• Club soda. Soak the stain in it. (Be sure to use plain, unflavored soda water.)

• Corn starch, corn meal, or baking soda. Sprinkle on a greasy spot to blot up the oil. Wait, then brush off.

Wolf adds, “Just pretreating with your detergent will accomplish a lot of what a stain removal product would do.” He suggests washing in cold water, as warm or hot can set the stain. Finally, hanging whites to dry in the sun can keep them bright—plus, it saves energy.

And just what should—or should not—be in a detergent? McCarty looks for these key words on labels: biodegradable, nontoxic, solvent-free. She also suggests avoiding perfumes or colors. Phosphate-free, chlorine-free, and preservative-free also make Gavigan’s must-have list.

Unfortunately, Wolf says, few guidelines exist to regulate what can be labeled “natural,” “-free,” or even “biodegradable.” Eco-friendly companies, however, set standards for themselves that emphasize health and environmental ethics. They rely on plant-derived surfactants and solvents, peroxides as brighteners or bleach, and ingredients that biodegrade quickly.

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