One of the first switches that I attempted was laundry detergent. Even before I was committed to ridding my life of plastic, the large plastic bottles of laundry detergents bothered me. Even back in the ’90’s I chose to use Wisk, at the time owned by Unilever, because their product was double concentrated, offering the same number of washes in a much smaller bottle than other detergent brands. Ultimately, the double-concentrate formula was abandoned because consumers could not tell the difference and they felt that the smaller bottle was a bad value, even though it would wash the same number of loads for the same price.
The Long Transition to Plastic-Free Laundry Detergent
Then, more recently, Seventh Generation (another Unilever company) started selling double concentrated laundry detergent in a paper board “bottle” containing an inner plastic bag. You can compost the paperboard outer package and recycle the inner plastic bag liner. This felt like a good step in the right direction, with much less plastic waste. Alas, I find it hard to find the paper board bottle in stores anymore. It looks like they are replacing it with “Ultra Concentrated” detergent, which is 66 loads in 23 ounces. But not in the paper board outer package.
*note the seventh generation bottle does 66 loads with 50 ounces while the Tide bottle does 64 loads with 92 ounces.
One of the Easiest Plastic-Free Switches You Can Make
While probably another step in the right direction, even reducing down to a 23 ounce bottle is not quite far enough if we are going to eliminate plastic waste from our land fills! Thank goodness for laundry detergent sheets. This innovation is a great substitute for liquid (or heavy boxes of powder) laundry detergent. I have tried several brands and today I will review my current favorite.
A Weird Name But A Great Product
Lazy Coconuts? Who knows where that came from. But who cares, because this product is fantastic. I can’t believe that I can go from a 50 ounce bottle to this 8 1/2 X 11 envelope of detergent strips.
I will admit that I was sceptical at first. Would the 4″ X 3″ “strip” of laundry detergent really get my laundry clean enough? Would it dissolve effectively and not leave scum on my clothes? I was surprised that the answer to all of my concerns was “absolutely”.
What I love about these is that they are EVEN EASIER to use than liquid laundry detergent. No need for measuring. No spilled detergent. No dripping down the side of the bottle. I simply tear off one of the sheets, drop it in with the laundry, shut the door and start the machine.
I was really concerned about how well it would clean the laundry, but our white sheets are bright, and various food stains have come out. Even my husband’s gardening jeans came out clean.
Full disclosure: I am not a fragrance person. I don’t like a heavy scent on my laundry, and Lazy Coconuts if fragrance-free. But for the fragrance lovers out there, this brand may not be for you.
A Premium Price for A Great Product
On a load-to-load basis most brands of laundry detergent sheets seem to sell at a premium vs. mainstream liquid detergents. Even when you compare with Tide, which is a premium mainstream brand, a load using a strip is more expensive (up to 50% more expensive than liquid). Which is a lot on a percentage basis. On a per load, basis, it is about 11 cents higher. If you do 10 loads of laundry a week (not a stretch for a family with several kids) that is about $1 a week. Not everyone can make that tradeoff. Personally, I am so thrilled by the move from big plastic jug to slim envelope of strips that I almost want to pay more. And the cherry on top is that it is even easier to use.
Things I Love:
- NO PLASTIC PACKAGING! I recycle the coated paper envelope
- Easy to use–easier than liquid laundry detergent, in fact
- Other environmental benefits from shipping efficiencies (SO MUCH smaller and lighter).
- Excellent price
Things I Don’t Love:
- NOTHING!
Product Info:
- https://lazycoconuts.com
- 48 Load Package $14.95
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