Truly Free Review: Are the Products Actually Worth It?

Thinking about trying Truly Free? Here’s my honest Truly Free review, including an in-depth look at product performance, cost breakdown, and before-and-after photos of my testing.

About a year ago, I decided it was time to revisit my laundry and cleaning products. I’ve tested dozens of non-toxic brands over the years, and even made my own DIY laundry detergent for quite some time. But, I was still dealing with stubborn stains, dingy clothes, and quite frankly, products that didn’t work all that well.

After coming out of the fog of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and raising little kids, I realized the industry had changed a lot. There were more options, better formulas, and tons of brands I hadn’t tried yet.

That’s what led me to Truly Free. The brand is known for safer ingredients, refillable pouches, and ingredient transparency, all things I really appreciate. And that’s important, especially considering cleaning products can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals into the air we breathe. Research shows exposure to chemicals from household cleaning products can affect indoor air quality and impact respiratory health.

But safer ingredients only get you so far. The products still have to work.

To help you cut through the noise, here’s my comprehensive Truly Free review, including how well the products work, what they cost, and which products are worth buying (and which ones I’d skip).

If you’re looking for a coupon code (me, always), create a free Truly Free account here before your first order and you’ll get a $10 gift card toward your purchase. Or grab the my exclusive 250 load laundry wash + free gift bundle here!

Truly Free Pros and Cons

There’s a lot to like about Truly Free. The ingredient transparency is excellent, and I appreciate that they go beyond a basic “non-toxic” claim by outlining their ingredient standards. They also offer a wide range of options, which makes it easier to make the swap to safer products.

Does Truly Free Actually Work? My Honest Experience

I’ve tested a lot of non-toxic cleaning products over the years, and let’s just say, eco-friendly doesn’t always mean effective. From my extensive review and testing, Truly Free is one of the brands that actually gets both right. If you’re used to conventional detergent, the Laundry Wash performs just as well and still gives you that fresh, clean laundry smell without many of the ingredients you may be trying to avoid.

The products are easy to use and the refill system cuts down on plastic waste. I’m especially impressed with the Laundry Wash and the stain removers. I was able to get out a few of those random, impossible-to-remove oil stains from my sweatshirt with the Enzyme Stain Remover!

I also love that Truly Free gives you plenty of options. There are products for everything from laundry and dishes to floors and windows. Most of the products are fragrance free, but if you’re firmly on team “I want my laundry to smell clean,” the Signature Scent gives you that option too.

Bottom line? The products work. And I use several in my home on a regular basis.

What is Truly Free Home?

Truly Free Home is a non-toxic cleaning company that makes laundry and household products. The brand is best known for its refillable Laundry Wash, but it now offers everything from dishwasher detergent to all-purpose cleaners.

The company was founded by Stephen Ezell in 2015 after his newborn son developed a severe, blistering rash. While trying to figure out what was causing it, a family friend suggested looking at their laundry detergent. That question led Ezell to dig into the ingredients in conventional cleaning products and eventually create a safer alternative for his family.

In 2023, Ezell expanded the concept and launched Truly Free, a broader online marketplace that sells Truly Free Home products alongside other like-minded wellness, beauty, food, supplements, and pets brands.

Truly Free is based in Michigan and the products are manufactured in the USA. The company is Leaping Bunny Certified and believes in 100% ingredient transparency. Their mission is to free families from harmful toxins and plastic waste. 

How Does Truly Free Work?

Truly Free uses a refill system for most of its laundry and cleaning products. Instead of buying a new bottle every time you run out, you buy the bottle once and use individual refill pouches that contain a concentrated formula.

To mix up the solution, you just:

1. Fill the reusable bottle with warm water.
2. Add the refill pouch and top it off with water.
3. Secure the cap and shake gentle to to mix it up.

Each product has its own refill pouch designed to make one full bottle, so there’s no measuring or second guessing how much you need. Truly Free Home also makes powdered products that don’t require bottles, including OxyBoost, Enzyme Stain Remover, and Dishwasher Soap.

I really like this setup. You’re not paying to ship a giant bottle of mostly water across the country, there’s less plastic waste, and the refill pouches take up very little space in the laundry room.

One thing I love is that Truly Free offers promotional kids periodically to help you save money. For example, the Laundry Kit offers 100 loads and Laundry Machine Cleaner for free.

Is Truly Free Actually Non-Toxic?

After reviewing Truly Free’s ingredients, standards, and mission, I consider Truly Free to be a non-toxic cleaning brand. But there are a few things worth noting.

“Non-toxic” isn’t a regulated term. There’s no universal standard a cleaning product has to meet before a company can put it on the label. Truly Free actually acknowledges this and has created its own ingredient standard.

The company intentionally avoids harmful ingredients commonly found in conventional products, including phthalates, parabens, PFAS, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, synthetic dyes, ammonia, chlorine bleach, and undisclosed fragrance. They also use plant-derived surfactants instead of petroleum-based cleaning agents.

I also really appreciate the ingredient transparency. Not every ingredient is “natural,” but natural doesn’t automatically mean safer. For example, their Dishwasher Soap contains an ethoxylated surfactant, which can potentially be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane during manufacturing. Truly Free independently tests the finished product and reports no detectable 1,4-dioxane.

The one area that deserves a little more explanation is fragrance. Not every Truly Free product is fragrance free. Their Signature Scent contains some synthetic fragrance components, but unlike many companies, Truly Free discloses them. They also offer unscented options if you prefer to avoid fragrance.

Because cleaning products can be a significant source of chemical exposure inside the home, what you use on a daily basis matters. Ingredients and byproducts can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, and contribute to indoor air pollution over time. For me, Truly Free’s attention to ingredient sourcing and testing goes a long way.

The Truly Free Scent: Here’s What I Think

Let’s talk about the scent because this seems to be one of the most polarizing topics when it comes to laundry detergent.

The Signature Scent is definitely scented. It has a fresh, clean smell that reminds me of conventional detergents like Tide or Seventh Generation, but less offensive. Overall, people seem to really like it.

That said, if you’re sensitive to fragrance, you may find it to be too strong. The scent can be a little intense when you’re mixing it up in the bottle. The good news is that it mellows considerably after washing and drying.

If you love that fresh laundry smell, you’ll really like the Signature Scent. If you’re sensitive to fragrance or prefer your laundry to smell like absolutely nothing, go with the Unscented. Even though I’m not a huge fan of scents, I like the Signature Scent and use it regularly!

Getting Stains Out: The Proof

Kids have an incredible ability to stain absolutely everything. Truly Free has a fantastic system for getting stains out that has worked exceptionally well for me! Here’s a quick review of what to use depending on the scenario:

• Laundry Stain Spray. This is your first line of defense. I spray this immediately on a stain right when I can. Best for everyday stains and quick spot treatments. Works great on food, liquids, grease stains, and even chocolate
• Enzyme Stain Remover. This is the big guns. I often use this when a stain doesn’t come out the first time. Best for organic stains like grass, blood, sweat, and body oils. Mix a scoop of it (included) with a little water to make a paste and apply before washing.
• OxyBoost. This is best for whitening, brightening, and dingy fabrics. Add it directly to the washing machine along with your Laundry Wash. If I’ve got stained clothes going into the wash, I always add this.
• Stain Stick. Fantastic for stubborn, concentrated stains that need a little scrubbing. Wet the fabric and the stick, rub it directly onto the stain until it lathers, then rinse or toss the item in the wash. Great if you’ve tried the spray and enzyme remover, and there’s still a spot.

I’ve tested this system extensively, and the Enzyme Stain Remover has been a game changer for me, specifically with those impossible-to-remove oil stains.

The sweatshirt below had an oil stain on it that wouldn’t budge. I put it through the wash multiple times with two different stain removers, including and a heavy duty conventional stain spray. Nothing worked (see left side).

I decided to give the Enzyme Stain Remover a try. I mixed one scoop with one teaspoon of water, applied it directly to the stain, and let it sit for a few hours. After washing it again, the stain was almost completely gone. After a second round, the stain completely disappeared (see right side).

Now the stain removers from Truly Free are my first defense, especially with hard to remove oil, food, or dirt stains.

Who Truly Free Is Best For

I think Truly Free is a great if you want to clean up the products you use in your home without making things complicated. It’s also a great option if sustainability is important to you. The refill system reduces plastic waste and eliminates the need to ship heavy bottles of mostly water. You don’t have to DIY your laundry detergent (been there) or sacrifice how well your products actually work just to get better ingredients.

I’d recommend Truly Free if you:

• Want to reduce your exposure to unnecessary chemicals
• Care about ingredient transparency and want to know exactly what’s in the products you’re using
• Want non-toxic products that still perform well
• Like the idea of reusable bottles and concentrated refills

If you’re already using safe cleaning products but haven’t been impressed with how they perform, I think Truly Free hits a really nice middle ground between clean ingredients, convenience, and performance.

What is Truly Free Plus?

Truly Free Plus is basically a free rewards program for the Truly Free marketplace. There’s no membership fee or subscription required, and when you make a purchase through the Truly Free website, you’re automatically added to the program.

I’ll be honest—the whole Plus program feels a little more confusing than it needs to be. But once you look into it a bit, it’s pretty simple. Plus members earn 5% back on eligible products, get exclusive discounts, and earn additional rewards by referring friends.

A quick money-saving tip: Join Truly Free Plus before you place your first order and you’ll get a $10 gift card to use toward your purchase. It’s free to join, and you’ll be enrolled with your first purchase anyway, so you might as well grab the $10 first.

Honest Truly Free Review: What’s Actually Worth It

Right now, there are a lot of safe cleaning brands on the market. Popularity has grown, and more and more brands are launching sustainable options. But the real question is, does it actually work?

Truly Free has set itself apart in the industry by focusing on safer products that are effective, sustainable, and convenient. In my experience, the products clean well, and I love that the refill system helps reduce plastic. They also do a great job making the products more affordable with bulk purchases and subscriptions.

To make this Truly Free review as helpful as possible, I tried products across the entire line, and some definitely stood out more than others.

Here’s my honest take on what’s worth it:

Truly Free Laundry Wash

The Laundry Wash is a concentrated liquid laundry detergent. It comes in Unscented and Signature Scent and uses a refillable jug system, so you keep the jug and reorder concentrated refill pouches.

The good:

• Cleans just as well as many conventional detergents I’ve used. Especially great at cleaning heavily soiled clothes and activewear.
• Available in both Unscented and Signature Scent
• Refill pouches cut down on plastic waste and are easy to store
• Costs about $0.25 per load when ordering the 6-pack with Autoship

The bad:

• Tough stains still need pre-treatment
• Signature Scent may be too strong if you’re sensitive to fragrance
• You may need to use more for larger or heavily soiled loads

Truly Free OxyBoost

OxyBoost is a powdered laundry booster designed to give your detergent a little extra cleaning power. Its main job is to whiten and brighten fabrics without chlorine bleach, while also helping tackle stubborn stains and dinginess.

The good:

• It definitely helps improve cleaning power. Since most of our loads are stained kids clothes or activewear, most loads gets a scoop of this!
• Fragrance free
• Can be used to clean toilets, tubs, and more

The bad:

• It’s an extra step and product to add to your laundry routine
• Tough or set-in stains will still need separate pre-treatment
• Powder can occasionally need a little help dissolving, especially in cold water

Truly Free Enzyme Stain Remover

The Enzyme Stain Remover is a powdered stain treatment used to break down stains before or during washing. It’s specifically designed to work on organic stains, like good old fashioned poop, urine, spit-up, grass, and even wine and coffee.

The good:

• This works really well on food, sweat, grass, and other “bodily” stains
• Can be added directly to the wash or used as a pre-soak for tougher stains
• Fragrance free

The bad:

• I don’t like the process of having to mix the powder with water to make a paste. I much prefer using a spray.
• Works best when stains are treated before they’ve had time to set

Truly Free Laundry Stain Spray

The Laundry Stain Spray is a ready-to-use stain treatment designed to tackle everyday stains like makeup, tomatoes, berries, and juice. Just spray it directly on the stain, let it sit, and wash as usual.

The good:

• This is best for everyday food, dirt, and grease stains
• Love that it’s easy to use—I spray most stains with this first

The bad:

• Tough or set-in stains may need more than one treatment
• For really stubborn stains, I find the Enzyme Stain Remover is the better option

Truly Free Dish Soap

The Dish Soap is a concentrated liquid soap designed for hand washing dishes. It cuts through grease and food without synthetic fragrance, dyes, or harsh ingredients.

The good:

• After you shake it to mix it up, it does produce a good amount of suds for a non-toxic dish soap
• Gentle on hands
• Light, natural scent

The bad:

• The concentration keeps separating. The thicker jelly liquid sits on the bottom, and a thinner liquid sits on top. You have to shake it constantly to mix it. This ended up being a deal breaker for me.
• More expensive than basic conventional dish soap

What I Don’t Like

• The website needs an update. It feels pretty cluttered and can be difficult to navigate. It’s not always clear how to order individual refills without buying a kit, and there are a lot of different offers, bundles, and subscription options that can make shopping more confusing than it needs to be. I have also noticed quite a few AI images, which doesn’t give a personal touch.
• The Laundry Wash scent it strong. This is totally personal preference—some people love it and others don’t. Thankfully, most of the products I use have an unscented option.
• Some products are better than others. I definitely have favorites from the line, but there are a few products I wouldn’t repurchase, including the Dish Soap and Everyday Cleaner. Right now, I prefer Branch Basics’ concentrate system for my all purpose cleaner.

Cost Breakdown

Truly Free falls right in line with what you can expect to pay for other safer cleaning products. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but it’s also not unusually expensive for this category.

The biggest savings come from buying refills instead of new bottles. Once you have the reusable bottle, you only need to reorder the concentrated refill pouches. You can also save by purchasing multiple refills at once or subscribing to products you know you’ll use regularly.

When you purchase 1 refill pack, the Laundry Wash is $0.33 per load for Jug + 1 refill pack, then $0.25 per load ordering 6 refill packs using Autoship.

The nice thing is there are a few easy ways to bring the cost down. You can use a $10 gift card on your first purchase, and use the cash back you earn through the Truly Free Plus on future purchases. I also recommend buying one of the kits upfront for the best deal, specifically the 250 load laundry wash + free gift bundle!

Truly Free vs Branch Basics: Which Is Worth Your Money?

Of all the non-toxic cleaning brands I’ve tested and reviewed, Truly Free and Branch Basics are two I recommend most. They both prioritize safer ingredients, refillable products, and sustainability. Most importantly, they both clean really well.

The biggest difference is that Branch Basics uses one concentrate to make most of your household cleaners, while Truly Free offers individual refillable pouches for each product. Branch Basics also offers a powdered laundry detergent, which is far superior to using the concentrate.

When it comes to a side-by-side comparison, Branch Basics has stricter ingredient standards and is completely fragrance free. Truly Free gives you more product options, including scented and unscented formulas.

Price-wise, they’re pretty comparable once you factor in refills and discounts. When you use the 2-pack autoship, Branch Basics Laundry Powder is $0.29 per load, while Truly Free Laundry Wash is $0.27 per load.

So, which would I choose?

• Choose Branch Basics if you want the highest ingredient standards, completely fragrance-free products, and a simple system that can handle most cleaning jobs in your home.
• Choose Truly Free if you want more product options and scents. I also think Truly Free has a slight edge over Branch Basics when it comes to laundry performance, especially with heavily soiled clothes and activewear. In my experience, Truly Free has the best stain removers on the market!

Personally, I use a mix of both. Truly Free’s laundry detergent is the best for heavily soiled loads, and I love Branch Basic’s concentrate for household cleaning products. For more details, check out my comprehensive Branch Basics review and comparison.

Truly Free FAQs

Where to Buy

The best place to buy Truly Free products is through on trulyfree.com. This is where you’ll find the cheapest products since the marketplace has the Truly Free Plus membership which allows you get discounts and earn cash back. You’ll find the full product line there, including starter kits, individual products, refills, and both one-time purchase and subscription options.

I recommend starting with one Laundry Wash, Oxygen Boost, and Stain Spray if you’re new to the brand. You’ll get the reusable bottles or jugs you need, then you can simply reorder refill pouches in bulk going forward.

And before you place your first order, sign up for Truly Free Plus so you can grab the $10 gift card and start earning rewards on your purchases. Consider grabbing the 250 load laundry wash + free gift bundle to save upfront!

The Bottom Line: Is Truly Free Worth It?

I definitely think Truly Free is worth it. My review of Truly Free comes after decades of testing dozens of cleaning products. The ingredients are safe, the brand disclosed ingredients and tests for contaminants, and the products work. The pricing is also comparable to other non-toxic cleaning brands, especially when you take advantage of refills, Autoship, and Truly Free Plus rewards.

While I don’t use every product, there are several I find incredibly effective, including the Laundry Wash and stain remover products.

If you’re looking to switch to safer cleaning products that are effective, convenient, and more sustainable, Truly Free is one of the brands I recommend most.

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