Compostable Packaging
This product is packaged or shipped in materials that can be composted in home systems or industrial facilities. Certain materials may be better fit for industrial facilities than backyard composting systems. Contact your local waste-hauler or composting facility to determine where these materials may be accepted. Industrial facilities may not exist in your area.
Cruelty Free
Cruelty Free is a certification process through PETA that labels products that are not tested on animals. All companies that are included on PETA’s cruelty-free list have signed a statement verifying that they don’t use ingredients or create finished products that help conduct or pay for any tests on animals.
Paraben Free
Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives, commonly used in beauty products like shampoo, lotion, and deodorants. Parabens can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to hormonal disruption and reproductive problems. In studies of breast cancer patients, parabens have been found in the tissue of cancerous tumors–yikes! If you want to avoid Parabens in your beauty products, keep an eye out for methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben in the ingredients list.
Sulfate Free
Sulfates are synthetic chemical ingredients commonly used in beauty products and household cleaners, like shampoos and dish soaps. You can usually identify sulfates in an ingredients list by looking out for the most common types: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLC) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES). These chemicals, often derived from petroleum, are used to help form the “lather” we’re used to seeing in our beauty and cleaning products. When used in the shower or sink, these chemicals can flow through the pipes and into our waterways. Synthetic sulfates have been linked to allergic reactions, eye and skin irritation, and hair loss, and some studies suggest they contain carcinogenic ingredients.
Vegan
This product does not contain any animal products or byproducts, and has not been tested on animals.
Charitable
This company donates a portion of their time or profits to charitable efforts in their community or abroad.
Sustainable Manufacturing
Some or all of the energy used to make this product is produced via renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower.
Handmade
We support small businesses and craftspeople who create each of their products with care. Handmade products are generally produced on a small scale, without the use of large energy consuming factories and production facilities. Buying handmade helps support art, communities, and people’s livelihoods.
Made in the USA
This product was made in the United States. Buying locally made items helps to reduce harmful emissions that result from transportation during and after the production process. Purchasing products made in the United States also ensures that the items are produced in ways that meet strict safety and labor standards.
Fabi (verified owner) –
Lasting forever, clothes come out clean, no smell. Zero waste packaging.
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amyskaspar (verified owner) –
I have bought this five times now and absolutely love it! My family enjoys it as well. I have made my own laundry detergent, used all sorts of eco-friendly detergents and my family agrees this is the best stuff. I love that I can compost the bag after it’s gone and it’s legit zero waste! We live out in the country so we have hard water and I just add 1/4 cup of vinegar to each load. Being farmers, our clothes get very dirty and the 1 tablespoon of this stuff gets the job done!
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abigailcorin4 (verified owner) –
Long time user
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barkforjoyla (verified owner) –
Completely plastic free! Minimal, compostable packaging! A little goes a long way! I’m practically in love with this washing powder–my first time trying a non-commercial (non-liquid) brand. I add distilled vinegar to my rinse cycle to combat our hard water. And I’ve found washing (sturdy) whites in warm water really helps return them to sparkling. A natural stain-stick does wonders for removing tougher, oilier stains than the powder alone. (I considered taking a star off for that but honestly, I’d have to pre-treat stains when using my old detergent, so really it’s no harm/no foul in my book). PRO TIP: the powder clumps and doesn’t dissolve well in cold water washes, so I’ll either start a wash on warm, add the powder, then switch to cold; or I’ll mix the powder in a large measuring cup with warm water to dissolve it first, and add that to the cold wash as it’s filling.
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Jenn Young (verified owner) –
This product was our first attempt at laundry powder, and we really love it. We recently reordered our second bag. We love everything about it. We’re hooked.
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meli_jack23 (verified owner) –
I was skeptical when I first tried this detergent but I have been using it for a couple of months and it does the job with a small amount of detergent. For white clothes I do add some vinegar.
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gracescarborough3 (verified owner) –
I’m glad to have found this laundry powder. We tried dropps pods first, but in our front loader the capsules would not always fully disintegrate, and we would find the slimy remains on clothes or stuck inside the washer after the cycle. I usually wash on cold water, and didn’t want to start using warm water just so the pods would melt all the way. This powder really cleans and it’s surprising because there’s hardly anything in it. It is unscented, and I do use vinegar with most loads to reduce static and whatever else vinegar does. I love the cardboard packaging, and I will definitely buy this again.
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juliarlr (verified owner) –
I used this today for the first time (for 3 different loads) and it worked well. I added some white vinegar as suggested on the bag.
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Jodi L (verified owner) –
I really wanted to love this laundry powder due to the simple ingredients. But unfortunately it didn’t get the dirt or odors out for us. We have a small farm and clothes come in quite dirty, so I will have to keep looking 🙁
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stephanie.lavenski (verified owner) –
I tried this for a week (washing daily) and cannot continue using it. I have a 1 year old messy milk drinker and all her shirts were left with residual stains, I’m assuming from her dribbling milk. My 3 year old had a shirt that he spilled milk on and it stained as well. It’s cheap and I love the packaging but it doesn’t work for our family’s needs. I was hoping to reduce our plastic consumption by eliminating liquid detergent but I’ll be trying something eco friendly from our grocery store. I can’t keep ordering things to try and either pay shipping or throwing extra things into just to get free shipping.
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EarthHero –
Hi Stephanie, we are so sorry that this laundry detergent isn’t working out for you! For items that need a bit of extra stain care, we like to pair them with a Stain Stick or use the Dropps Stain + Odor laundry pods for extra stain-boosting power.
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lizmheffner (verified owner) –
This is a very cheap detergent! It lasts forever and actually works. Its fragrance-free which is nice because I can add my own. No residue left on clothes.
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Question
traceystar16 –
Are there any coconut derivatives in the ingredients?
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EarthHero –
Hi Tracey, there are no coconut derivatives in this laundry powder. We love how simple the ingredients are: washing soda, baking soda, Epsom salt, and pacific sea salt 🙂
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amandajfreitas (verified owner) –
I took the advice with my hard water to use the vinegar, and it worked at least as well as other detergents I’ve used (I’ve tried to be all natural for a while). Love love LOVE how it doesn’t come with yet another plastic scoop and how the only thing not used up or easily compostable is the sticker on the bag.
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emiliacavero (verified owner) –
I really like Bestowed Essentials as a business: they’re woman-owned and operated and intentional about being low-waste. After listening to Callee’s Hippie Haven podcast and following Hippie Haven on Instagram, I was excited to purchase from this company. I know that they improve the communities they’re in, and that’s important to me. For instance, they installed a TerraCycle straw recycling box in a nearby business to reduce waste, and they reuse giant plastic jugs as compost bins they give to community residents, which they show people how to use in workshops. Plus, similar to me, they live and operate in a state (South Dakota) where waste reduction isn’t a huge concern for most. So I think it’s great that they’re blazing a trail rather than operating in a city like Los Angeles where that’s already a common concern. It’s clear that sustainability and waste reduction are at the core of their ethos. So I like supporting their brand.
I would recommend this product to a friend, family member, or stranger. It comes in brown paper that I will add to my backyard compost, and the metal twist tie can be recycled.
My only caveat is that it’s not great at getting out foul smells. I have dogs, and if I have to clean up one of their messes, this doesn’t get the pee/poop smell out. If I have something extremely stinky in the load, I have to use liquid Ecos detergent, which eliminates the smell in one cycle. I can run the washer four or five times using this detergent and, while it does clean the clothes, it doesn’t get out the foul smell. I don’t have that problem with this detergent when washing clothes with smells like body odor in the case of workout clothes. It’s only an issue with super foul smelling rags that have been used to clean up a dog accident.
Other than that, I would highly recommend this product! It works well with everyone but strong potty odors. I would still recommend it to friends and family in good conscience. I just would warn a family member with pets or babies that it might not get out potty smells. If you don’t have pets or small children, I would 100% recommend it without reservation. And I’m still really satisfied with my purchase. Thanks to the team who made it! I appreciate it!
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Question
Vivian –
Will this work with oxyclean? And also do you know if oxyclean is eco friendly? From what I researched it seems to be okay but I wasn’t sure. If I add another tablespoon of oxyclean it shouldn’t affect its cleaning abilities correct?
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EarthHero –
Hi Vivian! Great questions. This laundry powder will work just fine with Oxiclean, but you may find you don’t require an extra scoop since this laundry powder contains similar ingredients (baking soda and washing soda). The main ingredients in OxiClean are sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate (baking soda). When sodium percarbonate interacts with water, it breaks down into sodium carbonate (more baking soda) and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is responsible for the stain-lightening, bleaching effect of OxiClean. OxiClean is not inherently bad for the environment, but it is important to keep a close eye on how what other ingredients are mixed into the powder and how it’s fragranced. For a cleaner alternative, we love Dropps Oxi Booster pods!
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y.sal25g (verified owner) –
I tried this detergent and it also does the job well. I have used it to clean my cloth diapers. My cloth diapers are cleaned well and there is no bad smell that lingers. My baby’s skin is also sensitive and she tends to get rashes depending on the detergent I use. This has not reacted bad with her skin at all. I will continue to use this and meliora. Great product.
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BEACHLIFE (verified owner) –
This product along with a 1/4 c of white vinegar works wonders on my laundry. We have hard well water and this product works very well on the clothes. No smell or residue left on clothes.
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Pam (verified owner) –
This is an excellent product. Works well in front loading HE machine. Clothes are clean with no residue. And no more plastic!
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Question
Julie –
How easily does the powder dissolve? My laundry machine is compact and uses low energy so the cycle isn’t as vigorous as a normal machine.
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EarthHero –
Hi, Julie! For HE machines, you can use 1/2 a scoop instead 🙂
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Question
Erin –
How does this work with front loading washing machines? I have been using liquid detergent with the addition of Borax to every load (as a booster). Curious how this product compares? I like that it’s reducing packing waste.
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EarthHero –
Hi, Erin! Great question- this powder can definitely be used in HE washing machines. Just use 1/2 scoop (1/2 tbsp) instead 🙂
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Question
Becky –
Is this septic tank safe?
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EarthHero –
Hi, Becky! Great question- many traditional powdered detergents are not septic safe due to their pesky filler ingredients and additives. Bestowed Essentials uses a fully biodegradable formula with natural surfactants Epsom and sea salts to get your clothes squeaky clean- leaving your septic tank safe and sound 🙂
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Question
Jason –
Hello, is the one tablespoon recommended for HE or top load?
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EarthHero –
Hi, Jason! This powder can definitely be used in HE washing machines- just use 1/2 scoop (1/2 tbsp instead! 🙂
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Question
Jennie –
Is this gluten free?
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EarthHero –
Hi Jennie! Yes – this laundry powder is gluten-free. Here are the ingredients: Washing soda, baking soda, epsom salt, pacific sea salt. Simple and effective!
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Question
Elizabeth –
How does this perform in hard water? Thanks!
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EarthHero –
Hi Elizabeth! From what we’ve heard, this laundry powder works great in all kinds of water. It’s the machine that tends to be the issue when it comes to powder not dissolving. This is especially true if you have a high-efficiency (HE) washing machine that uses a low water cycle. Thanks for asking! 🙂
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