Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.
A stroll down the detergent aisle will lead you to a plethora of options: scented or fragrance free, liquid or pod, gentle or heavy-duty. While there is a lot to pore through, most of my detergent decisions are motivated by two factors: price and convenience (a mindset that helps me navigate many of my purchases). In most cases, I would prefer to buy a sustainable option, but not at the expense of convenience or ease of use. When it comes to sustainability, products like single-use plastic water bottles, ziploc bags, cotton rounds, and q-tips are top of mind. I had no idea that my laundry detergent was hiding their same dirty secret in plain sight: microplastic.
Those tide pods you love just throwing in the washing machine and forgetting about? Bad news, they don’t just dissolve into thin air. Studies have found that detergent pods leak polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) into the environment and possibly even the human food chain. And that’s before we even start talking about the containers that house these products. In the United States alone, one billion plastic laundry detergent jugs are bought each year and 90% of them end up in the ocean, landfills, or shipped off for poorer countries to manage.
Time For A Cleaner Clean
It was that statistic that got Washland founder Manvir Dosanjh’s mind moving. There had to be a better way. And with Washland, there actually is.
Washland makes eco-friendly detergent that’s kinder to your skin and the planet. It comes in a super-concentrated strip full of all-natural cleaning powerhouse ingredients: coconut oil alcohol, natural vegetable oil, coconut oil extract, deioized water, fragrance (essential oil blend). But what’s not in the Washland Laundry Strips is almost as important as what is: Washland never uses harsh chemicals, parabens, phosphates, added dyes, chlorine bleach, or formaldehyde. This formula is hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and while scented, still gentle enough for those with very sensitive skin.
The strips come in a sliding tray box, which makes for easy storage and a convenient, mess-free experience. The strips have a squishy, almost foam-like feel. At just 2g each they’re super lightweight – perfect for traveling, too. One strip is premeasured to clean one load of laundry. If you feel your load of laundry is particularly dirty, throw two strips in for some extra cleaning power. The strips work in any washing machine, even HE machines. Plus, they dissolve in cold or hot water, so you can use them on any setting or even for hand washing garments.
Credit: @washlandco
100% Clean, 0% Waste
As a brand committed to being eco-friendly, every part of the Washland experience is better for the environment. The strips themselves dissolve completely, and because they’re made of all-natural ingredients, they leave no microplastics or toxins to leach into our waterways. Not only does Washland ditch the plastic jugs, but the brand uses biodegradable, recycled paper for it’s packaging.
Of course, any alternative is only as good as it actually works. Luckily, Washland Laundry Strips work really well. Clothing comes out of the washing machine smelling and feeling fresh, with no weird residues left behind. These strips have even helped me get stubborn stains out of jeans and sweatshirts. For that alone, I’m pretty impressed.
Other Perks of Going Plastic-Free
The fact that it’s an eco-friendly, plastic-free alternative to your typical laundry detergents is probably one of Washland’s biggest value propositions, but after using the strips for some time now, I’ve realized there are some other, less-discussed perks.
First off, the strips could not be easier to use. Just throw a strip, or two if you need some really heavy duty cleaning, in your washing machine and you’re good to go. No worrying about making a mess trying to measure the perfect amount of liquid for your load.
While detergent pods are super convenient, they sometimes just don’t pop! I throw them in the washer and they don’t dissolve, leaving my clothes wet but still dirty. Or worse, they dissolve but are trapped in an item of clothing and leave behind a huge stain. With Washland, these problems are nonexistent. The strips dissolve so quickly with warm or cold water, so you don’t have to worry about them getting stuck between clothing, not dissolving, or staining anything since they run clear. This has been one of my favorite added benefits of Washland Laundry Strips.
Another great use case for the laundry detergent strips is as a stain remover. If I stain an item of clothing, I’ll just dissolve one strip, rub it onto the stain, and let it sit for a few minutes before actually washing. Surprisingly, this has worked wonders. And, because the strips are made from clean ingredients, I’m not worried about them touching my bare hands.
Lastly, I thought that because this is a clean, sensitive-skin friendly brand, the detergent wouldn’t smell that great. Much to my surprise, this stuff smells amazing. The Lazy Sunday scent leaves behind a light, clean fragrance that’s exactly what you want your fresh linens to smell like.
A single pack of Washland Laundry Strips costs $15 and can be used for 32 loads. That has a price-per-wash of about $0.46. If you get the family sized 8-pack, which can be used for 256 loads, the price-per-wash comes down to $0.33. That price is comparable to traditional detergent pods. With a fair price and a formula that’s better for you and better for the environment, why wouldn’t you make the switch?
Five More Reasons To Love Washland:
- Bundle and save: Washland’s price-per-wash goes down as you buy more. And, these never go bad so you can buy in bulk and keep them stored until you need them, while you save money.
- Clean and cute: Washland’s packaging is not only easy to use, but it’s fun. The colorful, irreverent branding makes laundry time a little more fun.
- Fresh forever: A lingering scent of fresh linens that lasts. What’s not to love?
- Starting small: Washland is a relatively new brand and as such, they’re super responsive. Ask a question on Instagram, Tik Tok, or via email and you can expect a great customer service experience.
- Going viral: Washland has had it’s 15-seconds of fame on Tik Tok. If you want to learn more about the product, the brand’s Tik Tok page is a great place to start. You’ll find some new ways to use the strips, fun facts, and more.
