I really enjoyed this topic - thanks! I’ve been using a laundry powder I get through Earth Hero and I really like it. The brand is Meliora. The first order comes in a reusable metal canister with a metal scoop, but for subsequent orders you can select a paper bag refill with no scoop. The lemon/lavender/clove scent is so wonderful. The powder is made of all natural ingredients and gets clothes perfectly clean. I ha e no affiliation, just wanted to suggest another great option!
Dropps is not made of vegetables but the same polyvinyl alcohol (plastic) that other detergent has :( they say online it decomposes with microbes but only certain cities has that technology in their water treatment facilities. Really disappointed when I learned that!
That’s the way I learned growing up. We got our detergent from the coop market and only used 1/4 cup while Tide & the big boys said to use a cup or more on their box. Turns out they (Tide, etc) used filler of wood pulp to get customers to use more, and if you hung the cloths out on a line to dry your cloths were stiff as a board… hence the introduction of “fabric softeners. Vicious cycle 🔁. Never have used fabric softeners or dryer sheets.
I didn't have a problem using truearth in cold water. I normally make my own detergent with foraged horse chestnuts (conkers) but washing cloth diapers right now and supposedly that is not great so I go for either truearth or "granny's" detergent, a powder that comes in a 10kg tub.and is labeled as eco friendly. It lasts forever and I reuse the tub for other things when I'm done with it. Bonus is that it basically costs a Canadian dollar per kg.
Just an FYI on the Oxy-Boost. It's best if that is disloved in *HOT* water. But that doesn't mean you have to do a hot water load of laundry. You can get some hot water in a small container, disolve it and then poor it on your load of laundry.
Great review as always!! I have Earthbreeze and it works well plus they donate 10 loads to people in need such as Veterans (where I selected), all kinds of shelters and disaster relief. But I think I will want to try Molly Suds active wear powder since I like using powder detergent as well.
It's good to see there are more options. I hope that more people are encouraged to make the switch to more zero waste/eco-friendlier detergents. Thanks to one of your previous videos I switched to True Earth. Thankfully I've not encountered the problems you've had with them and I'm super pleased with the zero plastic and the extra space it's given me :-) You may have covered this in a previous video but I'm curious about better options for interdental sticks, floss and moth-washes. I can't use floss so I use interdental sticks. I've tried a couple eco-brands but unfortunately have had some real problems with them. I should check again now to see what newer options exist but if you ever do a video on those types of products I'd be very grateful.
Much thanks for your reviews. While the packaging itself for the Dropps pods appears to be plastic-free, it looks like the product itself (like other pods) does include plastic, which presumably drains out into the water and ends up negatively affecting the environment.
I use the Dropps and I’m pretty sure it says somewhere that you have to put the soap at the bottom of your drum first, THEN your clothes. That might be your issue. It works great for me.
This was very informative for me. True Earth was the first laundry sheet brand that I tried, and I absolutely loved it up until at least in my experience the size of the sheet they sent was reduced by about half. I now currently use a brand called Truly Free Home, formerly My Green Fills. Their concept is that they send you the jugs, and then your future refills come in little packets that you pour in and Duluth with warm water. The reason I love them is because they have a softener that is all natural, and it really does work. Since I can't see, your sniff tests, albeit rather silly were actually quite helpful.
First I love your new glasses and your cute shirt at the end!! ❤️❤️ loved the reviews as well. I just bought a big ole box of Tru Earth and realized later that it isn’t our favorite. We had trouble with our clothes smelly dirty and musty after washing them. Not sure why. Once I make it through this big box I will be trying something new. I use them for my whites that I use bleach with and a name brand powder (ugh) for our other clothes. It does come in a cardboard box. I think I’ll be trying the powder detergent you reviewed!!
I used to have an issue with Dropps and residue and contacted the company. I only use cold water and often had SMELLY DIRTY clothes (think long distance exercise in heat, veterinary office and muddy camping wet trips) I did use the cold water mesh bags from Dropps and put the detergent in BOTTOM of the tub. No more residue and great smelling non stained clothes. This year I switched from the Dropps pods to the Dropps concentrated liquid with a refillable glass pump bottle. It is THE BEST! Squirt 4 pumps in to the bottom of washer and add clothes. Also FYI finally got a dishwasher after reading how much MORE water I was using to hand wash my dishes. I tried every eco brand dishwasher soap and Dropps is best. Dropps also is a Benefit Corp, and does good. So I am sticking with them. The hand soap and dishwashing detergent also great and comes in refillable glass bottles .(the refills come ready to fill the bottle) AND I LOVE the Lavender /Eucalyptus mild scent. Thanks!
I tried Earth Breeze for a while, liked it fine as it did a good job on my clothes. BUT... it's manufactured in China... I started looking for an option made here in N. America. Tru Earth and Clean People are manufactured in Canada and U.S. I hope these eco friendly detergents catch on.
Yes so agree, I was thinking this the whole time, wondering what the ingredients were in each product because that matters to in terms of being eco friendly. Could be contributing adding harmful chemical into the environment. It really is a whole picture and everything must be considered, ingredients is just as important as packaging for sustainability and regeneration.
I find I sometimes need to look up ingredients individually as well bc think dirty, ewg or other resources may not have all the info and data available
here in Finland one company manufactures eco soap bar it can be made into a detergent solution by grating it into water this solution can be used to clean all surfaces of the home as well as used for laundry
Check out Cocosuds liquid soap concentrate. One pound washes 160 loads packed in reusable cotton bag, no plastic and ships in post consumer recycled box sealed with biodegradable tape.
So unfortunately most (if not all) Laundry pods and Laundry Sheets are made with PVA (also known as PVOH or PVAL)-- a petroleum derived “dissolvable plastic.” Its biodegradable only if certain conditions are met and those conditions aren't met in most waste processing plants in The States. I'm currently using Lazy Coconuts right now. As for cleaning it works fine. I have no complaints and it's reasonably priced too. I'm not sure if I'm going to reorder it. Is it more eco friendly to use it then something in a plastic jug thats made from plants?
how sad! i can't believe they advertise as plastic-free :( but yes sheets are SO much more eco-friendly when it comes to shipping! Check out my first laundry review linked in the description, I did a full explanation in that video
My question, with ALL of these, is do they work well on stains. I'm a farmer. My clothes are DIRTY. I've been using Sheets Laundry Club for about 6 months. Fine for regular wash, but don't love them for stains/heavy grime. Waiting for someone to do a side by side swatch test with a bunch of these.
I finally had a few minutes to watch this video! Life has honestly been crazy lately. Anyways, I love your review videos, as usual. They are always so helpful when I'm trying to figure out how to transition something into a more sustainable option. I really want to try the sheets. They are such an amazing concept and I'm glad you found some that actually work well! I've tried the Molly Suds Oxygen Whitener and love it for white loads. It doesn't work as well as bleach, but it is a great eco-friendly option.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I need detergent now so definitely going to give them a shot. Random question: what do you recommend or what did you do with menstrual cups that didn’t work for you? I’ve got one I tried and one that has never been used, but idk what to do with them.
@@erintannehill yay how exciting! Ugh great question!! BUT there is this cool FB group I found where you can resell your gently used (and heavily sanitized) reusable menstrual products!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist Hey Emma! I want to let you know that I'm converted to laundry sheets! I am using the Earth Breeze and LOVE THEM! They do a great job on pretty much everything. The only exception I have is my husband's clothes after he does mechanic work. I am still finding that I have to use liquid detergent, but the great news is that he doesn't always do mechanic work so I won't be using it nearly as often as I was before switching to the sheets. Thank you for helping me make another zero waste swap!
Dropps does have cold water mesh bags so that you don't get anything left on your clothes. If you do get it on your clothes just rinse in warm water. I haven't had any issues with Dropps when I use the cold water bags.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist Any mesh bag should work. I find the pods work best for me since I don't have to measure anything and it's simpler. I have ADHD and work full time while going back to school so the easier and fewer steps the more likely I am to get stuff done. I think if you used pods a lot it's worth it as it's reusable and a one time purchase, but if not it's less worth it. You can use warm water to help it dissolve but that also defeats the point somewhat too. The sheets might be better if you want the simplicity of pods but not have to get the cold water bags or use warm water. Powder is probably best eco wise but is a bit more messy and takes measuring.
I already had a few mesh laundry bags, one of them being around 8"x8" and I just use that to put the pods in. I wash on cold water and since putting it in my own mesh bag, have never had an issue with residue. Interestingly, since I started putting in the mesh bag, I haven't even found the pod to have not dissolved or left any residue in the bag. Not sure if the bag helps to disintegrate the pod in some way. But I've found the bag works really great for us.
@@Murburns I think it helps it stay in the water more since it's not stuck to something plus it also would be agitated more by the machine as well. Since using the bag it hasn't been an issue at all.
I use dropps and you need to do a deep water wash if you have that setting on your washer. Whenever I use them with a regular eco wash with less water, I get the residue.
I later found out (and think I wrote it on the screen) that it should just be used as a stain remover directly applied to the clothes. Their directions should be on their website :)
I am not sure. This was before I stopped using PVA, it's an old video! Here is my recent one :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5iCKm_oYk0U.html
I've been using dropps for over a year. My only issue has been that I now have a laundry room that is not insulated and their pods will burst from extreme weather. Never had any issues with the dish pods. I've also recently purchased their hand soap concentrate pods.
I just read a blog post which said you should put the drops pods in the washer before you add the clothes in, to keep them fully submerged the whole time, and to put them in the cold water pouch to help them stay fully submerged in the water. I'm bummed to find out about the film being made of polyvinyl alcohol like all the conventional laundry tablets though, which seems like it's just plastic that does dissolve in water but is still harmful to marine life. I dont get why they'd be able to market it as plastic free or plant-derived while stating it's a PVA pouch though
Yeah Dropps themselves suggeted that to me after I reviewed them. I will have to try that! And also HOW IS IT PLASTIC FREE I learned that from another commenter and that makes me very frustrated....that's not eco at all :(
I sent dropps a question, forgiving them the benefit of the doubt to ask if their polyvinyl alchohol is any different to the one used by conventional brands and that if it is then it might not biodegrade fully and harm marine life, hopefully they'll respond.
Here is their response: Thank you for reaching out to us - we sincerely appreciate your concern! We design all our products with the safety of you, your family, and the planet as our top priority. In fact, safety is one of the reasons we use PVOH - our pod technology keeps the active ingredients off your skin and prevents spills. We carefully review all scientific and technical information available when formulating our products, and we disagree with certain statements claiming PVOH is not biodegradable. PVOH does not break down into microplastics as defined by California law, and we believe that the usage of PVOH in cleaning products does not have any detrimental effects on oceans, rivers or marine life. PVOH is included on the EPA’s CleanGredients database (the definitive database of chemical ingredients whose formulations have been pre-approved by the U.S. EPA to meet the criteria of their Safer Choice Standard.) There are over 50+ independent peer-reviewed scientific papers, including a significant body of work, citing over 190 peer-reviewed papers, supporting the use of PVOH. I hope this helps provide some clarity, please let me know if there is anything else I can help with!
I really did enjoy the Dropps, but we have a HE front loader, and we'd end up with the gel pod not dissolving fully, stuck to our clothes, which feels like (but is not) hard plastic once it dries. You can re-wash them to remove it...but then I feel like it's wasting. And we did have a problem with their scent booster pods, which are the powder as well, and they did leave behind bits all over in the laundry, so we ultimately stopped using the brand. :(
I thought you were supposed to put detergent in first (at the bottom, before clothes) in a top loading washer? Maybe that’s why the drops created an issue for you?
Even if you buy Seventh Generation , just like Tide and other brand pods... NONE dissolve unless using really hot water and an extra long wash. I contacted Seventh Generation and Tide about this. Turns out both are aware the labels say will dissolve in cold water, but in truth do not. New labels are to be in the future. I'm not buying them ever again. As far as Ethique and any bar, you can let it sit in hot water for a few minutes and remove. Let bar air dry and use the liquid you made in the machine. Much easier!
As someone who has several (random seeming) chemical intolerances/allergies, I am limited to a few options for laundry soap. Unfortunately, none that I am safe with are from ethical brands 😢😢. So as a work around to this issue i do two things. 1. I purchase the largest size container in a scent that I am safe with reaction wise. 2. I then use only about ⅕ to ¼ of the amount that is recommended by the detergent company (granted I frequently have to do two wash cycles for my clothing because I wear my outfits several days in a row courtesy of severe chronic pain issues so my clothing, particularly socks, get quite dirty and needs the second wash so I normally only end up using about ⅓ of the total amount recommended by the time both cycles are done).
Dropps did NOT work for me. I ended up having to use like 3-4 for each regular load cause the stink was still there regardless of water temperature. I bought a bulk load and it did last because I bought it over a year ago and just finished but I will never buy again. Also, the pods like 40% of the time would not dissolve/partially dissolve which was extremely frustrating (even when using warm water). 1/10 DO NOT recommend. I'm thinking based off your video that I'll try KIND laundry next.
I love that you added your husband doing laundry too. I hate videos where the female does everything, including folding his underwear… Also, instead of saying you’re lazy, say you prefer efficiency ;)
he's the laundry man!! we love to share chores :) haha i'm cool calling myself lazy, i don't see it as an insult in this case but i love that wording too!
I used Drops with the little drawer on my washer and I still always find the plastic pod in that compartment. Thank you for this video I am looking for a better detergent! Very helpful!
Nice review. I only recently learned about laundry sheets, and tried them a few months ago on a trip where I stayed a month with a friend that was using obnoxiously strong fragrant tide pods… so I ordered the smallest packet of sheets to try that had good reviews. They worked great in both hot, warm & cold water. . So this video review is a year old, and I just watch your review from a couple of months ago where you disclosed that ALL of the sheets have poly-something in them, and poly = plastic. Uh. Now the baking soda brand has come out with sheets and the ingredient lists not only poly-whatever, but the chemicals I’m trying to avoid. . Thanks for reviewing the powdered one & the bar you grate over the washer. Neither of those would work well for me traveling 🧳. Keep up the good reviewing.
We have been using Dropps laundry pods and oxy booster pods for months and we have never had any issues with residue on our clothes... I wonder what’s different for you?
I'm changing eco laundry brands and was rewatching this video before ordering. You complained about dropps not dissolving all of the way. On their website they sell little mesh bags for if you use cold water or multiple pods. I guess the catch the debris? 🤷🏻♀️ They didn't explain why, but maybe that would have helped. But also, I noticed when I first started using Blueland, I would have little grains of detergent left behind. Apparently you're supposed to add the detergent FIRST then your clothes. I didn't have a problem with it dissolving after I fixed that, even with cold water. I wonder how those other brands would have performed if loaded in the same order.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist that's good to know! I almost went with them, but decided I wanted to look more into PVA first. It's hard to tell what's true, and what being blown out of proportion about it. 🤷🏻♀️
@@bethn2836 I find it hard to find a detergent without PVA that isn't a powder. The studies aren't the greatest on PVA. Is it microplastics? we don't really know. All i know is that any of these options is much much better than what is traditionally used
I watched another review of Dropps and a lady who used it said her gym clothes still smelled like sweat after they were washed. That's why I'm afraid of trying some of the eco friendly detergent.
I've been using Dropps for over a year now and I've run into a similar issue especially the armpit areas of shirts. I've found using additional oxybooster works for me. I also put my detergent pods and oxybooster pods in first with warm water till they suds up, then switch to cold water and add my clothes. That's been working well for me.
I’ve been using earth breeze for a while and loved it, love the plastic free and compostable packaging but now I’m skeptical because my towels and whites seem to be getting more dingy :( Has anyone had that issue? I’m trying to find a better zero waste detergent alternative
Once I get through my box of dropps I'm planning to swap to something else. Honestly, tired of having to either use more water or warmer water to not have stains on my clothes. Thanks for the video! Hoping some of these will have better results.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist You didn’t come back at the end of the Dropps load to say how it smelled. Good to know it smelled good since I just ordered some over the weekend. 😀
We’re 21 years professional manufacturer engaged in the research,development,prodcution,sales and service of ECO-friendly households cleaning products. Do u want to customize ur own brand of Cleaning Sheets?
there actually ARE zero waste many things! For example, Meliora laundry detergent IS zero waste since zero waste encapsulates recycling and composting. Check out this video to learn more about what zero waste is: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QY5ZOT2T1uU.html
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist no there are no zero waste. everything we manufacture creates waste. where did you get the raw materials from to make the detergent?
This isn't a review, it's just a show-and-tell. Where is the useful information? Price-per-load? Non-subjective performance? Info about ingredients? None of that here.
no it's a review. i talk about which one is my fav at the end. as you can see, this videeo is over a year old and i have improved since then. no need to repeat what i already know. check out their websites in the videeo description for more info
There are cardboard boxes with powder detergents which I use. Like the bambino mix detergent without fragrance, fairy etc. I won't bother with things that don't clean well. If anyone can provide me a bed cleaner than mine that only would convince me.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist thank you. I couldn't say from the video that they are plastic. I haven't seen loose powder detergent in a plastic box yet, thankfully. That's absolutely terrible and unnecessary.
@rachelmelissa3637: I sure wish that laundry powder would be available in my area of ILLINOIS. I thought powders were on there way out. I'm 17 miles NW of Chicago.
