Vaska’s Herbatergent, a “revolutionary botanical laundry detergent,”  was a product that sounded intriguing to me.  So with a 48-ounce product jug, provided by Vaska, we put it to the test.

Six loads of laundry later, I’m happy to say this stuff is truly amazing, and their claims are spot on. The darks weren’t faded, the whites were bright, everything was exceptionally clean and soft — but the best part was how the fabrics actually felt. As crazy as it sounds, as I touched the jeans and tees, I said to myself, “it’s almost as if they’ve been treated to some extra love — after having been put through the wringer, they seem to have come out of the process unharmed.” I have to say, I’ve never felt this sensitive about laundry before.

As I sat down to write this Tried and True Green Product Review, I read an enclosed note card about Herbatergent and was pleasantly surprised by, “Our revolutionary, non-toxic formulas are proven to make laundry softer and brighter, and extend the life of your fabrics.” Ha! They really do. How eco friendly and cool.

Herbatergent is hypo-allergenic, formulated for HI and standard washers, biodegradable, greywater and septic tank safe, not tested on animals, and uses advanced botanical solution derived from real lavender to clean even the most delicate fabrics gently but effectively.” It does NOT contain any of these nasties:  NPEs, chlorine, phosphate, alcohol, animal products or dyes. HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bottles are made from up to 50 percent post-consumer material, which can be recycled in most cities.

By the way, all loads were washed and rinsed in cold water, using the recommended capful of detergent. All darks (black tees, jeans, etc) and some whites were hung dry; (sheets and towels were machine dried, due to apartment size). Hands down, they get a big green thumbs up from us. Available at DuaneReade in NYC and some Whole Foods Markets; if you’d like to learn more, visit vaskahome.com