Guest Blogger: MaryAnn McGarry, PAREI Board President-ElectBackground: To try to determine the best laundry sheets and build the best argument for why we should all switch to these kinds of products, I reviewed multiple, independent, reputable- they tested the products, reviews. In the process of doing my research, I made new discoveries- features I hadn’t yet considered. I am now completely convinced that laundry sheets are the way to go. Never again will I buy laundry detergent in a plastic jug! What took me so long?
Afterall, as a way of introduction, I helped create the sustainability minor at Plymouth State University, (there is now a major) and taught the required introductory course. We covered energy, water, transportation, food, and waste! I am well aware of the problems with plastics! Now as President-elect of PAREI, I am excited to write my first blog post for the organization after our Executive Director Denise Hutchins expressed the need. I suggested the first topic. The day after I made this commitment, I delved in! Here’s what I learned:
First, let’s review the many benefits of laundry sheets over liquid detergents that come in plastic jugs:
- Lightweight
- Eco-friendly, no plastic waste
- Minimal packaging and efficient storage
- Less messy
- Easier to use, no measuring
The perception is out there, which I shared, that laundry sheets are higher in cost than liquid laundry detergents, however, because no measuring is involved, less waste is involved and all of the other packaging features make them the worthy choice. The only caveat I read is that liquid laundry detergent beat sheets for pre-treating stains.
The various reviews I read on four sites, rated and rank ordered different products using different priority criteria, covering: effectiveness in terms of producing clean clothes and removing odors, cost, environmentally and health friendly ingredients, and one of my favorite- a company’s reputation for giving back and being socially responsible to society.
Here are the top brands in alphabetical order along with a couple of distinct, positive features:
- CleanCult- second choice on Good Housekeeping site, complete with stain-removing enzymes, one of the best prices ($.23 per medium load) and easily available at large box stores.
- Earth Breeze- top choice, or one of the top three, on more than one of the ratings, $.20 per load if you join their monthly subscription; for every box sold, they donate 10 sheets to homeless shelters, veteran’s organizations, women’s shelters, and disaster relief efforts; member of 1% For The Planet donating 1% of revenue to environmental non-profit organizations; carbon neutral facilities and offices, and provide assistance to their entire supply chain to ensure they are carbon neutral.
- EC30 Laundry Detergent Swatches- best overall, top pick by Good Housekeeping site, but only sold on the brand’s website and more expensive.
- HeySunday- top choice on one site, a good story on their origin- they were founded by moms to find ways to make cleaning and household chores easier, more expensive, but watch for deals, they offered a 50% discount.
- Tru-Earth- offered on our very own Local Foods Plymouth, $16.50 for 32 loads, advertised as biodegradable, hypoallergenic, phosphate free, dioxane free, chlorine bleach free, and paraben free, ranked #3 on The Laundry Guru site, ranked fourth on the Health Essentials site, “2025’s Top 4 Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets, Tested and Ranked,” health-essentials.co.
References:
- The Laundry Guru- thelaundryguru.net. Check out its sustainable business scholarship for eco-minded high school and college students.
- 8 Best Detergent Sheets for Removing Stains, Tested by Laundry Experts, Rodriquez and Hartshorn, updated Feb. 2025, goodhousekeeping.com. Tested 30 brands on 100 stains.
- Reviewed and ranked eight best laundry detergents on the market, “I Tested and Reviewed the Best Laundry Detergent Sheets in 2024”, added additional features- cruelty-free certification and septic safety, on caringconsumer.com platform which invites articles, affiliate disclosure listed, website also offers advice and recipes on making your own laundry detergent