The 8 Best Laundry Detergent Sheets of 2024

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The 8 Best Laundry Detergent Sheets of 2024

Laundry detergent sheets are often overlooked by their liquid, pod, and powder counterparts. Not only are sheets just as effective for neutralizing odors and removing stains, but they’re also compact, which means they’ll never add bulk to your laundry area and you can easily pack them for traveling. Best of all, many laundry detergent sheets are made with eco-friendly ingredients and work with any type of washing machine.

To find the best laundry sheets, we researched a variety of top-rated products and evaluated them based on their active ingredients, size, scent, and packaging. We also spoke with Daniel Feliciano, laundry expert and CEO of ClothesLyne, for additional insight on what to look for when shopping for laundry detergent sheets.

PHOTO: Amazon

What Stands Out

It’s hypoallergenic, bleach-, dye-, and cruelty-free, with plastic-free packaging.

If you’ve just discovered the convenience of laundry detergent sheets and are looking for ones that are effective, inexpensive, and attached to a noble cause, we recommend Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets. Available in a single or three pack of 30 sheets, it can easily remove stains and brighten laundry without leaving behind the messy residue of conventional detergents.

We love that this option is hypoallergenic, bleach free, dye free, cruelty free, and comes in plastic-free packaging. Our favorite feature, however, is that Earth Breeze donates 10 loads of laundry detergent to charities in need, including shelters, with every package sold. Get them in a fragrance-free or a mild fresh scent.

Quantity: 30 sheets | Scent: Fresh, fragrance free | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

PHOTO: Amazon

If you have a large family that keeps your laundry basket full or need to wash workout sets and work uniforms often, you may want to cut costs when it comes to detergent. The AIDEA Laundry Detergent Sheets are effective and cost efficient: One $7 box is good for up to 160 loads (that’s 4 cents a wash). The sheets work in both cold and warm water, and you can use a half sheet, single sheet, or two sheets depending on the size of your load and how soiled it is.

Although these sheets might need up to three sheets for particularly tough stains, we still think they’re great for regular laundry loads and for anyone looking to keep their laundry detergent cost low. We also appreciate the plastic-free packaging and fresh linen scent, though it does come in a fragrance-free option, as well.

Quantity: 30, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100 sheets | Scent: Fresh Linen, fragrance free | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

PHOTO: Grove Co.

What Stands Out

The fragrances are 100% natural, and the sheets dissolve quickly in any water, so they can even be used for hand washing.

Unlike concentrated liquid laundry detergent, sheets tend to have a subtler scent. If you’re looking for something more fragrant, Grove Co.’s Laundry Detergent Sheets come in scented (lavender blossom and thyme) and a free and clear (unscented) option. There are also a couple limited edition scents available right now, including Summertime Huckleberry and Coastal Cedar—a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy to support Indigenous-led conservation in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia.

Grove Co.’s laundry detergent sheets do not contain any harmful chemicals, dyes, or synthetic fragrances, and the packaging is plastic free. They dissolve quickly in hot, cold, and warm water, so you can even use them on clothes that require hand washing.

Quantity: 32 sheets | Scent: Summer Huckleberry, Coastal Cedar, Lavender Blossom and Thyme, Free and Clear | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

PHOTO: Amazon

Laundry detergent is something you’ll always need, but you can take it off your shopping list if you take advantage of a subscription service. We like Cleancult’s Laundry Detergent Sheets for their recyclable paper packaging, ultra-concentrated enzymatic formula to break down stains, and three scent options: Fresh Linen, Wild Lavender, and Free and Clear. They’re free of harsh chemicals without compromising cleaning power, so your garments will be fresh and stain free.

Despite not having a perforation down the middle of each sheet (to split for smaller or less-soiled loads), you can just cut them if you’d like.

Quantity: 60 sheets | Scent: Free and Clear, Wild Lavender, Fresh Linen | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

Tru Earth Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets

PHOTO: Amazon

Some laundry detergents can trigger a reaction in people with sensitive skin. For a truly hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and chemical-free option, try TruEarth Fragrance-Free Eco-Strips. They’re about half the size of conventional laundry detergent sheets but are sufficient for a regular load since the formula is ultra concentrated. If you don’t mind some fragrance, these strips are also available in Fresh Linen and Lilac Breeze, as well as a baby formula that is fragrance free.

It’s important to keep in mind that these strips may leave a bit of residue on certain fabrics, such as bath towels. And although the label says they work in hot or cold water, it’s best to use hot water if you’re using these strips on thicker or textured fabrics.

Quantity: 32, 64, 384 sheets | Scent: Fragrance free, Fresh Linen, Lilac Breeze | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

PHOTO: Norwex

Doing laundry when traveling will allow you to get more use out of your outfit options and save you the trouble of doing a load as soon as you get home. Norwex Laundry Detergent Strips come in an ultra-slim and eco-friendly paper envelope that’s perfect for storing just about anywhere in your luggage. You can even rip the sheets in half to create two strips since one half is strong enough for a regular load.

We like that these are tough on stains, color safe, free of harsh chemicals, and efficient for any kind of fabric, including silk and wool. The light blossom scent doesn’t linger for too long, either. Although these laundry detergent sheets are more expensive than other options, you may not notice the cost as much if you’re exclusively using them for traveling. We also think they’re worth the higher price tag due to their impressive cleaning power.

Quantity: 36 strips | Scent: Fresh Blossom | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

Clean People Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent Sheets

PHOTO: Amazon

What Stands Out

They’re hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty free, with impressive stain-fighting power.

It’s a misconception that laundry detergent sheets don’t work as well as liquid, powder, or pods when it comes to removing stains, and the Clean People Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent Sheets confirm that. The ultra-concentrated formula doesn’t contain harsh chemicals but still works on removing a variety of stains—no phosphates, parabens, phthalates, chlorine bleach, artificial dyes, petroleum, or ammonia.

These sheets come in fragrance-free or fresh scent, and for every 96 pack or larger purchased, the brand will plant a tree in your name.

Quantity: 32, 96, 192 sheets | Scent: Fragrance free, fresh | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

PHOTO: Amazon

Strong odors often linger on activewear, sometimes even after you’ve washed them a few times. We think the fresh linen scent and concentrated formula of Arm & Hammer Power Sheets are an excellent option for laundry with strong odors, particularly activewear. These sheets are made with the same ingredients as their liquid laundry detergent, and each pack comes with 50 sheets that can wash up to 100 small loads. While we do love the fresh linen scent of these detergent sheets, it can be overwhelming for those who are sensitive to fragrance. That said, there’s a fragrance-free version, too.

Quantity: 50 sheets | Scent: Fresh Linen, Fragrance free | Safe for HE Washers: Yes

Final Verdict

We love Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets for their effectiveness, reasonable price, and contribution to charity. If you’re looking for a slightly better value without compromising effectiveness, we recommend AIDEA Laundry Detergent Sheets.

How to Shop for Laundry Detergent Sheets Like a Pro

Ingredients

Although laundry sheets are dry and thin, they feature many of the same ingredients as liquid detergent—just in a compact, concentrated form. Exact formulas will vary, but surfactants and stain-fighting enzymes are most important, because that’s where the bulk of the cleaning power comes from. Some words to look for include sulfate or sulfonate and amylase, lipase, and protease.

Some other ingredients to take note of are fragrances, dyes, and bleach, especially if you or someone in your family has sensitive skin. There are many unscented, dye-free, and bleach-free options available, some with 100% natural ingredients.

Size

Laundry detergent sheets are pre-measured, which means you don’t have to worry about using too much or too little. Most laundry detergent sheets are similar in size to dryer sheets and usually have a perforation down the middle so you can use one half for smaller to regular loads. Their overall size makes them convenient for storage and throwing in your carry-on luggage, since the risk of spillage is eliminated (and a big jug of liquid detergent isn’t exactly TSA friendly).

Scent

Like all other types of laundry detergent, you can find detergent sheets in a variety of scented and unscented options. While sheets don’t typically retain scent as strongly as liquid or pods, both in their packaging and after the laundry has been washed, this may be a positive if heavy fragrance gives you a headache. It’s best to opt for laundry detergent sheets made with essential oils as opposed to synthetic fragrances, which tend to be overly perfumy and can cause further irritation.

Packaging

Perhaps the most convenient aspect of laundry detergent sheets is their compact size. Most sheets also come in plastic-free, recyclable, or eco-friendly packaging. Unlike plastic jugs and tubs that can take up a ton of space in your laundry area, not to mention the risk of leaky messes, laundry detergent sheets are easy to store and easy to travel with.

Questions You Might Ask

How do laundry detergent sheets work?

Feliciano says that much like laundry tablets and pods, laundry detergent sheets dissolve in hot or cold water and release cleaning agents to remove dirt and stains from clothes. Sheets are much lower in suds, though, and some can be used for hand washing.

Do laundry sheets really get your clothes clean?

Yes! “Laundry detergent sheets can effectively clean clothes just as well as other laundry detergent products on the market,” Feliciano says. However, it’s important to note that some stains are tougher than others (i.e. blood, wine, tomato sauce, chocolate, grease, etc.), so it may be best to pair your laundry detergent sheets with a good stain remover.

Are laundry detergent sheets better than pods and liquid detergent?

While choosing the best laundry detergent and its form may be up to a few factors, including budget and lifestyle preferences, Feliciano says it’s important to consider the pros and cons of laundry detergent sheets before making your purchase.

“Laundry detergent sheets are more compact and lightweight, making them convenient for traveling, and they’re more eco-friendly than pods or liquid detergent,” he says. “The cleaning performance may vary depending on the brand, detergent form, and the type of stain or odor you’re dealing with.”

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by L. Daniela Alvarez, contributing writer for Real Simple with three years of experience writing about lifestyle content and product reviews. To compile this list, she spent hours researching laundry detergent sheets and reading customer reviews. She also received tips on how to shop for laundry detergent sheets from Daniel Feliciano, laundry expert and CEO of ClothesLyne.

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The 8 Best Laundry Detergent Sheets of 2024

Final Verdict