The Laundress Detergent Review: Is The Laundress Worth it?

Last Updated on January 21, 2024

Read my unbiased honest review of the Laundress detergent and see if it’s the right laundry soap for you. 

Full confession: I love laundry. From the washing to the drying to the folding – I love the entire process! My mom was constantly doing laundry for my 2 sisters and I growing up, so our house always smelled Downy fresh. For me, there is just something nostalgic about the smell of laundry that reminds me of my childhood.  

A couple years ago, I was all over the place with laundry soap. I stopped using commercial laundry detergents that were filled with nasty chemicals and started using ones with more natural ingredients.

Seventh Generation actually cleaned the best from all the brands I tried, but I just didn’t love the smell. I like laundry to smell like laundry – not smell like essential oils. The problem with natural soaps is while they are better for your skin, they don’t smell that great to me. 

The Laundress Signature Detergent

I was introduced to The Laundress from a co-worker and decided to give it a try. I ordered one bottle of the Signature Detergent. To say I was in love is an understatement! In fact, I ended up stripping our freshly washed bed sheets to re-wash them in The Laundress (yes, I’m that insane!).  

What Does The Laundress Signature Detergent Smell Like?

The Laundress Signature Detergent smells classic and clean. If I had to describe it in detail, I would say it reminds me of a mix of Lever 2000 soap and baby detergent. I get a touch of nostalgia when I smell it and imagine that this is what a 1950’s laundromat must have smelled like. 

Does The Laundress Signature Detergent Clean Clothes Well?

Absolutely! Even thought it’s plant-based, it cleans well while being gentle on your clothes and linens. I still pre-treat if I’m trying to remove tough stains, but for everyday wear, The Laundress detergent works great! They have a Stain Solution that I have yet to try, but the reviews are really positive. 

The Laundress Products

In addition to the Signature Detergent, I also use the Signature Fabric Conditioner. I’m a huge fan of fabric softeners in general. I am not one for crunchy clothes. It smells exactly the same as the detergent. These two pair perfectly together and leave my laundry oh-so-soft. Toss in a couple wool dryer balls when drying your laundry to remove any static.

Are The Laundress Products Good for Sensitive Skin?

YES! I do not have sensitive skin, but my husband does. He usually can’t use anything scented at all, but he has not had any issues whatsoever with The Laundress products. If you have sensitive skin, do a test patch on your skin before tossing in an entire load of laundry using a new product. It’s better to find out quickly and on a small area of skin if a product is going to cause an allergic reaction or not.

The Laundress Recall

In November of 2022, The Laundress issued a recall of some of their products due to bacteria that had been found during testing. At this point, I had been using their products exclusively for a year. I was devastated and completely grossed out! To throw away giant bottles of laundry soap was infuriating. Plus, I had to literally re-wash all of our clothes and linens. Because I had purchased all of my products through their website, I was easily able to get a full refund for everything. 

I was really hoping the quality issue would be resolved quickly and I could re-order safe and improved products. Unfortunately, it took 8 months before they had product back in stock. In that time, I tried half a dozen different laundry soaps, and none of them came close to comparing. 

The one I ended up settling on was Noodle & Boo. It’s a baby detergent, but it cleans really well. My husband also didn’t have any sensitivity issues with it. I did though! If I handwashed clothing, Noodle & Boo would break my hands out into painful blisters. It took me a few weeks to figure out what was causing it. I didn’t have issues when it went through the washing machine though.

Is the New Laundress Formula as Good as the Original?

I personally like the new Laundress Signature Detergent better than the old formula. The smell is the same, but I find that it transfers a little more fragrance onto our laundry (not in an overwhelming way!). It also cleans just as well.  

Is The Laundress Expensive?

The Laundress products aren’t cheap; especially if you have a big family and have a lot of laundry to do. That said, it’s very concentrated so a little goes a long way. 

Tips to Make The Laundress Detergent Last Longer

1. Only Use the Recommended Amount

The Laundress products are highly concentrated. It’s so easy to overpour your products, but you’ll end up using way more than you really need. Use 1 oz of Laundress Detergent for medium loads and 2 oz for large loads. That’s really all you need to clean your clothes! I also use just a splash of the Signature Fabric Conditioner and that’s the perfect amount to soften your clothes. 

2. Mix in Fragrance-Free Detergent

You can stretch your Laundress further if you use half fragrance-free detergent and half The Laundress detergent. For towels and blankets, I mix in half All Fragrance-Free Detergent and it definitely helps our Laundress last longer.

3. Use The Laundress for Special Items

The Laundress is definitely a luxury product. If using these products for all of your laundry needs isn’t economical for you or your family, reserve it for specific pieces. I have a friend who only uses it on her bedding and uses a different detergent on her clothes and towels.

Pro Tip: Wait for The Laundress sales to buy your products. I never pay full price if I can help it. They have sales every few months (even up to 25% off!). Sign up for their emails so you get their sales alerts. First time customers also get a discount! 

Where to Buy The Laundress Products

The Laundress products are sold at a bunch of different retailers. I either buy The Laundress directly from their website or from Amazon. 

Final Verdict

I absolutely love The Laundress Signature Detergent and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxury laundry soap that cleans well and smells fabulous! May your next load of laundry be the best one yet!

This post is a review of The Laundress Detergent.