Introducing the Laundry Egg!
Are you looking for laundry detergent that is a bit more below waste or are you on the hunt for hypoallergenic laundry detergent? Ecoegg laundry eggs might be the solution for you!
You've probably seen a picture of the Ecoegg laundry egg before and are curious to know what it is and how it works. After posting a picture on our Instagram we certainly received lots of questions and thought we'd write this helpful blog to answer all your Ecoegg questions.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
What Are Ecoegg Laundry Eggs?
Ecoegg laundry eggs are an alternative to your regular laundry powder or liquid.
The base is an egg shaped cage with pellets inside that do all the cleaning. They can last up to 3 years (depending on the size you get) before you need to buy your pellet refill.
Our founders, Tom & Julie have two young babies that go through a lot of reusable nappies, so as an eco-friendly alternative, the laundry egg has been great for them.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
How Do The Ecoegg Laundry Eggs Work?
The mineral pellets work together in the water to effectively draw dirt from your clothing fibres and soften your clothes by changing the pH, leaving your laundry clean and fresh without using harmful chemical-laden detergents.
The surfactants in the Laundry Egg pellets lift dirt from the fabrics because one end of the surfactant's molecule is attracted to water and the other end is attracted to dirt and grease. The surfactant molecules help water to take hold of the dirt and grease, break it up and wash it away. The other ingredients in the pellets ensure that dirt and grime in the water do not move back onto the fabrics and remain in the wash water. The black tourmaline pellets naturally ionise the water making it slightly more alkaline. Alkaline water lifts dirt better, but also softens the fibres of the clothes. Acidic water can be damaging to clothes and fibres.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
What Are The Ecoegg Laundry Eggs Made Of?
The Laundry Egg case is made from three key different types of material, to ensure it withstands the temperatures in the washing machine and does not break. The materials are Polypropylene block co-polymer, Thermoplastic Elastomer and Glass-Filled Polypropylene.
There are two types made from minerals that the pellets are made from - the black ones are tourmaline to change pH and soften fabric and water and the white ones are surfactants to clean. The black ones won't wear down, so you'll only need to replace the white ones with a refill once they wear down.
The Ecoegg Laundry Egg pellets do not contain any palm oil, SLS or SLES, parabens, petrochemicals, enzymes, phosphates or microplastics.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
What Are The Benefits Of The Ecoegg Laundry Eggs?
It's kind to the environment being refillable and reusable.
It's kind to your wallet - you'll spend a fraction of what you would usually spend on detergents due to the refillable nature.
It's kind to your skin - dermatologically tested and Ecoegg have held Allergy UK’s ‘Allergy Friendly Product’ award since 2011.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
What's The Difference With The Colours?
The colour indicates the fragrance of the Ecoegg laundry egg. The egg itself doesn't give off the scent, it's the pellets, so if you want to change your fragrance once the white pellets wear down, just buy a new fragrance refill.
Blue - Fresh Linen scent
Pink - Spring Blossom scent
Yellow - Fragrance-Free
White - This egg contains a natural brightener to keep your clothes looking whiter and brighter. Scent is lavender.
Image: Instagram / @ecoegg
Top Laundry Tips
1. Your laundry pellets will last longer with cold washes and you'll save energy!
2. Start small, if you're not ready to commit to it for 3 years, try the 210 wash laundry egg.
3. Some of the fragrances can be light, so if you want that extra fresh smell, you can add a few drops of your favourite Essential Oil.
FAQS
Can I use laundry eggs with a top loader, front load or twin tub?
Yes, laundry eggs can be used with all types of laundry machines. For front loaders & top loaders, just pop it in.
With a normal front loading machine, one laundry egg is sufficient for 6-8kg. For a 10kg machine it is most likely that x 2 eggs would be needed.
For a twin tub, it is actually much easier to remove the laundry egg when coming to the rinse cycle. Using the same water for more than one load should not be a problem.
Do I need to remove the laundry egg for the rinse cycle?
No. As the Laundry Egg does not contain any "soap" agents, it leaves almost no residue on your clothes. Therefore, the rinse cycle can be significantly reduced, saving water, time and electricity. Some machines have a 'rinse hold' button, which, when pressed, skips the rinse cycle. If you are unable to cut out the rinse cycle, this will not affect the Laundry Egg.
If you have a washer & dryer machine, you must remove the laundry egg before the dry cycle as this will shorten the life of the pellets.
Can laundry eggs be used to clean MCNs (Modern Cloth Nappies)?
Yes, they will clean your nappies like normal detergent, but of course, with stains on your nappies, we recommend giving them a good scrub with wither the Tuffy Stain Remover Bar or Ethique Flash Solid Laundry Bar & Stain Remover.
How long do they last?
This depends on which size you buy. The Ecoegg Laundry Egg Refill Pellets 210 Washes lasts up to 1 year and the Ecoegg Laundry Egg 720 Washes lasts up to 3 years!
Are they better than soapberries?
They are similar, so if you're a super waste warrior, of course, the soap barriers are compostable and the egg is something you'll have to dispose of responsibly when the time comes.
Are they okay for sensitive skin?
Yes! There are no harmful chemicals in the Laundry Egg pellets. The Laundry Egg has been tested on subjects with sensitive skin and were given a rating of 'excellent' by industry recognised testing by 'Dermatest'.
The Laundry Egg also holds Allergy UK's 'Allergy Friendly Product' award. The pellets are hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. Ecoegg have never tested the Laundry Egg pellets on babies, but many parents happily use it for newborn's, toddler's and children's laundry and some parents use it to wash the clothing of children who suffer from skin allergies due to the very low level of fragrance and no harmful chemicals.
Once you've used up all the washes from your Ecoegg Laundry Egg, you can simply buy the Refill Pellets and continue the cycle. It's the sustainable way to do your washing!
Are you looking for more ways to be sustainable in your laundry? Make sure to checkout the blogs below, for some more helpful tips: