I find it hard to advocate for eco-friendly cleaning products. Usually, natural ingredients like vinegar, essential oils, and baking soda don't cut through grime or clean well enough to maintain a permanent spot in my cleaning rotation. I've tried nearly every multi-purpose spray, dish soap, and laundry detergent on the eco-friendly market in an effort to cut down on unnecessary chemicals in my home. Still, not all cleaning products are created equally.
One of the only exceptions is Dropps laundry detergent(opens in a new tab).
Why we like Dropps laundry detergent
I've been using Dropps laundry detergent for nearly five years, and it's one of the best eco-friendly options on the market. Where other sustainable laundry detergents fall short of cleaning power, Dropps delivers. I've used Dropps to wash countless grease stains out of T-shirts, and it even got red curry out of a white washable rug on one occasion.
The pods come in multiple scents (including lavender eucalyptus, orange blossom, and an unscented option) and leave laundry feeling and smelling clean. There's also a sensitive skin option for folks who need gentler ingredients. I've used the stain and odor and sensitive skin formulas and both offered effective cleaning.
In terms of ingredients, Dropps is pretty solid and puts sustainability first when sourcing ingredients. Where many traditional detergents contain trace amounts of probable carcinogens(opens in a new tab), Dropps sticks to products approved by the EPA's Cleangredients database(opens in a new tab). The only question mark about Dropps has to do with the PVOH pods the soap is held in. There are mixed opinions(opens in a new tab) on whether PVOH is actually fully biodegradable. We took this into account when assigning a sustainability score.
A big plus of Dropps on the sustainability front is the packaging and the shipping. Most packages from traditional retailers contain plastic bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and plastic tape that can't be recycled or composted, and just end up in a landfill. Dropps ships all of its products in cardboard boxes made by suppliers that are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. The packaging also includes paper tape and fully recyclable shipping labels. If you're a big home composter, you can even compost the cardboard box your laundry soap comes in. Dropps also offers tons of shipping initiatives to help balance carbon emissions — read more on that below.
I notoriously hate subscriptions and anything on auto-ship, but Dropps is one of the few companies I haven't had a problem with. They regularly send reminder emails before your next shipment is set to be processed (just make sure the emails aren't going to your junk folder). The shipping takes a bit longer than has become normalized (thanks, Amazon), but the sustainability efforts behind the brand make the wait worth it. If you don't want to subscribe, you can also do one-time purchases, but they cost a bit more than the subscriptions.
I've also had nothing but positive interactions with Dropps customer service. They respond quickly and are invested in keeping customers happy. When I moved states last year, I forgot to change the address on my Dropps subscription. I reached out and they were able to quickly change my address and divert the shipment before it got delivered to my old address.
Swap or not?
The best way to reduce your waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle is to swap products you use every day for their more sustainable counterparts. We think Dropps is a simple, easy swap to reduce plastic waste from traditional laundry detergent and to wash your clothes with cleaner, gentler ingredients. If you're not ready to go all in on the plastic-free lifestyle, start by swapping your normal laundry detergent for a box of Dropps. Opt for their hand soap tablets or laundry boosters too, if you want to make even more eco-friendly swaps.
