Dirty Labs Concentrated Laundry Detergent Review 2023 | Plastic-free Concentrated Laundry Detergent
We washed our clothes with Dirty Labs! Here’s our review.
The Top Line:
Dirty Labs is an OK buy. Some of the ingredients are questionable based on EWG research. Our clothes came out smelling pretty nice and feeling clean, but liquid is just not our favorite laundry detergent style. The silicon cup is an upgrade from plastic cups and you only need to use the smallest amount of detergent (yay low emissions! 🚗 💨). Unfortunately, the scent devolves over time and there are better options for the price.
The Breakdown:
Cost & Products: $14 for 32 load bottle or $26 for 80 loads. Refills are available at $22.10 per 80-load bottle.
How ‘Clean’ Is This? Generally pretty decent ingredients — many come up as 1 or 2 on EWG — but has one that the European Chemicals agency has flagged as potentially problematic to humans (if ingested).
Packaging: Paper packaging and a metal, recyclable or refillable bottle.
Purchasing & Shipping: Website was pretty standard and easy to use. Shipping is free over $30.
Good to know: Products are available at Whole Foods.
What’s Your Impact? NO plastic compared to grocery/drugstore brands. Super concentration means fewer emissions during shipping. Better-for-you ingredients that are better for you.
The Good:
✔ NO plastic and reduced packaging that is all paper
✔ Comes in an unscented formula - so no fragrance allergens
✔ No sulfates, dyes, parabens, optical brighteners, or bleach
✔ Two scented options
✔ Clothes come out fresh and clean
The Bad:
✗ Middle of the pack when it comes to price
✗ YMMV but we did not love the evolution of the scent on our clothes
✗ Ingredients that are not 100% ideal
The Experience
Context: Prior to going even greener, we have used the normal Seventh Generation (powder and liquid), Tide, and Method. For stains, we are were using OxiClean’s stain remover here and there and have recently switched over to Puracy (review incoming!). We have washed mostly washed clothing with Dirty Labs Concentrated Laundry Detergent. Here’s our experience:
Clothes came out fresh feeling and clean.
We used the Signature Magnolia, Bergamot and Cedar scent. While laundry smelled nice once out of the dryer, it did not smell like the aforementioned ingredients.
Eventually, the scent fades into something else. Maybe it’s our preference, but we didn’t love it. Would choose unscented next time.
Clothes did not feel sticky — the soap washed out even in cold water.
The silicone dispenser is a little messy to use but beats a plastic cup since you can squeeze out the drops of detergent.
Overall, an OK experience.
The Cost
Context: We assumed that the average household of 4 will generate 7 loads of laundry per week or 365 loads per year! We will compare Dirty Labs to a long list of other detergents like Charlie’s, Dropps, Grab Green, Meliora, and Clean People Laundry Strips, as well as more common drugstore brands like Tide Pods and Method Laundry Packs.
Money Report: Dirty Labs does OK in the price comparison. It’s not winning any awards, but it also isn’t the move offensive — IF you subscribe.
Our Recommendation:
Dirty Labs is an OK buy. Some of the ingredients are questionable based on EWG research. Our clothes came out smelling pretty nice and feeling clean, but liquid is just not our favorite laundry detergent style. The silicon cup is an upgrade from plastic cups and you only need to use the smallest amount of detergent (yay low emissions!). Unfortunately, the scent devolves over time and there are better options for the price.
We're on a mission to reduce our personal carbon footprint with small, hopefully easy, changes in our home to fight against climate change. This means we're looking for products that may be all natural, ideally zero waste, reusable or compostable -- while still being affordable!
