Laundry Detergents Without Optical Brighteners – Our Insanely Helpful List

Updated: December 4, 2019

In a hurry?
If you want to skip right to the number one rated laundry detergent without optical brighteners you’ll find it on Amazon here or the manufacturers’ website here.

I hope you’ll stick around and continue reading for some eye-opening information and extensive details about the options available to you. This list took months to research and compile. I hope it helps.

There are several websites that are listing detergents, such as multiple forms of Cheer as “Optical Brightener Free”, however, these statements are FALSE! I have done extensive research and there is only one variety of Cheer that is optical-brightener free! (See notes for links to cheer ingredients). This is only one example of false information I have found on other websites! Rest assured, this list is up to date and reexamined on a regular basis!

Please do your homework. When it comes to the safety of your infant or military family it’s better to stick with a list you know is thoroughly researched and current. Check the date of the article to find out if its the most up to date information on current laundry detergents.

Optical brighteners are synthetic chemicals that are added to liquid & powder laundry detergents. Laundry detergent manufacturers add this chemical for the sole purpose of making clothing appear whiter and brighter, and thereby looking cleaner.

OBAs (optical brightening agents) are added to most of the American laundry detergents today, to make whites appear whiter, but the reality is that they can also cause colors to fade, especially dark colored clothes. Have you ever had a new black blouse that only after a few washes looked grayish and worn out? That would be the OBAs doing their job, making clothes appear lighter/brighter! I would never use harsh synthetic chemicals to wash my cloth diapers, but the fact that they fade dark clothes is why I don’t use them on my clothes either!

No, not all laundry detergents have optical brighteners in them! Optical brighteners are synthetic chemicals. So if you’re trying to keep chemicals away from your precious little ones’ skin, this is something you should be checking out on the labels!

• Disodium Diaminostilbene Disulfonate
• DMS
• Fluorescent Brighteners
• Fluorescent Brightening Agents
• Fluorescent Optical Brighteners
• Fluorescent White Dyes
• Fluorescent Whitening Agents (FWAs)
• Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs)
• Optical Whiteners
• Organic Fluorescent Dyes

• Blankophor
• Dikaphor
• Intrawite (textile use)
• Kolocron
• Optiblanc
• Tinopal
• Tuboblanc
• Uvitex
• Akzo Nobel
• BASF
• Deepak Nitrite
• Eastman Chemical Company
• Huntsman International

We can only fit so much information within each small section, therefore we have provided you with a clickable link, so you can obtain more information on the detergent that you are researching such as reviews, manufacturer information, and varieties available (if any). We hope this information is useful!

If this list does not completely answer any questions you may have, please feel free to leave a comment below and I will try to help you as efficiently as I can. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find someone who does!

Need information on a detergent that’s not on our list?
No Problem!!! I will look into it for you! Just leave a comment below and I will do my best to find the answers for you.

Product CLICK FOR MORE INFO	Details	He Safe
	Great for uniforms and work wear. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Great for uniforms, hunting clothes, and work wear. No Optical Brighteners No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Best for babies with sensitive skin, however, doesn’t clean very well! No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance Rinses well in cold water	Yes
	Although there are no brighteners, the label reads “Not recommended for military uniforms”. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Allen’s Naturally liquid laundry detergent requires only 1/4 oz for HE Machines. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard. No Optical Brighteners Awesome for sensitive skin and eczema!	Yes
	Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard. No Optical Brighteners Good Value For Money	Yes
	Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard. No Optical Brighteners	Yes
	Loads of Love is an unscented detergent that has none of all the “bad stuff” in regular laundry detergent. This means that it is free from petrolatum, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, and parabens. No Optical Brighteners No Chlorine, phthalates, phosphates, synthetic fragrances, or dyes No Dyes No Phthalates No Fragrance No Phosphates	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Chlorine, phthalates, phosphates, synthetic fragrances, or dyes No Dyes No Phthalates No Synthetic Fragrance No Phosphates	Yes
	The liquid brand is a good choice No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Perfumes	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners Contains Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Moms report cloth diapers are clean, and no funky smell.  Commonly used on both pocket diapers and prefolds. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Plant Derived, GMO Free, Cruelty Free & Sulfate Free makes this an excellent choice. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Contains plant-derived surfactants, Borax and essential oils of Geranium, Orange, Jasmine, Coriander, Rose and Bergamot. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners	No
	No lingering chemical-based fragrance. It’s completely free from perfume or parabens. It dissolves quickly in cold water, and you won’t have to worry about residues on your clothes after rinsing the soap off. This works great for babies and individuals who suffer from allergic reactions to certain components in regular laundry soaps. Safe and effective for all fabrics including silk, wool, linen, cotton and high-tech microfiber athletic and waterproof gear. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Similar to Allen’s Naturally, however ingredients are proprietary. Extensive studies by Clemson University have shown it leaves no residue. Biodegradable. Technically a “detergent” (not soap, despite its name). Complaints of chemical burns and rash have been reported! No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners Essential oil fragrances	Yes
	There are several other websites (as of May 15, 2019) such as : Diaper Jungle who claims Cheer Free and Gentle has no optical brighteners, this statement is FALSE! – (link to manufacturers ingredient list) Homequicks claims Cheer and Cheer Free are optical brightener free. this statement is FALSE! – Cheer (ingredient list) and Cheer Free (ingredient list) ArmyStudyGuide.com list multiple forms of Cheer (as well as other detergents) as “Optical Brightener Free”, however, these statements are FALSE! I have done extensive research, with 1,000’s of man hours for this post, combing through ingredients and this variety of Cheer is the ONLY one that is optical-brightener free!  .PDF Ingredients from the manufacturer. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners Screenshots of DiaperJungle, Homequicks, and ArmyStudyGuide.	N/A
	No Optical Brighteners	Yes
	Cost effective, additive free, and great results. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Cost effective, additive free, and great results. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Plant-based and rather weak. It would take a lot of product to accomplish a good clean. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes NPE Free No Phosphate No Chlorine	Yes
	Phosphate-free, chlorine-free, enzyme-free, borine-free, cocamide DEA-free, dye-free, and free of petroleum ingredients. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners Biodegradable Healthy Child Compliant No Animal Testing HE Safe Methylisothiazolinone-free Fragrance-Free	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	N/A
	Eliminates tough odors – including smell caused by sweat, bacteria, mold, and mildew! No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	A light, fresh scent that doesn’t linger. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners	Yes
	Plant-based. Contains sodium cocoate, which can build up in diapers, trapping bacteria and causing repellency issues. This baby laundry soap has a neutral pH level, which means it does not irritate the skin. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Contains vegetable-based surfactants including those derived from coconuts No Optical Brighteners Biodegradable Safe for Septic Systems Not tested on Animals No Phosphates	Yes
	Contains Seed & Pulp Extracts, Orange Peel Extracts, Surfactants from Coconuts. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	100% natural – Grows on Trees!!! Perfect for hunting camo! This is actually a natural soap, not a detergent and can build up on fibers and cause repelling issues. Perfect for regular laundry. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners Fragrance-Free PETA acceptable product	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners	Yes
	Does not contain surfactants. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners Essential oil fragrances	Yes
	Does not contain surfactants. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Although this is an excellent product, it ships from Canada so if you are in the USA shipping is outrageous! No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Contains coconut oil based ingredients. Not considered strong enough to properly clean a dirty diaper. Too expensive to be able to use enough to get a proper clean. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Rinses completely and decomposes almost immediately in the environment leaving no toxic by-products or phosphates to the water table. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Not an effective detergent. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	From Austin, Texas; No phosphates, sulfates, petrochemicals, animal by-products, chlorine, perfumes, dyes, allergens. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	Fantastic for hard water No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners Essential oil fragrances	Yes
	Fantastic for hard water No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrances	Yes
	This product is not really a detergent, it is mainly water softeners and salt. Not recommended for cloth diapers as it contains no surfactant. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners Some varieties have fragrance	Yes
	Very expensive. Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Fragrance	Yes
	Use 1/2 cap in your cloth diaper prewash and 1 1/2 caps in the main wash. Wash on hot; add a water softener, such as Calgon if your water is at all hard. Does contain essential oils. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Fragrance	Yes
	Plant-derived enzyme stain removers. Certified Cruelty Free. From Vermont; 0% fragrances, dyes, or artificial brighteners. No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Perfumes	Yes
	Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	The free and clear variety does not contain synthetic fragrances.  Ingredients in this detergent are problematic for build-up/repellency issues with cloth diapers. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance Ingredient PDF	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Perfumes	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Fragrance	Yes
	Contains fabric softener which can buildup and cause repellency issues with cloth diapers. No Optical Brighteners No Enzymes No Dyes	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners No Fragrance	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners No Dyes No Softeners	Yes
	No Optical Brighteners	Yes

You can check eBay and other outlets that deal in discontinued products for these oldies but goodies.

• A Happy Green Life
• Bio-Vert
• Bio-Vert with no perfume

• All: Free and Clear Liquid – Military
• BabyGanics: 3X Fragrance-Free liquid
• Bio-O-Kleen: Premium Plus Laundry Powder
• Citra Suds – 2x Concentrated – Lavender Bergamot liquid
• Citra Suds – 2x Concentrated – Valencia Orange liquid
• Claudia’s Choices – Ultra Phosphate Free Laundry Powder (Canada)
• Crunchy Clean
• Eco-Max: liquid & powder
• Ecover – Zero 2x, Fragrance-Free, Liquid
• Ecover – Zero 2x, Lavender Field, Liquid
• EnviroRite – Clearly Clean
• Equator –
• Method – Squeaky Green
• Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent: Basil, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Geranium, and Baby Blossom
• Natural Value:  Naturally Gentle
• SA8 Legacy of Clean: Delicate Fine Fabric
• Thirsties – Super Wash
• Tiny Bubbles
• VIP: Hypo-Allergenic
• Wonderwash

Well yes and no!

No, optical brighteners can not be “washed” out by simply washing them in your washing machine with laundry detergent. It takes a little more effort than that!

Yes, optical brighteners can be cleaned out of your laundry with speical products. The folks over at Clean It Guide have an article “How To Remove Optical Brighteners From Clothes” that is simple to follow. I did exactly what they said and IT WORKED!

ACU, OCP Uniform Washing In Optical Brightener Free Detergent
 

 
On the care label, the instructions are to launder in a mild detergent which does NOT contain “optical brighteners.” The reason the instructions say not to use detergents with optical brighteners is that they make Army uniforms a lot more visible (not quite glow in the dark, but close).
 

Here are a few of the specific questions we get asked a LOT:
 

Yes

Yes PDF ingredient list