Method Beach Sage Laundry Detergent Review

We purchased Method Beach Sage Laundry Detergent so our reviewer could put it to the test in her home. Keep reading for our full product review.

If you’re trying to swap out cleaning products around your home with more environmentally-friendly alternatives, detergent is a great place to start. Method Beach Sage Laundry Detergent is crafted from mostly natural ingredients and scented with essential oils. If you’re looking to embrace a greener lifestyle, keep reading to see if this product is for you.

Cleaning Performance: Good if you use enough 

Like many eco-friendly laundry detergents on the market, Method’s formula is concentrated so consumers can use less to get their clothes clean. Unfortunately, though, we found that we needed to increase the amount we used to get a full load of laundry fresh and clean. Once we upped the amount we were using, we found the detergent had no issue tackling our soiled clothes. Regular dirt, dust, stains, and smells were no match for Method.

Our favorite thing about the laundry detergent, though, is that Method sells a variety of other products in the same exact scent. Instead of washing our clothes with a few different products (and a few different fragrances), we were able to pick up Method’s Beach Sage fabric softener and dryer sheets to use in combination with our detergent. While we ultimately decided to go with a scent-free dryer sheet as the scent of the detergent was enough, we still appreciated having the option to buy from the same brand. 

Ingredients

Green products are as much about what’s not included as what is. Method is very transparent about what it leaves out and why, providing that information for consumers in its product listings and on the packaging itself.

The Method Beach Sage Laundry Detergent is free from ammonia, bleach, phosphates, aluminum, animal by-products, formaldehyde, parabens, trichloroethylene, and phthalates. It’s also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals, so animal lovers can rest well using this product.

Now that we’ve rattled off what’s not in detergent, what is? Well, Method lists all of their ingredients online but they’re still pretty hard for non-scientists to decipher, but many of the ingredients are derived from natural or mineral origin. While this isn’t unusual for green products, you’ll likely have to do a bit of extra research to find out what plant-derived ethanol, lauryl ethoxylate, and propanediol do.

Scent: A little strong, but nice

Method is known for their wide range of scents and beach sage did not disappoint. It had an earthy, fresh fragrance that didn’t smell too chemically.

We tend to use fragrance-free laundry detergents, so we found the scent to be a bit strong at first—especially when taking our clothes out of the dryer. But as we folded our items and put them away, the scent dissipated a bit and by the time we took them back out to wear, the scent was just a faint trace of sage. 

Commitment to Environment: Company that values green living

There’s more to embracing green cleaning than just choosing an eco-conscious product. Many companies that tout environmentally-friendly initiatives don’t deliver on factors like responsible production. Luckily, Method has a strong commitment to planet earth which is seen in a few different ways; its products come in recyclable packaging and the company uses sustainable energy to power its manufacturing plant.

Price: Surprisingly affordable 

Eco-friendly products are often quite pricey but Method’s 53.5-ounce bottle goes for about $13, making it one of the most affordable all-natural options on the market. The company advertises that consumers can get 66 loads of laundry out of one bottle, but we found that we needed to use more than the recommended amount to get our clothes really clean. While this is a bit of a bummer, even if you use more than the suggested amount, the price per load will still be on par with competitors. 

Competition: A good option with a variety of scents

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Concentrated Laundry Detergent: Another concentrated plant-based laundry detergent, Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear cleans exceptionally well and can be used as a stain pretreatment. You can get a two-pack of 40-ounce bottles for roughly $26.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Laundry Detergent: This hip laundry detergent uses essential oils for its fragrance. Plus, like Meth, Mrs. Meyer’s offers other products with the same scents. If you want your whole house to smell like lavender (or basil or lemon verbena or honeysuckle, etc.), you can purchase a matching all-purpose cleaner, linen spray, handsoap, or dish soap. It’s a little more expensive at $16 for a 64-ounce bottle, but is a favorite among green cleaning enthusiasts.