Free Tool

Greywater Detergent Safety Checker

🧴 Check any detergent's ingredient list ⏱ 60 seconds
Paste Your Detergent's Ingredients

Copy the ingredient list from your detergent label or the brand's website and paste it below. Or type individual ingredients one at a time.

Or check a known brand:

🧴

Paste ingredients to check

The tool scans for greywater-problematic ingredients and gives you an instant safety rating.

Complete Ingredient Reference

🚫 Avoid — Harmful
  • Sodium hypochlorite — bleach, kills soil biology
  • Borax / sodium borate — accumulates, toxic to plants
  • Boron compounds — same as borax concern
  • Optical brighteners — non-biodegradable, soil persistent
  • Sodium dichloroisocyanurate — chlorine release compound
  • Phosphates — algae growth in waterways
⚠️ Use With Caution
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) — sodium concern in clay soils
  • Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) — similar to SLS
  • Sodium carbonate — raises soil pH over time
  • Synthetic fragrances — some compounds soil-persistent
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds — antimicrobial, affects soil biome
  • EDTA / NTA — chelating agents, slow to biodegrade
✅ Generally Safe
  • Coconut-derived surfactants — biodegradable, low sodium
  • Potassium-based compounds — plants need potassium
  • Citric acid — biodegradable pH adjuster
  • Plant-based enzymes — protease, amylase, lipase
  • Alkyl polyglucosides (APG) — plant-derived, very biodegradable
  • Essential oils (in small amounts) — generally OK at dilution

Popular Brand Scorecard

Brand / ProductNo BleachNo BoraxLow NaOverall
Oasis Laundry Liquid ✅✅✅ ★★★★★
Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder ✅✅✅ ★★★★★
ECOS Free & Clear ✅✅⚠️ ★★★★☆
Seventh Generation Free & Clear ✅✅⚠️ ★★★★☆
Molly's Suds Original Powder ✅✅✅ ★★★★★
Tide Original Liquid ⚠️✅❌ ★★☆☆☆
Arm & Hammer w/ OxiClean ⚠️⚠️❌ ★★☆☆☆
Gain Original Liquid ⚠️✅❌ ★★☆☆☆

⚠️ = present but tolerable in small amounts. Ratings based on documented ingredient lists as of 2025. Formulations change — verify with current label.

This tool provides a general safety assessment based on known ingredient concerns. Individual formulations vary and manufacturers change recipes without notice. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer to request the full SDS (Safety Data Sheet) which includes sodium content by weight.