Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent Review

Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent That Gives 'My Laundry is Super Clean' Vibes: Dirty Labs

If you are apprehensive about going natural with laundry detergent, Dirty Labs is a great bridge for you.

DIRTY LABS BIO ENZYME LAUNDRY DETERGENT

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Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent Review

• Softness: Linens, towels, and clothing are incredibly soft and free of that waxy, stiff feel that they had before switching to a cleaner detergent. There is absolutely no need for fabric softener or dryer sheets. I get it, this step feels strange, but you can actually stop using (and paying for) these items. If you are concerned about static, Dirty Labs has wool dryer balls that will handle that, without microplastic-filled dryer sheets that are laden with chemicals.

• Performance: I hate on germs. If I have a particularly dirty load of laundry, I rely on Dirty Labs. There is no doubt that my laundry is clean. With the right amount of suds throughout the entire wash cycle, Dirty Labs uses powerful stain and bacteria fighting enzymes that assure your laundry comes out as clean as its very own ingredients... Protease breaks down proteins, Alpha-Amylase breaks down starches, Cellulase breaks down plant stains and softens fabric, Mannanase breaks down plant tissues, and Pectate Lyase breaks down pectin, a component of plant cell walls (fruit & juice stains). Dirty Labs also uses gentle and effective cleaning agents like lauryl glucoside and caprylyl/capryl glucoside. With these mighty (but natural) enzymes and cleaning agents, bacteria and stains are lifted, and colors stay vibrant. Other natural brands were not so kind on my colors, especially on cotton and cotton blends.

* The propylene glycol in Dirty Labs is plant derived, not petroleum-based, and is completely soluble in water meaning it will rinse away completely with a proper wash cycle. Using warm water and being careful not to overdo the amount of detergent will ensure no residue remains on your laundry.

• Scents: Running through a sunny field of flowers isn't Dirty Labs' main pitch, but they do offer 3 options.

  • Signature: Magnolia.Bergamot.Cedar. A light fresh scent that doesn't particularly linger but does offer a clean finish. Not too floral or citrusy.

  • Murasaki: Jasmine.Matcha.Vetiver. A heavier more perfume-like finish. This was not for me.

  • Free & Clear: Fragrance Free Dirty Labs offers this unscented option.

* Dirty Labs allergen-free fragrances include natural and synthetic ingredients selected from the IFRA Transparency List. It's a letdown that synthetic ingredients are used to create their fragrances, but to make clear in my review, this brand is significantly cleaner than conventional laundry detergents and Dirty Labs also offers a fragrance-free option.

• Cost: At $0.35/load, Dirty Labs is on point. This is where Dirty Labs impresses me the most. This detergent is so hyper-concentrated that you use teaspoons per load. I still have to reign myself in when pouring, but the dosage is dead on. A measuring beaker is included with your first 80-load bottle order and a beaker comes with every 32-load bottle order. It's worth stating again, the cost of going non-toxic is offset by the savings you'll stack up from not having to purchase jugs of toxic fabric softener and boxes of microplastic-filled dryer sheets. Dirty Labs offers free standard shipping over $30 which is very nice. I can't place a cost on cutting out toxins... consider what is going into the air of your home on laundry day and what is hugging your skin every day thereafter.

• Closing Thought: Reiterating here that if you aren't quite sure about breaking away from those familiar bright colored jugs because of a certain level of comfort with how the contents clean your laundry, please check out my Toxins in Laundry Detergent post. Dirty Labs is a cleaner bet all the way around.

* I use an LG front load washing machine and have a whole home water softener.