What's in Charlie's Soap?

Our formulas are what make us special. They have been fully tested for non-toxicity and biodegradability (Japan Food Research Labs) and effectiveness (SGS US Testing Labs).

Consumers have a right to know what's inside the products. We clearly label the ingredients on our packages. That way, folks can better make up their minds whether they want to use our products.

Charlie's Soap’s ingredients can be separated into two categories: biodegradable ingredients and natural mineral ingredients.

The United States federal government requires that a product biodegrade 80% in 28 days before it can be labeled "biodegradable."

As tested by the Japan Food Research Laboratories, our biodegradable ingredients degrade by 97.3% in 28 days in soil.

The rest of our ingredients fall under the natural mineral category.

Our products are rated safe for use around lakes and streams and have been approved by the USDA for use around food preparing surfaces. They are non-toxic.

Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder NATURAL MINERAL INGREDIENTS: Sodium carbonate, sodium metasilicate (rinse aid formed by heating a mixture of sand and sodium carbonate). BIODEGRADABLE INGREDIENTS: C12-15, Pareth-2 (Vegetable and mineral sourced surfactants)

Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid NATURAL MINERAL INGREDIENTS: Water, sodium carbonate. BIODEGRADABLE INGREDIENTS: C12-15, Pareth-2 (Vegetable and mineral sourced surfactants)

Charlie's Soap Laundry Pre-Spray, Indoor/Outdoor Surface Cleaner and Kitchen and Bath Household Cleaner NATURAL MINERAL INGREDIENTS: Water, sodium carbonate. BIODEGRADABLE INGREDIENTS: C12-15, Pareth-2 (Vegetable and mineral sourced surfactants)

Charlie's Soap Booster & Hard Water Treatment NATURAL MINERAL INGREDIENTS: Potassium diphosphate

Zero incidental ingredients

Many other "green" detergents use incidental chemicals to augment their cleaning agents. These are things like, but are not limited to: oleic acid, sodium hydroxide, boric acid, protease and amylase, glycerin, calcium chloride, sodium chloride,citric acid, methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone.

Charlie's Soap contains and needs none of these chemicals or chemicals like them: no baking soda, no zeolites, no fragrances, no bleach, no anti-foaming agents, no essential oils, no anti-redeposition agents, no thickening agents, no enzymes.

Charlie’s Soap stands on its simple formula for superior cleaning and safety.

Charlie Sutherland
Founder, Charlie's Soap, Inc.

Test by SGS US Testing Labs, Life Science Services
Test ASTM D 426b Stain Removal
Title Charlie's Soap tested on a Wide Variety of Soils

Test fabrics (bleached 100% cotton) were washed with Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder and dried before staining. The fabrics were then stained and allowed to sit for 30 minutes. The stained fabrics were then pre-sprayed with Charlie's Soap All Purpose Cleaner and agitated till all parts of the stains were exposed and allowed to sit for another 30 minutes. The fabrics were then rewashed with Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder and air dried. Results were determined by light reflectance difference before staining and after washing the second time. Details

Test by ASTM
Test Consumer Product Safety Commission's Test 16 CFR 1615/1616 and ASTM Test D4723
Title Flammability of Children's Polyester Sleepwear

Procedure: Test fabrics (manufactured already resistant to fire) submitted by Carter Manufacturing were washed with various detergents, dried and exposed to open flame for 50 cycles. Results were measured by char length at each cycle.
Results: Charlie's Soap continued to improve the flame retardant properties after each washing to the point where the fabric would not catch fire at all. No other detergent tested improved the flame retardant properties of children's sleepwear at all. Details

Test by AATCC
Test Variation of AATCC Test Method #61 2A Scour
Title Charlie's Soap Compared to Tide Liquid

This test was performed with 100% cotton cloth diapers. Poor rinsability was indicated by a weight gain after controlled washing and drying. Diapers washed in Tide Liquid (at recommended levels) gained nearly 2% in weight after only 8 washings. Those washed in Charlie's Soap (at recommended levels and 4 times recommended levels) gained no measurable weight at all. It is reasonable to assume that hypo-allergenic fabrics washed in Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid, which is shown to leave no irritating residues, will surely remain so when washed with Charlie's Soap. Details

Test by Japan Food Research Laboratories, Tokyo
Test OECD Chemical Test Guideline
301A DOC Die Away Test
Title Charlie's Soap Biodegradability in Soil

To qualify as biodegradable, a substance must be 80% degraded in 28 days. Charlie's Soap degraded over 97% in soil in 28 days and is certified safe for use in small lakes and streams. Details

Test by Jessica, Chickaominy Middle School,
Hanover, Va.
Test "The Effects of Cleaning Agents on Stained Carpet"
Title Charlie's Soap Out Cleans Leading Brands

The three cleaners tested were Charlie's Soap - All Purpose, 409 and a generic Food Lion cleaner. Red fruit juice was used to stain three squares of carpet for each of the three cleaners: a total of nine squares. The researcher treated three carpet squares per cleaner for each cleaner and allowed the cleaners to soak in for 5 minutes. Then each carpet square was scrubbed with a rag for 2 minutes. The average amount cleaned for each brand of cleaning agent greatest to least is Charlie's Soap-5, Food Lion-3, and 409 Carpet-4. Details

That's Jessica at left.