What are the best clothes washing detergents to use if you want to recycle water on to the garden?

Melbourne has just gone on to stage three water restrictions, which means we are very limited in using mains water to water the garden. I have a back yard full of fruit trees, and it is the height of a dry summer here.



I'm bucketing used shower water to my garden. I'd like to reuse clothes washing water as well, or at least the rinsing water, but I'm concerned the detergent residues could damage the plants. What sort of detergents give a reasonable rinse water for hortocultural use? I have a front loader.

What are the best clothes washing detergents to use if you want to recycle water on to the garden?
I might look into the Melaleuca laundry detergent (MelaPower). I believe that product comes from Australia. It is non-toxic and the main active ingredient is tea tree oil.
Reply:use the organic brand. im not sure what it called, but you can get it at almost any health food store.
Reply:I use a Spanish detergent which is BIODEGRADEABLE and is bleach free. It is called Foca but there are others. I am able to use the washing machine water on my fruit trees here in Florida. But more importantly it is inexpensive and gives a good wash with good easy rinse facor. My yard has a lot of sand which filters the water. If you are concerned then place a couple of inches of sand on the ground where you water to create a sand filter field.
Reply:anything which says it's biodegrade able