Traditional laundry detergents are problematic (to people and planet) for a number of reasons. They contribute to plastic waste, many big-name brands still conduct tests on animals, and they normally contain, well, a laundry list of scary-sounding chemicals that can cause havoc with sensitive skin or allergies.
The ecoegg lets you do laundry differently. Made with non-biological natural mineral pellets, this refillable egg-shaped capsule is a complete replacement for both laundry detergent and fabric conditioner.
Check out Faerly’s range of Eco Eggs here.
Learn about better ways to clean your home here.
What eggxactly are eco eggs, and how do they work?
Essentially, the ecoegg Laundry egg is an egg-shaped cage which contains two types of mineral pellets.
The black pellets are made from tourmaline, a naturally occurring element in the silicate group. These act to weaken the forces holding dirt and fabric together. These do not degrade over time, so you can use them over and over.
The cream pellets are made from ionising minerals and surfactants, with a hint of essential oils to leave laundry with a subtle fragrance. They contain oxygen molecules, which can penetrate deep into fabric without damaging the fibres. These pellets are used up over time, so this is what you’ll purchase to refill your ecoegg down the line. All the surfactants, stabilisers, builders and binders in the mineral pellets are biodegradable.
Benefits of ecoeggs vs traditional laundry detergents
Top selling points? Ecoeggs are cheaper, contain no harsh chemicals, and are smaller and lighter than a bottle of regular laundry detergent – so their carbon footprint is smaller too. They also save water and electricity, and are the perfect option for our vegan friends, as they contain no animal products and are not tested on animals.
In an eggshell:
- Reduces single use plastic up to 40 single-use plastic bottles per household each year
- Lowers your carbon footprint– traditional detergents are mostly water and need to be replaced frequently
- No nasty or unethical chemicals – ecoeggs are free from chlorine bleach, phosphates, SLE/SLES, petrochemicals, palm oil and enzymes
- Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
- Kind on skin - excellent for those with sensitive skin or allergies
- Saves money, water, time, electricity and reduces waste
Pretty eggxciting, yes? We think so too!
Getting started with ecoeggs
Before you use an ecoegg for the first time, it’s a good idea to get rid of any lingering detergent clogging up your machine. Ecoegg washing machine detox tablets are perfect for this, and can also be used once a month to keep your machine and its various pipes in tip top shape.
With this out the way, you're all set! Simply pop the Ecoegg Laundry Egg on top of your washing in the drum of your machine, and you're good to go.
Let the ecoegg hunt begin!
Convinced it’s time to make the switch? We thought you might be! Here are the ecoegg products Faerly stocks – we’re particularly excited about the new range of eggs specifically for whites – ideal for your linen or reusable nappies!
Eco Egg Laundry Eggs:
The most popular is the Fresh Linen fragrance and we've recently added the Eco eggs for white washes to our range that are specially formulated with brighteners for white washes.
Eco Egg - Laundry Egg - Fresh Linen 70 Wash
Eco Egg - Laundry Egg - Spring Blossom 70 Wash
Eco Egg Laundry Egg For Whites - 70 Washes - Jasmine Infusion
Eco Egg Laundry Egg For Whites - 70 Washes - Lavender
Eco Egg refills
You should need these at around the 70 wash mark, you just add them to your existing laundry egg. You don't need to replace the black tourmaline pellets, just the white mineral ones.
Eco Egg - Laundry Egg Refills - Fresh Linen 50
Eco Egg - Laundry Egg Refills - Spring Blossom 50
Eco Egg Dryer eggs
These dryer eggs help to separate your laundry so that more air can circulate, drying each item more quickly. For a more fragrant wash, these dryer eggs contain a hypoallergenic fragrance stick infused with essential oil to perfume and soften your clothes naturally.
Eco Egg - Dryer Eggs - Fresh Linen
Eco Egg - Dryer Eggs - Spring Blossom
Dryer Egg refills:
Eco Egg - Dryer Egg Refills - Fresh Linen
Eco Egg - Dryer Egg Refills - Spring Blossom
Washing machine detox tablets
To deep clean your machine! These detox tablets remove detergent and softener build-up before switching to an Eco Egg for the first time. You can also use them once a month to keep your machine smelling fresh.
Eco Egg Washing Machine Detox Tablets
Eco Egg FAQ’s
Let’s talk about the good, the great, and the not-so-great.
Most importantly, do they actually work?
Fair question! Yes, they really do. Because they contain no harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrance, it’s unrealistic to expect quite the same performance and experience that you’d get from a standard laundry detergent. (Of course, that’s a good thing for your skin and the environment.)
There are some caveats and they don’t completely remove the need for detergent for heavily soiled or smelly washing loads. That said, you’ll find most stains and marks are no problem for the Eco Laundry Egg. If you have really tough stains to tackle, though, you should use a stain remover to spot treat stains before you wash.
We use the ecoegg successfully for almost all of our washing. However, if we have more soiled washes (like muddy and smelly hiking gear) we will use Tru Earth laundry strips instead just for a bit of extra cleaning power.
We’ve also found that adding vinegar to the wash cycle is very helpful and gives the cleaning power an extra kick. Vinegar deodorises, brightens and soften clothes and doesn't leave a vinegar smell. We buy our vinegar in bulk and keep a small bottle for laundry that we add about 10 drops of essential oil to. Just add a splash of this to the fabric softener compartment for each wash.
How long do ecoeggs last?
Depending on the size you get, and how often you do laundry of course, an ecoegg can last for up to three years before it needs refilling! On average egg eggs are designed for 70 washes, and refills for 50 washes. In our experience this is a bit of an overestimation and a better indicator is to watch when the pellets start to shrink.
How do I know when I need to refill my ecoegg?
You can tell your egg needs refilling either once the pellets fall beneath the white line inside the larger half of the egg, or when the white pellets are about half the size they originally were.
How many do I need?
One egg is enough for a machine between 6 and 8kg. If your machine is 10kg or more, then using two ecoeggs is a good idea.
Hot or cold wash?
One of the many benefits of the ecoegg is that you can use cold water, as there are no heat-activated enzymes like you’d find in a traditional detergent. They can however be used in water up to 60 degrees Celsius.
Front loader or top loader?
Either! The ecoegg can even be used for handwashing. Simply place the egg to soak in water for 15 - 20 minutes, then hand wash as normal.
Must I remove the egg during the rinse cycle?
Removing the ecoegg for rinsing isn’t necessary because they don’t contain any traditional ‘soap’, which means no foamy residue to be rinsed off. If your machine offers a rinse hold function, then you can actually skip the rinse cycle all together. This will also help your egg last longer.
However, if you have a combo washer & dryer, make sure to remove the egg for the drying cycle or the white pellets will get used up faster than they should.
I live in a hard water area – is the ecoegg up to the task?
The tourmaline pellets in the ecoegg naturally soften the wash water (and your clothes) – so we suggest trying it without a water softener first. If you aren’t happy with the results, then you may need to use a water softener as well.
What is the fragrance like?
Newsflash – strong synthetic fragrances and perfumes that linger for days are not good for you. In fact, they can be downright toxic. The fragrance levels in the ecoegg are deliberately kept low, with only small quantities of natural essential oils used as a perfuming agent.
If you're used to the strong smell of a commercial laundry detergent, you will probably find the fragrance you get from the ecoegg on the weak side at first. Personally, though, after swapping over to the ecoegg, we quickly started to find the smell of traditional detergents cloying and artificial.
If you like, you can also add a few drops of your favourite essential oil when you wash clothes and bedding (we love rosemary, but any oil you like will work).
While you don't need to use fabric softener with an eco egg you can add a small amount of natural fabric softener to soften further and add some fragrance.
Why did my clothes come out smelly?
You likely have a build-up of old detergent in your washing machine, which can cause less-than-pleasant odours. Using an ecoegg detox tablet should take care of this. You must keep your washing machine super clean with an empty, very hot cycle and a washing machine detox cleaner at least once a month. Cleaning around the rubber seals and in and behind the detergent drawer are important too. Most of the smells you will get are from the machine and not the clothes.
What should I do with my old ecoegg pellets when I refill my egg?
Unfortunately, the white mineral pellets can’t be recycled or added to your compost heap at this point. You can simply dispose of them with your general household waste, knowing that they will biodegrade over time. 
In conclusion
While it might take you a little while to get used to the ecoegg way of washing and the absence of that strong commercial-brand fragrance, we know you’ll be glad you did. For us, we now use ecoeggs for most of our washing and we have drastically cut down on detergent. Some people will be happy to use them as a complete replacement, for us though a bit of eco detergent still has its place, just not very often.
An affordable, vegan-friendly product that reduces plastic pollution, saves time, water, and electricity, and is kind on skin and the planet? What’s not to love!