentrations. These can then concentrate up food chains, posing risks to the environment, and human health, much like other discarded plastics. Source- NIH