Broadly speaking, our products fall into two different categories; detergents, and stain removers.

All the products within these categories share similarities, however there are some nuanced differences that make them more or less appropriate for different preferences.

Here's the 411.

Original Laundry Detergent: subtle in scent and suitable for those with sensitivities and allergies.

Advanced Wash Detergent: strong in fragrance, powerful at masking odours and preventing germ build-up.

Wool and Delicate Wash: perfect for washing protein fibre fabrics like wools and silks.

Spot Stain Treater Stain Remover: great on dye stains like wine, berries, juice and tomato. Is spray on, and can be great to attack stains on the go, or as a low effort stain remover product.

Powder Booster: uses the power of oxygen to lift major stains including grass, mud, food, drink, sweat, blood, makeup and ink. Does require soaking, or paste making, but will reward you with exceptional stain removal results.

Fun fact! Cleaning product suppliers in Australia are not obligated by law to share their full ingredient list with customers. Whatever, law. Here's what you should know about our ingredients.

All our laundry detergents contain: 

Plant-based Anionic & Nonionic Surfactants: 
Surfactants help to remove the daily grime from your clothes by surrounding the soil particles, effectively lifting it from your clothes. Our surfactants are naturally derived, and safe for you and the environment.

Organic Enzymes: 
Enzymes are responsible for breaking biological matter down. Sourced sustainably, our enzymes are extremely high performing, and when used as instructed will wash out completely in the washing cycle, so no skin irritation should occur on their behalf. While both products contain organic enzymes, they are not the same type in each. The delicate wash enzyme blend is suitable for wools and silks. 

Alkaline Salts:
The Alkaline salts help break down stains, making them easier to remove. They also help stabilize the pH levels liquid to maintaining extremely good enzyme performance.

Natural Fragrance:   
In our laundry detergent, our completely natural fragrance is made up of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Basil, Orange, Clove, Geranium, Patchouli and Cedarwood essential oils. This gives your clothes that spring fresh smell when you remove them from the machine. 

In our delicate wash, the fragrance is made up of Lemon, Bergamot, Clove leaf, Nutmeg, Lavender, Geranium, Cedarwood, Patchouli. They are all also natural essential oils. 

Preservatives:  
These are necessary in teenie tiny quantities to keep the formula balanced while it sits on your shelf by preventing bacterial and mould growth.

All ingredients are 100% biodegradable.

Want the nitty, gritty deets?

Laundry Detergent; Water, Naturally Derived Coconut Fatty Acid, Nature Identical Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Natural Potassium Carbonate, Naturally Derived Alcohol Ethoxylate, Plant Derived Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Alkyl Polyglucosides, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Formate, Calcium Chloride, Natural Fragrance (essential oils: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Basil, Orange, Clove, Geranium, Patchouli and Cedarwood), Organic Enzymes. 

Advanced Wash; Water, Naturally Derived Coconut Fatty Acid, Nature Identical Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Natural Potassium Carbonate, Naturally Derived Alcohol Ethoxylate, Plant Derived Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Alkyl Polyglucosides, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Formate, Calcium Chloride, Field Notes Natural Fragrance (essential oils: Geranium)  Organic Enzymes, Antimicrobial Agent.

Our antibacterial ingredient has been included to prevent growth of bacteria on fabric. It is specifically classified as antimicrobial ingredient and at its current concentration will prevent the growth of malodour causing bacteria.

Delicate Wash; Water, Naturally Derived Alcohol Ethoxylate, Plant Derived Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Naturally Derived Alkyl Polyglucosides, Potassium Hydroxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Naturally Derived Coconut Fatty Acid, Nature Identical Citric Acid, Anti-redeopsition polymer Natural Fragrance (essential oils: Lemon, Bergamot, Clove leaf, Nutmeg, Lavender, Geranium, Cedarwood, Patchouli), Organic Enzymes. 

Both our Stain Removers contain:

Plant-based Anionic & Nonionic Surfactants: 
Surfactants help to remove the daily grime from your clothes by surrounding the soil particles, effectively lifting it from your clothes. Our surfactants are naturally derived, and safe for you and the environment.

Natural Bleach:
Oxygen bleach is an oxidising agent that is the ingredient that helps with the removal of stains. 
It is safe to use on all washable, dye-stable fabrics. Just like other oxygen-based bleaches, hydrogen peroxide breaks down safely into water and oxygen and is one of the most environmentally friendly stain removal ingredients available. 

Preservatives:  
These are necessary in teenie tiny quantities to keep the formula balanced while it sits on your shelf by preventing bacterial and mould growth.

Natural Fragrance:
Both our Stain Removers contain a fragrance made from Essential Oils.
The Stain Remover fragrance is made up of Orange, Basil, Lemongrass, Lime and Mandarin. Our Powder Booster fragrance is made up of Lemongrass and Euycalyptus oils.

Our powder booster has an additional ingredient for extra removal strength.

Organic Enzymes: 
Enzymes are responsible for breaking biological matter down. Sourced sustainably, our enzymes are extremely high performing, and when used as instructed will wash out completely in the washing cycle, so no skin irritation should occur on their behalf. 

Want the nitty, gritty deets?

Stain Remover; Water, Hydrogen Peroxide, Surfactants, Essential Oils Preservatives.

Powder Booster; Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Percarbonate (oxygen bleach), Sodium Bicarbonate, Bleach Activator, Surfactants, Organic Enzymes, Essential Oils.  

Our washing machine cleaner has been designed to remove lime-scale and bacteria build-up from your washing machine, without any of the nasties found in conventional washing machine cleaners. 

Machine Drum Wash contains:
Citric Acid, Modified Fatty Alcohol, Polygloycol Ether, 100% Natural Fragrance (essential oils: Orange and Clove).

Yes. The dosage has been calculated for front loader machines, but Dirt is absolutely suitable for top loaders too.

When it comes to top loaders, the dosage required really depends on the type of machine, if it’s older or much larger than a front loader the dosage may need to be upweighted a little so the detergent is not too diluted.

What to know why? Read on.

One of the major differences between the two types of machines is the amount of water a top loader uses compared to a front loader.

Because they have different washing techniques, a top loader generally uses more water. These days the gap in water consumption between the two machines has closed a little, as star ratings encourage manufacturers to reduce the amount of water each machine used in a cycle. So, if you have a new, HE machine recommended dosage will be okay. If you don’t, add an extra pump to be safe.

The second major difference between the two types of machines are the way they wash.

Front loaders use a dunking technique to clean the clothes, and as a result have a propensity to create more friction and lather. While a little bit of lather is a sign the active ingredient is working as it should, a lot of lather impairs the cleaning process. As a result, front loader detergents have had the amount of ‘lather chemicals’ reduced, as not to foam too much. We never up-weighted the lather chemicals in our detergent, making it suitable for both types of machines. 

For a standard load of washing with original laundry detergent, we recommend 4 pumps (or 14mL). For a large load of washing, we recommend 5 pumps (or 17.5mL).

This is based on an average load in a 8.5kg front loader washing machine. Top loader machines, especially older ones, are generally larger and use more water than front loaders.

You might find that you need a little more detergent for your large loads.

You can find more details on dosage here.

Nope. This why we created a Wool and Delicate Detergent specifically designed for wools and natural fibres.

This is because wools are made out of animal fibres - aka protein, unlike most of the synthetic or plant fibres used to make your other clothes.

The enzymes responsible for breaking down the biological matter cannot distinguish between animal fibre protein and biological material that you have picked up on your clothes, so they just eat it all. This is true for silks too.

Yes you can when they’re needed to boost your whites (double high five if you’re using our Powder Booster).

Fabric softener is a slightly different story. It’s not that it can’t be added (it safely can be), it’s just that it is not great for you, or the environment. They are full of harsh chemicals that create a film on your clothes (making them less absorbent), your skin (which can irritate it) and your machine (which can lead to mechanical problems).
A great way to keep your clothes softer, is to give them a super fast spin in the dryer when they're nearly finished on the line. Almost the same result, but a lot easier on the environment.

Yes. Because we use plant based ingredients that are biodegradable, we don’t use phosphates and and we have a pH that is well within the range your garden can handle, standard household doses of our products are completely fine on the garden.

Pure and powerful ingredients.
The ingredients we use are naturally derived, and 100% biodegradable.

Our products contain:

Surfactants, extremely powerful plant based agents that’ll lift the daily grime right off your clothes.

Enzymes, renewable proteins that target and remove the toughest stains.

Fragrances, naturally derived Eucalyptus, Lavender, Basil, Orange, Clove, Geranium, Patchouli and Cedarwood, making your washed clothes smell like a spring morning. 

Alkaline salts & preservatives, balancing and stabilizing agents, sourced from credible sustainable suppliers.

We don’t use phosphates or nasty parabens.

An extremely high concentrate.
The high concentrate means:

You get more loads per bottle (sixty five in a starter pack!);We use less packaging.

We can afford to use more expensive ingredients (namely high performing enzymes).

It reduces cost per load (to $0.26 on subscription) so you can easily afford to wash better.

Smart packaging.
The bottle is brains and beauty. With one hand, you can dispense the exact amount you need which helps you save money, and brownie points with the environment. The refill packs minimise the amount of plastic required to get the detergent to your door, by at least 90%. Our standard refill packs are made from a minimum of 30% post industrial recycled waste. 

Australian made.  
We make and sell in Dirt in Australia. We do this because we want to support the local community and because shipping products all over the world creates an enormous carbon footprint.  

Synthetic scents: Synthetic perfumes are petrochemical-derived ingredients that are used in a huge range of consumer products. They can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. They are often labelled as ‘Parfum’ on pack, and their ingredient composition does not have to be declared.

Synthetic dyes: Artificial or synthetic dyes are also petroleum based. While this doesn't necessarily make them 'nasty' it makes them not awesome. The reason we avoid them is simply because they're unnecessary.

Optical Brighteners: Optical whiteners and brighteners are slow to break down in the environment and cause long term effects on the aquatic environment.

Nasty Parabens: Parabens are one of the most popular preservatives on the market. They're helpful in reducing bacteria and mould growth. Without a preservative, products will have a shelf life of as little as a couple of days. The reason Parabens are on the nasty list, is because they have been known to affect the natural hormone production system.

Phosphates: Phosphates are made from Phosphorus. Phosphorus in an important part of any ecosystem - it stimulates growth of Algae and other food. It's not harmful to animals or humans in naturally occurring levels. The problem with including it in our detergent arises from the result of putting too much Phosphorus into a marine system. A little extra phosphorous will stimulate growth of the food supply chain. A little too much would over -stimulate the growth of plant life in a marine ecosystem, which ultimately changes the balance of nutrients, and smothers the marine life.

Yes, all ingredients are either organic or readily biodegradable - including the surfactants.

Yes, our refill packs are recyclable, via your local soft plastics recycling station. However, we believe that there is an important R, that becomes before recycling; reusing.

It is our goal to create a zero waste cycle, which is why we encourage customers to send their used refill packs back to us. We will refill the packs, and return them - replacing only the screw lid for safety purposes. From May 2021, our program is now 'opt-out' so all you will need to do is hang on to your refill packs then wait for your free single reply paid envelope to arrive with every third order.

To find out more about the program, please head to our Refill, Return page.

The bottle is made from glass, which is 100% natural. The glass bottle is protected by two drop-proof silicone sleeves, which are 100% non-toxic and BPA, BPS and PVC free.  

The standard refill packs are made with a minimum of 30% post industrial recycled waste. On a per wash basis, refill packs use up to 90% less plastic than your average laundry detergent bottle. Reusing them means we're very close to eliminating plastic completely. 

Yes yes, absolutely yes. 
We are Australian made and Australia and New Zealand owned. 

Yep. We only test on ourselves. We are PETA certified.

Our product does contain an ingredient made from Palm Oil, but of the sustainable variety. We believe that this is the best stance we can take to not be part of the problem. 

Palm oil has a bad rap because of the way it is sourced.

Palm oil is extracted from palm fruit grown on the African palm oil tree. The palm oil tree is abundant in forests where the climate is hot and wet.

Native wildlife is abundant in these same forests. Many palm oil manufacturers farm native forests to keep up with their production demand, which has had a devastating effect on many local species, including the Orangutan and the Sumatran tiger.

In addition, workers in these regions are not compensated fairly. This MUST stop.

However, increasing pressure from consumers has encouraged a few manufacturers to change the source of their palm oil.

Our supplier uses MB certified (RSPO) palm oil, meaning the palm oil in their product contributes to the production of sustainable palm oil. 

Using these suppliers means we can bring you high grade performance, with the knowledge that our supply is being monitored against issues such as deforestation and poor workers rights. 

Our suppliers use certified palm oil to make surfactants. Surfactants are necessary in cleaning. They can attach to both oil and water, which means they can lift the grime from your clothes.

It is sometimes difficult to identify what each ingredient is doing in common household products. SLES / SES / AES / ALES / SCS / SDS are all commonly used surfactants.

The main alternative to palm oil is coconut oil, which currently does not have any regulation - so the risk we take if we use it, is it comes from deforestation. 

Coconut, Soy, and other alternatives are slower to yield, and take more resources and space to grow (reports suggest between 4 - 10 times more land), which makes any other vegetable crop a less sustainable, and more devastating choice in terms of deforestation from required land. 

You can read about the devastating effect boycotting palm will have here. The problem starts not with Palm Oil, but with the huge demand for vegetable oils. 

It is our true belief that a raw material that's being monitored and facing immense pressure like palm is will be our best bet at a sustainable supply chain.

Switching to a less known commodity, hoping customers don't worry any more about where their raws come from, is something that doesn't align with our values. 

It really depends on the type of allergy, and how much detergent you’re using.

A common skin irritant is synthetic dye, which our product does not contain.

Fragrances are also a culprit for skin irritation, in particular, fragrances that are synthesised. Our fragrance is made from natural oils; Eucalyptus, Lavender, Basil, Orange, Clove, Geranium, Patchouli and Cedarwood.  

Enzymes can also be an offender, however all evidence shows that these are completely washed away throughout the cycle, so there’s no reason they should be causing skin irritation.

If you are finding your skin irritated, it may be a sign that you’re overdosing on detergent. Too much detergent is the main reason people find their skin irritated. Make sure you are sticking to the recommended dosage if you are feeling itchy at all.

Although we are light on irritating ingredients, everyone’s skin is different and irritations can be caused by a number of things. If you are experiencing irritations after using our product, we advise you to seek medical advice.

Warmer water helps most detergent's (including ours) perform better. At 40 degrees, you will get optimal performance. At 20 degrees, you will have a reduced performance by an average of 15% across every type of detergent.

Because we are an extremely high performing detergent especially in terms of our stain removal, we recommend you wash lighter soiled loads in cold water, and anything that requires a bit of extra muscle at 40 degrees. 

We have done our best to cushion the glass bottles with silicone bumpers so that they can withstand tipping over and shallow drops.

Unfortunately, the silicone doesn't make the glass unbreakable, which means you do need to take care to keep your bottle out of harm's way.

We understand better than anyone, that making changes towards more sustainable options can take a little bit of adjustment. And that you might, in a moment of 'old you', accidentally leave your glass bottle on top of a spinning machine, or drop it out of your hand.We don't want this to disparage you from being part of the change, which is why we are offering all our customers a 'one free life' policy.

If your glass breaks, we will send you an empty glass bottle with your next order, on us. All you have to do is email us and ask.Please note, we'll only do this once per customer so please do take care.

Or in the words G.W. Bush. Fool man can't get fooled again.

Dirt is absolutely fine to use in a smart loader.

We recommend you check your washing machine manual and adjust the dosage. Normal detergent uses between 20 and 50ml liquid, whereas Dirt is super concentrated and only requires 14ml.

We stopped selling Aluminium bottles more than three years ago, after discovering that under certain circumstances (excessive heat, humid environments etc), they were subject to degradation.

If you're still rolling one, tip of the hat to you for being with us for so many years. We're happy to organise a replacement with your next order - just email us at contact@thedirtcompany.com.au.

When the time comes, you can rinse out your bottle and dispose of it in your curb-side bin.

Shipping is free with on all metro capital and regional capital orders over $20. On orders under $20, shipping is $8.
Shipping is free with all rural town and remote orders over $40. On orders under $40, shipping is $14. We're working on bringing it down for you guys, we're just subject to Australia Posts zoning premiums (which do change and improve from time to time). 

To avoid the premium, you can increase your order quantity, and reduce your order frequency, so that there is always enough in the cart to qualify for free shipping.

Each order will be sent a unique delivery estimate based on the location of the order.

Our office is situated in Melbourne.

The below is a guide on how long your order will take, depending on where you live.

1 to 2 business days to Adelaide

1 to 2 business days to Albury

Same or next business day to Bendigo

2 to 5 business days to Brisbane

4 to 7 business days to Bundaberg

4 to 7 business days to Cairns

1 to 2 business days to Canberra

1 to 2 business days to Central Coast

2 to 5 business days to Coffs Harbour

3 to 10 business days to Darwin

Same or next business day to Geelong

2 to 5 business days to Gold Coast

3 to 5 business days to Hobart

3 to 5 business days to Launceston

4 to 7 business days to Mackay

4 to 7 business days to Maryborough

Same or next business day to Melbourne

1 to 2 business days to Newcastle

2 to 5 business days to Northern Rivers

5 to 10 business days toPerth

2 to 5 business days to Port Macquarie

4 to 7 business days to Rockhampton

4 to 7 business days to Sunshine Coast

1 to 2 business days to Sydney

2 to 5 business days to Toowoomba

4 to 7 business days to Townsville

1 to 2 business days to Wollongong

Everywhere in Australia!

We have a 100% money back guarantee. If you are not happy with your products, send back your product and we will arrange a full refund on return of your purchase.

You are welcome to edit your subscription at any time.

Simply log in to your Dirt account via the website and click ‘manage subscriptions’. Make any edits you require and press save. Once saved, this will automatically update any scheduled orders.

Uh oh forgotten your password? It’s easy to reset. You can do so by clicking the Forgot your password?Button here.

An email will be sent to your inbox with a link to choose a new password. Please check your spam / junk folders if it doesn’t appear within 10 minutes.

You will need to create an account if you want to sign up to our subscription. We need to save your details to know when, where and how much Dirt detergent we are sending out on a quarterly basis. 

If you do not want to give us your details, it is possible to buy any of our products as one-off purchases, and you can check out as a guest.

We will never give your data to third parties.

All of our transactions are processed by a company called Stripe through their secure online payments portal. We don't even have access to the credit card details of our customers, as these are retained and secured only by Stripe.