Sodium Carbonate
Washing soda — the primary cleaning actor in the formula. Mineral-derived and biodegradable.
Image forthcomingCharlie's SoapLaundry Powder
Laundry Care
Charlie's Soap
Laundry Powder
A long-running, family-owned laundry powder built around a minimal washing-soda-and-surfactant formula — fragrance-free, dye-free, and refillable in cardboard.
- Fragrance Free
- Family Owned
- Minimal Formula
- Conditionally Approved
Our Editorial Standard
Every product in our directory is evaluated using the Modern Holistic Living Standard. We assess materials, ingredient transparency, long-term durability, everyday practicality, replacement availability, manufacturer consistency, and overall value before including any recommendation. We only feature products we would calmly recommend to our own families.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
- Charlie's Soap has been making essentially the same minimal laundry powder since the 1970s — fragrance-free, dye-free, and built around a very short ingredient list.
- The brand publishes the formula openly, including the specific surfactant used.
- Refills are available in cardboard cartons rather than plastic jugs.
At a glance
Pros & cons
Pros
- Three-ingredient formulation with no fragrance, dye, or brightener
- Long-standing reputation with sensitive-skin and eczema households
- Cloth-diaper safe (endorsed by many diaper manufacturers)
- Concentrated — one tablespoon per HE load
Cons
- Contains an ethoxylated surfactant (disclosed on the label)
- Plastic tub or bag packaging depending on SKU
- Family-owned brand with less third-party certification than peers
- Powder format may under-dissolve in very cold cycles
Who it suits
Best for
- 01
Households already washing cloth diapers or period care
- 02
Eczema and highly-sensitive-skin households
- 03
Buyers who want the shortest possible functional formula
Transparency
Things to know
- 01
The surfactant is a fatty alcohol ethoxylate — an effective and biodegradable surfactant, but it is ethoxylated. Disclosed here as the primary trade-off.
- 02
Powder format dissolves best in warm water; pre-dissolve for cold cycles.
- 03
Cardboard packaging — keep dry in storage.
- 04
HE and standard machine compatible; very low suds.
Composition
Materials & ingredients
Cleaning actives
- Sodium carbonate (washing soda)
Surfactant
- C12-15 alcohols ethoxylated (fatty alcohol ethoxylate — disclosed trade-off)
Packaging
- Cardboard carton (no plastic jug)
Independently verified
Certifications
- Fragrance Free
- Dye Free
Inside the tube
Ingredients & formula highlights
Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates
A biodegradable surfactant derived from natural fats — effective, but produced via ethoxylation, which is the trade-off we disclose here.
Cardboard Packaging
Refills ship in cardboard cartons rather than plastic jugs.
The standard
Why it made the cut
- A genuinely minimal, fragrance-free formula with decades of consistent manufacturing.
- Cardboard packaging keeps plastic out of the laundry room.
- Conditional placement reflects the ethoxylated surfactant, fully disclosed.
FAQ
Common questions
- Why is this conditional?
- The formula is genuinely minimal and the packaging is cardboard, but the ethoxylated surfactant prevents us from placing it next to fully plant-glucoside formulations.
- Is it good for sensitive skin?
- It is fragrance- and dye-free, and many sensitive-skin households use it successfully. Patch-test if you have a known surfactant sensitivity.
Materials Library
Materials behind this recommendation
Each material below has a canonical explainer in our shared Materials Library. Open one to see how it behaves, where it belongs, and where it doesn't.
Phthalates
Chemical
Phthalates are a family of chemicals that make plastics soft and flexible and carry fragrance in personal care products. Several are recognised endocrine disruptors and are restricted in children's products worldwide.
Read →
PFAS
Chemical
PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic fluorinated compounds prized for their ability to repel water, oil, and heat — and criticised for their persistence in the human body and the environment.
Read →
Organic Cotton
Textile
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and processed under a defined list of permitted chemistry. In period care, skincare, and baby textiles it is the reference fibre for products worn against absorbent or sensitive tissue.
Read →
From the Journal
Related reading
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