Katherine Martinko at Treehugger.com asked the question, and it really is the best question.
“What’s the point of doing laundry with non-toxic soap if it still produces loads of un-recycled plastic waste?”
- When choosing to use natural products, looking beyond the ingredients is now a necessity. Packaging matters! Whether you buy Tangie Laundry Concentrate because you…
- Have reactions to fragrance.
- Choosing to go zero-waste in more areas of your life.
- Want to get more loads washed for your money.
- Need to use natural ingredients to stop skin irritations.
… it will never cost you more than the cost of the laundry detergent.
Buying something that costs you your health, well-being or your budget, well that’s just irresponsible. Wouldn’t you agree? You want to feel good, you want to be healthy, you want to thrive!
You have an innate obligation within you to do better. To win for yourself, your family and even for the generations that come after you. But doing better doesn’t have to come at an excessive cost or inconvenience. We provide you with a simple plastic-free alternative that works like your current liquid laundry product, just without the chemicals and plastic bottle waste. If you can handle dissolving sugar in water, you can handle making this laundry detergent. Tangie Laundry is a concentrated paste-to-liquid formulation you dissolve at home by placing the paste into a container of your choice and filling the container with water. That’s all it takes.
Choosing your own container is a great benefit! You finally get to choose a laundry bottle that works for you. The right size for your shelf, the right fit for your hand, the right look for your laundry room, because all those things matter.
But don’t overthink it! Any container that holds water will do. Just get started. Don’t wait for the perfect container before you start eliminating plastic laundry bottles from your life. The right container to start with could be an empty bottle of orange juice, mayonnaise, or pasta sauce; the options are endless. Think of all the containers you put into your recycling bin. Start there and choose something that is easy to hold and pour from.
You do NOT need to dissolve the entire bar of Laundry Concentrate all at one time. The entire bar dissolves to make one-gallon of liquid laundry soap. That might be too much to lift or even fit in the container you are starting with.
Plenty of customers, including our company founder, dissolve the entire bar into a gallon container and from that refill a smaller, more manageable bottle to easily dispenser the one-ounce of laundry liquid. It’s much easier to pour one-ounce of liquid from a smaller bottle, than it is to pour from a gallon jug. A zero waste laundry routine starts with the ability to stop buying disposable containers. Here’s where you start refilling and stop disposing.
The days of letting a manufacturer dictate the type of container you use is done. At Tangie, we choose minimal (and no packaging options), so you can be the decider of how to use, store and dispense the products that keep you clean and healthy while keeping you on your chosen zero-waste path.
How To Use

Benefits of Tangie Zero Waste-Free Laundry Detergent
- No water weight decreases shipping costs.
- Cardboard packaged paste is cheaper than a bottle in cost and environmental damage.
- Over 14,000 US tons of plastic containers and packaging was produced in 2018 and under 2 US tons of that was recycled. It has been estimated that over 1 billion laundry detergent bottles are disposed of every year in just the USA alone! You can do better for yourself and the environment with your purchases like choosing from the Tangie line of household cleaning and body products.
- No Fragrance or Essential Oils added.
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- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is not a clinical diagnosis yet, but close to 13% of adults in the USA have been diagnosed with MCS and are experiencing negative physical reactions to certain chemicals, many from those found in plastics and perfumes. 1
- According to Johns Hopkin Medicine, MCS is “a medical disorder triggered by exposures to chemicals, electromagnetic forces, or other environmental triggers. This often begins with a short-term, severe chemical exposure, such as a chemical spill, or a longer-term exposure. It is reported that once exposed, low levels of chemicals found in everyday materials, such as soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and newspaper inks, can trigger physical symptoms in people with multiple chemical sensitivities. 2
Tangie started out making all-natural liquid laundry soap. After a few years, we realized the plastic bottle was still part of the problem. Using good ingredients was not good enough. People already had water and containers at home, we shouldn’t need to provide them. After years of reformulating, Tangie emerged with the Laundry Paste and no longer needed to sell liquid laundry soap in a plastic bottle. We can ship you a gallon of laundry soap without plastic or wasteful water weight! Reducing our dependence on single-use plastic is possible. We can all start one load at a time.

Zerowaste

Eco Friendly

Vegan

Carbon Neutral
- A Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certified product.
- Tangie is a carbon-balanced company for office and shipping.
- The packaging is plastic-free and can be recycled or home composted.
- The lightweight cardboard is made from 75% post-consumer waste.
- Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) gave it an ‘A’ rating for consumer safety.
We only see about 30% of the dirt on our clothes.
Going zero waste does not mean you can skip washing your clothes. LOL! They might not be dirty with dirt, but they are loaded with body oil, dead skin cells, sweat and lots of lotions and deodorant. Think about that next time you go to rewear your pajamas or jeans for the fourth time!
Don’t think you sweat much?
According to studies, we can sweat as much as 30 ounces while sleeping. Maybe changing our sheets once a week is not enough?! An average adult can sweat as much as 3 litres just from their feet. Hmmmm… stinky socks anyone?
Once the temperature rises above 85, you start sweating even if you’re at rest. Tests conducted in the Sonoran Desert found that subjects sitting naked in the shade in 95-degree heat produced 220 milliliters of sweat per hour. Assuming comparable conditions were to prevail at night, you’d lose close to two liters over an eight-hour stretch. But then you wouldn’t even be thinking about a new mattress— you’d be shopping for an air conditioner. 1
Doing Laundry in Space —
There are no washing machines up there in the black velvet sky. Ever wonder how astronauts wash their underwear while flying around at 17,500 miles per hour? They incinerate them! After reusing them for about a week (if they are lucky), those undies get burned. They have enough to do up there to not worry about washing and folding clothes!
No laundry system means the ISS crew try to wear all their clothes until they smell bad, then throw them in the trash.
According to Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, Former resident of the ISS:
“The difficult part was that I had to wear those boxer shorts for at least four days. You see, with no laundry service up there, clothes (including underwear) are what we at NASA call a “consumable.” Using up your consumables too fast results in a need for more frequent supply deliveries, and when those deliveries come by rocket ship… well, let’s just say it’s a bit costly.”
Robert Trevino is a senior engineer with NASA’s Crew and Thermal Systems Division and reported to Vice.com that “on missions farther from Earth, we’re not going to have that luxury, of the space station having cargo vehicles that bring them fresh clothing. We’ve done trade studies of providing a laundry system which uses water and power and requires something to take it up, versus the cost of just replacing the clothing, and right now it’s essentially cheaper to replace the clothing because water is just too valuable of a resource.” 2
Also See
CHECK OUT OUR DISPENSING LID … the perfect way to dispense the dissolved Laundry Paste! For Dilution ideas go to https://www.wastefreeproducts.com/tips
Get This ProductWaste Free Laundry Detergent Instruction Sticker:
Once you’ve purchased our waste free laundry detergent you can make your own laundry detergent container. Simply apply this sticker to the container you want to use for your laundry soap and you will have all the reminders you need, such as how much to use and where to re-order.
Faq’s
After the laundry paste is dissolved, we recommend you use it within 6 months, with the caveat that water is the breeding ground for mold. Of course, mold has a hard time growing on soap but if you feel you won’t be using up the dissolved laundry concentrate within 6 months, cut the bar in half and make less.
The bar has a long shelf life of 3+ years. The outside of the bar will develop soap ash which will not look pretty but it is completely safe and will not reduce the efficacy of the soap. Store in a dry location.
Not really. It depends on how much clothes you load in at one time.
If the machine fills the tub all the way with water, you may want to start with one ounce of dissolved Laundry Concentrate and see how it goes for you.
We have been asked this question many times and we are pretty sure the question originated from a blog post on “Going Zero Waste” (by Kathryn Kellogg) about homemade laundry soap.
First, we are big fans of Kathryn Kellogg. She provides great information!
To answer the question, Tangie doesn’t fit the description of homemade type laundry soaps made with bars of soap grated and dissolved into water. We use yucca root powder and soap nuts liquid for cleaning power which are natural saponins, aka natural detergents.
Oil build up has not been reported to us by users. We’ve had reports from some front load machine users that the smell they noticed in their washing machine pre-Tangie went away AFTER using Tangie Laundry Concentrate. We are not sure why this happens but we were pleased to hear it and happy we can share it.
Yes, that will work and so would the hand soap paste. Wash the brushes out by hand and rinse. Just like washing your hands, scrub for at least 20- 30 seconds. Depending on the makeup level on the brushes, you may need to wash and rinse two times.
I understand. Allergies suck!! I formulated this laundry soap because I have super sensitive skin. I can’t guarantee she won’t be allergic but I certainly understand her nervousness. I offer a 30 day money back guarantee if not satisfied. Contact me if she has any issues.
Thank you, Angie Ringler
Half an ounce to 1 oz depending on load size and dirt level. Try one half ounce for clothes that are not super dirty or stinky. Adjust up from there per your needs and load size.
Depending on how many items you wash at one time by hand, I would start with 1/4 ounce of Laundry Concentrate Bar after you dissolve it.
Yes. Our laundry paste works in high efficiency washers.
This can happen when homemade laundry soap is made by grating a bar of soap and dissolving it in water. Tangie uses yucca root powder and soap nuts liquid as cleaning agents which are natural saponins (detergents), not grated soap.
Yes. Tangie Laundry Concentrate will work in a washing machine with an auto-fill detergent dispenser. Set your level at 3x Concentrate.
Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Soap Nuts Liquid, Saponified Lye, Yucca Powder, Baking Soda, Oxalic Acid, Salt, Rosemary Oleoresin.
BUY NOW
D.E. –
This bar dissolved easily in my 64 oz jar with pour cap. It works very well cleaning and does not leave residue. Combine with stain remover bar for grimy dirt.
Very happy! Good for high efficiency washers. No waste!
admin (verified owner) –
I love this laundry paste. Clean clothes with absolutely no waste. 2 bars lasts me almost a full year. Well worth the price. ~ Elly M.
admin (verified owner) –
To be clear, this product did NOT work for me. However, I rate 5 stars for two reasons
1. It’s quite possible the reason it didn’t work is due to my unbelievably hard water with no installed water softener.
2. The seller is quite amazing. She went above and beyond to make sure my experience was good despite the troubles I had.
Prospective customers should keep in mind the thousands of good experiences with this product recorded all over the web. If you’re gonna give it a chance, buy it from this seller. ~ Paris J.
admin (verified owner) –
The BEST zero waste laundry paste ever. It left my clothes very clean (even the stinky activewear). So grateful I found this amazing product that’s good for my family and the planet. ~ Christine C.
admin (verified owner) –
I have been using this for over a year. My clothes are clean and soft. Earth friendly for my septic as well. I have a glass jar with a spigot sitting above my front load washer. Now I not only do not have plastic bottles to put in the landfill, but I don’t have to lift the heavy economical containers. I love every single product I have tried! ~ Kym F.
admin (verified owner) –
I like the product very much. It is easy to dissolve and use. It cleans my clothes wonderfully! I love not having plastic waste. ~ S.A.
admin (verified owner) –
So far I am loving this!! It was easy to cut the bar up to put into the narrow neck of my repurposed vinegar jug. I just have to swish it around each time & then pour it into a repurposed scoop I had. I will really know how well it cleans when it gets to planting time with my farmer husband but things are nice & clean so far. I have started adding a drop of lavender essential oil in it to add a slight scent. Thanks Angie for coming up with this basically no waste product!! I plan to see if the box will compost 🙂 ~ Deborah R.
admin (verified owner) –
This has become our go-to for laundry detergent. Safe for us, our machine, the environment, affordable, hand made, zero waste, and relieves me from having to do everything DIY like I do for so many other products. Thank you Angie! ~ Kristin W.
admin (verified owner) –
Wasn’t sure if this laundry soap would live up to the hype but it has! Easy to make, easy to use (I got the dispenser jar with a sticker), smells amazing, and works! I have tried other natural laundry soaps with varied results. Most recently used soap berries and because I hand dry all my laundry my towels and pants would often be a little stiff and not soft at all. All of my clothes are much softer after hanging dry when using this laundry soap. Give it a try, you won’t regret it! ~ Karli M.
admin (verified owner) –
My daughter and I tried making our own several different ways. This bar is easy to use, cleans the clothes without leaving any residue, and makes so many loads. Thank you. ~ Cathy C.
admin (verified owner) –
I love this laundry paste! This is my second time purchasing this. The paste dilutes quickly, cleans well, and smells like plants. I cut the bar up into small cubes that make it easy for traveling. It’s so great to be able to travel with the solid paste, and then dilute it when I need it! I love that all of the packaging is biodegradable, and that you only need to buy one sticker and keep it on the same container. I plan on using this laundry detergent forever!!! ~ Megan L.
admin (verified owner) –
I am very pleased with this product. My laundry is clean and the environment is better off! ~ Danielle P.
admin (verified owner) –
I love this product! It is different from what I’m used to and takes some getting used to but it is so worth it! My partner and I have 2 dogs and a cat so I tend to use the maximum amount of liquid for every load and this paste still lasts significantly longer than any detergent I’ve used before. Our laundry is coming out clean without the nasty chemicals and no more lugging those heavy bottles home from the store! Thank you Angie for being so available to answer questions via social media! I appreciate you! ~ Caitlin C.
admin (verified owner) –
Love it! My clothes come out clean and no worries about harmful chemicals. I especially love that I’m not throwing away a plastic bottle each time I need to replace. ~ Tami P.
admin (verified owner) –
Very easy to mix, cleans great and has a nice smell as well! ~ Summer R.
admin (verified owner) –
For years, supersized products have been forced on consumers, necessitating supersized packaging. Finally, here’s a product reversing that trend while still maintaining the quality and amount of product. A bar of laundry paste, slightly larger than your palm, allowing you to decide what size and type container you want to fit into your laundry area, and it’s as simple as it gets – both in ingredients and in ease of use. That makes me and the planet happy! ~ Rolene O.
admin (verified owner) –
I had already purchased the Tangie soap and stain bar and loved them. So, when I saw the opportunity to buy a year’s worth, I grabbed it. With just two of us at home now, we don’t go through that much laundry. But, with the bulk order, I was able to pass the love on to my daughter and daughter-in-law who were already so impressed with the stain bar when I used it on diaper blow-outs when visiting Nana and Papa! Thanks for a great product and the chance to promote environmentally friendly practices with my family. ~ Katherine R.