Back in December, I decided to try a new-to-me, better-for-the-planet brand of laundry detergent, Dirty Labs. As usual, there was a promotion on one of their bundles, so I decided to take a chance on it.
What Makes Dirty Labs Better for the Planet?
Dirty Labs laundry products that contain 5-in-1 enzyme cleaning via Phytolase technology (plant-driven) are biodegradable as well safe for septic systems. In addition, they target the stains on fabrics rather than degrading the fabrics themselves. Plus, they’re optimized for use in cold water. The packaging and the product formulations are BPA-free and are recyclable.
How Are Dirty Labs Laundry Products Better for People and Animals?
First, Dirty Labs products are nontoxic (not that we should ingest them!). Second, they are hypoallergenic and perfect for those of us with sensitive skin. Here are some more plusses:
- Safe for babies and pets
- Cruelty-free & Vegan
- No sulfates such as SLS and SLES
- No dyes
- No parabens and preservatives
- No optical brighteners
- No chlorine bleach
- No CA Prop. 65 chemicals
- No phthalates
Dirty Labs Luxe Scent Laundry Starter Set
The Starter Set contains:
- 1 x Signature Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent (32 loads)
- 1 x Murasaki Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent (32 loads)
- 1 x Free & Clear Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster (48 loads)
- 2 × Reusable rubber measuring beakers (they’re on top of the bottles in the photo above)
I received the Starter Set at the end of December, and I’ve been using the laundry detergents since then. I have only used the Free & Clear Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster once, but I feel that I can report on it.
Laundry Detergents
The two laundry detergents are fragranced. I love fragrances, so they’re good for me. However, Dirty Labs also makes scent-free laundry detergent. The fragrances are:
- Signature: Subtle and sophisticated with notes of magnolia, bergamot, and cedar.
- Murasaki: Inspired by the early Spring green tea harvest in Japan and features fresh notes of jasmine, matcha, and vetiver.
Signature is a very subtle fragrance. In fact, I don’t think I could describe the scent because it’s so faint. Because I like fragrance in my detergent, I probably wouldn’t buy Signature again.
Murasaki, however, is delightful. It is also subtle, but it is a perceptible scent, though it doesn’t really leave a lot of fragrance behind on the laundry. Nevertheless, when I hang my laundry on a clothes rack and walk by it, I can definitely smell the scent. It smells lovely.
The laundry detergents I received come in a slim aluminum screw-top bottle that holds 8.6 fl. oz. of liquid detergent that is the equivalent of 32 loads. The detergent comes with a small, and I mean very small, rubber measuring device marked with Small, Medium and Large marks for laundry size. The detergent works for both standard and HE/front loading washers.
BTW, the products are certified as USDA Certified Biobased Product and certified as a Safer Choice product by the EPA.
After washing my laundry with Dirty Laundry detergent, everything came out clean!
Bio Laundry Detergents Ingredients: Aqua (CAS. 7732-18-5), Caprylyl/Capryl glucoside (CAS. 68515-73-1), Lauryl glucoside (CAS. 110615-47-9), Coconut fatty acid (CAS. 61788-47-4), Capryloyl/Caproyl methyl glucamide (CAS. 1591782-62-5), Propanediol (CAS. 504-63-2), Sodium citrate (CAS. 6132-04-3), Glycerin (CAS. 56-81-5), Potassium hydroxide (CAS. 1310-58-3), Protease enzyme (CAS.9014-01-1), Mannanase enzyme (CAS. 37288-54-3), Amylase enzyme (CAS. 9000-90-2), Pectate lyase enzyme (CAS. 9015-75-2), Cellulase enzyme (CAS. 9012-54-8), Allergen-free fragrances.
Free & Clear Bio Enzyme Booster
Today I decided that I had to try to remove the smell from the sweatshirt that Jeff likes to sleep in. I’ve tried all of the mainstream detergents that are supposed to be able to remove sweat and all kinds of odors from fabrics, and none of them seem to work on this particular garment that’s about 10 years old and has been washed about a zillion times.
The Bio Enzyme Booster comes in a heavy cardboard tub with a metal closure and a scoop made from responsibly sourced schima superba wood.
The Booster powder is mineral and plant-based as follows:
Bio Enzyme Booster Ingredients: Mineral-based pH builder (sodium carbonate, CAS 497-19-8), Oxygen and mineral-based cleaning agent (sodium percarbonate, CAS 15630-89-4), Biobased water softener (sodium citrate, CAS 6132-04-3), Stain and soil removing bioenzymes (deoxyribonuclease, CAS 9003-98-9), Mineral-based pH builder (sodium silicate, CAS 1344-09-8), Biobased whitening activator (tartaric acid, CAS 87-69-4), Plant-based cellulosic gum (carboxymethylcellulose, CAS 9004-32-4), Sorbitan caprylate (CAS 1984-06-1), & Calcium silicate (1344-95-2).
The booster tub contains enough for 48 loads.
Here’s what Dirty Labs says about the Bio Enzyme 4-in-1 Booster:
“Our advanced 4-in-1 formula is the first laundry product in the US to feature a groundbreaking bioenzyme that breaks down tough-to-remove “biological” stains and odors.
While our liquid detergents handle most stains really well, tough ones like (yellow pit stains, ring around the collar, weird grey or yellow stains on your favorite white sheets, and period stains) need extra help. Our Booster combines with our detergents, adding alkalinity and oxygen bleach for unmatched stain-fighting power and impeccable laundry results.”
Before I added the white powder Booster, I added the Murasaki liquid detergent to the washer. Next, I used the little scoop that comes with the Free & Clear Bio Enzyme Booster to add 2 scoops worth of the booster to the water in the washing machine. Even though I was only washing the sweatshirt, I decided to go with 2 scoops of the Booster instead of 1 scoop that’s recommended for a regular load. IMO, this was a torture test!
After the wash cycle ended, I took out the sweatshirt and, unfortunately, I could still smell the odor though it was much less than before. I put it in the drier, and when I first removed it, it hardly smelled at all. But a couple of hours later, I checked it again, and I could still smell the odor at the same reduced level. Oh well, it was worth a try. In fact, I think I will try the system on the sweatshirt one more time before giving up. Nevertheless, I think I need to buy Jeff a new sweatshirt, and then try washing it with the Booster going forward to see if it will keep it smelling good longer.
Once I have used my gardening clothes when the temperatures warm up, I will use the Booster on them. Right now, using the Dirty Labs detergent alone is getting my regular laundry clean.
Summary and Retail Info
I believe that it was worth it to try Dirty Labs Laundry Detergent. The Starter Set of 3 products cost $39. The regular prices for the:
- 8.6 oz. detergent is $16 or 50 cents/load
- 1.05 lbs./492g Booster is $19 or 40 cents/load
The detergents also come in a larger 21.6 fl. oz. size (also in an aluminum bottle) that will do 80 loads of laundry. The large size is priced at $28.
You can buy their products in other “bundles” in addition to the Starter Set to save money. Dirty Labs is sold on the Dirty Labs website, on Amazon, at your local Whole Foods (my WF only carries the Free & Clear Laundry Detergent but for less money, $15.49), and Grove Collaborative. Dirty Labs laundry products are developed and manufactured in the US. Their ingredients are sourced from the US, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.
