Last Updated on November 22, 2023

Did you know approximately 1 billion laundry jugs are discarded in the United States each year? Only 30% of these plastic jugs get recycled, while the remaining 70% end up in landfills, with many finding their way to the oceans.

Not to mention all the resources and energy that went into making each jug (aka its life cycle). Plastic jugs are made from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource, that has to be extracted from earth in an unsustainable way. 

Some of the links below may be affiliate links. For more information please see my disclosure policy.

Then, the crude oil is transported to be molded into the shape of a jug – a process that also burns fossil fuels.

While packaging isn’t everything when choosing a sustainable laundry detergent, it should still factor in. That’s why I love eco-friendly laundry sheets: They’re compact so you have more space in your cleaning caddy, plus there’s no laundry jug waste to worry about.

Laundry sheets are essentially concentrated detergents, which require less plastic for bottles, less water, less corrugated cardboard for crating, less gasoline used, and fewer trucks to move the shipments (source).

Here are my favorite zero waste and eco-friendly laundry sheets on the market.

do laundry sheets work as well as detergent? 

Yes, laundry sheets work as well as detergent. They also help make sure you’re not overpouring or adding too much detergent to your loads.  

Usually, one pre-measured laundry sheet is more than enough. For an even smaller load, you can half that. And for a bigger load, you can add two sheets.

Laundry sheets are essentially concentrated forms of detergent. They dissolve upon contact with hot or cold water. 

They also help save a LOT of water because they skip the plastic bottles, added water, and fuel to transport traditional liquid laundry detergents. In fact, water accounts for around one fifth of the total ingredients in liquid laundry detergents! (source)

However, while laundry strips can be used for a majority of fabrics, you’ll want to be mindful to always read the laundering instructions for your clothes and linens. For example, if your French linen bed sheets say “wash with liquid detergent,” please honor this. You will extend the life of your items that way.  

For a more in-depth review on how well laundry sheets work, be sure to check out my full review of Earth Breeze and Tru Earth, two laundry sheet brands I’ve personally tried.

RELATED: Non Toxic Laundry Detergent: The 10 BEST All-Natural, and Eco Friendly Options

are laundry sheets good for dark clothes? 

Yes, laundry sheets are good for dark clothes, as well as whites. They dissolve in both hot or cold water. Just place them directly into your machine, add your clothes, and you’re ready to go.

what is the best way to use laundry sheets? 

Laundry sheets work best when added directly to the drum of the washer, before adding your clothes. Don’t try to fit them into any detergent dispensers. They will dissolve and coat your clothes in detergent as the water contacts the sheet.

what are the cons of detergent sheets? 

The cons of detergent sheets are that they can’t be used to pretreat or spot clean stains. Sometimes people will rub detergent onto stains before adding them to a load of laundry to try and pretreat them. This cannot be done with laundry sheets.

Also, laundry detergent sheets typically have PVA in them. PVA, aka polyvinyl alcohol is a synthetic plastic that biodegrades according to the EPA. However, a recent study found that PVA doesn’t fully biodegrade during wastewater treatment.

Now, the study was funded by a brand that doesn’t use PVA, and I’m always a bit skeptical of studies funded by a brand so that said brand comes out looking better.

All in all, I think a good conversation has started and I look forward to seeing more data and studies about this in the future.

do laundry sheets work in front load washers? 

Yes, laundry sheets work in front load washers. Just make sure to add them in before adding in any clothes for an optimal and efficient laundry cycle.

the best eco-friendly laundry sheets: 

Now that you better understand what laundry sheets are, lets discuss some of the ones available on the market.

I’ve rounded up a list of laundry sheets that get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. All these brands wash your clothes thoroughly, without contributing to plastic detergent bottle pollution.  Many of these brands also go above and beyond through donations, certifications or by being B Corps.

I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information. 

1. earth breeze

• Biodegradable packaging + ingredients  
• Hypoallergenic, vegan + cruelty-free
• 40,000+ 5-star reviews
• 100% money-back on subscriptions
• 40% off when you subscribe
• 30+ million loads donated, Buy 10, Give 10 Program

2. ecoroots

• Compostable/recyclable packaging
• Hypoallergenic, vegan + cruelty-free
• Biodegradable

3. kind laundry

• 100% recyclable + plastic free packaging 
• HE safe 
• Donated 23,000+ laundry detergent sheets to animal shelters across Canada 
• Travel friendly, light + compact 
• Starch free

4. tru earth

• Certified hypoallergenic
• Cruelty free
• HE safe
• Biodegradable
• Plastic free packaging

5. grove

• Recyclable packaging
• HE safe
• Cruelty free
• Certified B Corporation
• 100% natural fragrances
• Carbon offsets for each shipment
• Plastic neutral

6. zws essentials

• Plant-based ingredients
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Woman-owned brand
• Packaged in a compostable and/or recyclable cardboard box

7. boulder clean

• Packaged in recyclable materials
• No brighteners, bleach, dyes or phosphates
• Leaping bunny certified/cruelty-free
• Certified B Corporation
• 1% For The Planet

8. ecos

• Laundry strips available
• EPA safer choice certified
• Leaping bunny certified
• HE safe
• Facilities are run on 100% renewable energy
• TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certified

What do you think of these eco-friendly laundry strips? Which would you try? Let me know in the comments!

The post 8 Eco-Friendly Laundry Sheets For Clean Clothes + Linens appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

8 Eco-Friendly Laundry Sheets For Clean Clothes + Linens