Everyone knows that fast fashion is hard on the planet. Whether you buy cheap clothes from the mall or expensive sustainable brands, you have to wash your clothes. Fortunately, laundering is a relatively small part of your clothing’s carbon footprint.

But how you maintain your clothes can still make for a more sustainable wardrobe? How do you know if a laundry detergent really is safe for the environment or if it’s just greenwashing?

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Low Impact Laundry

Leaving aside the question of dry cleaning for now, the environmental impact of your laundry is mainly determined by the machines you use. Your choice to line dry or use a clothes dryer (and, if so, which one) has a significant impact on your household energy use. Your choice of washing machine affects both energy use and water consumption. But those are decisions you make once and live with for years. You have the opportunity to choose a greener laundry detergent every few weeks.

Choosing an environmentally friendly laundry detergent can be a challenge. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not require brands to list all ingredients on the label. You must visit the manufacturer’s website to find complete ingredient lists. You can also look for labels like the EPA’s Safer Choice, which certifies products that use only ingredients from the EPA’s Safer Chemicals List, or the more stringent verification system of the Environmental Working Group.

Toxicity

Like hand soaps, the ingredients in laundry detergent are not well-regulated, making safer shopping choices complicated. Fortunately, laundry detergents in the United States no longer contain phosphates, but there is still a laundry list of commonly used ingredients that you should avoid.

The simplest strategy is to choose unscented laundry products, since the term “fragrance” in the ingredients list can be used to hide toxic chemicals and hazardous VOCs. If you prefer your laundry scented, it’s not very hard to make your own detergent scented with natural essential oils. You can also eliminate the use of fabric softener and scented dryer sheets, or opt for using white vinegar and wool dryer balls instead.

Beyond fragrances, several ingredients deserve careful attention. Avoid added optical brighteners that make whites appear whiter. According to recent research, these long-lasting optical brighteners stay in clothes after washing and can cause skin irritation. Some are documented carcinogens and hormone disruptors that are highly toxic to marine life when they enter the wastewater stream.

Watch out for 1,4-dioxane, a solvent used in big-brand detergents that the EPA classifies as a probable human carcinogen. According to the EPA, exposure to 1,4-dioxane may result in nausea, drowsiness, headache, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. The chemical is readily absorbed through the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.

Use DIY stain removers, such as talcum powder and club soda, or opt for non-chlorine oxygen-based bleaches like Seventh Generation’s stain remover, instead of chlorine bleach.

Carbon Footprint and Water Temperature

The most significant factor in laundry’s carbon footprint is water temperature. Research indicates that in the United States alone, laundry contributes 8% of household greenhouse gas emissions. According to recent life cycle analyses, when greenhouse gas emissions associated with laundry detergents are measured from raw materials through eventual decomposition, as much as 90% come from heating the water.

Modern washing machines and detergents are now specifically designed for cold water cycles. Consumer Reports testing shows that detergents have improved significantly in their ability to utilize enzymes to remove dirt and stains at lower water temperatures, and are actually less effective at higher temperatures. Detergent manufacturers now formulate their detergents to work effectively even at temperatures as low as 60°F (15°C).

According to the EPA, 90% of the energy used to operate a washing machine is expended on heating water. Switching from hot to warm water cuts energy use in half, and switching to cold reduces energy use by up to 90%. A 2025 study found that the average home can save approximately $200 per year on electricity bills by washing in cold water instead of hot.

Cold water washing also helps preserve your clothes. Hot water is more damaging to clothing fibers, leading to faster wear and increased fading. Additionally, research confirms that cold water washing reduces microfiber shedding by up to 30% compared to hot water washing, helping reduce plastic pollution in waterways.

You should still use warm or hot water for heavily soiled items, cloth diapers, medical scrubs, or items contaminated with bodily fluids. But for most everyday laundry, cold water is the better choice for both your clothes and the environment.

Surfactants and Environmental Impact

Without surfactants, your clothes won’t get clean; however, surfactants can be environmentally damaging. Nonylphenol ethoxylates, or NPEs, are particularly problematic surfactants that are toxic to fish and make aquatic environments more susceptible to other pollutants. NPEs degrade into even more toxic nonylphenol, which is persistent, bioaccumulative, and extremely hazardous to marine life.

While the largest detergent manufacturer in the U.S., Procter & Gamble, voluntarily phased out NPEs, and the EPA has taken regulatory action to restrict their use, they remain legal in some applications. The EU has been more aggressive, with comprehensive restrictions on the use and imports of NPEs. During 2024, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control proposed listing laundry detergents containing NPEs as a Priority Product for regulatory action.

Natural surfactants derived from palm and coconut resources have a significant land-use impact, while petrochemical alternatives have a greater carbon footprint. Laundry detergents frequently contain a mixture of both types of surfactant. Only three kinds of general laundry detergent have earned Environmental Working Group verification: AspenClean, Blueland, and healthynest.

The Microfiber Problem

A growing concern is microfiber pollution from laundry. Recent research estimates that millions of tons of microfibers enter the ocean every year, making textiles the largest known source of marine microplastic pollution. Microfibers account for approximately 85% of global shoreline pollution and are found in 54% of fish species studied.

A single load of laundry can release millions of microfibers. While advanced wastewater treatment plants can remove up to 99% of microfibers, the sheer volume means significant numbers still enter waterways. Microfibers removed during treatment end up in sewage sludge, which is often applied to agricultural land as fertilizer, allowing microfibers to enter soil and the terrestrial food web.

Both synthetic and natural fabrics shed microfibers. Studies show that mechanically treated polyester samples, such as fleeces and jerseys, release six times more microfibers than woven nylon, and even cotton and wool textiles shed significant amounts.

To reduce microfiber pollution:

• Wash clothes in cold water (reduces shedding by up to 30%)
• Run full loads instead of partial loads (less friction means less fiber release)
• Use front-loading washing machines (tumbling action releases fewer fibers)
• Consider laundry bags designed to catch microfibers or washing machine filters
• Line dry when possible (dryers release additional microfibers into the air)
• Use less detergent (excess detergent increases microfiber release)

Legislation to address this issue is being debated in the U.S. Congress. The Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 proposes similar requirements. Research shows that washing machine filters can capture up to 90% of microfibers at a cost of only $14 to $20 per machine.

France has mandated that all new washing machines be equipped with microfiber filters as of 2025, and Australia will require filters in all washers by 2030.

Packaging

Assuming that people can resist the urge to overpour liquid detergent (using more detergent does not result in better cleaning), packaging analysis has shown that conventional pourable HDPE bottles have a less environmental impact than packaging systems with pods in all impact categories except ecotoxicity. However, liquidless laundry soap in plastic-free packaging performs even better.

The eco-responsible laundry detergent market is growing rapidly. Consumer demand for biodegradable, plant-based formulations and reduced plastic packaging is driving a broad change in the laundry detergent industry.

Biodegradable, liquidless laundry sheets like Earth Breeze come in plastic-free, recyclable packaging; weigh less to transport; and are approved for use in high-efficiency washers. While laundry sheets are typically more expensive than liquid detergents, their environmental benefits may justify the cost for many consumers.

Best Choice

If you can afford them, products like Blueland laundry tabs might be the best choice. They are EWG verified, don’t come individually wrapped, and offer excellent environmental performance. For those washing clothes on a budget, an EWG-rated, concentrated liquid detergent in a conventional plastic bottle is a reasonable choice.

Regardless of which detergent you use, use it sparingly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and wash your clothes in cold water. When it’s time to replace your washer and dryer, choose the most efficient models available—ideally, front-loading washers with built-in microfiber filtration, if possible. These actions will reduce your impact more than a lifetime of using eco-detergents alone.

Editor’s Note: Originally published on October 21, 2021, this article was substantially updated with new research and product options in October 2025.