I purchased my Ecoegg laundry egg just over four months ago. As I have been using it for a while I thought it was time to give some feedback. So here is my Ecoegg review.
My reasons for buying the Ecoegg were as follows:
a) to reduce the amount of waste I created in the form of plastic bottles and cardboard;
b) to save money on laundry detergent;
c) to cut out some of the chemicals I use here at Shoestring Cottage, benefiting us as a family and the environment.
How does it work?
The manufacturer claims that “The Laundry Egg is a complete replacement for laundry detergent and fabric conditioner. Just pop it in the drum of your washing machine on top of your clothes – no powder, liquid, tablets, gels, or fabric softener required.”
According to the blurb it works like this: “The Ecoegg contains two types of cleaning pellets. The tourmaline ceramic pellets weaken the adhesive forces between the dirt and the fabric. The mineral pellets then naturally ionise the oxygen molecules in the water which then penetrate deep into the fabric, lifting away the direct and grime. The two types of natural mineral pellets inside the egg work together, lifting off the dirt and odours, leaving significantly less residue on your clothes.”
It arrived with 2 little packets of pellets. You have to fill your egg with one and when the pellets fall beneath the refill line, add another packet. I have been using mine since September last year (during Zero Waste week), so haven’t had to refill it yet. You can also buy refills of the pellets and use your egg over and over again, helping to save money and reduce plastic waste for years to come.
Money saving
The egg I purchased was the Fresh Linen 720 wash version
Better for your skin
The Ecoegg is dermatologically tested and supported by Allergy UK . It has been awarded the Allergy Friendly Product Award, so could be the perfect product for those who suffer from eczema or dermatitis.
But does it really clean your laundry?
I have been really happy with the effectiveness of the Ecoegg. On a general wash of clothes worn to work or about the house it is great. I do think you might miss that (totally fake) ‘just washed’ smell from your normal laundry liquid. I add a few drops of essential oil to the fabric softener drawer but, to be frank, it’s not really needed.
However, I want to be honest in my Ecoegg review. On really dirty items such as Mr Shoestring’s work jeans, it doesn’t lift tough stains out. I think it would have a hard time with blood or oil too. Having said that, any commercial washing powder might struggle with this! To counter this I use a pre-wash stain remover. Ecoegg sell their own stain remover
The Ecoegg doesn’t soften clothes in the same way a fabric softener would so I still add conditioner to each wash. I purchase mine at our local food coop, who do refills, which means we aren’t generating the need for more plastic bottles.
Concluding my Ecoegg review
Overall I am an Ecoegg convert. Mostly the clothes we wash are my barely dirty ones as I work in an office, or Mr S’s slightly grubbier ones, which can be dirty if he has been working outside. It doesn’t leave your sheets ‘whiter than white’, but that is because if doesn’t contain a lot of chemical bleaches, so I can live with that. This means it doesn’t leach the colour from your darker clothes too, which is a bonus.
I am happy enough to have a box of laundry powder to get things a bit cleaner on the odd occasion. Because I can buy fabric conditioner in bulk I don’t mind that the Ecoegg doesn’t leave our laundry super soft. It might be enough for many people to add a cup of white vinegar to be even more eco-friendly.
The Ecoegg has definitely saved us money and will continue to do so, I hope, over the next few years. So would I recommend it? Most certainly!
Do you prefer greener methods to regular laundry products? What do you use?
This is not a sponsored post and I purchased the Ecoegg myself. However, this post does contain affiliate links and if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission. Thanks!
I usually use old plastic spray bottles, but this time invested in some home made glass spray bottles from 
I have been using CBD oil orally, but had heard that CBD ointment applied to the skin can be helpful for pain. With a bit of research, I found that 
Because they use only the best, natural ingredients, their products aren’t cheap. However, if you want to do natural beauty on a budget, you can do some savvy shopping with their offers. This Sukin Love Your Skin set is on offer at £15.99, down from £23.99. It consists of a foaming facial cleanser, hydrating mist toner and moisturiser. Pretty good value for three products I think.
They have some great value items in their sale too, so it’s worth a look. I wear lipstick a lot and really love their Lily Lolo natural lipsticks at £9.50 each, which I think is pretty reasonable. This one, Demure, is in the sale for £6.50 and is just my colour!
Can you imagine your family producing just one mason jar of waste each year? Even reducing the waste in your recycling to the bare minimum? Can you envisage for one moment your home as a minimalist, plastic-free haven containing only the things you really need? Less to clean and maintain, fewer toxins, and a simpler life richer in the things that really matter? Bea Johnson and her family have created just that and her book 
, which I reviewed 
. I was intrigued to find out how he would live on no money at all for a year. In this thought provoking book, Mark Boyle shows how you can not only live on less money, but actually thrive. His book draws attention to the damage our thoughtless consumerism does to the world and our fellow citizens and offers a radical new way to live. My review is 
makes money saving seem like an enjoyable hobby rather than a hard, painful slog. The Tightwad Gazette started life as a money saving newsletter, full of great frugal commonsense and thrifty ideas. Even though it is now quite old, it is a classic and a must for anyone wanting to live a good life on less dollar. My review is 
. Lots of super cheap recipes in this one. I prefer it by far to any of the others from Jack. My full review is 
. If you are a vegetarian or have one in the family, it is well worth buying. I still love the cashew nut and mushroom roast and the red dragon pie, especially.
brings together recipes from many of her books. What I like about any of Rose Elliot’s books is that she always gives you plenty of information on how to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and the recipes are easy to make. I have pulled this one out as it has a lot of good recipes, but actually any Rose Elliot book is worth a look. Many of them are out of print now so grab a copy if you happen to see one second hand. Some are available on Amazon, but are expensive now. The New Vegetarian Cookbook is another good one, but I couldn’t see it on Amazon at all, and I used to love 
, which I think was probably the first vegetarian cook book I ever bought, in my teens. Spinach roulade, anyone?
is quite an old book now, as it was first published in 2004. However, it is totally relevant for today, as we become more acutely aware of the environmental damage our lifestyle is causing and strive to reduce our carbon footprint. This is one of the most inspirational books I have found and it has certainly had an impact on me as I have attempted to live a green lifestyle over the years.
Rachel Strauss gives you simple ideas recipes and ideas to replace all chemical cleaners in your house for the sake of your health, the environment and your bank balance.
, Elaine St James suggests a different way to live, trading in your high pressure lifestyle for one that is less about money and more about valuing the simpler things in life. A great read if you need inspiration to change, but don’t know where to start.
challenges the faster is better, hectic lifestyles that many of us find ourselves trapped in. When Carl Honore found himself speed reading a bedtime story to his child, he knew he had to change and find a better balance. In this book, he explores the idea of slow living, from slow food to slow sex to show how embracing the slow living movement can help you live a more productive and fulfilling life. A great book for when you are feeling overwhelmed. Give yourself time to read this!
from Amazon, which I think looks slightly classier:
. He really is a remarkable young man. I reviewed Jordon’s book 
do one with a very fine strainer and a drip tray, making it easy to use and mess free.
glass popcorn maker from Amazon, which will be healthier, cheaper and cut out all the packaging she currently has to dispose of. I have seen others that have no plastic, but I think it needs some protection. It won’t be too sustainable if she immediately breaks it and has to throw it out!
. It’s not clear what the packaging is on this. I doubt it’s glass so hopefully the plastic is recyclable at least. It is however made with natural, soothing ingredients such as honey, propolis and calendula.
. I would also really love an old fashioned wicker basket for my bike, like this 
, as the bristles are also biodegradeable – a lot of bamboo toothbrushes still have plastic bristles. One of these would be good in everyone’s Christmas stocking.
looks interesting. I confess I have yet to try it but it is on my wish list from my Secret Santa. The reviewers on Amazon either love it or hate it!
from Hemp Help? The outer packaging is made from bamboo. The inner pot is light weight plastic but, as the company explained to me, they worked out that a glass container would mean the weight of the product would multiply the carbon footprint by three. I would prefer to avoid plastic but guess a bit of balance is required.
out and about with me people always seem interested in getting one. If you know somebody who likes a takeout coffee or who travels to events where disposable cups are the norm, this would make a great green Christmas gift.
Once you have made all your green Christmas purchases, of course, you don’t want to ruin all your good work when wrapping them. Avoid clear plastic or foil covered wrapping paper as neither are recyclable. Instead, go for good, old fashioned (and cheap) brown paper with colourful natural raffia ties. Be careful when purchasing raffia, though, as much of it is actually rayon. I would go for something 
, which I can use at the market, supermarket and the food coop without worrying about taking home a load of plastic that will mostly go straight in the bin. This pack contains three large, four medium and three small bags. Using these consistently will really help to cut your plastic waste.
when I am likely to buy tea or coffee out since my daughter bought it for me last Christmas. I am really happy with it! If we are out for the day we always take a flask of coffee anyway, as this saves money as well as on single use items.
for Christmas last year for them to keep in their handbags. Sadly, they don’t like them much – they get very cold if there is ice in the drink, bash against the glass and they are rigid with no flexibility. I am wondering if a better compromise might be these 
Pop the soap in and hang by the shower.
from Amazon.
to do your laundry.
.
. At £18.99 it is loads more than I usually spend. However, it is a quality product and once again smells divine. I am using it sparingly to make it last longer. This is one for the Christmas present list, Mr Shoestring!
An eco-friendly beauty brand that I find very budget friendly is Lavera. Their 
I was gifted some Olverum bath oil, Winner of Tater Beauty Awards 2018 Best Bath Oil. Now, this is a beautiful product that really is luxurious. You can smell the natural essential oils before you even open the bottle (which is glass). My daughter likes a bath rather than a shower and she totally loved this. You only need a few drops to soften the water and make it smell gorgeous.
Lavera makeup is 100% gluten free, cruelty free, and all natural. They produce some 
for £15, which seems reasonable.
Invest in a 
are a more eco-friendly alternative to the plastic varieties as well.
still available, for example. 
or Ecoeggs are also great eco friendly alternatives to standard laundry liquids, although I am not convinced they work well on really dirty items. They do a lot of washes for your money though.
seemed to kick start this. Images of birds feeding plastic to their chicks and marine life throttled by the rings from beer cans do tend to pull on the heartstrings.Now it seems that every other news programme or article features people clearing rubbish from beaches or reports of school children dumping the single use water bottles for reusables. Instagram is full of folk living plastic free lives, or at least attempting to reduce their use of plastic items.
All is green in the garden