Laundry detergent without 1,4-dioxane

Every detergent we read for ethoxylated ingredients

No label lists 1,4-dioxane, because it is a byproduct. So the table shows the ingredient names that can make it, next to the EPA list and any Prop 65 notice for a laundry product, all taken from the maker's list and public records.

Every detergent we read for ethoxylated ingredients

Product	Ethoxylated ingredient named	Ethoxylated ingredient named	EPA Safer Choice	Prop 65 notice, laundry	Cost per load	Price
Molly's Suds Original Laundry Powder, Unscented, 240 loads1	None listed	None listed	No listing found	None found	$0.16 per loadas listed	$38.99
ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear, 200 loads3	None listed	None listed	Safer Choice listed	None for laundry	$0.10 per loadmaker's dose	$19.98
ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Mountain Fresh, 40 loads4	None listed	None listed	No listing found	None found	$0.42 per loadmaker's dose	$16.84
Molly's Suds Liquid Laundry Detergent, Unscented, 200 loads5	None listed	None listed	No listing found	None found	$0.19 per loadas listed	$37.99
The Clean People Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent Sheets, 32 sheets6	Glycereth-6 cocoate	Glycereth-6 cocoate	No listing found	None found	$0.40 per loadmaker's dose	$12.79
Seventh Generation EasyDose Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear, 66 loads7	Laureth-6	Laureth-6	Safer Choice listed	None for laundry	$0.18 per loadas listed	$11.89
Charlie's Soap Fragrance Free Laundry Liquid, 160 loads8	C12-16 pareth-9, alcohol ethoxylate	C12-16 pareth-9, alcohol ethoxylate	Safer Choice listed	None found	$0.21 per loadas listed	$32.99
Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid, 105 loads9	C10-16 alketh, sodium laureth sulfate	C10-16 alketh, sodium laureth sulfate	No listing found	None found	$0.09 per loadas listed	$8.99
Dropps Odor & Stain Laundry Detergent Pods, Orange Blossom, 64 pods10	Alcohols C12-16 ethoxylated	Alcohols C12-16 ethoxylated	No listing found	None found	$0.47 per loadmaker's dose	$29.99
Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets, Fragrance-Free, 60 loads11	Laureth-7, isotrideceth-9 or PEG-6 glyceryl cocoate	Laureth-7, isotrideceth-9 or PEG-6 glyceryl cocoate	No listing found	None found	$0.23 per loadas listed	$13.98
Tru Earth Laundry Detergent Sheets, Unscented, 64 sheets12	Alcohol C12-18 ethoxylated	Alcohol C12-18 ethoxylated	No listing found	None found	$0.20 per loadmaker's dose	$25.99
Tide Free & Gentle liquid, 100 loads (132 fl oz)13	C10-16 alketh	C10-16 alketh	Safer Choice listed	Older formulas (2009, 2011)	$0.18 per loadas listed	$17.97

Prices on Amazon, November 2, 2026.¹⁴

Safer Choice listed, but still ethoxylated

What is 1,4-dioxane, and why look for ethoxylated ingredients?

The FDA says 1,4-dioxane forms as a byproduct when certain ingredients are made. It names detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and solvents with the words "PEG," "Polyethylene," "Polyoxyethylene," "-eth-" or "-oxynol-" in their names.¹⁵

Because it is a byproduct, 1,4-dioxane is not on any label.¹⁵ So we read each maker's list for those ingredient names. A product with none has nothing on its label that makes it. A product with one has a risk flag, not a test result.

What does New York's 1,4-dioxane limit mean for laundry detergent?

New York limits 1,4-dioxane in household cleansing products. The limit is 1 ppm as of December 31, 2023, and the state says "no waiver will be effective after December 30, 2025."¹⁶

The law's definition of a household cleansing product includes soaps and detergents used for "the cleansing of fabrics," so laundry detergent is covered.¹⁷ The state also says a maker must keep a compliance check for each product, and a safety data sheet or a "no 1,4-dioxane" letter on its own does not count.¹⁶

A detergent sold in New York is held to the limit whether or not it lists ethoxylated ingredients. We found no published test result for any of the 12 products in the table.

Which laundry detergents have had Prop 65 notices for 1,4-dioxane?

We found four 60-day notices that name 1,4-dioxane in a laundry detergent: Tide in 2009 and 2011,^{18, 19} and Purex in 2009 and 2012.^{20, 21} A notice is an allegation, not a finding. The Tide notices name older Tide liquid formulas; the table row is for the current Free & Gentle label.¹³

None of the other 11 products in the table has a laundry notice. Seventh Generation and ECOS's maker each got a 2008 notice about liquid dish soap, which is a different product, so the table shows no laundry notice for either.^{22, 23}

Which detergents list no ethoxylated ingredients?

Four of the 12: Molly's Suds powder¹ and liquid,⁵ ECOS Free & Clear³ and ATTITUDE Mountain Fresh.⁴ Each has other trade-offs: ECOS lists methylisothiazolinone, and ATTITUDE lists fragrance.

Molly's Suds says its powder has no 1,4-dioxane.¹ The Clean People say the same for their sheets, but their product page names glycereth-6 cocoate, an ethoxylated ingredient.^{24, 25}

Do Safer Choice detergents avoid ethoxylated ingredients?

Not always. Seventh Generation lists laureth-6,⁷ Charlie's Soap lists C12-16 pareth-9 and an alcohol ethoxylate,⁸ and Tide Free & Gentle lists C10-16 alketh.¹³ All three are on the EPA list.² Seventh Generation calls laureth-6 a "plant-derived cleaning agent" on its own page. Plant-derived and ethoxylated can both be true.

Questions people ask

Do laundry sheets contain 1,4-dioxane?

We found no notice or test saying so. Three sheet brands list ethoxylated ingredients: Earth Breeze,¹¹ Tru Earth¹² and The Clean People.⁶

How can I check my own bottle?

Look for "PEG," "Polyethylene," "Polyoxyethylene," "-eth-" or "-oxynol-" in the ingredient names.¹⁵ Names like laureth, pareth and alcohol ethoxylate are in that family.

Was Tide ever named in a 1,4-dioxane notice?

Yes. California's list has Tide notices from 2009 and 2011, which name older liquid formulas.^{18, 19} Tide's current Free & Gentle label lists C10-16 alketh, an ethoxylated name.¹³ Notices are allegations, not findings.

Does a Safer Choice listing mean no ethoxylated ingredients?

No. Seventh Generation, Charlie's Soap and Tide are listed and each names an ethoxylated ingredient.^{7, 8, 13}