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Our writer spent weeks putting capsules, sheets and liquid detergent through their paces to find the best for your clothes and the planet
Sustainable cleaning subscriptions that make life easier
Jane Hoskyn Mon 24 Aug 2026 16.00 CEST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google N othing makes falling into bed more enjoyable than freshly laundered sheets, especially if they’ve just been dried in the sunshine. It’s a definite bonus, though, to know your clean bedding won’t bring you out in a rash or pollute your local river.
Laundry detergent can be a troublesome product. A few years ago, I suffered a full-body rash after using pound-shop detergent on my sheets. I switched to a big-brand product and never had a reaction again, but there’s still the question of whether its ingredients may be causing environmental harm after they’ve gone down the drain.
The sulphates, phosphonates and bleaches that many detergents use to remove stains and brighten fabric can cause lasting environmental damage , especially to aquatic life. I’m lucky enough to live next to the sea, and the output of my washing machine is unlikely to be doing it much good.
Brands such as Smol, Ecover and Bio-D claim to be eco-friendly alternatives, but can they tackle dirty laundry as well as standard detergents – and are they as green as they say? To find out, I challenged 11 of them to clean my clothes, soften my sheets and remove stains, including makeup, raspberry juice and ground-in mud. Here are the ones that rose to the challenge, and those that were no more effective than using nice-smelling water.
Best laundry detergent overall Smol Bio capsules, 24
Best budget laundry detergent Ecoegg Laundry egg, 70 washes
Best-smelling laundry detergent Ecover Non-bio laundry liquid, 1.43l
Best laundry detergent for sensitive skin Bio-D Fragrance-free laundry liquid, 1l
Why you should trust me I’ve spent decades writing about products, from smartphones to hay fever remedies , so I’m professionally sceptical of manufacturers’ claims to magically improve our lives by buying their stuff. Given how long I’ve been testing duvets , blankets , mattresses and their toppers and other washable homewares for the Filter, it’s about time I found the best way to launder them.
View image in fullscreen Messy business: a towel was stained with everything from mud to ketchup to compare each detergent’s cleaning power. Photograph: Jane Hoskyn/The Guardian Inevitably, there was a lot of washing. To fairly compare all these detergents on key variables, including stain removal, fabric softness and lasting fragrance, I spent three weeks running my washing machine twice a day. At about 5kg per load and 22 loads, that’s more than 100kg of soggy laundry in the name of Filter research.
Before any socks could get washed, though, I had to choose and source my test detergents. I scoured ingredients lists and company information for evidence of ethical and environmental kudos, including certifications from bodies such as B Corp , Allergy UK and the Vegan Society . I also looked for sustainable packaging, innovative ways to reduce weight and waste, and bottles that could be refilled without buying more plastic.
My house is no science lab, but I did what I could to ensure that my testing was fair and thorough. I devoted one day each to 11 detergents across three weeks.…