Are you looking for a cleaner, stress-free way of doing laundry? Perhaps you’re tired of measuring detergent and just need something simpler! Look no further than laundry sheets!
Laundry sheets, sometimes called laundry strips/detergent sheets, are pretty new to the washing scene, so you might not know much about them!
In short, laundry sheets are an alternative to traditional detergents. Detergent sheets are slips of dissolvable material that are coated in a pre-measured amount of detergent that go into the washing machine. On contact with water, they dissolve, and their ingredients clean your clothes.
Their goal is to offer people a mess-free, convenient way of doing the washing without the need to pour detergent or measure powder. The sheets are often marketed as eco-friendly because they don’t contain plastics, and their packaging is usually recyclable.
Have a look at the top eco-friendly laundry sheets below!
The Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Sheets in the UK
1. The Lab Co. Laundry Detergent Strips
Number of loads: 64
Scent: Cotton & Jasmine
Vegan? Yes
The Lab. Co’s Laundry Detergent Strips come in a slim recyclable box, which is handy when storing or travelling with the item.
Each box contains 32 whole sheets, but you can rip the sheets along the perforated line to get 64 sheets out of a single box.
This is a useful and space-saving trick. But if you forget to cut the sheets in half, you effectively double up on detergent and waste a sheet in the process.
As a guide, one sheet (half a whole sheet) is needed per load. But if the laundry is heavily soiled, you should use two strips to ensure the load leaves the washer clean and soft (a whole sheet). It could work out costly for you if you have to double up on sheets to clean soiled clothes regularly.
The ultra-concentrated, non-biological formula is chlorine bleach, preservative, gluten and plastic-free. It’s made from plant-based ingredients and isn’t tested on animals.
The strips are super easy to use and can be placed inside the washing machine’s drum or dispenser drawer.
There’s no mess or measuring involved. You just stick the sheet in the machine! (You can also hand wash clothes with these sheets as a bonus – just dissolve a sheet in water!)
What’s more, the sheets can dissolve in cold and hot water, so you can reduce the temperature on your washing machine (saving you energy), but you won’t lose the benefits the sheets offer.
Sometimes, laundry doesn’t smell as strong as it does with other detergents after washing. However, air drying the clothes may help you get a longer-lasting scent.
2. DONIELI Laundry Detergent Strips
Number of loads: 40
Scent: Lavender
Vegan? Yes
If you’re conscious of the impact plastics and non-recyclable products have on the planet and you want a worry-free, mess-free laundry experience, DONIELI’s laundry strips are what you need.
DONIELI’s strips are plastic-free, grey, and septic tank-safe and can be used in top and front-loading machines. The sheets also come in biodegradable packaging so that they can be recycled with ease!
On the note of packaging, the sheets’ box is also relatively small and lightweight. So, it’s ideal if you’re going travelling or short on space in your laundry room.
In addition, the sheets have been dermatologically tested and are safe for those with sensitive skin.
Although the sheets are simple to use – pop them in the washing machine, add the clothes, and start the wash – you usually have to double up on how many sheets you use based on what type of laundry you want to clean, how much you want to wash, and what water you have in the area (hard or soft).
If you only do small, lightly soiled loads and live in a soft water area, you should get ample use out of a single box.
However, if you have a large family, live in a hard water area, and have heavily soiled clothes to deal with, you’ll notice that you’ll go through these sheets quickly.
It could work out costly to continuously buy these boxes. And there’s likely a cheaper option you could look into – just getting a pack with more sheets would be a start!
3. Tru Earth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent
Number of loads: 64 (up to 128 small loads)
Scent: Fresh linen
Vegan? Yes
Got lots of small loads of washing to do? You need Tru Earth’s Eco-Strips.
A single recyclable pack comes with 64 whole sheets, but you can cut the hypoallergenic, paraben, and phosphate-free sheets in half to get more uses out of them! It’s as easy as that.
There’s no measuring or spilling detergent involved. Just grab a sheet (cut it in half if you like), pop it in the washer, stick your dirty washing in, and start a cycle. As a bonus, the sheets are suitable for all types of washers, including HEs.
Like other laundry strips mentioned on this list, Tru Earth’s strips come in a slim package that can be easily stored. It’s a world away from bulky liquid detergent bottles!
The only downside is that the seller sometimes sends out two 32-pack sheets of laundry instead of one pack of 64 sheets. So, you may have to find a space to store the extra pack, but it’s not a deal breaker.
In general, the sheets do a good job of washing lightly soiled clothes in both cold and warm water. And the laundry comes out feeling soft and moderately scented.
However, they don’t always handle stained garments or filthy laundry, so you may have to double how many sheets you use. Plus, the not-so-overpowering aroma may not be to everyone’s tastes.
Although, if you add additional sheets to your washer, be prepared to see some detergent residue on your laundry. It doesn’t always wash away the first time. But to combat this, you could run an extra rinse cycle.
In addition, these sheets are expensive compared to others, which may put you off buying them.
4. Leaf Non-Bio Ultra-Concentrated Detergent Sheets
Number of loads: 30
Scent: Fresh
If you want to give laundry sheets a go but don’t want to spend a fortune, check out Leaf’s Detergent Sheets.
These are one of the cheapest options on this list, and they’re a good starting point if you’re a newbie!
The affordable sheets are Climate Pledge Friendly (a new sustainability certification), are made from a non-bio concentrated formula, and can work at temperatures as low as 20°C, which is great if you’re conscious about your energy bills!
Leaf’s sheets are super easy to use. Put a sheet in the washing machine, add your laundry, and start the wash.
After using a Leaf sheet, your laundry will be relatively clean, but other products on this list will provide a better overall clean.
These sheets are great if you’re on the go and are looking for a way to speed up your laundry process.
They’re also great for carrying around – the box is incredibly light and slim! It’s perfect if you need to lug your dirty washing to and from the launderette or if you’re doing a spot of travelling!
The only drawbacks are if you use multiple sheets, they don’t always dissolve effectively in water, so factor this in.
Also, laundry doesn’t always smell as good after a wash compared to other products on this list.
However, personal preference plays a significant role in how well something smells, so the aroma may be okay for some of you.
In addition, the sheets cannot be used with 100% wool and pure silk products. So, if you’ve got a wardrobe full of these items, you better think again about buying these detergent sheets.
5. Proto Future Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets
Number of loads: 60
Scent: Lavender
Vegan? Yes
Are you after a product that’ll leave your laundry smelling fresher for longer? Have a look at Proto Future’s detergent sheets!
These particular sheets are packed with a lavender aroma that’ll stay on your laundry long after washing.
The smell may not be overpowering or to everyone’s taste, but it does have a calming effect.
Lavender can also help with sleep, so if you wash your bedding with one of these sheets, you might find yourself drifting off to sleepland a little easier!
Proto Future’s laundry sheets are kind to the planet and are cruelty-free, but they also pack a punch when it comes to cleaning and dealing with light laundry stains.
The sheets also dissolve quickly in hot and cold water and get to work laundering your garments in minutes.
To get more use out of a single 60-sheet box, you can rip the strips along the perforated line. In turn, you get double the number of sheets. However, do keep in mind that if you use half a sheet, you’ll only get half the cleaning power.
Ideally, you should work on the basis of half a sheet for small loads, a whole sheet for full loads, and two sheets for heavily soiled loads.
Of course, the dirtier your loads of washing are, the quicker you’ll get through a box. So, consider how dirty your piles of laundry are before investing in this pack of sheets.
Finally, the hypoallergenic mixture is (enzyme-free) and plant-based. And the sheets can also be used in all washing machines.
6. LAUNDREAM Laundry Detergent Sheets
Number of loads: 60
Scent: Ocean Fresh
Vegan? Yes
If you’re after a reasonably priced laundry sheet that’s a good all-rounder, look no further than the LAUNDREAM’s Laundry Detergent Sheets.
A single box can do up to 60 washes. However, this varies based on how dirty your laundry is and its size.
For small or lightly soiled loads, you can get by using one sheet. But you need to use at least two sheets for bigger or dirtier loads.
On the surface, this isn’t too bad. However, if you’re a family who needs lots of soiled clothes washed each week, you’ll soon find yourself running out of sheets and buying more. The cost of purchasing extra boxes will quickly mount up.
Plus, you may have to use additional sheets if you’ve got stubborn stains on your items – this, again, would add to your laundry costs.
From this perspective, perhaps it would be better to look at other (arguably, more suitable) cleaning solutions.
That said, if you’re after a non-toxic, plastic, paraben, and phosphate-free product that hasn’t been tested on animals, you can’t go far wrong with these sheets.
You won’t get any detergent waste if you use these strips, and there won’t be any mess to deal with. You’ll also have a cleaner cupboard space because the box will fit snuggly into it.
If you’re after a detergent sheet that will get your nostrils going though, you may be slightly disappointed with this one.
The sheets don’t have a pungent smell, and if there is an aroma, it doesn’t stick around for long, which isn’t ideal when you’ve just laundered your clothes.
7. OceanSaver Eco Laundry Detergent Sheets
Number of loads: 30
Scent: Fresh Linen
Vegan? Yes
OceanSaver Eco Laundry Detergent Sheets are easy to use, fuss-free, space-saving, and kind to the ocean and the life within it.
The sheets can be used to clean items (including delicate materials like silk and wool), remove some light stains, and freshen laundry.
As a bonus, the ocean-life-friendly, plant-based ingredients (free from horrible chemicals) that go into making this detergent are kind on sensitive skin.
OceanSaver’s sheets can be used at low temperatures like other sheets mentioned. And they’re straightforward to use – there’s zero measuring and mess.
To use the sheets, remove one sheet from the pack, rip the sheet in half (if washing a small/lightly soiled pile of laundry), place it in the drum, add the clothes, and start the wash. You can use a whole detergent sheet if you need to clean a full load.
However, when cleaning heavily soiled clothes, you’ll need to use at least two detergent sheets.
Before buying these sheets, consider what type of laundry you need to clean. If you have to wash lots of mucky clothes, you will go through a pack containing 30 washes very quickly because you’ll be doubling up on sheets each time. This would work out expensive!
Similarly, if you live in a hard water area, you may notice that you have to use more sheets to ensure your clothes are clean and soft by the end of a wash.
Again, using additional sheets to compensate for the mineral deposit-laden water means you’ll go through a single pack of sheets at speed, which isn’t amazing for your wallet.
- See price and reviews on Amazon.co.uk
- See price and reviews on Ethicalsuperstore.com
How to Choose the Right Laundry Sheets for You
Consider the following when choosing your laundry sheets:
- Are you interested in a specific scent? And if so, how strong do you like the fragrance to be? How aromatic you want your clothes to be may affect how many sheets you use.
- How many loads of washing do you do per week? Based on this, you’ll know what size box to buy.
- Do you or someone in the house have allergies/skin conditions that you must consider? Check the ingredients on the back of the box you intend to buy and make sure there’s nothing triggering on the list.
- Are there any must-haves that you need to consider? Like vegan/gluten-free/cruelty-free/bleach-free/plant-based.
- Do you have specific wardrobe requirements? For example, do you own a lot of delicate materials? If so, would it be worth buying laundry sheets (or perhaps a different type of detergent) designed to clean said clothes?
- What type of laundry do you wash? For example, do you wash heavily stained clothes, like oily overalls or lightly soiled garments? Based on this information, you can determine what type of cleaner you need. Do you need a heavy-duty detergent packed with enzymes to clean soiled laundry effectively? Or is this an overkill for your load of washing?
- What’s your budget? How much do you want to spend on cleaning your clothes? Based on your washing habits and how dirty your clothes are, is there a more suitable option that could be more valuable to you? For example, would it be cheaper to buy a bottle of biological liquid laundry detergent to clean your oily overalls?
- What type of washing machine do you have? For example, if you have a high-efficiency (HE) washing machine, you might have to buy an HE detergent. Otherwise, you’ll end up with excess suds in the machine, and it may not function effectively.
What’s the Best Way to Use a Laundry Sheet?
Read the instructions on your laundry sheet’s packaging to find out how many sheets you need to use to clean your clothes.
You normally need to use one detergent sheet to clean a load of lightly soiled laundry. However, if you’re cleaning heavily soiled laundry, the packaging may advise you to use an extra sheet for better cleaning power.
Based on the instructions you’ve read, you’ll need to add at least one sheet to your washing machine’s drum. Then add your dirty laundry to it. When you’re ready, choose the correct washing cycle and start the wash. It’s as easy as that!
How Do Laundry Sheets Compare to Other Laundry Detergents?
Laundry sheets
Laundry sheets are a relatively new addition to the laundering scene, so not many people know about them!
In short, laundry sheets are made from a concentrated detergent and are added to your washing machine alongside a load of laundry.
As the machine fills up with water, the sheet dissolves and cleans the load in the drum.
The sheets look a lot like Colour Catchers, and they act in a similar way to laundry pods in the sense that they contain a pre-measured amount of detergent.
The sheets are mess-free, simple to use, and don’t require much input from the user. They’re also easy to store because they come in slim boxes/packs.
However, you cannot use the sheets to directly pre-treat stains. You have to dissolve a sheet in water and then use the liquid to treat a blemish. In most cases, you have to double up on sheets to clean heavily soiled laundry effectively. One sheet isn’t always enough.
Liquid detergent
In contrast, liquid detergent comes in a bottle form, and you must pour a dose of detergent into your washing machine each time you want to clean clothes.
It can be messy pouring the liquid, so you may end up tipping and wasting some of it. The clumpy bottle can also be heavy to carry and store.
That being said, liquid detergent is great at pre-treating stains, and you have more control over the dose you need to use to clean your load of washing (you can adjust for dirtier/cleaner clothes).
Laundry pods
As mentioned above, laundry pods are like detergent sheets because each pod contains a pre-measured amount of detergent.
The pods are simple to use. You just put them in the washing machine’s drum alongside your dirty clothes and start a cycle.
The pods break down when they come into contact with water, and your laundry gets cleaned, softened, and scented by the pod’s contents.
The major drawbacks are that you cannot use pods to pre-treat stains, they sometimes burst in the box, so they go to waste, kids often mistake them for sweets, and sometimes you have to double up on pods to ensure your laundry is cleaned effectively.
Washing powder
On a final note, you have washing powder. Powder has been doing its rounds for years! It’s great at pre-treating stains, one of the cheapest options around, and can be used to hand wash and machine wash laundry.
Powder’s main drawbacks are that you have to scoop the powder out of the box yourself, so you can sometimes add too much/too little detergent to the wash. This can lead to undissolved detergent being left on clothes! The box of powder is also big and heavy, so it’s difficult to store.
See our guide to laundry detergent types to learn more about sheets, liquids, pods, and powders.
Conclusion
If we had to pick just one eco-friendly laundry sheet to recommend, it would be The Lab Co. Laundry Detergent Strips because they’re reasonably priced, you get ample sheets in a box, and they clean laundry relatively well.
That being said, Proto Future Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets are also a great product to choose because you get plenty of sheets, you can rip the sheets in half to get more uses from a single pack, and the smell of lavender is pleasing.
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
