MNML - Chamomile Calm - Laundry Capsules

Chamomile Calm Laundry Capsules, 30 Pack

Pre-measured 15g capsules that clean properly in cold water, in a paper tube instead of a plastic jug. The scent is chamomile over lavender, coumarin and cedarwood, landing soft and powdery, and it is the reason people buy this one for the bedding wash.

• 30 capsules, 15g each. Net weight 450g. Front and top loader.
• 3-in-1 triple action cleaning in one capsule.
• Stain-fighting biotech enzymes that work in cold water.
• Dermatologically tested and safe for skin.
• Phosphate, phthalate and chlorine free. The fragrance is IFRA approved, phthalate free and paraben free.
• Paper-based reusable tube. MNML sell refills, so the tube keeps going.

• There is actual research behind the scent, which is rare. MNML say the fragrance technology is patented and was tested in a clinical study using polysomnography and actigraphy, and that participants slept better with the fragrance than without it. They do not publish the paper, so we cannot check the sample size or who ran it. But a named method beats "calming notes of lavender" by a distance, and it is the honest reason this one is worth more than a pretty tube.
• It removes the plastic jug, permanently. A paper tube you refill rather than a 2 litre bottle you replace. Pre-measured capsules make it an easy habit to keep.
• Cold water is the point, not a footnote. The enzymes are chosen to work in a cold wash, which is where the household energy saving actually sits.
• Performance, 3.5. Enzymes chosen for cold washes and pre-measured capsules make it easy to get right every load. No independent cleaning test is published yet, which is the half point we hold back.
• Where we would like more, and it is the honest catch. MNML list the ingredients by category rather than by name: anionic and non-ionic surfactants, alkaline salt, bio enzymes, wellbeing fragrance. That is legal and normal for detergents, but it means we cannot tell you exactly which surfactants are in it, and the fragrance blend is not broken down, so we cannot flag specific allergens. Worth knowing that despite the chamomile name, the declared essential oils are orange and patchouli. MNML also do not state where the capsules are made, though their linen sprays are made in Melbourne. The capsule film is water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, which is a plastic: it dissolves in the wash rather than persisting as a visible one, but how completely it breaks down afterwards depends on your wastewater treatment. That is why this does not carry our Plastic Free tag.

Overall score:

• Drop the capsule into the empty drum first, at the back or the bottom, then load the sheets on top. Never in the detergent drawer.
• Follow the dosage on the tube. Suits front and top loaders, and all washer types.
• Works on a cold, short cycle, which is what it was formulated for.
• Handle with dry hands and keep the tube closed and out of reach of children.

Ingredients

Anionic and non-ionic surfactants, alkaline salt, bio enzymes, wellbeing fragrance (essential oils: orange oil, patchouli oil, and fragrance). Capsule film: water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol. MNML state the fragrance is IFRA approved, phthalate free and paraben free. They disclose surfactants by category rather than by name.

Fragrance

Chamomile top note, with lavender, coumarin and cedarwood through the middle, and musky, powdery base notes.

Specifications

• 30 capsules, 15g each. Net weight 450g.
• Suits front loaders, top loaders and all washer types.
• Packaging: paper-based reusable cardboard tube, no plastic.
• MNML do not state a country of manufacture for the capsules.