I Found a New Way to Wash My Clothes, and Now I’ll Never Use Regular Detergent Again

Laundry detergent pods were all that I used in college. It worked out for a while, until I washed one of my faux fur throw blankets and found undissolved plastic stuck on the fabric. User or machine error might’ve been the problem — whether it was overloaded or my dorm’s machine was simply on its last leg — but that mishap made me switch back to liquid detergent.

It’s been my go-to ever since, but I do miss the mindlessness of pods — no measuring, no problem. Not to mention, they’re a lot less messy. I’ve heard of laundry detergent sheets and was considering giving those a go, but then Blueland’s alternative got on my radar. The cleaning brand makes detergent tablets that are completely free of plastics and harsh chemicals, so not only is there no chance of filmy residue, but it’s also a great sustainable swap. (And speaking of, Blueland is offering 20% everything for Earth Day!)

Blueland’s dry form tablet uses plant and mineral-based ingredients that tackle stains and leave your clothes and linens feeling (and smelling) fresh — so no parabens, VOCs, ammonia, phthalates, chlorine, bleach, or optical brighteners are used for cleaning. The non-fragrance option is accepted by the National Eczema Association, but there’s also flower- and citrus-scented tablets on offer. Both versions have been certified by EPA Safer Choice, Cradle to Cradle, and Leaping Bunny (which means it’s cruelty-free).

All you need to do is drop a single tablet in the drum with your load of laundry and start the cycle — though for heavier loads, the brand recommends using two. It comes in a small Forever Tin that you can refill. Each tin can fit 60 tablets. If you do two loads per week, one tin will last you for months. Blueland also did the math and determined that it costs $0.32 per load when you buy the refills in bulk.

I can’t believe it took me so long to get on the Blueland train — AT’s senior shopping editor, Britt Franklin, caught on sooner and swears by the brand’s toilet-cleaning tablets — but I’m never getting off of it. The tablets have all of the convenience of laundry pods without any of their shortcomings. Naturally, I’ve never had to worry about lingering plastic or blue detergent stains on my clothes, towels, or sheets. The powder dissolves completely during every wash, with no excess soap or bubbles left behind.

What it does leave behind is a fresh-smelling, clean scent that’s not at all overpowering. Sometimes, a little bit of powder comes off on my fingers when I reach into the tin and toss a tablet into the machine’s drum. That’s hardly a problem since I know all of the ingredients are natural. Knowing that no single-use plastic is getting into the wastewater brings me so much peace of mind.

Plus, the 60-tablet can has lasted me since September. (Admittedly, there have been a few occasions where I took my stuff to a wash-and-fold service. But still!) I also love the pink and purple packaging, but even better, the tin is so much lighter to transport downstairs to my building’s laundry room. It takes up significantly less space than those ginormous detergent bottles. I’m never doing my laundry any other way!

Buy: Blueland Laundry Detergent Starter Set, $20 with autoship (also available at Amazon)