I test a lot of laundry detergent brands. And, you might say my family and friends all got to try a lot of laundry detergent brands, too.
Bloop is the one I kept reaching for, and one that keeps coming up in conversation as we dutifully do our chores. A combination of performance and scent is harder to find than it should be, which is why Bloop stood out quickly and stayed in our rotation.
A Health-First Formula
Bloop’s origin story is personal, and it shows in the ingredient decisions. After one of the founders’ families dealt with breast cancer, their focus shifted to ways they could remove ingredients linked to hormonal disruption and environmental harm from everyday products. Nothing is more every day on our skin than our laundry.
What I appreciated is how quietly confident the formula feels. There’s no alarmist language, no long lecture on what to fear. It just works:
- No SLS, phthalates, or hormone disruptors
- Biodegradable ingredients designed to break down safely
- Cruelty-free production
- Works in both hot and cold washes (we use cold water for our laundry almost exclusively)
Laundry Detergent Designed Around Scents
Bloop does have an unscented product, but they only sent me scented options (Salt Air and Super Bloom). And wow, do they smell nice, even on garments worn weeks later.
The fragrances were developed with a professional fragrance designer, and they smell intentional rather than generic:
- Salt Air: mandarin orange, sea water, clary sage, and driftwood
- Super Bloom: passionfruit, peony(!), vanilla orchid
- Stone Fruit: apricot, peach, plum and brown sugar
- Unscented option available with the same cleaning power
Well-Packaged, Well-Priced
Bloop skips the plastic jug and comes in a recyclable cardboard carton, which is the kind of detail that I immediately gravitate to.
- One ounce per load
- 32 loads per 32-ounce carton
- Recyclable cardboard packaging, no plastic
- 4-ounce sample size available for $5, or set of four for $18 << try them out!
To say this made my laundry smell genuinely good is an understatement; we all really liked this formula, noting that the clean clothes smelled fresh even weeks later.
Why does using clean detergent make a difference?
Using a clean, healthy detergent matters because laundry products don’t just clean clothes... they leave residue behind that touches your skin, circulates in your home, and washes into water systems. The ingredients in them adds up over time.
Pay attention:
- Skin contact is constant. Clothes, towels, and sheets sit against your skin for hours. Detergents with harsh surfactants or fragrance chemicals can trigger irritation, rashes, or dryness, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Some ingredients disrupt hormones. Certain synthetic detergents contain chemicals linked to hormone disruption. Reducing exposure lowers the overall chemical load your body has to process.
- Indoor air quality matters. Strong synthetic fragrances don’t stay in the washer. They linger in fabrics and release into the air, which can affect headaches, breathing, and comfort at home.
- What goes down the drain doesn’t disappear. Conventional detergents can harm waterways and aquatic life. Cleaner formulas are designed to break down more safely after use.
- Less buildup on clothes. Gentler detergents rinse more cleanly, so fabrics stay softer and last longer without residue weighing them down.
For most people, switching to a cleaner detergent isn’t about perfection. It’s about cutting unnecessary exposure in a place where change is easy and automatic.
Laundry happens every week. Making it safer is a constant benefit. If you're shopping for options, Bloop is one we'd tell you to try, and they aren't paying us to say that.
