Introducing Safonique: An Eco-Friendly Laundry Solution

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

With 2 messy preschoolers, an equally messy teen boy, a husband that works in the automotive industry and several cats and dogs, we do a LOT of laundry in my home. In fact, it never really ever gets fully done. We produce a lot more laundry than we ever seem to be able to wash in any given day. Am I alone in this, or do any of you have the "never-ending laundry pile", too? 

I am always looking for more eco-friendly solutions to every day household chores. I have tried many different things from homemade laundry detergent, cloth-diaper soaps in our loads, and even those wash balls that last up to a year. My husband, who just happens to be the one who does the laundry because our spooky basement gives me the willies, prefers a straightforward, liquid detergent over any other kind. 

So recently, when I discovered a brand new eco-friendly detergent, Safonique, I was eager to give it a try. This concentrated detergent is made from natural, plant-based ingredients like essential oils, and even comes in an eco-friendlier pouch rather than a bulky, plastic jug. (Always a plus. I hate plastic!)  Oh, and it contains all-natural borax to help fight stains, making this formula biodegradable and safe for use with septic systems. 

About Safonique :

Safonique was created over 15 years ago as an answer to busy family’s requirements for a safe, 100 % natural laundry detergent that would meet variety of washing needs without paying a high premium. Today Safonique is available in over 600 Wal-Mart and other stores across the Eastern US and online at www.safonique.com. Safonique does not contain enzymes, phosphates or residues and won’t damage septic systems yet powers out tough stains. This ultra concentrated, eco-friendly, non-toxic and hypoallergenic product was developed using pure aromatherapy essential oils and all natural 100% biodegradable ingredients.

Today’s conscious consumers want authentically green, pure products at reasonable price and Safonique delivers higher satisfaction at a great value. It is made with pure essential oils – not synthetics that can aggravate sensitive skin – and is available at a competitive price when compared with other ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ detergents like Seventh Generation, Method, and Ecover. Safonique’s pure aromatherapy and natural surfactants provide a gentle yet effective option for entire family’s cleaning needs. Its unique formula safely washes clothes of newborns, children and adults. Safonique is never irritating, and always cleans thoroughly. It is compatible with high efficiency washing machines.

Our Thoughts :

When we received our pouch of Safonique, the first thing I noticed was the packaging. It's very different than traditional laundry soap packaging. This is great since it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in our already overflowing landfills. 

The downside? Well, it's a pain to measure out the right amount of detergent. There is no real measuring device included. I realize for some, this may be a deal-breaker. We just keep a plastic measuring cup near the washer and dryer and measure it out ourselves. 

We have been using Safonique for a couple of weeks now, and I am pretty impressed with how gentle it is. Since this detergent is free of harsh chemicals and phosphates, we've had no skin irritation at all. (Xander tends to break out a bit with certain detergents.) I feel good using this since I know it won't harm my children or pets. 

The lavender scent is very pleasant, without being the least bit overwhelming. It makes our basement smell nice when we do a load of laundry, and the scent lingers a bit on clothing. It's not a heavy scent, and would not be offensive to anyone who has sensitivities to odors.  

As far as cleaning power...Well...I think this does very well for your average, lightly soiled load of laundry. For tougher stains and dirt, you WILL want to pre-treat the stains before washing. Or perhaps double the amount of detergent used. We have found that, on its own, Safonique doesn't completely remove certain food stains or grass stains. Both of which we have a LOT of in my home. 

I wish I could be 100% positive about Safonique. But, in the name of complete honesty and transparency, I have to admit that this detergent falls just a wee bit short in my home. There are definitely things I love like the gentle, natural ingredients and the eco-friendly packaging. I also really love the light, lavender smell of this detergent. But the fact that there is no real way to measure doses and the need to pre-treat most of our laundry leaves a bit to be desired, in my opinion. 

While I love the idea behind this product, I think the formula needs a bit of tweaking to handle tougher stains. So, while I think this is a wonderful product at a better price point than many other "green" detergents, I won't be switching brands just yet. If you have minimal messes and just normal laundry, this would probably work very well for you. In my house, which is ruled by messy preschoolers, teens and fur-babies, we just need a bit more stain-fighting power. 

Safonique is available in over 600 locations including Wal-Mart, Shop Rite and online via sites like amazon.com, walmart.com and www.safonique.com. A 50 ounce pouch contains about 32 loads, and it has a suggested retail price of $6.97.