Wilton London laundry range review: is this the best eco-friendly laundry detergent?

Price on writing: From £7.60 (laundry liquid) | Buy now from Amazon 

From £5 (fabric conditioner) | Buy now from Amazon

£8.50 (laundry capsules) | Buy now from Amazon

What we like

• Beautiful fragrances that last even after drying 

• Vegan-friendly, plant-based formula

• Eco-friendly ingredients

• Cleans well

What we don’t like

• Slightly more expensive than similar laundry products

• If you are not a fan of strong scents, this probably isn't for you

• More product is needed if you live in a hard water area

What Mumsnet users say

“I found a brand called Wilton London. They're eco friendly and their scent is really nice, doesn't smell sickly at all. I find with most eco brands that the scent doesn't last when my laundry is dry, but this stuff does. More expensive than ecover but it's a way nicer product, and you get a lot of washes out of the bottle.” Tried and tested by Mumsnetter JaneLinderman

“Wilton London Eco Laundry Liquid with Jasmine. Followed by line drying in the sunshine = divine.” Recommended by Mumsnetter TaraR2020

“I love fresh-smelling washing especially bed linen. My absolute top recommendation is Wilton Botanical Cedarwood. You can buy it online or from Lakeland. Liquid laundry wash and conditioner. Absolutely gorgeous but not affordably priced! So I only use it for my bed linen.” Rated by Mumsnet user highlandcoo

Our verdict

If you are fed up with laundry products that smell great in the bottle but find that same fresh fragrance doesn’t transfer to your washing, then we have found the products for you.

The Wilton London laundry range comes in an array of heavenly scents that not only makes your washing smell amazing, but your towels, clothes and bed linen keep the fragrance from washing line to wardrobe (or airing cupboard).

The downside is that it is a bit pricey, so you may decide to keep a bottle in just for your bed sheets or posh towels, rather than for general everyday use. And beware if you live in a hard water area, as you will need to use more of the product, which will end up costing you more in the long run.

Nevertheless, for the amazing smell, eco-credentials and no-nonsense approach to stains and odours, the Wilton London Cedarwood Laundry Liquid is going straight onto Mumsnet’s list of best laundry detergents.

What’s in the box?

• Cedarwood Laundry Liquid (1 litre)

• Cedarwood Fabric Conditioner (1 litre)

• Lavender Laundry Liquid (1 litre)

• Jasmine Fabric Conditioner (1 litre)

• Jasmine Non-Bio Eco Laundry Capsules (22 tablets)

• Patchouli Non-Bio Eco Laundry Capsules (22 tablets)

What does Wilton London laundry range smell like?

Heaven in a bottle! Well, the botanical scents of jasmine, cedarwood, lavender and patchouli essential oils, actually. The products smell absolutely beautiful, my clothes, bedding and towels come out of the washing machine smelling divine and the best bit is the washing kept this beautiful smell long after it had been brought in off the rotary washing line. I am completely and utterly in love with Wilton London’s cedarwood laundry liquid and fabric conditioner, so returning to my usual supermarket-own brand is simply not an option. 

Of course not everyone shares the same taste in fragrances and you may find the essential oil-packed Wilton London products overpowering, particularly if you or your child are hypersensitive to smell. My five-year-old complained bitterly about her school uniform smelling of jasmine and also turned her nose up at the cedarwood and lavender alternatives. But she was on board with the patchouli non-bio eco laundry capsules, so it seems we found a common ground.

However there is good news if you aren’t a fan of heavily-scented laundry products - Wilton London does offer an unscented alternative. 

How do you use the Wilton London laundry range?

If using the laundry liquid, all you have to do is pour it directly into the machine drawer. For a 4.5kg load, if you live in a medium or soft water area, Wilton London recommends using 35ml for dirty laundry or 50ml if very dirty. For hard water, the amounts are 50ml and 70ml respectively. For stubborn stains, a small amount of liquid can be poured directly onto the stain, then rub or briefly leave to soak before washing. If you are handwashing, use 15ml with five litres of water. If you are using the fabric conditioner, pour it straight into the machine drawer, using 10ml for a hand wash, 25ml for a normal load and 35ml for a big load. An extra 10ml can be added for a fragrance boost (although this may not be necessary as the scent is pretty strong and long-lasting anyway). 

If using the Wilton London Eco Laundry Capsules instead, one capsule is recommended for dirty washing, medium or soft water or loads between 4-5kg. For very dirty washing, loads greater than 6kg or hard water areas, two capsules are recommended. Just pop these into the back of the empty washing machine drum before adding your laundry.

While the instructions on the laundry liquid are pretty straightforward, the laundry capsules may involve a little trial and error. Living in a hard water area, I tried two and discovered the clothes still had some bubbles on them after the cycle had finished, meaning another rinse and spin was necessary.

Can you use the Wilton London laundry range on pet bedding?

The essential oils in Wilton London’s products are in a low enough concentration to be perfectly safe for pets.

I washed my guinea pigs’ fleece bedding, first with the cedarwood liquid and fabric conditioner and again with the jasmine capsules and conditioner combo, with impressive results. Those loveable, stinky rodents have never smelt so good.

How well does the Wilton London laundry range tackle stains and odours?

Wilton London laundry liquid and fabric conditioner was able to eliminate unpleasant smells from pet bedding and make whiffy sports kit kinder on the nostrils. Meanwhile, our bed sheets smelled of cedarwood for days after washing.

As far as stains were concerned, Wilton London managed to eradicate grass stains, yoghurt splodges and other general muck and filth associated with young children.

Does Wilton London offer value for money?

As much as I love the Wilton London range, I recognise that it is not the cheapest brand on the market.

Based on Sainsbury’s prices at the time of writing (August 1st), Wilton London laundry liquid in cedarwood and jasmine are currently on sale for £8 each. With 28 washes per bottle, that equates to just under 29p per wash. In comparison, a litre of Ecover Non Bio Laundry Concentrated Detergent Lavender and Sandalwood costs £6.75 for 28 washes - or 24p a wash. 

The Wilton London Eco Laundry Capsules are currently on sale at Sainsbury’s for £8.50 for 22 capsules, which works out at around 39p per wash. However, as mentioned above, you may find you need to use two capsules for heavy or particularly dirty loads, or if you live in a hard water area. If this is the case, 22 washes per pack may suddenly become 11, then you may find yourself spending just over 77p per wash.

There is no denying that Wilton London has some high-quality products that produce great results. However, during the cost of living crisis, a bottle of this laundry liquid may just prove a budget-buster. But if you can’t resist the lure of cedarwood, jasmine or lavender, it may be worth investing in a bottle and keeping it just for your towels and bedding. Or if living in a hard water area is becoming an issue for you, then perhaps you would like to check out our best water softeners feature to decide whether this would prove a good long-term investment for you and your family.

Read next: Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser review: Is the budget brand worth the hype?

How we tested

Reviewer Laura lives with her husband and two kids, aged four and five. The Wilton London laundry range was tested on bath towels, pet bedding, school uniform, running clothing and assorted children’s and adults’ clothing. After washing, these were dried outside on a rotary airer or on an indoor airer.