Laundry detergent sheets are detergents designed as eco-friendly alternatives to liquid or powder detergents. As they are typically sold in cardboard packaging, laundry sheets eliminate the need for plastic bottles. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging were generated in 2018, making up 5% of municipal solid waste. Laundry sheets can lighten the load on our recycling bin and on the environment.

Laundry sheets work with all types of washing machines including high efficiency models. One of the benefits of laundry detergent sheets is that they are designed to fully break down in the wash. Whether in cold or hot water, these strips are designed to completely dissolve within minutes. Their cost is similar to liquid detergents, pods and packs.  

Recently, Consumer Reports tested six brands of laundry sheets — Earth Breeze, ECOS, Ecowise, Kind, Sheets Laundry Club and Tru Earth. Unfortunately, in the testing, laundry sheets as a group didn’t perform well — netting scores that range from mediocre to lousy. Only one brand, Earth Breeze, performed better than mediocre while cleaning stains, according to the publication. Unless you are washing a relatively clean load of laundry these sheets are not a good substitute for traditional laundry liquids or powders. Reviewing personal reviews online, some customers have had positive experiences with laundry sheets, so it may take experimenting with several brands to find an effective one.

TOO MUCH DETERGENT?

As far as their impact on septic systems is concerned, just like with liquids and powders, it all comes down to the ingredients, how well it dissolves and the amount of detergent. There are a couple of benefits from using laundry detergent sheets. The first is that the amount of detergent is controlled as many homes use more detergent than needed. The second is that they fully dissolve unlike some powder product which can cause issues in plumbing systems and septic systems. Until the product improves in performance cleaning clothing, they will likely not gain widespread use.

Dryer balls are either made of plastic or wool, which work in a mechanical way to soften clothing and prevent bunching. As dryer balls bounce around in the dryer, they soften the fibers in clothes. This tumbling action also helps prevent wrinkles because it keeps clothes from getting pinned to the side and creasing. Compare that to liquid softener or dryer sheets which work by leaving a layer of chemicals on clothes. These build up over time and can degrade clothes. 

The use of fabric softeners is not recommended due common active ingredients including quaternary ammonium, which is strong disinfectant, emulsifiers that can affect the natural stratification in septic tanks and clarifiers, and some even contain formaldehyde which is highly toxic to microbes! They also make towels less absorbent. In general, dryer balls are preferred to liquid or sheet fabric softeners since they are not chemical based, but mechanical.

The biggest benefit of dryer balls is that they eliminate static naturally. Usually when laundry spins around in the dryer, it does so in a big clump. The different fabrics cling together and that is part of what creates a static charge. Liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets use chemicals to counteract this. These chemicals could impact the septic system and can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation.

The advantage of dryer balls is that they work by tumbling around and physically keeping clothes separate. This prevents creation of static. With wool balls, static can be mitigated by dampening the balls before adding them to the dryer. Another benefit is that they are fragrance-free. The fragrances in most fabric softeners are synthetically derived and do not fully break down in the wastewater treatment process and are often found in surface and groundwater. If people want their clothes to have a fragrance a few drops of essential oil can be added to the wool balls for a natural scent. 

REDUCE DRYER TIME

Another benefit for consumers is faster drying since using wool balls means the laundry dries up to 25% faster. This is partially true because the wool can absorb some of the excess moisture. It is also because the balls move around throughout the laundry, creating space between the fabrics and improving the airflow. For an average load, typically 3-4 dryer balls will be needed but for large loads or faster drying times, six balls are recommended. An added benefit of faster drying time is energy savings and reduced electric bill.

Dryer balls are eco-friendly and sustainable as they are reusable. Wool balls are all-natural and  can be used up to 1,000 times, which means even if there is a load of laundry done every day, they would last almost three years. After that, they are completely biodegradable. They can be composted, but they should be cut up into smaller pieces first to decrease the time required for breakdown. The benefit of wool balls is they are quieter than other types of balls, they do not add an odor, and are sustainable. Typically, plastic dryer balls are loud and are not recyclable. Tennis balls can also be loud in the dryer and can leave an unfortunate smell on clothes.

Laundry sheets and dryer balls could offer some advantages for septic systems. For your eco-focused customers, there are new alternatives being developed every day which may lessen the load to the septic system and the environment from doing laundry.