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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.

Both 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?

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, 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.

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

To us, having a great base detergent and adding to it, makes a lot more sense than having a shelf full of products for every little thing. Either soak your whites in your booster prior to washing them, or add some booster in toward the end of the washing cycle to get those whites singing.

Fabric softener is a slightly different story. It’s not that it can’t be added, 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).

If the thought of ditching your fabric softener makes your stomach drop, there are many companies offering eco-alternatives, look for those. .

Nope. This why we created a 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. 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 product are completely fine on the garden.

Pure and powerful ingredients.
The ingredients are naturally derived, and 100% biodegradable.
Our product contains:

• 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 $0.26c 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%.

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 dies: Artificial or synthetic dies 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 refill packs are plastic, but we estimate use 90% less plastic per load than your average laundry detergent bottle. We're really happy that we've been able to cut out so much unnecessary plastic, but we are also working hard to find alternative packaging solutions, because our end goal is to cut plastic completely. 

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.

Yes yes, absolutely yes. 
We are Australian made and 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. 

Our detergent is designed to wash at 40 degrees.

The reason we recommend this temperature is that 40 degrees is the optimal temperature to activate the cleaning ingredients, i.e.. surfactants and enzymes.

We do have plenty of customers who believe it works well in cold water, including our staff who wash all but their sports clothes in cold water, so you are welcome to just see how you go. If you need a little performance boost you can always up the temperature a little!

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 to Perth
• 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 product, send back your product and we will arrange a full refund on return of your purchase.

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.

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.

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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.