Laundry Detergent Sheets vs Liquid Detergent

Old habits die hard, and doing the laundry is no exception. Most people follow rituals they’ve had for years, maybe even inherited from their parents. But times have changed. New products are now on the market that challenge all those old norms.

Widely adopted for their convenience, liquid detergents in handy pre-dosed pods were so much easier than old-fashioned boxes of washing powder or heavy bottles of liquid that you measured yourself. But what about the newer kids on the block, laundry sheets?

We take a detailed look at laundry sheets, so you can make an informed decision next time you shop.

What Is a Laundry Detergent Sheet?

Laundry detergent sheets are thin, white sheets impregnated with soap in a predesignated amount. They look like the fabric softener sheets that go in your dryer and dissolve in the machine within seconds.

Compact and space-saving, laundry sheets can be torn to adjust the dose and are also suitable for prewashing garments with stubborn stains or handwashing delicate fabrics.

What is Liquid Laundry Detergent?

Liquid laundry detergent is a concentrated washing solution in vivid colors, usually blue or green. It’s available in large plastic bottles, which you measure and dispense yourself using a jug, or in convenient pre-dosed plastic pods.

Laundry detergent has been around for several decades and has almost completely replaced washing powder.

Pods are more popular than large bottles of free-running liquid because they are easier to use and store and are pre-dosed, so you don’t have to measure and pour the liquid yourself.

What’s the Difference Between Laundry Detergent Sheets and Liquid Detergent?

We look at the key differences between liquid detergent and detergent sheets, ranging from convenience and usability to environmental credentials and cost.

Versatility with Adjustable Dosing

The joy of laundry sheets is that they’re pre-dosed, so you don’t have to battle a large bottle of liquid detergent, sticky spills, and overdosing, which isn’t ideal for your clothes, the machine, and the planet. Inevitably, most people end up using too much.

That’s where liquid detergent pods come in, don’t they? Unfortunately, while detergent pods might be conveniently pre-dosed, you cannot alter how much you use.

Compare this with detergent sheets; you can adjust the dose by tearing the sheets in half. You can also hand wash or pre-soak garments before they go in the machine, which is not an option with a detergent-filled pod.

Avoiding Unnecessary Plastics

Large containers of liquid detergent create a mountain of heavy-duty plastic bottles, most of which are not recycled and end up in landfills. Plus, there’s that plastic jug to dispense the liquid from the bottle to consider, which only adds to that landfill waste we’re all trying to avoid.

You might think that pre-dosed pods are an improvement, but the data will surprise you:

Liquid detergent laundry pods have a casing that contains polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). When PVA biodegrades, it releases microplastics, polluting groundwater and water systems and entering the food chain. You’ll find PVA in laundry sheets, too—it’s a common ingredient in most liquid detergent formats, from pods to sheets, and for now, it’s simply part of how these products work. But as our understanding of its environmental impact grows, so does the call for improved solutions that ensure it breaks down safely and completely.

Environmental Impact

Laundry sheets are designed to minimize environmental impact compared to most traditional liquid detergents. They’re free of toxic chemicals like parabens, bleach, phosphates, and dyes, and use much less water in production. However, not all detergent sheets are made equal.

At Freddie, we pride ourselves on producing low-waste packaging to help you minimize environmental impact.

Our laundry sheet ingredients include protease, an enzyme that helps break down tough stains, and glycerin, a fabric softener that protects your clothes' fibers.

What’s more, Freddie laundry sheets work just as well at lower temperatures, dissolving completely in cold water, so you can turn down the thermostat on your washer and choose cooler programs, another environmental benefit.

Remember that laundry sheets take up a fraction of the space of pods or large plastic bottles during haulage to retail outlets. In a load-for-load comparison, laundry sheets create a fraction of the fuel use and carbon emissions compared to heavier liquid detergents.

Convenience and Ease of Use

Chucking a laundry sheet in the washer is the same as throwing in a laundry pod. However, both win hands down over large liquid detergent bottles, which you must measure in a plastic jug. It’s messy and almost impossible to avoid spills.

Space Saving and Compact

Laundry detergent sheets take up a fraction of the space of large liquid detergent bottles. They’re also travel-friendly and portable, suitable for trips and vacations, and far less hassle than pre-dosed pods, which can burst.

Health Issues and Skin Conditions

Those with sensitive skin may be more likely to seek out alternative laundry products, but perhaps you just want a detergent that doesn’t contain nasty chemicals.

You’ll need to be discerning about some traditional liquid detergents. Some are labeled “hypoallergenic,” whereas others are quite harmful, containing unpleasant chemicals like dyes, chlorine, parabens, and phosphates.

The health risks attached to some of these ingredients go beyond skin conditions.

Parabens are synthetic chemicals used as preservatives in food products, self-care products, and laundry detergents. Some consumers prefer to avoid them due to ongoing discussions around their use.

Freddie sheets are formulated without phosphates, dyes, parabens, and 1,4-dioxane, which are ingredients you may prefer to avoid.

Effect on Washing Machines

Does your washer smell musty or moldy from time to time? If you switch from liquid detergents to detergent sheets, you’ll quickly notice that your washer stays cleaner and fresher.

Too much sudsing, residue build-up, and clogging in the machine are problems commonly associated with liquid detergents.

Detergent sheets don’t have this impact because they use less soap and contain fewer artificial chemicals than a pre-dosed pod or a glug from a plastic jug. Even a pre-dosed pod is highly concentrated and may contain more detergent than you need.

Excess detergent use may contribute to residue build-up, which can affect fabrics over time.

Residue lurks in your washer’s dispensing drawer, the rubber folds of the gasket around the door, and the drum and drainage pipes. This sticky surface is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and black mold.

With liquid detergents, there is a risk of your clothes becoming contaminated with mold from your washer. You may find you need to clean your machine less frequently when using detergent sheets, due to reduced residue buildup.

Value and Cost

Liquid laundry detergent and laundry detergent sheets are available at various price points. There are budget options and more expensive versions of both products.

The accepted wisdom is that laundry detergent sheets provide better value for money than free-running liquid, as dosing is more precise. Even liquid laundry pods can’t compete with a tearable laundry sheet, where you can adjust the dose.

So, Should You Choose Laundry Sheets or Liquid Detergent?

It’s hard to imagine that a laundry sheet could compete with liquid detergent for stain removal. However, these thin sheets perform as well as liquid detergent and pre-dosed detergent pods, even on tough stains.

Laundry sheets are also a win for your washing machine. They won’t leave a sticky residue, which impacts how well your detergent works and the cleanliness of your clothes. Residue clogs up the pipes and drain on your washer, too.

Perfectly portable, there’s no need to compromise on clean clothes when you’re away from home. Laundry sheets are versatile, so you can use them to handwash delicates and pre-soak grimy garments like sports kits.

Not to mention, laundry sheets offer advantages in packaging, portability, and ingredient profile compared with many traditional laundry detergents.

Ultimately, what you use to wash your clothes is down to personal preference. However, laundry sheets offer a new, convenient way to do your laundry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Laundry Sheets Work as Well as Liquid Detergent?

Laundry sheets are designed to deliver comparable cleaning results to many liquid detergents, even on tough stains. They’re easy to use, compact to store, perfectly portable, and designed with fewer harsh ingredients commonly found in some traditional detergents. Your washing machine will like them too! Laundry sheets are a great choice if you’re looking for a convenient and wallet-friendly alternative to liquid detergents.

Final Thoughts

Liquid detergents have held sway in the laundry for a long time, but now, there’s a new kid on the block in the shape of laundry detergent sheets.

Technological advancements mean householders don’t need to rely on thick, brightly-colored liquids for powerful cleaning performance.

Laundry sheets are formulated to deliver strong cleaning performance. Plus, they’re versatile and convenient, so it’s hard to find a reason not to use them. Shop Freddie for laundry sheets designed with convenience, compact packaging, and a reduced ingredient profile in mind.