There's a quiet revolution going on in homes throughout the US as more and more people discover laundry sheets, ditching those old staples of laundry powder or pods when it comes to washing day.
The concept of sheets in the laundry is familiar to lots of people who use fabric conditioner sheets in their dryers, but laundry sheets—surely, there's not enough soap in there for effective washing?
We review laundry sheets, what they're made of, and whether they can do the job just as well as some of the more traditional alternatives.
So, What Are Laundry Sheets?
If you're familiar with dryer sheets as part of your washing regimen, then laundry detergent sheets look just like them, but the similarity ends there.
Laundry sheets (sometimes called laundry strips) are thin, flat, plastic jug-free sheets containing detergent. Dissolvable paper and resin hold the contents together.
These washing products are designed to do precisely the same job as traditional powder, liquid, and pod detergents.
How Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Work?
Despite appearing to have little soap or detergent, these sheets are deceptively powerful because they contain enzymes and surfactants.
Surfactants are chemicals that alter how a cleaning agent behaves, improving function and effectiveness. However, like any chemical compound, there are the good guys and the bad guys.
If you're shopping for washing detergent sheets, aim for those with vegetable-origin surfactants in the ingredient list and enzymes like lipase and protease. These options contain ingredients designed to be gentle on fabrics and skin.
Are Laundry Sheets Effective?
They’re effective, quickly dissolving in all water temperatures and working quickly to clean dirt, sweat, and general grime from clothing and household fabrics.
The fragrance is delightful—a fresh and light perfume that’s the opposite of heavily scented pods, powders, and fabric softeners. You can also choose fragrance-free versions.
Whites appear brighter, and good sheets should be tough enough to tackle serious, ground-in stains, just in a powerfully kind way.
What Are the Benefits of Laundry Sheets?
Dissolve Fully, and No Residue
Laundry sheets have a unique design and break down fully in the washing machine regardless of whether the water is hot or cold. However, as with many things in life, not all washing detergent sheets are made equal.
Choose products that dissolve fully in water to help ensure effective cleaning.
Sheets that don't dissolve properly can also leave residue on clothes, which may be problematic for people with sensitive skin.
Kinder Ingredients
You won't need to worry about your clothes, washer, or the environment with good laundry detergent sheets.
Some manufacturers use plant-derived surfactants, glycerin, and enzymes like protease to provide effective cleaning. Many also use recyclable packaging.
Compatible with Any Washing Machine
A stellar washing detergent sheet will be compatible with all machine types, including High-Efficiency (HE) washing machines, which use less energy and water to clean clothes. Many modern detergents don't have the correct formulae to work in HE machines.
Pre-Measured, So You Don't Need to Worry
How many of us are guilty of randomly pouring powder or liquid detergent into a cup or jug and hoping for the best?
Liquid washing pods are no better; they might be measured for you, and there's no risk of spills or mess, but they contain a very high detergent concentration.
Next time you put in a load of clothes with a laundry pod, run the machine through on empty afterward and then again and again – see how long it takes before the drum is clear of foaming detergent.
Doing this for your washing machine is always good practice, but you'll be surprised at how much detergent remains after using just one washing pod.
Too much detergent leaves residue in the machine and on your clothes, but if you use detergent sheets, you won't have this worry.
Less Plastic
Jumping on the green bandwagon, many laundry detergent manufacturers are now opting for cardboard containers to house their plastic pods, and therein lies the problem.
Some traditional detergent pods are made from Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), around 75% of which won't biodegrade. In fact, PVA converts into microplastics that are released into the environment via your washer outlet or recycled through the water system.
Despite this, the size of the laundry detergent pods market worldwide is projected to increase by 6.5% between 2024 and 2030, probably because there’s been little to challenge the simplicity and convenience of laundry pods—until now.
Some manufacturers commit to ensuring that their products use less plastic, which means quality detergent sheets will come in recyclable cardboard packaging and with no plastic laundry detergent jugs.
Convenient and Long-lasting
In our 24/7 culture, life is frenetic and non-stop, so who has the time to carefully measure out exact amounts of laundry liquid or powder? It's easy to end up with too much or not enough.
Laundry sheets remove the headache from detergent dosing, plus there's no mess. They're compact and easy to store if you're tight on space, and they also make great travel companions for self-catering vacations.
With an extended expiry date of around 2-3 years, most traditional detergents can only last a year at most before they lose effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Replace Detergent?
Yes, they can. Most people do a double take, as it's hard to believe that something so slim and flat could replace a laundry pod or a large scoop of traditional washing powder. However, if you understand the science behind how they work, then it all makes perfect sense.
Do Laundry Sheets Dissolve Completely?
Laundry sheets dissolve within seconds, even at low temperatures, ensuring your laundry benefits from exceptional cleaning power as soon as you close the washer door. Laundry sheets leave no residue in the drum or on fabrics, and you can even use them for handwashing in the sink.
Final Thoughts
Laundry sheets offer a convenient alternative to traditional detergents, providing effective cleaning without bulky plastic jugs.
As with any product, not every laundry sheet manufacturer follows the same path, so always read the label. Many brands offer laundry sheets free from phosphates, brighteners, parabens, dyes, and 1,4-dioxane, making them compatible with most machines and fabrics. Make the switch today.