When the eco-friendly movement was fresh and new, plastic bags and straws were some of the first single-use items we knew had to go. And all these years later, we’re thrilled to see single-use plastic bags being banned and fast-food chains ditching single-use straws.

But as time went on, we realized that there were other planet-polluting plastics we needed to eliminate, too. Take chemical and synthetic-laden liquid laundry detergents, for example. For many years, we used heavy liquid laundry detergent jugs because we had to.

Anyone who wasn’t interested in grating bars of soap into boiling water and baking soda didn’t have many other choices. But now, there are other options for zero-waste laundry detergent sheets. Eco-friendly laundry detergent is better for the planet and better for our bodies, too.

Without heavy plastic jugs to poison our planet and chemical-laden liquids to irritate our skin, all that’s left is pure and clean. Now, let’s talk about everyone’s new favorite eco-friendly cleaning product: laundry detergent sheets.

What are they, how do they work, and why should we make the switch? Read on for an in-depth breakdown of eco-friendly laundry detergent, other products we recommend for your home, and reviews from existing happy eco-friendly product shoppers!

What Are Laundry Detergent Sheets?

Laundry detergent sheets or strips are the new and better way to wash. Whether you’re cleaning your clothes, sheets, or towels, these detergent strips give you a convenient, clean that’s a notch above the rest.

Instead of liquid-filled jugs, these sheets contain a concentrated and highly efficient detergent that gets released when they hit the water. They’re free from dyes, and other unwanted ingredients.

This way, all that’s left is a powerful strip that gives you a powerful, low waste clean. Until you get them wet, they’re small, dry strips that are thin enough to fit into a regular envelope. Their texture is a bit grainier than regular paper but it is surprisingly soft and flexible.

They measure six and a half inches long, one and a half inches tall, and just over five inches wide. It may be hard to imagine that a strip so small could do so much, but just throw one into your washer to witness the magic for yourself!

Often, when it comes to eco-friendly products, all it takes is one try, and then we never want to go back. These mess-free, lightweight sheets of laundry detergent are an excellent example of that.

Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Work?

Many of us are not used to seeing laundry detergent that comes in strips. We’re used to big, heavy plastic bottles that we have to lug around until they’re empty and can go in the recycling. Unfortunately, even when we put them in the recycling, they’re often too hard to recycle.

Thankfully, our laundry detergent sheets can change that. And yes, they do work! One of the biggest concerns for people who are thinking about making the switch is that the strips may not work as well as traditional detergents. But we’re here to ease those concerns.

Zero-waste laundry detergent delivers similar stain-fighting results to traditional detergents while being gentler toward the planet and the people we love who inhabit it.

With an ultra-concentrated detergent formula, our powerful detergent sheets pack a ton of cleaning power into a small, pre-measured strip. This means that there’s no more measuring, no more mess, and no more polluting our plant while we wash our clothes.

The smart formula in these strips effectively seeks out and dislodges dirt molecules and stains so the water in your washing machine can rinse them away. This is a planet-friendly, body-friendly, power-packed way to wash.

And the best way to truly understand how great they are is to try them for yourself. One wash is all it takes to see the difference an eco-friendly detergent can make.

What Are They Made Of?

There are no parabens, phosphates, or harsh chemicals in our laundry detergent strips. There are no synthetic fragrances, optical brighteners, dyes, or palm oil, either. So, you may be wondering now: what are our zero-waste detergent strips made of?

Both types of strips we offer are hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free because they contain plant-derived cleaning agents, and water instead of traditional detergent ingredients.

The fresh breeze scented option contains a fragrance made from essential oils and gentle fragrance. This makes for a gentler scent, which helps when you have sensitive skin, or a sensitive sense of smell.

By removing all the harsh chemicals, dyes, and fillers, we make the detergent safer for our skin and the soil it seeps into after you run the washing machine or throw away the container. 

The eco-friendly movement has featured them in everything from laundry detergent to loofah sponges. Every traditional home kitchen, bath, or cleaning product has a better alternative these days. And we’re so excited to be a part of that! We hope you’ll join us.

Why We Should All Choose Detergent Strips Over Plastic Jugs and Liquids

So, now that we know a bit more about laundry detergent strips, why should we use them instead of liquid laundry detergent in a giant jug? The answer is simple. 700,000,000 plastic laundry jugs are dumped into landfills across the country every year.

That’s right, seven-hundred-million plastic laundry jugs are scattered across landfills and oceans annually. And each of those plastic jugs can take hundreds of years to degrade all the way. Breakdown estimates vary depending on the type of plastic and location.

But experts say that it takes between 70 and 450 years for these plastic bottles to decompose. When we didn’t know any better and didn’t have any other options, we all toted around plastic laundry detergent jugs and wished for a better way.

Now, we have one! Laundry detergent strips help us leave a better legacy than previous generations could. Because who wants to contribute to a problem that could last hundreds of years? We’d rather be part of the solution. Since you’re here, we know you feel the same.  

And if you need another reason to make the change, we’ve got one. We mentioned earlier that zero-waste laundry detergents are better for our bodies, too. In the next section, we’ll talk about why different types of detergents affect our skin and sinuses in different ways.

Are Zero-Waste Laundry Detergents Better for Our Skin?

With no harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, dyes, parabens, or phosphates, our zero-waste laundry detergent is gentle enough for those with the most sensitive skin. If you have asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems, traditional detergents are problematic.

The heavy chemicals, dyes, and other unnecessary ingredients in traditional liquid laundry detergents often cause rashes and other skin irritations. And heavy fragrances can trigger certain allergy symptoms and headaches, too.

Instead, our vegan and hypoallergenic eco-friendly detergent strips are better for us and mother earth. With fresh breeze scented and fragrance-free options, you can decide what level of scent you want.

Both come in ultra-concentrated, lightweight, easy-to-use strips that pack a lot of power into an impressively small package. And speaking of packaging, the strips are neatly tucked into a recyclable paper envelope.

And that envelope is shipped in compostable packaging. In light of better options, millions of people are moving away from traditional detergents and other damaging cleaning products.

In the past, we didn’t always have a reliable or easy-to-obtain alternative. Now, we do.

The Best Options for Zero-Waste Laundry Detergent  

If you’re looking for the best laundry detergent sheets, look no further. Cleaning our clothes without poisoning the planet has never been easier than it is right now. No messy liquids, no hassle, and no worries.

The ultra-concentrated, lightweight, and easy-to-use laundry detergent strips we mentioned in the sections above come in two options: fragrance-free and fresh breeze. Each one provides an easy and fun way to ditch those heavy, planet-polluting jugs for something better.

If you’re wondering which one to choose, we have some suggestions. We’ll help you decide which option might be better for you and your family. And if you still aren’t sure after the next section, we highly recommend trying each to decide which one you like better!

Another way to test your options would be to buy one for your home and one for a friend or loved one. You can swap feedback after you each use them or swap a few strips each, so you both get to test them out and see which one you like better.

Making positive changes in your life is always easier when you have the support of a close friend or loved one. And bringing someone along on your eco-friendly journey makes it easier and even more fun!

Fragrance-Free vs. Fresh Breeze Laundry Detergent Strips

Now, which is the better eco-friendly laundry detergent option for you? Unscented or fresh breeze? If you like a fresh, light smell when you pull your clothes out of the dryer, choose the fresh breeze scent.

But if you’re sensitive to smell or have sensitive skin or allergies, you may prefer the fragrance-free. Because the fresh breeze scented sheets of laundry detergent are lightly scented, they won’t cause allergic reactions or skin irritations.

And they likely won’t trigger headaches or any other symptoms that come with heavy, artificial scents. But some people who are particularly sensitive prefer them anyway. Since society pushes heavily and artificially scented detergents, soaps, body washes, candles, and other fragranced items, many people have come to believe that this is all there is.

Or they believe that something is only clean when it’s got a heavy scent on it and smells like lavender fields, spring rains, or crisp morning air. But the reality is that clean has no smell. So, a fragrance-free detergent may not leave you feeling like your clothes skipped a mile through a field of fresh flowers, but the lack of scent is a good thing.

That lack of scent is a good, planet-friendly clean. And the light, fresh breeze scent is a sign of the same. Save space and the planet with our laundry detergent sheets.

We package them in a plastic-free compostable cardboard package for a happier, healthier cleaning product delivery. Because we believe that eco-friendly means more than the product itself being better for the environment. Our goal is to improve the entire process.

How Do You Use Laundry Detergent Sheets?

Each of our laundry detergent sheets is perforated to make it easy to rip into two strips. You can use both strips (one full sheet) for a heavily soiled load, or you can rip off and use one strip for normal loads. And for small or light loads, just use half of one strip.

This means that each package comes with enough strips for 64 regular loads or 32 heavy loads. They dissolve quickly in either hot or cold water, and they work great in all types of washing machines. Here’s how to use them:

• Remove one full sheet or rip off one strip.
• Place the sheet or detached strip in the washer.
• Add your clothes and start the washer.

These are the instructions for a top-loading washer. Thankfully, they’re just as easy to use in front-loading washing machines. Simply pop the strip into the detergent dispenser drawer. If the amount you need won’t fit, just tear it into pieces first or throw it right into the drum.

Unlike some other swaps, this one doesn’t take much to get used to. Detergent strips are just as simple as traditional detergent options. In fact, they’re even easier. All you have to do is drop the strip in the water and let the detergent do the rest!

They’re pre-measured, so no more pouring, spilling, hauling, or measuring. Whether you use cold, warm, or hot water, the strips will dissolve quickly and effortlessly, seeping in to lift off dirt particles and odor to leave your clothes sparkling clean.

These detergent strips are safe and effective in all washing machine types, and they’re septic-safe. And the convenient no-drip, no-mess strip format makes them ideal for traveling, trips to the laundromat, and small laundry rooms, too.  

How to Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Powder

Most people prefer to buy laundry detergent strips rather than going through the hassle of making their own. But if the choice is between traditional liquid laundry detergents or homemade eco-friendly laundry detergents, the planet-friendly option is always our first choice.

In the next paragraph, we’ll list the ingredients and instructions for one of the easiest ways to make eco-friendly laundry detergent at home. First, you’ll need a two-gallon bucket or storage jar with a lid, two bars of castile soap, baking soda, and washing soda.

If you want to add a fragrance, you’ll need some of whichever essential oil is your favorite. Now that you’ve gathered your detergent supplies, start by grating your two bars of castile soap. You can do this with a box grater or a food processor.

Next, throw three cups of baking soda and three cups of washing soda into the bucket or container you’re using for your homemade detergent. Add the grated soap from the two bars in on top of the baking soda and washing soda.

If you’re adding a scent to your detergent, now is the time to add 30 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil. This step is optional, and the amount of oil depends entirely on your preference. You can add more or less of the oil to suit your scent needs or tolerances.

Suggesting 30 to 40 drops is just a way to provide a reference point. This is the ideal amount for most people. But everyone is different. Experiment with the recipe to find what works best for you and others in your home.

And now for choosing an essential oil scent. We recommend soothing lavender or mood-boosting vanilla. Now that your essential oil drops are in, slowly and thoroughly mix all the ingredients, and you’re ready to get washing!

For small loads, ¼ cup of powdered detergent is typically enough. For larger or heavily soiled loads, use ½ cup of powdered detergent instead. Find a decorative storage jar or another container to store it in, and you’re all done!

How to Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Liquid

If you’re ready to make the switch to an eco-friendly option but want a slower transition, you may want to start with a zero-waste liquid detergent. This format will feel the most like the detergents that most people are used to.

And thankfully, it’s simple to make. All you need is a five-gallon bucket, baking soda, washing soda, and one bar of soap. Castile soap bars are preferred but just about any type of soap bar will work. If you have one at home, try using that before buying new ones.

Again, just like the powdered detergent, if you want to add a scent, you’ll need an essential oil. Lavender, vanilla, and lemon are some of the most common for home laundry detergent makers. Alternatively, you can choose a scented bar soap and skip the essential oil.

Now, gather up your ingredients and get ready. Here’s how to make it:

• Pour a ½ gallon of water into your container.
• Stir in a ½ cup of washing soda and a ½ cup of baking soda.
• Shred your bar of soap with a cheese grater or food processor.
• Melt the shreds of soap in a cup of water over medium heat. While you are melting the soap shreds, be sure to stir them frequently.
• Pour your melted soap into the bucket with the water.
• Add 30 to 40 drops of your essential oil if you want to.
• Fill the rest of the bucket up with water and stir to combine all ingredients well.

Now you have a big container of homemade, eco-friendly, plastic-free liquid laundry detergent! Let the liquid sit overnight before you use it, and remember to shake the bucket well the next day to keep everything from settling too much.

Rather than scooping from the bucket each time you do laundry, it’s easier to divide it up into old laundry detergent jugs, ½ gallon jars, or other storage containers. Shake the smaller container before you use it and pour out ½ cup for each load of laundry.

What EcoRoots Customers Have to Say About Our Zero-Waste Detergent

Changing our habits can be scary and challenging. If you’ve spent your whole life using jugs of store-bought liquid laundry detergent, you may be reluctant to make the switch. We’re used to what we’re used to. And everything else seems a bit unknown.

That’s why we’ve taken the time to outline the benefits, ingredients, and other positives of choosing laundry detergent strips. The more you know, the more informed a decision you can make. We’re confident that eco-friendly products are the right choice.

And while we hope that the information that we’ve provided will make it easier, we know that there’s something else that might help, too. Sometimes, you have to hear it from someone who’s made the switch themselves.

So, if you’re still on the fence about making the switch, here are just some of the many wonderful things our customers have to say about our zero-waste detergent strips:

“Eco friendly and effective! I love that it doesn’t waste water or fuel as well as the plastic-free packaging. It weighs next to nothing but gets my clothes nice and clean!”

“Had my doubts but it is awesome. I have two teenagers and, well, they can smell if I am honest. I was worried an eco-friendly detergent wouldn’t be able to handle the dirt AND the odor, but it does. So glad to have tried and switched!”

“Clean clothes! Wanted to try this and was hopeful our clothes would be just as clean as regular detergent. They were! Smell just as fresh and the clothes are clean. I highly recommend.”

“Works great. Haven’t noticed any difference in cleaning power to my regular detergent. Love that it takes a lot less room in the laundry room.”

“I’ve recommended this product to many of my friends and relatives who have in turn recommended it to others. It is the best for the environment and works like a charm.”

“My clothes came out of the wash smelling clean and looking great. No reactions to my sensitive skin!! Will definitely be continuing to buy this product!”

“A powerful little package. I enjoy having so many clean loads of laundry stored in such a small package. It works great!”

We are thrilled to see so many positive reactions to our products pouring in every day. The eco-friendly journey is one that is best when it is shared. To read more reviews from our happy, eco-friendly customers, follow the link above and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Other Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning Products

While we highly recommend switching to eco-friendly laundry detergent today, we also want to take some time to let you know about our other eco-friendly products. Whether you start with detergent strips or another item, we know you’ll be motivated to keep making changes.

And to make it easier to make those changes, we offer an incredible range of eco-friendly home and kitchen products to choose from. Some of our clients’ kitchen favorites include our reusable produce bags and reusable bamboo cutlery.

But we’re not done with the cleaning supplies just yet. We have wooden dish brushes, bamboo soap dishes, loofah scrubber and natural loofahs if you prefer to replace one item at a time. If you want to get the best bang for your buck in your eco-friendly cleaning routine and get everything all at once, we recommend the zero-waste cleaning kit.

Our zero-waste cleaning kit contains one zero-waste dish soap, one bamboo soap dish, and one wooden cleaning brush with a detachable head. Made with organic, vegan, and sustainable materials, this is a cleaning kit you can feel good about.

Eco-Friendly Bath and Beauty

Before we wrap things up, we wanted to talk about another important category: eco-friendly bath and beauty products. Since these are products that most of us use every day, we think it’s worth finding the best versions of them. Here are some of our clients’ favorites:

• Wooden hairbrush
• Facial soap bar
• Safety razor
• Organic body soap
• Soap saver bag
• Natural bamboo toothbrushes
• Zero-waste floss
• Organic reusable cotton rounds

One of the best ways to go eco-friendly in the bathroom and save money while you’re doing it is with our zero-waste shaving kit. Each kit comes with one safety razor, organic shaving soap, and 15 high-quality stainless-steel replacement blades.  

It’s a handy kit to have at home and makes a great gift, too! If you’re shopping for holiday gifts, we also recommend browsing our zero-waste deodorant options or our buy more, save more shampoo and conditioner bar bundle.

Where Should I Start?

From bath and beauty to home and kitchen categories, there are countless ways that we can choose products and behaviors that are better for us and the environment. And we love watching those ways grow every day.

If you’re new to the eco-friendly movement, we recommend simplifying things by starting with the zero-waste laundry detergent sheets. We all have clothes, towels, sheets, and more to wash. And most of us do laundry at least once every week.

Why not start with something you’ll probably need to do soon anyway? Each eco-friendly product and habit you try, we know you’ll feel the momentum to keep going. And we’re here to help you in any way we can.

From incredible products to eco-friendly information through our zero-waste blog, we not only want to show you better alternatives but show you how and why to use them, too. Building better homes and habits starts here.

Building Better Homes and Habits with Help from EcoRoots

Switching from chemical-heavy liquids and jugs to laundry detergent strips is one of the best things you can do for your eco-friendly laundry routine. 

With a powerful, compact solution that’s better for the planet and better for your family, the choice is clear. Choose one fragrance-free or fresh breeze scent laundry detergent sheet pouch or choose our zero-waste laundry detergent bundle and save.

The bundle gives you the option to choose two detergents and save 20% off of the total. If you know you prefer something scented, pick up two light and lovely fresh breeze sets and stay stocked with your favorite for up to 128 loads.

Or, if you have some in your house who prefer scented detergent and others who have sensitive skin or allergies, choose one fresh breeze and one fragrance-free. The discount and the amount of detergent remain the same.

 

And you can quickly, easily, and weightlessly switch between detergents for different laundry loads and needs! Building an eco-friendly laundry routine has never been easier than it is right now. We’re excited to have you on this journey with us.

Why wait another day to make the change? It’s time to ditch those heavy, planet-polluting jugs and build a brighter future with our easy-to-use, eco-friendly detergent strips.