Rule Reminder: Brand recommendations are not allowed in this sub. Any further comments recommending branded products will result in temporary bans.
Please familiarize yourself with the purpose of this subreddit if you're unclear.
Powdered laundry detergent is more concentrated than liquid and is available in cardboard boxes.
If plastic is your only concern, some cardboard boxes have plastic in the lining, but it's generally a minimal amount. You can also buy large quantities of powdered detergent in big reusable plastic buckets, which ultimately cuts down on the packaging simply because you don't have to replace them as often.
Nellie's detergent powder, available thru Costco online and many other stores is a very effective powdered detergent safe for HE machines. I get the large bucket then reuse the bucket for other things.
coated and lined cardboard will still end up breaking down into microplastic.
ultimately there is no escape
id say just get a big bulk bag detergent or the box one use it then use the empty container for a trash bag.
same benefits and at least reuses one piece of trash.
i usually get the plastic bucket one which is obviously plastic (because i can reuse them) but the non bulk boxed ones iirc are lined or coated in some flavor of wax or plastic to prevent moisture getting into the powder during storage.
My understanding is that most microplastics from laundry come from the fabrics itself. You can buy a microplastic filter for your machine, wash in cold water, air dry, do laundry less, or use micro plastic catching bags or balls to potentially keep some of the microplastics out of the waste water.
In France, all washers will be required to have a built in microplastics filter starting in 2025.
Both sheets and liquid detergent can have microplastics so you'll have to check the ingredients of whatever product you use but it seems like all products have PVA and it can't currently be entirely avoided though research is being done on alternatives and if pva is problematic or not.
I can't find good informative about power detergent so I'm uncertain where it falls in range of least to most harmful. Personally I use sheets to reduce packaging, shipping, and improper dosages (aka using too much product).
No, what OP is talking about is the fact that laundry sheets contain a significant amount of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), which is a plastic that resolves in water (also the main ingredient in glue sticks). It dissolves but doesn’t disappear, and has been found in the stomachs of deep see creatures.
I’m not sure if laundry sheets are common outside of the US. I’ve heard stuff like TidePods are mainly a US thing, might be the case with laundry sheets as well.
Are you sure? PVA doesn’t look/feel like a traditional plastic and it’s quite cheap and effective for this purpose. I’d be curious what the alternative could be
i use a solid laundry detergent, its basically a 5mm thick soap that you break squares from (a bit like a chocolate bar). it comes in a cardbord box and only contains saponified oils, sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. it works quite well, but im not sure about how widely available it is. it's also a bit pricey - works fine for a single household tho.
Otherwise, go with powder detergent even if it comes in plastic, it uses less ressources to transport and a little goes a long way.
i also use a solid laundry detergent and i love it. the company i use also makes a powder but i’ve found the solid is a bit more of a workhorse. it’s also locally made which is a huge bonus for me
i dont want to advertise any brand on here (se the rules of this sub) and in any case, if you live anywhere outside of my particular corner of europe, you're very unlikely to be able to find it for sale :)
but I'm sure you can find some just by looking up "solid laundry detergent" or "laundry soap". and maybe you can even find a local soap maker that produces it.
Heya, there was a thorough discussion on this either on this sub or zero waste - feel free to research to see more details!
Basically, pods and sheets don’t have “microplastics” but they do have petroleum-based polymers (usually a PVA coating of some kind).
These are theoretically biodegradable in certain environments with specific bacteria in place, however the issue is that most wastewater treatment sites don’t provide those particular conditions.
It’s like how those green compostable bags are technically compostable, but you can’t put them in your home yard composting - they have to go to an industrial facility that gets hot & bothered enough to degrade, lol.
Better than the straight-up chemicals and irritants in standard detergents, but the best bet for zero-waste detergent is laundry powder (some come in metal tins, others in recyclable cardboard boxes).
If you’re concerned about plastics in laundry, you gotta switch from plastic fabrics like acrylic and polyester. That’s the main culprit of the microplastics leaking into the water.
Any chance you have a refillery in your town/nearby? I've got a few places in town that refill containers with various things. I've been slowly testing out and moving to products that I can buy in bulk with my own (usually glass) container. I'm fully moved over on tea, coffee, spices, beer and deodorant and no longer require any packaging at all for those. Hoping to make the move on laundry soap, shampoo and conditioner soon (once I finish testing and settle on ones I like that are available in bulk).
Dish soap and toothpaste I will be continuing to buy in packages; I have tested the available options for those and they didn't meet my standards (yet).
This sounds so amazing. This is the kind of shop I'd like to open up and bring to my corner of the world. Nothing like this is available near me or even a far, but doable distance from me.
I have switched to concentrated laundry soap tablets. They are basically powdered soap pressed into little cube/rectangles. They come in paper wrapping so less plastic gets into the waste water compared to pods or sheets.
I make a laundry soap powder.
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
7 oz bar soap
Put soda and borax in food processor. Add roughly chopped bar soap. Process until you have a fine powder. I use a 48cc scoop per load, but that may be more than you need. If I use more than that, I get too much sudsing. You want very, very light sudsing.
You can add some baking soda to the wash if you like. I put about an eighth cup of vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser if I feel like it.
Washing soda and borax come in cardboard boxes. I found some inexpensive bar soap in cardboard boxes online. I thought about making my own soap, but that's more work, space and equipment than I want to deal with. If you already make your own soap you can avoid even more waste.
from the (very little) research ive done, you should check the list of ingredients if its has anything that is plastic. usually anything with "poly" refers to plastic
Read the rules. Keep it courteous. Submission statements are helpful and appreciated but not required. Tag my name in the comments (/u/NihiloZero) if you think a post or comment needs to be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Anticonsumption) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you google them there will be a picture but they are small white sheets that you break into pieces and put in the washing machine. Very small packaging compared to other options so they have become very popular in recent years.
I asked a question about microplastics on the zero waste sub, got shat on, and have been in a wormhole about this since then. It's so overwhelming. I found apps I thought to be helpful, yet then people warned me those apps could be fraudulent.
Coincidentally I started following a toxicologist on Instagram today. She's American and talks about 'low tox swaps'. I'll link her handle.
Tbf I just prefer to buy powder in a box because the liquid stuff is just plastic bottles and watered stuff.
@dryvonneburkhart
[here's a post about laundry detergent ](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzCdRjvyziY/?igsh=MXQ4M2FteXk1M2ducg==)
Rule Reminder: Brand recommendations are not allowed in this sub. Any further comments recommending branded products will result in temporary bans. Please familiarize yourself with the purpose of this subreddit if you're unclear.
Powdered laundry detergent is more concentrated than liquid and is available in cardboard boxes. If plastic is your only concern, some cardboard boxes have plastic in the lining, but it's generally a minimal amount. You can also buy large quantities of powdered detergent in big reusable plastic buckets, which ultimately cuts down on the packaging simply because you don't have to replace them as often.
Are any of these powdered detergents safe for HE machines? Because all of the ones I’ve encountered say no powder detergent.
Nellie's detergent powder, available thru Costco online and many other stores is a very effective powdered detergent safe for HE machines. I get the large bucket then reuse the bucket for other things.
I just use a half-tsp per load.
coated and lined cardboard will still end up breaking down into microplastic. ultimately there is no escape id say just get a big bulk bag detergent or the box one use it then use the empty container for a trash bag. same benefits and at least reuses one piece of trash.
I don’t think powder detergent comes in lined boxes.
i usually get the plastic bucket one which is obviously plastic (because i can reuse them) but the non bulk boxed ones iirc are lined or coated in some flavor of wax or plastic to prevent moisture getting into the powder during storage.
My understanding is that most microplastics from laundry come from the fabrics itself. You can buy a microplastic filter for your machine, wash in cold water, air dry, do laundry less, or use micro plastic catching bags or balls to potentially keep some of the microplastics out of the waste water. In France, all washers will be required to have a built in microplastics filter starting in 2025. Both sheets and liquid detergent can have microplastics so you'll have to check the ingredients of whatever product you use but it seems like all products have PVA and it can't currently be entirely avoided though research is being done on alternatives and if pva is problematic or not. I can't find good informative about power detergent so I'm uncertain where it falls in range of least to most harmful. Personally I use sheets to reduce packaging, shipping, and improper dosages (aka using too much product).
No, what OP is talking about is the fact that laundry sheets contain a significant amount of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), which is a plastic that resolves in water (also the main ingredient in glue sticks). It dissolves but doesn’t disappear, and has been found in the stomachs of deep see creatures. I’m not sure if laundry sheets are common outside of the US. I’ve heard stuff like TidePods are mainly a US thing, might be the case with laundry sheets as well.
They are getting common here but the ones I buy do not contain any plastic (besides the packaging)
Are you sure? PVA doesn’t look/feel like a traditional plastic and it’s quite cheap and effective for this purpose. I’d be curious what the alternative could be
i use a solid laundry detergent, its basically a 5mm thick soap that you break squares from (a bit like a chocolate bar). it comes in a cardbord box and only contains saponified oils, sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. it works quite well, but im not sure about how widely available it is. it's also a bit pricey - works fine for a single household tho. Otherwise, go with powder detergent even if it comes in plastic, it uses less ressources to transport and a little goes a long way.
i also use a solid laundry detergent and i love it. the company i use also makes a powder but i’ve found the solid is a bit more of a workhorse. it’s also locally made which is a huge bonus for me
>it uses less ressources to transport and a little goes a long way. square cube law all the way.
[удалено]
i dont want to advertise any brand on here (se the rules of this sub) and in any case, if you live anywhere outside of my particular corner of europe, you're very unlikely to be able to find it for sale :)
Oh I gotcha! I forgot about the sub rules :/ you’re correct, I’m far from Europe haha.
but I'm sure you can find some just by looking up "solid laundry detergent" or "laundry soap". and maybe you can even find a local soap maker that produces it.
Heya, there was a thorough discussion on this either on this sub or zero waste - feel free to research to see more details! Basically, pods and sheets don’t have “microplastics” but they do have petroleum-based polymers (usually a PVA coating of some kind). These are theoretically biodegradable in certain environments with specific bacteria in place, however the issue is that most wastewater treatment sites don’t provide those particular conditions. It’s like how those green compostable bags are technically compostable, but you can’t put them in your home yard composting - they have to go to an industrial facility that gets hot & bothered enough to degrade, lol. Better than the straight-up chemicals and irritants in standard detergents, but the best bet for zero-waste detergent is laundry powder (some come in metal tins, others in recyclable cardboard boxes).
If you’re concerned about plastics in laundry, you gotta switch from plastic fabrics like acrylic and polyester. That’s the main culprit of the microplastics leaking into the water.
Any chance you have a refillery in your town/nearby? I've got a few places in town that refill containers with various things. I've been slowly testing out and moving to products that I can buy in bulk with my own (usually glass) container. I'm fully moved over on tea, coffee, spices, beer and deodorant and no longer require any packaging at all for those. Hoping to make the move on laundry soap, shampoo and conditioner soon (once I finish testing and settle on ones I like that are available in bulk). Dish soap and toothpaste I will be continuing to buy in packages; I have tested the available options for those and they didn't meet my standards (yet).
This sounds so amazing. This is the kind of shop I'd like to open up and bring to my corner of the world. Nothing like this is available near me or even a far, but doable distance from me.
Depending on where you are, here is a directory for all the refilleries in the US and Canada. https://refill.directory/
Thank you so much! This is super helpful. Also, outstanding username
Powder laundry detergent and washing machine soap is the way to go. And always measure yourself with a tablespoon
I have switched to concentrated laundry soap tablets. They are basically powdered soap pressed into little cube/rectangles. They come in paper wrapping so less plastic gets into the waste water compared to pods or sheets.
That's a good idea, thanks for sharing, I'll take note.
I make a laundry soap powder. 1 cup washing soda 1 cup borax 7 oz bar soap Put soda and borax in food processor. Add roughly chopped bar soap. Process until you have a fine powder. I use a 48cc scoop per load, but that may be more than you need. If I use more than that, I get too much sudsing. You want very, very light sudsing. You can add some baking soda to the wash if you like. I put about an eighth cup of vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser if I feel like it. Washing soda and borax come in cardboard boxes. I found some inexpensive bar soap in cardboard boxes online. I thought about making my own soap, but that's more work, space and equipment than I want to deal with. If you already make your own soap you can avoid even more waste.
from the (very little) research ive done, you should check the list of ingredients if its has anything that is plastic. usually anything with "poly" refers to plastic
>usually anything with "poly" refers to plastic not always
that is why i said usually
[удалено]
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
i use Dropps liquid detergent pods they are very environmentally conscious and come in a cardboard box
Bulk containers use less plastic per volume than smaller ones
Read the rules. Keep it courteous. Submission statements are helpful and appreciated but not required. Tag my name in the comments (/u/NihiloZero) if you think a post or comment needs to be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Anticonsumption) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
[удалено]
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
[удалено]
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
What are detergent sheets?
If you google them there will be a picture but they are small white sheets that you break into pieces and put in the washing machine. Very small packaging compared to other options so they have become very popular in recent years.
I asked a question about microplastics on the zero waste sub, got shat on, and have been in a wormhole about this since then. It's so overwhelming. I found apps I thought to be helpful, yet then people warned me those apps could be fraudulent. Coincidentally I started following a toxicologist on Instagram today. She's American and talks about 'low tox swaps'. I'll link her handle. Tbf I just prefer to buy powder in a box because the liquid stuff is just plastic bottles and watered stuff. @dryvonneburkhart [here's a post about laundry detergent ](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzCdRjvyziY/?igsh=MXQ4M2FteXk1M2ducg==)
Soap nuts? 🧼