About.com Rating
The Bottom Line
Arm and Hammer Essentials is a high-performing laundry detergent containing no petroleum-based cleaners.
Pros
- High performing eco-friendly laundry detergent.
- Dye and perfume free for sensitve skin.
- Contains baking soda to boost cleaning performance.
Cons
- Measuring cap usage lines are impossible to see.
- Packaging does not contain recycled plastics.
Description
- High-performing laundry detergent.
- Eco-friendly detergent with no petroleum-based cleaners.
- Perfume and Dye Free for sensitive skin - excellent for baby's laundry.
Arm and Hammer Essentials Laundry Detergent - Product Review
Church & Dwight, Inc.'s,producer of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda since 1846, venture into the laundry detergent business has been quite successful. One of their latest cleaning lines is Essentials. Essentials products are eco-friendly containing no petroleum-based cleaners, no phosphates, no bleaches, no dyes. The cleaning power comes from 100% naturally derived surfactants and biodegradable plant-based soaps.
I tested Essentials Dye and Perfume Free Essentials. It worked beautifully on both lightly and heavily soiled clothes and removed average stains well. The detergent had a slight medicinal odor as it came from the bottle. However, when the laundry was done, it simple smelled fresh. No perfume odor to compete with my favorite spray-on sent.
The bottle holds 50 fluid ounces and should clean 26 loads. Ingredients include: Arm & Hammer baking soda, a combination of naturally derived cleaning agents (coconut-based surfactants, natural water softener and water.
My biggest complaint is about the lid/measuring cap. It is impossible to see the lines designated for medium and large loads. It is very easy to use more detergent than you really need.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.