Laundry Detergents Rated: The Good, Okay & Ones I’d Avoid

I often get asked for laundry detergent recommendations, so I’ve checked the ingredients in some popular, readily available options and rated each one below.

Rating system 🟢🟠🔴

These ratings reflect my personal assessment of each product’s ingredients. They’re intended as a simple guide to help you make a more informed choice. You can see the ingredients I avoid or limit, and why, in my Ingredient Watchlist.

Laundry Detergents Rated: The Good, Okay & Ones I’d Avoid

I often get asked for laundry detergent recommendations, so I’ve checked the ingredients in some popular, readily available options and rated each one below.

🟢 Cleaner option, better choice

No deal-breakers. May contain lower-priority watchlist ingredients that I’m comfortable with in cleaning products.

🟠 Okay, with some compromise

Contains ingredients of low to moderate concern from my watch list, but no deal-breakers.

🔴 Prefer to leave it on the shelf

Contains one or more deal-breakers, or insufficient ingredient disclosure to confidently assess the formulation.

Brands at a glance

  • Ecostore Laundry Liquid – Geranium & Orange
  • Ecostore Laundry Powder – Lemon
  • Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Laundry Liquid – Fragrance Free
  • Koala Eco Laundry Wash – Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Capsules
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Liquid
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Powder
  • Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Liquid
  • Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Powder
  • Earthwise Sensitive Clean Laundry Liquid
  • Lucent Globe Laundry Detergent Sheets – Ocean Breeze
  • Purity Sensitive Laundry Liquid
  • Undo This Mess Gold Standard Laundry Liquid

The rating system

🟢🟠🔴

These ratings reflect my personal assessment of each product’s ingredients. They’re intended as a simple guide to help you make a more informed choice. You can see the ingredients I avoid or limit, and why, in my Ingredient Watchlist.

🟢 Cleaner option, better choice

No deal-breakers. May contain lower-priority watchlist ingredients that I’m comfortable with in cleaning products.

🟠 Okay, with some compromise

Contains ingredients of low-moderate concern from my watch list, but no deal-breakers.

🔴 Prefer to leave it on the shelf

Contains one or more deal-breakers, or insufficient ingredient disclosure to confidently assess the formulation.

Brands at a glance

  • Ecostore Laundry Liquid – Geranium & Orange
  • Ecostore Laundry Powder – Lemon
  • Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Laundry Liquid – Fragrance Free
  • Koala Eco Laundry Wash – Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Capsules
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Liquid
  • Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Powder
  • Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Liquid
  • Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Powder
  • Earthwise Sensitive Clean Laundry Liquid
  • Lucent Globe Laundry Detergent Sheets – Ocean Breeze
  • Purity Sensitive Laundry Liquid
  • Undo This Mess Gold Standard Laundry Liquid

🟢 Koala Eco Laundry Wash – Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary

Deal-breakers: None

Other flags: Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate – while this is on my ingredient watchlist due to its potential for skin and eye irritation, I’m generally less concerned about it in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean.

Ingredient transparency: Excellent. Ingredients are clearly listed on the website and packaging.

Water (Aqua), Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Eucalyptus Citriodora (Lemon Scented Eucalyptus Essential Oil), Gluconolactone, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Essential Oil), Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol (from Essential Oils), Sorbitol, Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Pectin Lyase, Limonene (from Essential Oils)

🟢 Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Laundry Liquid – Fragrance Free

Deal-breakers: None

Other flags: Sodium Coco-Sulphate and Phenoxyethanol – while both are on my ingredient watchlist, I’m generally less concerned about them in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean.

Ingredient transparency: Excellent. Ingredients are clearly listed on the website and packaging.

Aqua, Sodium Carbonate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Coco-Sulphate, Lauryl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol

🟢 Ecostore Laundry Powder – Lemon

Deal-breakers: None

Other flags: Sodium Coco Sulphate – while this is on my ingredient watchlist, I’m generally less concerned about it in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean.

Ingredient transparency: Excellent. Ingredients are clearly listed on the website and packaging.

Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Silicoaluminate, Sodium Sulphate, Sodium Coco Sulphate, Sodium Silicate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Parfum (Essential Oil Fragrance)

🟢 Ecostore Laundry Liquid – Geranium & Orange

Deal-breakers: None

Other flags: Sodium Coco-Sulphate and Phenoxyethanol – while both are on my ingredient watchlist, I’m generally less concerned about them in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean. 

Ingredient transparency: Excellent. Ingredients are clearly listed on the website and packaging.

Aqua, Sodium Carbonate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Coco-Sulphate, Lauryl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Limonene

🔴 Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Powder

Deal-breakers: None confirmed

Other flags: None confirmed, although several ingredients cannot be individually assessed.

Ingredient transparency: Poor. Several ingredients, including the surfactants and cleaning agents, are described only by their function rather than identified individually. Without a complete ingredient list, I can’t confidently assess the formulation or rule out ingredients on my watchlist.

#Alkalinity sources, #Stabilizer, Cleaning agents (oxygen based), Anionic surfactant (biodegradable), #pH adjustment, Water, Nonionic surfactant (biodegradable), *Eucalyptus oil, #Flow aid, Anti-redeposition agent, Water softener and Defoamer
*Plant-based ingredients
#Naturally derived ingredients

🔴 Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Liquid

Deal-breakers: None confirmed

Other flags: None confirmed, although several ingredients cannot be individually assessed.

Ingredient transparency: Poor. Several ingredients, including the surfactants, solvents and alkalinity builders, are described only by their function rather than identified individually. Without a complete ingredient list, I can’t confidently assess the formulation or rule out ingredients on my watchlist.

Water, *Anionic & non-ionic (biodegradable) surfactants, Anionic (biodegradable) surfactant, #Solvent, Solvent, #Alkalinity builders, *Eucalyptus oil
*Plant-based ingredients
#Naturally derived ingredients

🔴 Bosisto's Sensitive Laundry Capsules

Deal-breakers: None confirmed

Other flags: The water-soluble capsule film isn’t identified, so it’s unclear whether it contains polyvinyl alcohol.

Ingredient transparency: Poor. Several ingredients, including the surfactants, solvents and stabiliser, are described only by their function rather than identified individually. The capsule film isn’t specified either. Without a complete ingredient list, I can’t confidently assess the formulation or rule out ingredients on my watchlist.

Non-ionic Surfactants (biodegradable), Solvent, *Anionic Surfactants, *Solvent, Water, *Non-ionic Surfactant, *Eucalyptus Oil, pH Adjuster, Non-ionic Polymer (biodegradable), *Chelating Agent, Stabilizer
*Plant-based ingredients

🔴 Earthwise Sensitive Clean Laundry Liquid

Deal-breakers: Benzisothiazolinone, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate

Other flags: Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Phenoxyethanol – while these are on my ingredient watchlist, I’m generally less concerned about them in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean.

Ingredient transparency: Good. Ingredients are clearly listed on the website and packaging, although the website lists Sodium Gluconate where the packaging lists Sodium Carbonate.

Water, Sodium Sulphate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate, Glycerine, Coco Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Protease, Amylase, Pectate Lyase, Mannanase, Lipase, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol/BIT mixture (preservative)

🔴 Lucent Globe Laundry Detergent Sheets – Ocean Breeze

Deal-breakers: Fragrance (contains synthetic components)

Other flags: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate – while this is on my ingredient watchlist, I’m generally less concerned about it in cleaning products, especially when the overall formulation is relatively clean. Polyvinyl Alcohol – environmental concerns around biodegradability.

Ingredient transparency: Good. Individual ingredients are clearly listed on the website, although the fragrance composition required some digging through FAQs.

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Starch, Glycerin, Glyceryl Cocoate, Trisodium Citrate, Saponins, Fragrance, Protease

🔴 Undo This Mess Gold Standard Laundry Liquid

Deal-breakers: Benzisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Laureth-8, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Other flags: None

Ingredient transparency: Partial. Individual ingredients are clearly listed on the website, but the packaging only provides broad ingredient categories, making it difficult to assess the formulation without visiting the website.

Water, Laureth-8, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Potassium Oleate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carbonate, Deoxyribonuclease, Subtilisin, Lipase, Alpha-Amylase, Mannanase, Ethanol, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Benzisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Found on manufacturer’s website

🔴 Purity Sensitive Laundry Liquid

Deal-breakers: Benzisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fragrance

Other flags: None

Ingredient transparency: Partial. Individual ingredients are clearly listed on the website, but the packaging only provides broad ingredient categories, making it difficult to assess the formulation without visiting the website. Confirmation that the manufacturer uses fragrance blends containing synthetic components was found separately in the FAQs.

Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Oleate, Alcohol Denat., Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Fragrance, Benzisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Found on manufacturer’s website

🔴 Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Powder

Deal-breakers: Fragrance

Other flags: None

Ingredient transparency: Partial. Individual ingredients are clearly listed on the website, but the packaging only provides broad ingredient categories, making it difficult to assess the formulation without visiting the website. Confirmation that the manufacturer uses fragrance blends containing synthetic components was found separately in the FAQs.

Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Zeolite, Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate, Bentonite, Oleic Acid (Sodium Oleate), Cellulose Gum (Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose), Fragrance
Found on manufacturer’s website

🔴 Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Laundry Liquid

Deal-breakers: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Laureth-8, Benzisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance

Other flags: Cocamidopropyl Betaine – while this is on my ingredient watchlist due to potential irritation and manufacturing impurities, I’m generally less concerned about it in cleaning products.

Ingredient transparency: Partial. Individual ingredients are clearly listed on the website, but the packaging only provides broad ingredient categories, making it difficult to assess the formulation without visiting the website. Confirmation that the manufacturer uses fragrance blends containing synthetic components was found separately in the FAQs.

Water (Purified), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Potassium Oleate, Laureth-8, Sodium Citrate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Carbonate, Fragrance, Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Benzisothiazolinone, Subtilisin (Protease), alpha-Amylase, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Found on manufacturer’s website

Disclaimer: These ratings reflect my personal approach to ingredient awareness and the ingredients I personally choose to avoid or minimise. They are intended as a guide only, not a definitive measure of whether a product is safe or unsafe. Ingredient lists and product information were accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time of review, based on the information provided by manufacturers. Formulations can change, so always check the current ingredient list before purchasing. The rating of a product doesn’t mean that every ingredient it contains is harmful at the concentration used. My ratings take a broad and precautionary approach, considering the ingredients themselves, how the product is used and my own deal-breakers and lower-priority flags. This isn’t about boycotting brands or labelling an entire brand as good or bad. I’ve created this list simply to help you navigate ingredient labels, recognise some of the ingredients you might prefer to avoid, and make more informed choices. I’m rating individual products, and the same brand may have products that fall into different categories. Use this information to make your own informed choices based on what matters to you.