5 Laundry Detergents Without Optical Brighteners

By Marilee Nelson |

5 Laundry Detergents Without Optical Brighteners

Laundry products are a hotbed of toxic synthetic chemicals, including fragrance, harmful VOCs, synthetic surfactants, and optical brighteners—chemical fluorescent whitening agents designed to create the illusion of whiter, brighter clothes. They also might contain a hidden hotbed of contaminants like 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide if they contain ethoxylated ingredients.

Fortunately, people are becoming wise to the human and environmental dangers of these laundry ingredients and are seeking safer alternatives.

If you’re looking for optical-brightener-free laundry detergent options, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, you’ll get an overview of optical brighteners, our top picks for laundry detergents and soaps that are free from optical brighteners and other harmful ingredients, and learn which other ingredients to avoid in laundry products.

What are optical brighteners?

Have you ever wondered how laundry detergent companies can claim their products create brighter and whiter clothing?

It’s all thanks to optical brighteners.

Also known as chemical fluorescent whitening agents, these chemicals accumulate on clothing where they absorb UV light to create the illusion of whiter, brighter clothes. 

Hundreds of types of optical brighteners have been created since their discovery, many of which have been removed from the market due to safety and toxicity issues.

Optical brighteners used today, such as Disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate (DDD), are considered safer. 

However, research suggests they are acutely toxic to aquatic life, biodegrade slowly (making them persistent), and are not always filtered out by water treatment plants. 

Modern optical brighteners may also pose harm to humans, including reproductive toxicity, skin and eye irritation, and developmental toxicity.

We discuss more about the history, applications, and health and environmental concerns of optical brighteners in: What Are Optical Brighteners In Laundry Detergent?

Laundry Detergents Without Optical Brighteners

Optical brighteners are ubiquitous in mainstream synthetic chemical laundry detergents. 

For example, if you see the terms “whiter whites and brighter colors” in advertising or on labels, it’s a sure sign optical brighteners are used in those products.

Fortunately, you can avoid them by choosing safer, more natural laundry detergents, soaps, DIY products, and other natural soaps and surfactants.

Here, we share our top five picks for the safest, most natural, and environmentally friendly laundry detergent and soaps without optical brighteners.

Discover more natural laundry detergent alternatives in: 9 Natural Laundry Detergent Alternatives That Actually Work.

person pouring laundry powder in washing machine

1. Branch Basics Laundry Detergent

For those who want a hardworking and simple laundry day solution, Branch Basics Laundry Detergent is the natural (and optical-brightener-free) choice! 

Branch Basics Laundry Detergent’s waterless, fragrance-free formula utilizes the concentrated power of safe, natural enzymes and minerals to break down stains, deodorize, remove dirt and soil, and soften clothes while imparting long-term freshness and preserving the integrity of fabrics.

This human-safe and biodegradable detergent is safe for the most sensitive skin and free from 1-4 dioxane, phosphates, sulfates, harmful VOCs, optical brighteners, fragrance, phthalates, and other toxic laundry detergent chemicals.

Learn more or order your Laundry Detergent here.

lady pouring soap

2. Branch Basics Concentrate Laundry Solution

Branch Basics Laundry Kit combines our signature all-in-one plant-based, optical-brightener-free Concentrate, plus mineral-based laundry booster and bleach alternative, Oxygen Boost, and a refillable bottle.

To use, simply combine Branch Basics Concentrate with water to create a powerful detergent that cleans your clothes and removes stains while softening them at the same time.

Oxygen Boost acts as a deodorizer, natural whitener, and brightener and makes an exceptional laundry booster, stain remover, and safe bleach alternative that can also be used to clean various parts of your home.

Here’s how to use Branch Basics Laundry to clean your clothes:

  1. Dilute Branch Basics 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, one teaspoon of Laundry dilution in a basin is usually plenty.

For soaking stained clothing, add about half a scoop of Oxygen Boost to a basin of water.

Branch Basics Laundry or All-Purpose dilutions can also be used as incredible natural stain removers. See our Stainmaster Guide for specifics.

Branch Basics products are one of the rare options that are free from toxic 1-4 dioxane contamination, phosphates, VOCs, optical brighteners, fragrance, phthalates, and more while being safe for the most sensitive skin.

Related reading: How Branch Basics Is A Healthy And Sustainable Cleaning Line.

lemons

3. Baking Soda + Vinegar or Lemon Juice

If you’re looking for a DIY laundry detergent alternative, baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice are an awesome combination.

Vinegar and lemon juice have natural sanitizing, stain-removing, grease-fighting, and softening properties (plus vinegar will descale your washer), while baking soda acts as a water softener, stain remover, and bleach alternative.

Put them together, and you’ve got an effective and natural combination to clean your clothes without toxic detergent.

To use:

  1. Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice to your washing machine.
  2. Add 1 cup baking soda.
  3. Run the desired laundry cycle.

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 or lemon juice.

Learn more in: 

soap nuts in a bag

4. Soap Nuts

If you’re looking for a laundry detergent alternative that’s 100% natural, plant-based, reusable, and waste-free, soap nuts may be the way to go.

These nuts come from the Soapberry tree and contain a high concentration of natural saponins, which act as a natural surfactant to remove stains, dirt, oil, and soil and clean your clothes.

To use:

  1. Place 4-5 soap nuts in a cotton bag
  2. Toss in with your laundry.
  3. Launder as usual.

Soap nuts can be re-used for up to 5-10 washes, and last longer if used in cold water. However, you can use them in warm or hot water too.

You’ll know when to replace them because they’ll have their color, shine, and sheen and may be cracking.

Look for soap nuts in natural food stores and co-ops, health food stores, and natural living stores.

castille soap

5. Pure Castile Soap

Castile soap is so versatile as a natural DIY cleaning and personal care ingredient and can also be used on laundry.

We recommend choosing 100% pure, unscented liquid castile soap from a reputable brand, such as the following:

To use:

  1. Add 1/3 of a cup of liquid Castile soap  with an optional half to 1 cup of vinegar in the washing machine. 
  2. Launder as usual.

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

Related reading: Is Natural Laundry Detergent Better?

Laundry Ingredients To Avoid

All the laundry detergent options and alternatives listed above contain no harmful synthetic chemicals and all ingredients are rated “1-2” on Environmental Working Group’s SkinDeep database or are approved by MADE SAFE.

However, it’s still important to be aware of the following ingredients when you’re shopping around.

    • Avoid PEG compounds, which are usually listed as “PEG” followed by a number on labels. 
    • Skip polysorbates, ingredients that are listed on labels as “Polysorbate” followed by a number.
    • Look for and avoid chemicals that end in “oxynol” or “eth”, as this denotes ethoxylation. Examples include: myreth, ceteareth, oleth, ceteareth,  laureth, and any other “eth”
    • Polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, or polyoxyethylene
    • Shop MADE SAFE Certified products.
  • Petroleum distillates (aka napthas)
  • Phenols

In addition, we highly recommend avoiding all brands of laundry pods and sheets. 

Not only are pods a common source of poisoning for children and pets, but the dissolvable plastic in both the sheets and pods, known as PVA, contributes to microplastic pollution and is typically not filtered out by water treatment facilities (even the eco-friendly brands, as outlined in What Is PVA? Environmental Impact, Case Uses, & More).

Get more information on the health and environmental impacts of these ingredients in:

5 Best Laundry Detergents Without Chemicals.

laundry detergent in a pile

Clean Your Home Without Compromise with Branch Basics

Departing from laundry detergent orthodoxy can seem unfamiliar or even challenging at first.

However, once you switch to a high-quality, optical-brightener-free, human-safe, and eco-friendly detergent, you’ll never miss the toxic stuff.

If you’re ready to toss the optical brighteners and other toxins in your laundry room, check out the Branch Basics Laundry Detergent, or Branch Basics Starter Kits if you're looking for safe cleaning for your whole house. 

Don’t forget Wool Dryer Balls to round out your healthy and eco-conscious laundry experience. These little gems reduce drying time, remove static, soften clothes, and can be reused up to 1000 times.

For more information on healthy, human-safe, and eco-friendly laundry and stain removal, check out the following articles:

Categories
Marilee Nelson

Marilee Nelson

Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.

Related Articles