Overall Rating:
4.80/5
Ease Of Use = 4.6
Value For Money = 4.8
Sustainability = 4.9
Effectiveness = 5.0
PROS:
- 100% naturally-derived, plant-based ingredients
- Packaging made from 100% recycled plastic and recyclable
- Excellent performance
- Safe for septic tanks
CONS:
- Closed loop system only available for 20l containers
- Dosage can be tricky
I’m always on the lookout for eco-friendly laundry products. My newest find is Bio D, which I have tried and tested and here I share my experience with you.
Ever since I have learned that commonly used laundry detergents are bad for our environment, I search for eco-friendly alternatives that work just as well.
After all, switching to a sustainable laundry detergent is part of creating a green laundry routine.
In my Bio D laundry products Review I will share my thoughts of their sustainable alternatives with you, so you know all you need to know to make you own decision.
About Bio D
Whenever I get made aware of an eco-friendly company, I first check where they are based. Bio D are based in Hull, which I was very pleased about.
Not just because this means they are based in the UK, but my husband is from Hull, so I felt that I had a connection with this business already.
One of the co-founders worked in ship maintenance, where he used harsh chemicals to clean ships. He was shocked to discover that many of these toxic chemicals were also used in household cleaners.
He founded Bio D in 1989 to offer cleaners for everyday use that are effective, save for people and the environment. To achieve this, they only use naturally derived, plant-based ingredients that won’t harm the planet or us. Which also makes their products safe for septic tanks.
Packing Made From Recycled Material
From the start, sustainability was at the heart of what they do, which is exactly what I want in a business I support.
And they don’t stop with the ingredients. All their containers are made with 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. And while they can be recycled again, that’s not necessary. Because you can keep them and refill them.
Bio D sells 20l containers with you can send back to them when empty so they can clean and refill them. If that sounds a bit much, you can refill your bottles at some of their stockists.
Made In The UK
They do also do smaller refill containers, such as 5l, but those aren’t included in their closed loop system. However, buying lager containers is better for the environment because less packaging is needed.
This company makes all their products on their premises in Hull, which is completely solar powered, reducing their carbon footprint by quite a bit.
And most of their products are concentrated, which means they use less water and you get more for your money. In short, Bio D is exactly the kind of business we want to support here at Eco HomeLife.
All Your Laundry Needs Are Met
The first thing I noticed when I looked at Bio D’s website was the range of laundry products they offer. From detergent, over stain remover bars and fabric conditioner to laundry bleach.
Their laundry liquid comes in various scents, all from natural and essential oils, rather than synthetic fragrances. There is also a fragrance-free option, which is great if you or someone in your family has sensitive skin.
They washing powder is also fragrance-free as well as hypoallergenic, and certified as Allergy Friendly by Allergy UK. Apart from laundry products they also offer a wide range of cleaning products.
I Tested Almost Their Full Range
To ensure that I can get a good picture of their products, I tested most of what they offer in the laundry category:
- Laundry liquid – scent: cotton fresh
- Fabric conditioner – scent: cotton fresh
- Stain remover bar
- Laundry bleach
Read on to find out how these products performed.
Outstanding Stain Removal
I put all these laundry products to a vigorous test to see if they are as good as Bio D promised. First, I just did a normal wash, using the laundry liquid and fabric conditioner. No particular stubborn stains, just an everyday load of our clothes.
I was pleased to find that any small stains, such as food stains, came out leaving our clothes cleans and fresh.
Even oily spice stains from a curry night were not a problem for the laundry liquid. Similar stains I had to pre-treat with other eco-friendly detergents.
Gym Clothes Are No Problem
The next test, was our gym gear. While it doesn’t normally get stained, it’s very sweaty after a 5k run or a tough workout in the home gym.
And I’ve had sustainable detergents before that couldn’t cope with that, so that the sweaty smell stayed on the clothes after washing them.
The good news is, the Bio D laundry liquid got our workout clothes to come out fresh as a daisy, ready for the next challenge.
By the way, I only wash at 30 degrees Celsius or below, and this laundry liquid works absolutely fine at these low temperatures.
Stubborn Stains Are No Problem Either
The toughest challenge I set these laundry products was getting rid of sunscreen stains from my husbands Hull City shirt. They yellowish stains were so far impossible to get out, so I admit, I wasn’t very hopeful.
I tried a combination of stain removal soap, laundry detergent, and laundry bleach. Make sure that if you use laundry bleach with any fabric that has colours, that they are colourfast.
After the first wash, the stains were greatly reduced and after the second wash, they had disappeared almost completely. If you look very closely you can see them very faintly still, but it’s clean enough to be worn again.
It’s kind of a beautiful thought that laundry products from a company from Hull managed to get my husbands Hull City shirt clean, ins’t it?
Discoloured Bed Sheets White Again
If you have white bed sheets you know that after a time they can become yellowish. Because I don’t like to use bleach, I just always put up with it. After all, it’s not like it’s dirty, it’s just discoloured.
So when I saw a laundry bleach that is not chlorine bleach but an eco-friendly oxygen-based bleach, I had to give it a go. And I have to say, I was really impressed.
After the first time using it, the yellowish discolouration had almost completely disappeared. A second wash a few weeks later made the sheets white again, which is a great result. Especially because it didn’t harm the environment.
By the way, you can use the laundry bleach to remove tea stains from white mugs too, isn’t that fantastic?
Stain Removal Soap Top Notch
The stain removal soap has come in handy several times already. I normally use a paste of bicarbonate soda and water, which works pretty well.
But I have to admit, just grabbing the soap, wetting it under water and rubbing it on the stain, makes stain removal very simple. I’m honestly considering to continue buying it, as it would make my life a bit easier.
It can also be used to hand wash delicate clothes, or on carpets and fabric furniture. This makes this scent-free, natural soap a handy product around the house.
Subtle Scent That Lasts
When it comes to laundry detergent, most people expect the scent to stick to their laundry for days if not weeks. But this is only possible with synthetic fragrances, and more difficult to achieve with natural or essential oils.
I have gotten used to my laundry not smelling of anything, no scent but also no bad smells. However, I know that for many people clean laundry has to smell fresh. So how does Bio D’s laundry detergent perform in the scent category?
As I have already said, I chose the “fresh cotton” scent, and I have to say it smells delicious. As if you have dried your clothes outside on a warm summer’s day.
Choice Of Different Scents
And unlike many other sustainable detergents I have tried, the scent actually stays on your laundry for a few days. Admittedly, I have also used the fabric conditioner, which contains essential oils as well.
This will intensify and prolong the time the scent will stick around. There are other scents to choose from too: juniper, lavender, and fragrance-free for sensitive skin.
Their washing powder is only available as fragrance-free, as it’s aimed at people with very sensitive skin or allergies to fragrances.
Dosage Can Be Tricky
One thing that can be difficult with any liquid detergent is getting the dosage right. You don’t want to use too little and the laundry not getting clean, as you have to then wash it again.
Equally, using too much is a waste of money and increases the environmental impact. In the worst case, it can also leave residue on the clothes, which means you have to wash them again, wasting more money and using more energy.
The Bio D liquid laundry bottle does give a dosage guide, based on how hard your water is and how soiled the laundry is or if you use it for hand washing.
Cap Is 30ml
The cap of the bottle holds 30ml, which I established by filling it to the top and then pouring it into a measuring jar. This information wasn’t mentioned one the label, which would have made it easier.
The good news is that this means two caps full are the right amount to wash a full load in hard water with normal soiling. But if you have medium water you only need 50ml and for soft water 40ml.
This is much more difficult to measure out using the cap, leaving you to guess. If you have heavy soiling, you’re ok if you have medium water, as you need 60ml, so two caps full. But if you have soft water you need 50ml and for hard water 80ml, making it more difficult again.
I would love to see a cap that has a measuring line for 10ml, so that you can easily measure out the right amount for your load.
Do You Get Value For Money?
Now that our Bio D laundry products review has established that their products work great and have a lovely subtle scent, what about value for money?
If you are to switch away from what you know, you have to be sure you won’t have to pay much more, right?
At current prices, with the Bio D laundry liquid, you pay 20p per wash with the 1l bottle (up to 33 washes), which is pretty similar to most other brands for a similar amount of washes. Although own brand supermarket detergents are cheaper.
Bigger Bottle = Better Value
However, if you decide to buy a 5l bottle, you only pay 15p per wash, which is quite a bit cheaper. I would recommend buying a 1l bottle first and keep refilling it.
And buy buying a bigger bottle you don’t just save money, you also reduce plastic packaging, because less plastic is needed for one 5l bottle than for five 1l bottles.
This also works with the fabric conditioner where you pay 10p per wash with the 1l bottle, and 8p per wash with the 5l bottle (these prices are correct at the time of writing).
I would say, that’s pretty good value for money, as you also get laundry products that are kinder to your family and the environment, without any harsh synthetic chemicals.
Final Thoughts
Switching to eco-friendly alternatives can be a bit daunting. You don’t want to buy it and find out that it doesn’t work as well as you regular product, which isn’t just disappointing but also leaves you out of pocket.
That’s why I try and test sustainable products and share my experience with you, so that you can make the switch with confidence.
As my Bio D laundry product review has hopefully shown to you, the laundry products of this Hull-based company are definitely worth the switch.
I got great results and if you buy the bigger bottles you can save money and plastic packaging. So if you want to create a green laundry routine, the Bio D products are a great choice for eco-friendly alternatives that work.
