Not Your Grandma’s Laundry Powder

Large plastic jugs of laundry detergent have been on my plastic hit list for a long time. In a previous post I talked about how laundry detergent was one of the first plastic packages I tried to ditch. I have also written about laundry strips and how much I love them. And while Lazy Coconuts Laundry Strips remain my favorite detergent right now (read my review here: Coconuts Laundry Strips Post ), some people feel more confident with more traditional formats, and this Seventh Generation laundry detergent powder is a great option!

I Love Recyclable Packages!

Performance of the product is important, of course, and I will get to that in a minute, but the plastic-free packaging is what we are here to talk about. In many situations metal is such a great alternative to plastic. Like plastic, aluminum and steel in the bathroom, the kitchen or the laundry room will protect products from moisture. That means you can leave this near the sink and not be worried that water will cause the powder to clump up or turn hard.

This laundry powder package is made of steel which is infinitely recyclable, meaning that it can be recycled again and again, leaving no waste to go into landfill. I love that Seventh Generation has introduced this innovative package. So many of their products are packaged in plastic, including liquid, powder, and pods laundry detergent, household cleaners, wipes, diapers, and more. It is exciting to see a large manufacturer like Unilever (who owns Seventh Generation) make a move in plastic-free packaging!

At the end of the day however, laundry strips are probably the greenest option. Lightweight, and packaged in paper, the energy required to produce and ship strips is better than powders and liquids. But this infinitely recyclable steel container is a plastic switch and a step in the right direction.

Concentrated But A Little Messy

This product is nice and concentrated which, for me, is important for a powder. Laundry strips are lightweight and easy to ship. Powders are not a great environmentally friendly choice if they are heavy and bulky. These Seventh Generation cans are super concentrated, making this powder an easier choice.

For a full load of laundry I use only a tablespoon of powder. In another plastic-saving effort, the can does not come with a measuring spoon. This is a great idea since once you have a measurer, you don’t need a new one with every package–its a great way to reduce waste! I happened to have an extra coffee measurer (plastic, I know, but it came with my coffee maker) that I can use for this purpose. I just scoop one spoonful of the powder into the machine with my clothes, towels or sheets, shut the door and push start. The powder can be a little messier than detergent sheets, but overall it is very easy to use.

Everything Comes Out Clean

I don’t have a quantitative way to measure how effective laundry detergent is, but I judge by two things:

how white the whites come out
whether athletic gear has any lingering….odor.

I have found that some laundry strips underperform in these areas, but this Seventh Generation powder does a great job, and outperforms all of the laundry strips (including my favorite brand) on getting the sweat stink out of athletic gear.

If you are a fragrance lover when it comes to your laundry, this may not be the choice for you. While the product description calls this citrus and sandalwood scent, I would call it unscented. Which works for me. My laundry comes out smelling of nothing–just the way it should.