Love doing the laundry? Nope, didn’t think so.
It’s not just the never-ending pile that makes it a pain, it’s juggling plastic jugs of detergent too. From measuring the right amount to finding space in the cupboard, they’re not designed with convenience in mind.
Or the planet, for that matter.
900 million plastic detergent jugs are thrown out each year. Conventional brands contain a cocktail of chemicals, and so detergent residue ends up in the environment harming the soil, water, and animal life. Some common ingredients have even been found to be harmful to human health!
Good job we have a plastic-, mess-, and toxin-free alternative: laundry detergent sheets.
These eco-home essentials can be placed in the washing machine with your load and dissolve into detergent, cleaning your clothes without any fuss, and without leaving a trace.
Here’s our complete guide to using laundry detergent sheets so we can tackle the laundry together. Well, not literally, but we have got some tips that will help.
Contents
- Is laundry bad for the environment?
- Laundry’s cocktail chemical
- The problem with plastic detergent bottles
- Liquid detergent is diluted with water
- Is laundry detergent bad for the skin?
- Laundry detergent sheets: a planet-friendly and skin-safe alternative
- 3 Top Picks For Laundry Detergent Sheets
- How Do You Use Laundry Detergent Sheets?
- Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Work?
(skip straight to the ‘How To’ if you’ve got your sheets and are ready to go!)
Is Laundry Detergent Bad for The Environment?
Sadly, conventional laundry detergent has been found to harm the planet in multiple ways, from its packaging to specific ingredients.
Laundry’s Chemical Cocktail
Most detergents give your clothes more than a gentle cleanse, but a rinse in intense chemicals that have a nasty impact on the planet.
For example, surfactants, which help lift dirt from your clothing, are highly toxic to aquatic life. The US Environmental Protection Agency describes how surfactants break down the mucus layer that coats fish, making them vulnerable to parasites and bacteria.
You don’t want chemicals to be washed away with your wastewater!
The Problem with Plastic Detergent Bottles
900 million laundry jugs are thrown out each year in the US, with only about 30% of them being recycled. That means 630 million go to landfill and take hundreds of years to decompose.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg: most plastic jugs are made from petroleum or natural gas, which contribute to polluting emissions. And those chemicals we talked about? while the bottles sit in landfills, residue will make their way into the environment.
Ugh, we hate plastic.
Liquid detergent is diluted with water
Top eco tip: look at the ingredient list of any liquid product you use and if water is near the top, water makes up a big percentage of the product.
Feels like a scam, right? Wait until you hear this: non-concentrated liquid laundry detergents are made up of 60-90% water.
You’re not only paying for water, but the bigger bottles required mean more plastic is needed, and since they take up more space on delivery trucks, more carbon-emitting trips are needed.
You’re already using water in your washing machine, do you need to add more?
Is Laundry Detergent Bad for the Skin?
If you’ve ever experienced itchy skin or an allergic reaction from your laundry detergent, you’re not alone. Many detergents contain harsh chemicals (that again!), artificial dyes, and fragrances that cause irritation.
One recent study found that frequent use of laundry detergents, especially those containing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, can weaken the skin barrier. Tests on human skin samples found that can reduce skin protection and inflammation.
Ouch!
Laundry Detergent Sheets: A Planet-Friendly and Skin-Safe Alternative
A relative newcomer in the world of eco essentials, laundry detergent sheets are a zero-wast alternative to traditional liquid laundry detergents. They’re easy to use and store, and skin-friendly too!
- Zero waste: Just like your odd socks, they disappear in the wash leaving no trace.
- Chemical-free: there are many hypoallergenic and plant-based options.
- Convenience: they’re lightweight and mess-free, so no more juggling jugs!
- Easy to use: you won’t make a mess with detergent as the sheets provide a pre-measured dose.
Whatever skin sensitivity, fragrance preference, budget, or load size you need, we’ve got laundry sheets perfect for you. Here are our top picks!
3 Top Picks For Laundry Detergent Sheets
1) ZWS Essentials Laundry Detergent Sheets
Size: 60 loads
Options: fresh linen, unscented
Sustainable: Vegan, cruelty-free, and 100% plant based
Skin-safe: hypoallergenic, unscented option if you’re sensitive to fragrance
Price: $19.99
2) Tru earth Laundry Detergent Strips
Size: 32 loads
Options: baby, fragrance-free, fresh linen, lilac breeze
Sustainable: Ultra-concentrated, plastic-free, vegan
Skin-safe: hypoallergenic, unscented option of babies
Price: $17.49
3) Good JuJu Laundry Detergent Strips
Size: 36 loads
Options: summer rain, unscented
Sustainable: contains plant enzymes to fight stains, chemical free, vegan
Skin-safe: hypoallergenic
Price: $14.99
How Do You Use Laundry Detergent Sheets?
You pop in the wash. Seriously, that’s it. The rules are slightly different depending on the brand, but generally, we recommend:
- 1 sheet for regular loads
- 2 sheets for dirty loads
- 2-3 sheets for extra-large loads (like bedding).
Check out the box for instructions specific to your sheets!
Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Work?
Absolutely! Laundry detergent sheets are designed to dissolve in your load into detergent, to effectively clean your clothes. But don’t just take our word for it, try them for yourself!
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