Finding the best cruelty-free, vegan laundry detergent is not easy.
Many laundry detergent brands claim to be cruelty-free but secretly test their ingredients on animals or pay a third party to do so. It’s easy for consumers to fall for this misinformation because their labels claim they’re 100% cruelty-free. But, in reality, many do carry out tests on animals one way or another.
To find out the best cruelty-free, vegan laundry detergent you can use with a clear conscience, I spent a week researching and analyzing 11 popular brands on the market today.
I’ve ranked the laundry detergent brands according to their “vegan” and “cruelty-free” certifications and the authenticity behind those claims, and according to their ingredients, cleaning performance, cost, and environmental contribution.
Here’s what I found!
1. Earth Breeze Eco Sheets — 9.67/10 (The best cruelty-free laundry detergent)
Top-rated: 52,000 reviews.
Earth Breeze is #1 on this list of cruelty-free brands because their laundry detergent eco-sheets are certified cruelty-free and clean exceptionally well, and the brand gives back to the environment more than other vegan laundry detergent brands.
Pros
Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets tick all the boxes of a cruelty-free and vegan laundry detergent. They’ve partnered up with Leaping Bunny, a program established by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics that identifies and ensures cruelty-free manufacturing. This certification is a sure-fire way to know if a brand is 100% cruelty-free or not. In addition they are also a certified vegan product.
Safe ingredients
Earth Breeze is highly environmentally conscious.
All the ingredients are 100% eco-friendly and free from harsh chemicals. They use a concentrated formula that is harsh on the stains but not on your skin. The ingredients this natural detergent brand uses are gentle on delicate clothes and safe for sensitive skin.
Works well at cleaning
Earth Breeze natural detergents work well on all kinds of fabrics. They clean clothes well, even going as far as deep cleaning, despite their plant-based ingredients, and your clothes will smell fresh long after washing. In fact, they ranked in my top three results for performance across all types of clothes, both whites, and colors.
Eco-friendly ingredients safe for all plumbing types
Earth Breeze uses plant-based ingredients that are safe for septic tanks and greywater. They perform well in all washing machines, including high-efficiency washers. In addition, the leftover residue is non-toxic, so poses no threat to water sources or wildlife. When selecting a detergent, prioritize eco-friendly options like Earth Breeze that ensure your plumbing remains clear and the environment unharmed by non-toxic detergent residue.
Low price, free shipping, and returns
Earth Breeze offers all of the above at just $0.33 per load, which is an exceptionally low price on the market today. You can even sign up for their monthly subscription and get a 40% discounted rate of only $0.20 per load.
Earth Breeze accepts returns if you’re not 100% satisfied, so they will pay you back or replace your product. You can test them without the fear of losing money, as they offer full money-back guarantee. There’s nothing to lose!
Environmentally conscious
These sheets come in lightweight, biodegradable cardboard boxes, reducing both shipping burdens and plastic waste. They’re a part of We Are Neutral, which means their shipment has zero carbon footprint.
By teaming up with 1% for the Planet, they donate 1% of their annual revenue to nonprofits and charitable organizations that benefit the environment. Their team also actively volunteers in environmental conservation projects, such as tree planting and ocean cleanups. For those seeking the best sustainable laundry detergent, these initiatives underscore their commitment to eco-conscious practices.
Giving to charities
Lastly, Earth Breeze has made it their mission to give away to vulnerable communities. They donate 10 sheets to charities for every purchase you make. Not only that, but you get to choose which charity your purchase’s donation will go to!
Cons
Earth Breeze was founded in 2019, making them quite new in the laundry industry. Consumers are often reluctant to switch to an untested laundry detergent, instead adhering to brand loyalty.
While this relative newness to the market may keep some consumers from trying them out, almost 14,000 customers have given them a rating of 4.8/5 on their website. Judging from the testimonials, Earth Breeze is doing a good job of establishing itself, despite its brief tenure on the market.
Overall
Earth Breeze is the best cruelty-free, vegan laundry detergent because their eco-sheets perform well at cleaning clothing and other fabrics, they use only vegan ingredients, and they have a Leaping Bunny certification to prove their claims.
They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk.
Earth Breeze actively works to reverse damage to our planet. They also give products and proceeds to underprivileged communities. This level of dedication to society is rare among corporations, and I highly recommend you give them a try.
While they’re relatively new to the market, thousands of customers already swear by their detergent sheets.
If you want an affordable laundry detergent that cleans well, is never tested on animals, and is 100% eco-friendly, sign up for Earth Breeze here.
2. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap — 7.45/10 (Good performance, but quite expensive)
Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is a runner-up on my list because it’s certified cruelty-free and vegan and cleans well, although it’s almost twice the price of Earth Breeze sheets.
Pros
Bronner’s has been in the laundry business for a long time. Its liquid soap is non-GMO and Leaping Bunny certified, so it’s free from animal testing and has no synthetic ingredients.
All the ingredients are made up of natural oils like coconut, palm, and jojoba. This laundry detergent is all-natural, non-toxic, and safe for sensitive skin and delicate clothes.
The cleaning performance was exceptional, removing tough stains out of a heavily soiled load. A word of caution: Since it’s highly concentrated, you’ll need to dilute the solution before adding to the washer.
A measuring guide on the back of the bottle explains how to use this liquid detergent. But I found this quite a hassle! You can easily find other laundry products in pre-measured packets that would save you a lot of time and effort.
Bronner’s laundry detergent works well in HE (high-efficiency) washers and is safe for septic systems.
Castile soap is actually multipurpose (18 uses in 1) and can be used as a regular soap for household purposes like dishwashing and handwashing. This can be a lazy person’s staple. Although, I’d never risk washing my face with a soap that can also wash clothes and dirty floors.
Bronner’s takes care of its employees by sharing the profits among them, giving them health care, and providing incentives to farmers who harvest their organic ingredients. It’s all admirable, but I don’t see them participating in any eco-friendly initiatives at the level Earth Breeze does.
Cons
While Dr. Bronner’s is a good company, their laundry detergent is number two on my list for several reasons.
First, this liquid soap is the most expensive on my list, costing you $1.54 per load. They don’t provide any subscription offer or free delivery, either. What’s worse is there’s no refund policy and you cannot return the detergent if you’re not satisfied.
Second, while the bottle their laundry detergent comes in is recyclable, it’s still made of plastic, so cannot be considered truly eco-friendly.
Finally, some people find its fragrance pungent. If this worries you, it’s better to stick with the number one cruelty-free laundry detergent on the list, Earth Breeze.
Overall
Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap is my second recommendation because it has a Leaping Bunny certification for being cruelty-free, is vegan, and has all-natural ingredients. Also, it cleans exceptionally well.
While they are expensive compared to the rest of the brands and also don’t contribute to eco-friendly causes like Earth Breeze, they’re still a reliable second option.
You can check out their website to learn more about their detergents.
3. Faith in Nature Laundry Liquid — 7.12/10 (Affordable but not so eco-friendly)
Faith in Nature Laundry Liquid takes third place because of using only cruelty-free and vegan ingredients, but its concentrated formula comes in big plastic jugs, which is definitely not eco-friendly.
Pros
Faith in Nature laundry detergent comprises certified plant-derived ingredients, and it is Leaping Bunny certified. The ingredients are vegan and biodegradable, and free from animal testing. It’s totally safe for sensitive skin and delicate garments, but it lacks performance when it comes to heavily soiled clothes.
Faith in Nature liquid laundry detergent comes in many fragrances, but some customers find these fragrance intense. This liquid detergent is priced at $0.26 per load, which is certainly economical, but this low price has its limitations.
Cons
For one thing, they offer no subscriptions. And since they’re UK-based, you’ll have to pay higher shipping charges if you’re outside the country. So that impressive low price is misleading.
Another major turnoff for me is that this detergent comes in big plastic jugs! Even though they’re recyclable, the carbon footprint of such jugs is huge. Faith in Nature does try to counter it by planting a tree with every purchase. Really Faith?
Compared to Earth Breeze, which is part of 1% for the Planet, regularly donates to conservation projects, and offers subscriptions and free shipping, Faith in Nature is quite underwhelming.
Overall
Faith in Nature Laundry Liquid is number three on my list of cruelty-free brands solely because it uses all-natural ingredients, is free from animal testing, and offers better cleaning power than the options down the list. But their packaging is not as eco-friendly as it should be, and its shipping is inconvenient.
Overall, it’ll cost you more in the long run, and you can find better value from other cruelty-free laundry detergents.
4. Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent Powder
Molly’s Suds laundry detergent powder grabs fourth place due to its certified vegan and cruelty-free formula, but this brand puts no effort into planet restoration.
It’s composed of all-natural ingredients and the formula is delicate enough for people with skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis. Molly’s Suds laundry detergent is also free from synthetic fragrances and has a unique scent that the brand calls “natural fragrance.”
This powder’s cleaning power was average and didn’t perform well in high-efficiency washers. I also couldn’t find any major effort by the brand to engage in eco-friendly initiatives, which was disappointing. Moreover, Molly’s comes in recyclable plastics, not a good choice for packaging.
Molly’s Suds are priced at $0.19 per load, which seems economical at first, but they offer no subscriptions and only provide free shipping for a purchase of over $75. This only adds up to a higher final cost.
Molly’s Suds is part of my list because it’s a natural and safe detergent with cruelty-free certifications. But despite its seemingly low price, there are better options available that also contribute to reversing environmental damage.
5. Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent
Puracy is an all-natural laundry detergent, made from plant-based ingredients, and has a Leaping Bunny certification, but they lagged behind in cleaning performance. Also, they come in plastic packages.
It’s priced at $0.17 per load, which is surely economical, but it doesn’t remove stains well from heavily soiled laundry after one wash. Puracy liquid laundry detergent comes in a concentrated liquid form in small recyclable plastic bottles.
Apart from that, they do contribute by donating to underprivileged communities, but you can easily find many suitable brands at the top of the list where your money is much more well spent.
6. Method Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Method Concentrated Laundry Detergent is the last laundry detergent on this list that has both vegan and cruelty-free certifications, but it’s at the sixth spot because it makes the clothes look dull and gray.
It has biodegradable and sustainable ingredients and is safe for sensitive skin. It performed okay on whites but caused fading of dark and colored samples.
Method laundry detergent comes in a concentrated formula, and a small amount cleans a large load. They also offer a wide range of fragrances, such as herbaceous, fruity, and floral, but fragrances can cause irritation to those with sensitive skin.
In fact, according to some customer reviews, Method Concentrated Laundry Detergent causes serious eye irritation, so keep it out of the reach of little ones and handle it with care. In fact, you might be better off finding a cruelty-free detergent with fragrance-free options.
It’s priced at $0.28 per load and offers no subscription discount or free delivery. The detergents come in small recyclable plastic bottles. Method’s also don’t have active, eco-friendly projects or charities.
You can try them out if you’re looking for a cruelty-free detergent, but they don’t offer anything extraordinary. Considering what Earth Breeze can offer at a low price, it’s not really worth it.
7. Tru Earth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent
Tru Earth laundry detergent sheets are Leaping Bunny certified and produced with plant-based, all-natural ingredients. They claim to be vegan, but they don’t have any certification to prove it, which made me question their authenticity. This is a major loophole you must look out for with cruelty-free and vegan laundry detergents and other products. Many companies print false claims on their packages, but own no certification.
Although they’re 100% eco-friendly and actively contribute to environmentally friendly and humanitarian causes, Tru Earth sheets are priced at $0.56 per load, which is twice as expensive as Earth Breeze.
In addition, Tru Earth sheets offer average cleaning power. I noticed a slight fade in my samples after drying. There are better and more sustainable options than this.
8. PUR Home Laundry Detergent
Pur Home laundry detergents are handmade, and they claim to be vegan and are Leaping Bunny certified. However, they took eighth place because of their huge lead time of 10–40 business days.
Performance-wise, they are average. Pur Home will cost you $0.30 per load, which is pricier than some of our cheapest alternatives. Also, expect a delay in your shipment, as COVID-19 has affected their supply chain.
The product comes in small plastic bottles, which is super disappointing. They could easily climb the ranks if their packaging was more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Pur Home actively contributes to charity, but it would’ve been even better if they focused on some environmental conservation programs.
Handmade or not, there are better eco-friendly, cruelty-free options on this list that offer faster delivery and exceptional cleaning performance, such as Earth Breeze.
9. Eco-Me Laundry Detergent
Eco-Me Laundry Detergent sneaks into the ninth position only because of its cruelty-free certification and food-grade ingredients. In terms of removing stains from my test samples, though, it was an utter disappointment.
It comes in recyclable plastic bottles, which makes it less eco-friendly. I didn’t find any notable contribution by them to make Earth a better place, either. Since many of our top contenders actively participate in charities and green initiatives, I recommend Eco-Me start putting in some similar effort.
It’s priced at $0.20 per load, which is economical, but they only provide free shipping over $45.
You can try Eco-Me only if none of the above laundry detergents are available.
10. ECOS Laundry Detergents
ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent comes in a big plastic jug! Absolutely not eco-friendly! Although it’s Leaping Bunny certified, it has some surfactants in its list of so-called “natural” and “eco-friendly” ingredients. That’s the reason why they’re at the 10th spot.
ECOS will cost you around $0.10 per load, which seems too good to be true at first glance. And my guess was right. I had to use four times the normal amount of detergent mentioned in the instructions to treat heavily soiled clothes. No subscription or free delivery is offered by the brand.
They also sell zero-waste laundry sheets, but these sheets are made of many harmful surfactants and synthetic fragrances.
ECOS boasts their all-women staff, which is a good thing, but they seriously need to upgrade their product and make it more sustainable or they’ll lose sales. I wouldn’t recommend them when you can go for other detergents offering better bang for your buck.
11. Nellie’s Vegan Laundry Detergent Soda
There isn’t much to consider in a product so far down the list, but since it’s Leaping Bunny certified, I had to mention Nellie’s detergent soda.
It’s not safe for sensitive skin and may cause itch or rash. Nellie’s laundry soda is priced at $0.22 per load but offers free shipping over $75 only, so it’s not economical. The brand also doesn’t contribute to any eco-friendly causes.
I would suggest you save your money and go for one of the first three recommendations on this list.
Other Laundry Detergents I Tested
The laundry detergents mentioned above are the ones that performed well and had all the right ingredients (some more than others). But they’re not the only ones on the market that boast being cruelty-free and vegan.
Other popular names that I’ve tested in my weeklong research are mentioned below.
12. Biokleen Natural Laundry Detergent
As far as the ingredients are concerned, they are all natural, which is why I’ve reviewed them here.
But Biokleen doesn’t perform well in high-efficiency washing machines—there were some stains left after washing. I also couldn’t find any cruelty-free certifications on their website, which is a major red flag, and their packaging is made of recyclable plastics. Unfortunately, the brand doesn’t give anything back to society, either.
13. Ecover’s Laundry Detergents
Ecover’s claims that they’re plant-based and eco-friendly aren’t legitimate because of methylisothiazolinone in their ingredients. This compound is highly toxic to the environment. Also, the packaging was a mess, not to mention the big plastic jugs, which are not eco-friendly.
14. Nature Clean Laundry Detergent
Nature Clean performed well, but it’s harsh on sensitive skin. It turns out they also use methylisothiazolinone, which may cause an allergic reaction, yet they still claim to be hypoallergenic. The ingredients are certified vegan, but I’m not so sure about the cruelty-free part.
15. Seventh Generation Liquid Detergent
Seventh Generation doesn’t have any vegan or Leaping Bunny certification. Seventh Generation’s ingredient list had sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), however, they claim it to be plant-derived. I am not satisfied by this ambiguity.
16. Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent
Rockin’ Green claims to be cruelty-free, but you can’t find any certification on the website to prove their authenticity. Once they take care of this, I’m willing to give them a chance on my list.
17. Cleancult Laundry Detergent
Cleancult’s laundry detergent doesn’t have any vegan certification. Their packaging is unorthodox, as it comes in milk carton-shaped refill boxes and requires you to buy a detergent bottle with it. Not very convenient!
18. Kind Laundry Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets
Kind gave a good performance overall, but it lacks cruelty-free certification. It also struggled in high-efficiency washing machines. They need to work more on the sustainability of their laundry sheets.
The Bottom Line
I have tried and tested 18 vegan, cruelty-free laundry detergents, and Earth Breeze stood out at the top.
My research considered multiple factors, such as vegan ingredients, cruelty-free certifications, performance, eco-friendly packaging, and more.
Earth Breeze’s claim to be free from animal ingredients, instead using only cruelty-free ingredients, is completely authentic. Its laundry detergent is both vegan and Leaping Bunny certified and their plant-based ingredients are free of harsh chemicals and safe for sensitive skin.
I like that the laundry detergent sheets are easy to use and you don’t have to measure the detergent before adding it to the washer. Just use one sheet for one regular load. Earth Breeze performed well across silk, cotton, and denim fabrics. It removed even the toughest stains!
Earth Breeze’s commitment to a healthier earth is legit. First, their laundry detergent sheets come in zero-waste packaging. Second, they donate 10 laundry sheets with every sale. Finally, Earth Breeze donates 1% of its total profit to tackling the planet’s most important environmental issues as a member of the 1% for the Planet club.
Earth Breeze is relatively new to the market and people take time to trust new brands, but it’s quickly gaining people’s trust due to its eco-friendly initiatives and exceptional cleaning performance.
So, if you want a laundry detergent that is free from animal testing, has plant-based, not animal, ingredients, cleans efficiently, is non-toxic, and above all, helps the environment, then sign up for Earth Breeze.
Methodology
It’s tough to figure out which companies test on animals and which is 100% cruelty-free. The term “cruelty-free” has no legal definition, and brands use this loophole to fool customers.
For this reason, I dedicated a week to analyzing and making a list of the best cruelty-free laundry detergent brands available today. Here’s the eight-step methodology that helped me rank these detergents.
Step 1: Listing all the big cruelty-free laundry detergent brands
To begin my research, I simply googled “cruelty-free, vegan laundry detergents” and made a list of almost 25 brands that claimed to be “100% cruelty-free” and “vegan.”
Step 2: Checking the certifications
The next step was to determine how authentic their claims were. So, I checked their websites to find out the certifications that ensure they are 100% cruelty-free. The most authentic products have a Leaping Bunny logo by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). This certification ensures the following cruelty-free manufacturing standards:
- The laundry detergents are not tested on animals.
- None of the ingredients are tested on animals.
- No third parties are involved in testing the products for the company.
- The raw material suppliers and manufacturers don’t test the ingredients on animals.
You can read more about the Leaping Bunny standard here. I further checked their online database to ensure these brands qualify.
Some companies use a fake bunny logo on their packages. Not being cruelty-free is one thing, but deliberately misleading consumers is unforgivable! So I immediately removed these fake cruelty-free brands from my list.
Step 3: Cruelty-free laundry detergent analysis
Now that I had sorted my list according to the “cruelty-free” and “vegan” claims and certifications, I needed to analyze the detergents further. I established a laundry detergent scoring system that contained the following sections:
- Ingredients
- Cleaning performance
- Performance in HE machines
- Septic safety
- Effect on sensitive skin
- Sustainable packaging and shipping
- Cost per load
- Delivery charges, subscription offers, and refund policies
- Customer service
- Contribution to the society and environment
The goal was to identify the brands that checked all the boxes for the best cruelty-free and eco friendly laundry detergent.
Step 4: Online reviews
To freshen up my review and ranking with new voices, I went through hundreds of testimonials on the brand websites and analyzed ratings given by real customers. During this part of my investigation, I learned what problems customers faced during shipment and payment processes.
Some people received broken packages, while others got their orders switched with someone else’s. Others offered mixed reviews regarding the cleaning performances of every detergent.
Seeing the brands from buyers’ perspectives helped me rank the detergents even better.
Step 5: Interviews with real customers
Online reviews can’t always be trusted because some companies upload fake reviews on their websites. So, I contacted real customers and asked about their experiences with the cruelty-free brands and their products.
This proved more insightful than I had expected.
I gathered many important points to be used in the scoring process. For example, some people were “in love” with the product, while others dealt with harsh chemical reactions and dingy clothes after washing. Some had questions about the use of ingredients and the brand’s cruelty-free claims, while others were concerned with the detergent’s pungent smell.
Step 6: Interviews with cruelty-free laundry detergent companies
The next step of my research was to engage with the brand representatives and directly question them regarding their cruelty-free and vegan policies, ingredients, and environmental contributions.
To avoid any misleading “cruelty-free” claims, I asked the following set of questions:
- Do you test your products or ingredients on animals?
- Do you ask a third party to perform animal tests for you?
- Do your ingredient suppliers and manufacturers test on animals?
Companies that had nothing to hide responded instantly. I emailed brands like Earth Breeze and Dr. Bronner’s and received a reply within a few hours. On the other hand, brands like Nellie’s didn’t respond at all! This also helped me judge each brand’s customer service, and I’ve included that in my ranking.
Step 7: Test drives
In this investigation stage, I tested every detergent in an HE machine and used multiple swatches covered with stains such as baby food, blood, grass, ink, and grease.
For this purpose, I made 18 identical batches, each containing three fabric types, cotton, silk, and denim. The test articles were dried naturally and observed under UV light. The final results were based on stain removal, brightness, and overall appearance of the washed items.
The top three brands on this list performed exceptionally well on all kinds of fabrics, both whites and colors. However, I wasn’t satisfied with the cleaning performance of the rest of the detergents on the list. Some of them failed at removing stains, and others were harsh enough to fade the colors of the test items.
Step 8: Ratings
I decided to go with the top 18 laundry detergents for this list and struck off the last 7 brands. In my seven days of research, I gathered a lot of information on each of the cruelty-free brands.
This methodology helped me rank every laundry detergent quite easily, as I just had to tick the boxes for the best cruelty-free laundry detergent on my scoreboard. I’ve given thorough details on the top 11 laundry detergents.
The Best Cruelty-Free Laundry Detergent That Actually Cleans!
Many brands use the “cruelty-free” and “vegan” tags to get more customers. Unfortunately, it’s too often just a marketing ploy to deceive consumers like yourself. Therefore, it’s necessary to look beyond the labels on the packages and investigate a detergent’s development process. You should fact-check every ingredient and the supplier’s animal testing policy.
I’ve made your work easy by thoroughly researching the top cruelty-free laundry detergent brands on the market today.
Keeping in mind the authenticity of cruelty-free claims, vegan ingredients, eco-friendliness, and cleaning performance, I highly recommend you try out Earth Breeze.
- Earth Breeze ticks all the boxes of a cruelty-free detergent.
- Earth Breeze is Leaping Bunny certified and never tested on animals.
- Earth Breeze donates 10 laundry sheets to homeless shelters, women’s shelters, veterans’ organizations, disaster relief, and animal shelters for every purchase.
- They happily donate 1% of their annual revenue to environmental causes by partnering up with 1% for the Planet.
- They are one of the most economical options, providing free shipping, monthly subscription plans, and a 100% money-back guarantee!
- They use small, zero-waste packages that offset huge carbon emissions.
If you’re interested in learning more about the leading laundry sheets, I’ve compared eight best laundry sheets in another article.
Earth Breeze is a new player in the laundry business, but they’ve already won thousands of accolades and loyal customers by offering all the features that a caring consumer needs. They’re true to their customers and always go the extra mile in helping the community.
If you want a cruelty-free and vegan laundry detergent that is eco-friendly, carbon-neutral, and cleans all your stubborn grime, head to Earth Breeze now.