As many of you know, I’ve been working toward having fewer and fewer chemicals in our home.  Laundry is one area where I’ve thus far only managed a “halfway” solution.  (Sometimes I make my own but, let’s face it, sometimes other things are just higher priorities, time-wise and effort-wise.)  I’ve been using a fragrance- and dye-free option, but it’s still pretty mainstream.

So I was eager to try Roux Maison’s detergent when I heard about it, and find out if its cleaning power is up to par.  (You know how natural products can be sometimes.)  I’m pleased to report that it did the job well.  I don’t have any really dirty/smelly laundry right now, like cloth diapers or greasy work shirts.  So I tried the detergent on my dish rags.  They tend to get all mildewy, and are the one thing I typically use bleach on.  (To kill off the mildew and make sure they don’t smell bad, either.)  I threw them in with this unscented Roux Maison detergent — and no bleach — and they came out of the wash smelling sweet.  No added effort.  No bleach.  Nothing “special.”  They’re just clean.

Apart from the detergent I tried, Roux Maison has several options.  This was their Essential Detergent — that is, just the “regular” detergent.  What I have is the fragrance-free, but they also have Ambrosia and Sweet Tea (citrusy) scents, and they only use essential oils for scenting (no icky chemicals).  There are some specialty detergents, as well.

The Delicate Detergent is just what you’d think.  The Sport Detergent is specially formulated to get rid of sweat and odor-causing bacteria, and to maintain the elasticity of stretch fabrics like Lycra.  Swimwear Detergent does the same, and also helps get rid of chlorine that tends to build up in swimsuits.  There is a stain treatment available, too.

The little 1-oz bottles are great for travel or for use at the laundromat (or maybe as an addition to a housewarming gift?)  The larger bottles are better for at-home use.  The detergents are eco-friendly, and they’re highly concentrated, so you’re not paying for water or excess packaging.  The one downside is the cost.  Like most natural products, it costs a lot more than the “non-natural” stuff.  (Makes sense, though.  “Real” ingredients cost more than lab-synthesized chemicals.)

I like it a lot!  But I’m not sure my budget can bear the cost of buying it as my regular detergent.  (That’s the primary reason I’m still using “junk” detergent.)  If yours can, I recommend it.  It did a great job, and it’s definitely better to not have those chemicals embedded in your clothing and linens rubbing your skin all day and all night. (You can get it on Amazon, too, if you prefer.)

Disclosure: Roux Maison provided me with some fragrance-free Essential Detergent to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.