In general, detergents containing Boron, bleach, antibacterial compounds, and fabric softeners can degrade the health of your landscape's soil over time.
- View Greywater Action's graywater-safe soap and detergent list, which is based on their experience and expertise working with graywater-irrigated landscapes but not a specific recommendation.
- When product labels aren't sufficient, use these general tips and these additional graywater resources to find graywater-compatible or garden-friendly detergents.
Food-safe soaps and detergents
Since soaps and detergents contain a variety of chemicals to aid in cleaning, inquire with the following for additional information if you choose to use graywater on food you may eat and you are unsure of the soaps or detergents in your graywater:
- County’s Department of Environmental Health
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
To minimize potential health and safety concerns, look for “graywater-compatible,” “garden-friendly,” and “dioxane-free” detergent labels.