10 Natural Laundry Detergent Alternatives That Actually Work

Picture this: It’s chore day, the kids are out of the house, and you finally have time to tackle that pile of laundry you’ve ignored all week. You reach for the laundry detergent, and… it’s gone!

Don’t worry—we know what it’s like to be in a pinch! At Branch Basics, we’re big on identifying ways to make cleaning easy and safe for everyone. That’s why we’ve created a list of our pantry go-to's for laundry that are effective and natural substitutes. We’ve also created a cleaning formula free from toxic chemicals in common laundry detergents. 

Here, find our favorite natural laundry detergent alternatives with specific directions on how to use each, along with a guide on how to use our formula to do your laundry the human safe way. Let’s get started!

1. Baking Soda + Vinegar

Whether you’re interested in how to make your own laundry detergent or looking for laundry detergent alternatives, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar are must-haves.

These simple pantry staples will clean, soften, and deodorize your clothes while helping clean, deodorize, and descale your washing machine.

Here’s how to use baking soda + vinegar to wash your clothes in the washing machine:

1. Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine.
2. Add 1 cup baking soda.
3. Run the desired laundry cycle, and that’s it.

For handwashing, reduce the amount of each product you use. For example, a small wash basin or bowl would require 1-2 Tablespoons of baking soda and 3-4 tablespoons of vinegar.

Baking soda and vinegar also work wonders on various stains; vinegar is excellent for cleaning your washer, and baking soda makes a wonderful natural deodorizer.

Note: Vinegar is an all-natural product that contains acetic acid, which, when aerosolized, can irritate the lungs. Using vinegar in the laundry does not pose that problem as the vinegar is not used as a spray.

2. Baking Soda + Lemon Juice

If you have baking soda but not vinegar, lemon juice makes a perfect substitute.

Lemon juice’s natural acetic acid and enzymes help dissolve dirt, grease, and grime while leaving clothes extra soft with a fresh scent.

To use baking soda and lemon juice as a laundry detergent alternative, follow the instructions above, replacing the same amount of lemon juice with vinegar.

3. Straight Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar work great used together.

However, if you’re out of baking soda you can use straight vinegar as a laundry detergent alternative.

To use, add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to your washer and wash and dry clothes as usual. 

Will vinegar make your clothing smell like vinegar? Thankfully no, your clothes will not smell like vinegar after the washing and drying is complete.

4. Soap Nuts

Soap nuts are a great, very economical, choice because their natural saponins clean clothes and act as a fabric softener. Plus, they’re reusable, biodegradable, and can be used to create various household cleaning products.

To use, place 4-5 soap nuts in a cotton bag and launder as usual.

You can find soap nuts in natural food stores and co-ops, health food stores, and natural living stores.

5. Sodium Sesquicarbonate Formula

 You can also make a basic DIY homemade laundry soap using a borax substitute (sodium sesquicarbonate, washing soda, and natural bar soap).

You can also find Borax-free homemade laundry soap recipes that typically use just washing soda, baking soda, and bar soap.

Note: Sodium sesquicarbonate is being used as a replacement for borax in the UK and EU since borax was banned in 2010. I used sodium sesquicarbonate for laundry when my son was at his most sensitive. Sodium sesquicarbonate is rated a 1 on EWG Skin Deep, whereas Borax is rated a 5. Substitute sodium sesquicarbonate for borax in these homemade Laundry Soap recipes from DIY Natural and Wellness Mama.

6. Natural Bar Soap

If you’re in a pinch, just a few shavings of natural bar soap added directly to your washer can replace laundry detergent.

Bar soap also works great for removing stains and handwashing clothes.

7. Pure Castile Soap

Many natural living enthusiasts swear by liquid Castile soap for laundry, cleaning, and more.

To use, add 1/3 of a cup of liquid Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) with an optional half to 1 cup of vinegar in the washing machine. 

Note: These are general instructions for using castile soap as a laundry detergent alternative. Be sure to check the bottle or manufacturer’s website for specific laundry instructions, as different brands’ amounts and concentrations may vary.

8. Peroxide For Whiter Whites

3% hydrogen peroxide (the one in the brown bottle) is an excellent bleach alternative and brightener for white clothing.

To use, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide directly to the washer.

Peroxide also works wonders to remove nearly any type of stain from white clothing and is a natural disinfectant.

9. Branch Basics Laundry Detergent + Wool Dryer Balls

It wouldn’t be a guide to natural cleaning without ourselves on the list! If you’re ready to make the switch to natural, human-safe laundry detergent, here is how you can use the Branch Basics formula to finish your laundry chores: 

Branch Basics Laundry Detergent powder is incredibly convenient and simple to use, requiring just one scoop per load with no additional products needed.

This product has passed the highest bar of safety in the industry and was thoughtfully formulated with your health in mind. It does not contain fragrance, dyes, optical brighteners, ammonia, chlorine, endocrine disruptors or 1,4-dioxane.

Just one scoop of our Laundry Detergent delivers a powerful deep clean. It excels in stain removal, odor elimination, and fabric preservation, streamlining your laundry routine.

Plus, it's good for the earth! This powder is biodegradable, septic-safe and prevents toxic runoff. Because it performs excellently in cold water, it saves energy and protects your fabrics.

And don't forget dryer balls! Our Wool Dryer Balls replace the need for fabric softener and dryer sheets. These sustainably sourced and made Wool Dryer Balls make the perfect reusable fabric softener and dryer sheet alternative.

10. Branch Basics Concentrate + Oxygen Boost

Branch Basics Concentrate Laundry Solution and Oxygen Boost are a powerful pair of laundry detergent alternatives.

Our Concentrate can be transformed into a natural laundry detergent by adding water that cleans your clothes, removes stains, and softens them.

Oxygen Boost was designed as a deodorizer, natural whitener, and brightener and makes a great laundry booster, stain remover, and bleach alternative.

To use Branch Basics Laundry in the Washing Machine:

1. Dilute Concentrate with water per bottle instructions.
2. Add 3/4 of a capful to your washing machine.
3. If desired, add a scoop of Oxygen Boost.
4. Wash your clothes.
5. Add wool dryer balls to the dryer to naturally soften clothes, and reduce drying time, static, wrinkles, lint, and leave your clothes smelling extra fresh.

For handwashing a few items, generally one teaspoon of Laundry dilution is plenty. For soaking stained clothing, add about half a scoop Oxygen Boost to a basin of water.

Learn more in: Branch Basics Laundry Instructions

Have Questions? We've Got Answers

Using natural products to replace laundry detergent for the first time can raise many questions.

Here are our answers to some laundry detergent alternative FAQs.

Why should I use laundry detergent alternatives?

There are several reasons to consider laundry detergent alternatives, including:

• Cost: Brand-name chemical laundry detergent is expensive, and that adds up if you’re doing laundry for a family.
• Environmental concerns: Laundry products may contain various chemicals such as bleach, phthalates, petroleum products, and surfactants (to name just a few) that are harmful to the environment, our waterways, wildlife, septic systems, and aquatic life. Not to mention all the packaging waste.
• Toxicity: We discuss this at length in How To Toss Your Toxic Laundry Detergent (which we encourage you to read and review the science), but in a nutshell, chemical-based laundry detergent contains chemicals linked to:
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Hormone disruption
• Skin, eye, and throat irritation
• Respiratory illness and lung irritation
• Fertility issues
• Cancers
• Neurological, immune, central nervous system, cardiac, kidney, and liver damage
• Death due to poisoning
• Developmental and reproductive toxicity
• and more 

In other words, these products are not safe and have no place in a healthy home.

In contrast, human-safe laundry detergent alternatives are safe, effective, and cost-effective. 

Can dish soap be used as laundry detergent?

Dish soap is tricky to use as a laundry detergent substitute because too much will cause a foaming nightmare in your washer.

However, dish soap can be used for handwashing and removing oil stains.

For handwashing, use a tiny squirt in a basin of water, wash, and rinse well.

For oil stains, apply directly to the oil stain, work in, and allow to dwell for 30 minutes to overnight. Learn more in: How To Get Oil Stains Out Of Clothes Naturally.

If you decide to try dish soap in the washing machine (not recommended!), only use it with a top loader and only use the tiniest dab.

Better yet, try one of these alternatives instead!

I’m afraid that my clothes will still have odor or stains after washing. Does homemade laundry detergent work?

The idea that you need chemical-based, heavily fragranced laundry detergent, fabric softener, and bleach or oxygen bleach to get clean, good-smelling-stain-free clothes is a complete myth.

The truth is even the most soiled clothing can be thoroughly cleaned and deodorized using safe and natural methods.

Think about it. Our ancestors typically didn’t bathe more than once a week, didn’t have deodorant, lived on farms, worked outdoors and in filthy conditions, and still managed to launder their clothing (and look respectable, which was very important) using only natural soaps.

Some of the best human-safe options for deodorizing clothes include:

• Baking soda
• Vodka
• Lemon juice
• Oxygen Boost
• Hydrogen Peroxide

For tips on how to get stains out of anything using ultra-gentle, human-safe products, check out our Stainmaster Guide here.

Invest In Human-Safe Laundry Detergent With Branch Basics 

To recap, our top 2 favorite laundry detergent alternatives are:

1. Branch Basics Laundry Detergent  & Dryer Balls
2. Branch Basics Concentrate Laundry Solution + Oxygen Boost

Whether you try Branch Basics for laundry or test out another of these DIY laundry detergent alternatives, you’ll be well on your way to creating a healthy home.

To learn more about Branch Basics human-safe, whole-home cleaning system, check out our Premium Starter Kits, which contain everything you need to replace every cleaning and laundry product in your home.