These $14 Tru Earth eco-friendly laundry sheets made me say goodbye to my regular detergent — and I'm never going back
Do laundry detergent sheets really work? I just bought my third pack of them — so, yes.
I came across Tru Earth's made-in-Canada laundry detergent sheets when I hiked the Camino de Santiago earlier this summer. On the Camino, you tend to hand-wash your clothes nightly, and because you have to carry everything you pack, I needed a laundry solution that was lightweight, mess-free and travel-friendly. Encouraged by Tru Earth's thousands of five-star reviews, I decided to give the detergent sheets a go.
Today, post-Camino and on my third pack of the Tru Earth sheets, I'm a total convert — I'm never going back to regular, bulky laundry detergent.
These Tru Earth Compact Dry Laundry Detergent Sheets have racked up more than 27,000 reviews on Amazon Canada.
- Eco-friendly
- No mess
- Effective cleaning
- Great for small spaces
- They don't remove tough stains
- No fresh scent
Are laundry detergent sheets better for the environment?
If, like me (and hopefully many others), you want to lessen your ecological footprint and reduce the amount of plastic packing in your home, the Tru Earth sheets are a must-try.
The detergent sheets come in compact, recyclable cardboard packaging, so they have a smaller footprint than most liquid or powder detergents. If you're tight on space, the room they take up is negligible — I carried them in my hiking backpack, after all.
According to the brand, every 32-load pack of Tru Earth laundry eco-strips eliminates one plastic jug and other single-use plastics from potentially ending up in landfills and oceans. Tru Earth estimates that it's eliminated roughly 185,792,000 containers thus far.
In addition to the chemicals found in many laundry detergents, laundry detergent packaging takes a huge toll on the environment.
"These mostly plastic bottles quickly pile up in landfills, where they degrade slowly, leaching chemicals into the air, soil, and groundwater," according to LeafScore. "They're also energy intensive to produce in the first place, relying on the wasteful extractive fossil fuel industry."
How do laundry detergent sheets work?
To use, simply detach a strip, tear it into small pieces and place it inside your washing machine before laundry — easy peasy lemon squeezy.
On average, one strip equals one load, but I do tend to use 1.5 strips per load.
What I like about them
They're a green alternative to many laundry detergents: If you did not pick it up from my explanation above, I am petrified of ongoing climate change and subsequent climate disasters. If I can make one small eco-friendly change that requires next-to-no effort, there is no reason not to.
They're effective: Importantly — they work! I saw first-hand just how much dirt and grime these laundry sheets lifted from my clothing when I used them to handwash my items while travelling. If you have heavy stains, you might want to spot-treat your items beforehand, but for regular laundry, they work great.
They're cost-friendly: The problem with many eco-friendly alternative products is that they tend to be expensive. However, the cost-per-use is fantastic at just $14 for a 64-load pack.
They take up no room: I live in a very small apartment, so anything that requires minimal storage space is a winner in my books. If you plan on doing laundry while camping or travelling this summer, you'll appreciate their barely-there weight and size.
Tried & Tested by Yahoo Canada
Tru Earth Compact Dry Laundry Detergent Sheets
Room for improvement
They're not great with tough stains: As I mentioned above, if you're washing stained items, you'd be wise to spot-treat them beforehand. I find that the sheets don't tackle tough stains the way I'd like them to, especially if you're dealing with older ones.
They don't leave a scent: For some, this may be a positive, but I happen to like the smell of laundry detergent, so I wish they left behind a stronger scent.
Are they for you?
Speaking for myself, I am a big fan of the Tru Earth Compact Dry Laundry Detergent Sheets, and I don't see myself returning to bulky plastic detergents. They work well and one package lasts a long time, so the cost-per-use is there. My only notes would be that they're not great on tough stains, and the detergent sheets don't leave a scent (which may or may not be a bad thing, depending on your preferences). All-in-all — they're worth trying, trust me.
Shop other Tru Earth products
Tru Earth Compact Dry Laundry Detergent Sheets, Unscented
Tru Earth Compact Dry Laundry Detergent Sheets, Lilac Breeze
Tru Earth Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent Sheets
Tru Earth Bundle: Laundry Detergent & Fabric Softener Sheets
Tru Earth Bundle: Laundry Detergent & Fabric Softener Sheets
Tru Earth Toilet Bowl Cleaner Eco-Strips
Tru Earth Multi-Surface Cleaner Eco-Strips
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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