Ecoegg Laundry Egg review: "I'm a total convert"

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How we tested

Mumsnet editor Poppy tested the Ecoegg Laundry Egg over the course of two months, washing clothes for herself, her wife and their two tweens in her 8kg Haier washing machine. Cross-comparing the Laundry Eggs' performance against conventional laundry detergents and fabric softeners, she took detailed notes on user-friendliness, effectiveness and value for money.

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Ecoegg Laundry Egg: our verdict

If you've ever overfilled the detergent drawer in your washing machine, or baulked at the amount of plastic in your laundry liquid or fabric softener packaging, you'll have heard of the sustainable alternative to laundry detergent - the Laundry Egg.

A study plastic egg filled with beads, you simply twist to remove the egg's top, add a sachet of pellets and it's good to go for up to 70 washes. Pop the laundry egg on top of a load of washing and wash as normal.

The egg adds a very subtle scent (I tested the Spring Blossom one, but there are six more scents to choose from, including an unscented option), and also replaces the need for fabric softener. Personally, I prefer less perfumed products, so the barely-there fragrance suits me very well. Drying my laundry on my retractable washing line over the summer, it's fresh and clean and I'm very happy with the Laundry Egg's performance.

Like a water filter, I make a note on my calendar to replace the pellets after 10 weeks. Refills are about £4 and last for 50 washes. Working out at 8p per wash, they're incredible value compared to conventional laundry detergents, which cost between 16p-41p per wash.

I love the amount of counter/cupboard space the Laundry Egg saves - it takes up no more room than a coffee cup and there's no need to keep more than one refill in the house as they last so long. Having said that, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for Black Friday discounts and stocking up if the price is right.

On top of all this, the Laundry Egg is, of course, eco-friendly. Saving on plastic packaging by eliminating the need for laundry liquid, pods or powder, as well as fabric conditioner, the Laundry Egg will last for up to ten years of daily use.

What's more, it's kind to sensitive and eczema-prone skin and can be used to wash period underwear and other absorbent items that aren't compatible with fabric conditioner.

While some Mumsnet users aren't impressed with the Egg's performance against stains (and recommend adding a half-dose of laundry detergent when needed), using the Laundry Egg for regular, not-super-dirty laundry loads will save you time, money and plastic waste.

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What's the Laundry Egg like to set up and start using?

Getting started with the Laundry Egg was a doddle. It arrived with clear instructions and two ready-measured sachets of pellets to be emptied into the Egg.

I had to unlock and twist the egg to open it, which was easy and not too fiddly. Once open, I added the sachets and replaced the top of the egg, making sure it clicked into place.

Adding a note to my calendar to change the pellets after approximately 70 washes (I average about one load a day, so I counted 10 weeks), the laundry Egg was ready for its first wash.

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What's the Laundry Egg like to use day-to-day?

The Laundry Egg removes the need to measure out detergent, which I really liked. It's also perfect for using on a delay timer, as there's no chance of the Laundry Egg dissolving before the cycle begins, like there is with conventional washing powders, pods and liquids.

After a wash, I set the Laundry Egg to dry on the sideboard, then just pop it into the drum on top of the next load.

Once every 7-10 weeks, you have the 5-minute task of emptying and refilling the pellets, but other than that, it's the most low-maintenance my laundry's ever been.

I dry my laundry outside most of the time, and indoors on a maiden with a dehumidifier on rainy days. I like the neutral scent the Laundry Egg gives my washing, even when dried indoors.

The counter space the Laundry Egg frees up is a big bonus for me, and I love not having to buy big heavy bottles or boxes of laundry detergent any more. Less plastic to recycle is another plus, as is the fact you can use the Egg to wash period underwear, as it was always a faff to wash it separately from my main laundry loads.

For those with sensitive skin and eczema, the Laundry Egg comes highly recommended. I'm lucky enough not to suffer with this, so I'll hand over to Mumsnet users, who swear by the Egg for being kind on sensitive skin:

"Using a laundry egg has stopped my child’s eczema flaring up from the use of laundry detergents. It is a definite improvement." - Heidiboo2002

"I use a laundry egg. It cleans well and hasn’t caused my skin to flair up." - Greenandcabbagelooking

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Does the Laundry Egg really work?

My kids are beyond the spilling food and wearing nappies phase, so I'm lucky in that most of my laundry loads aren't heavily stained. I find the Laundry Egg cleans my washing really well, and am happy with its ability to clean and freshen clothes.

However, in the interests of this review, I tested the Laundry Egg against some common stains: coffee, ketchup and grass. I didn't pre-treat the stains, and added the stained tea towel to a mixed load.

I was pleasantly surprised with the results. There was no sign of the coffee or ketchup, but the notoriously stubborn grass stain was still there. I think this really shows that we can tend to over-wash our laundry when it's not stained, as the Laundry Egg performed well against all but the heaviest stain.

Before (left) and after (right)

In conclusion, I'd say if in doubt, pop a bit of stain remover on the stain or half a dose of a more powerful laundry detergent to boost the Laundry Egg's cleaning power.

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Does the Laundry Egg offer good value for money?

The Laundry egg has an RRP of £12, but you'll often find it discounted. The Egg itself lasts up to ten years, and comes with 70 washes' worth of pellets, so on a cost-per-use basis, it's a no-brainer.

Refills cost around £4 for 50 washes' worth, which works out at 8p per wash, which is very economical - most conventional laundry detergents work out around 20p-30p per wash, even if you buy a massive bulk pack.

In short, I'm a convert and love the money, effort, space and plastic the Laundry Egg saves me - I think it's a fabulous buy, even if you don't use it for every wash.

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About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing the products Mumsnetters swear by for 3 years, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.