What are eco-friendly laundry strips? How do you use them? And are they effective? If you’re a frequent visitor to my blog, you’ll know that I’m always looking for new ways to reduce my plastic waste. I recently had the opportunity to try USolve’s laundry strips and I’ll be answering all your questions and more in this post.
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Laundry detergent is something we don’t really think about when it comes to eco-friendly options. Luckily, there are many companies that are creating sustainable products that can easily replace the ones that are adding to our ocean plastic crisis. This post is not sponsored, I just wanted to share my honest review with my experience using these strips for the first time.
What are eco-friendly laundry strips?
Unlike traditional laundry detergents, eco-friendly laundry strips are 100% biodegradable, plastic-free, and are formulated without harsh chemicals. Rather than purchasing a heavy jug of detergent, that’s anywhere from 50 – 90% water, you are purchasing concentrated strips of soap.
A common ingredient in shampoos, soaps, and laundry detergent is sodium lauryl sulphate otherwise known as SLS. This ingredient is what creates the suds, bubbles, and lather that we love, but SLS is an irritant. Since these laundry strips are made with plant-based and cleaner ingredients, you won’t be seeing a ton of bubbles when you do your laundry. But don’t worry, the amount of bubbles does not relate to cleaning power!
How does this help the environment?
We have been facing a huge plastic pollution problem that’s only continuing to grow. Did you know that only about 9% of plastics are recycled in Canada? Not only does laundry detergent come in big heavy plastic bottles but some of them, such as pods, contain microplastics. These microplastics end up in our water ways and as of recently we’ve found microplastics in human blood for the first time. Isn’t that terrifying?
By switching to eco-friendly laundry strips, you’re reducing your plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation pollution by 95%. Not only are you helping the environment, but you’re also washing your clothes with ingredients that don’t contain harmful chemicals and irritants.
What are they made of and what do they smell like?
USolve’s laundry strips contain plant-derived ingredients. These ingredients are safe even for sensitive skin. They currently offer Fresh Scent, Spring Breeze, and Fragrance-Free strips. The scented laundry strips are made with a vegan fragrance.
How much do they cost?
Based on what I’m currently using, switching to laundry strips would be the same price wise. I would be switching from Tide liquid detergent that cleans up to 48 loads for $14.00 CAD to USolve 48 load pack for $13.95 CAD. (Prices are accurate at the time of publication.)
How do I use them?
Laundry strips are very easy to use. One strip equals one load. Each strip is already pre-measured, so you’re never using too much product. If you have a front-load washing machine, place the strip in your detergent dispenser and tear into smaller pieces if necessary. If you have a top-load washer, simply toss the strip inside the washer before adding your clothes. These strips easily dissolve in both hot and cold water, so the temperature is up to you!
My Thoughts
I received a sample pack from USolve which contained 3 full sheets. Each sheet can be torn into two, which is enough for 6 loads of laundry. As someone who usually prefers unscented laundry detergent, I decided to try their Fresh Scent. It was a light, clean, and comforting scent that I would absolutely recommend.
I was very surprised by how effective a single strip was. My clothes came out brighter and whiter than before. There were two occasions out of six where I found stains that did not lift; however, these weren’t fresh stains. I typically don’t soak older stains because I haven’t had an issue with them not lifting with regular detergent, but I have no problem with taking an extra step in soaking them if it means that I can reduce my plastic waste.
Another great thing about these strips is that they’re super convenient for travelling. If you don’t want to pay to have your laundry done while you’re on vacation, you can bring several strips with you and wash small items by hand. While I haven’t done this personally yet, I’ll definitely have some handy for my next trip.
My experience with USolve’s laundry strips was very positive. If you’re thinking of ways to reduce your plastic waste, I’d recommend trying these strips. USolve laundry strips are available for purchase on their website and through Amazon. Have you heard of laundry strips before? Is this something you’d be interested in switching to? I’d love to hear your thoughts! For more FAQ’s visit USolve’s page here. For more eco-friendly posts, visit my tag here.
Laundry strips are something I’ve heard of but have never actually tried, but after reading your post and review I probably will have to seek them out!I Specially since one strip equals a load which would be a money saver since I usually add more detergent than i should 😅
Thank you for sharing!
I’m happy to hear that! I can also relate to using way too much detergent haha. Thank you for reading Loren!
I’ve never heard of these before, but they sound amazing. I’m always looking for ways to cut down on waste. Thanks for sharing this.
It’s such a great and easy way to cut down on our plastic waste! Thank you for reading Wendy!
Thanks for sharing such an informative post. I like the idea of products such as this and will definitely give it a try once I’ve gone through my Costco sized box of detergent. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great Jodie! I hope you’ll love the switch. Thank you for reading!
I am fascinated by this concept as I have never heard of anything remotely like it! I love that the strips dissolve in the machine; talk about a truly no-waste solution. 🙂
Right! It’s such a smart idea. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it’s also super light weight. No more carrying heavy jugs of laundry detergent at the store! Thank you for reading Jaya!
We’ve actually never heard of these before!
I don’t think many people have! I’m excited to share my finds and hopefully inspire others to try sustainable alternatives. Thank you for reading!
I haven’t heard of these before, but I love the sustainability side of these strips and I really want to try them for my washing machine! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Definitely give them a try, they’re fantastic and super easy to use. Thank you for reading Lucy!
Great review! I hadn’t heard of U Strip before but I’m always looking for ways to cut down my plastic and they sound fab. I love that they’re suitable for sensitive skin, are pre-measured and smell so good! Thank you so much for sharing x
It’s wonderful isn’t it? It’s plastic-free and super easy to use! Thank you for reading Ceri!
I am so glad that these new, more eco-friendly alternatives are becoming widely available. There are many of us who want to make choices that reduce plastic waste so thanks for sharing this info!
I agree! Hopefully in a few months or years they’ll expand to selling in stores, which can be a convenient option for some. Thank you for reading Molly!
I haven’t heard of these before, they sound like a good alternative to help reduce waste in your home. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Lauren x
Yes, it’s a wonderful way to reduce our plastic usage! Thank you for reading Lauren!
I agree, that the plastic problem always grows every day. And these are some great tips to help with that. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading Fransic!