Plastic-free laundry bars may give you a clear conscience, but how effective are they for washing clothes? We tested some popular brands to find out.

Recently, my social media has been flooded with ads for laundry bars. This is definitely not because I like laundry (who likes it?), but because I am always looking for ways to reduce the use of plastic. Switching to laundry bars in small cardboard packaging instead of huge plastic cans is an easy way to avoid unnecessary plastic packaging.

There are several companies that produce laundry bars, so I decided to test it. Here is everything you need to know about laundry bars and whether they are suitable for you and your environment.

Washing powder noodles are super concentrated liquid-free washing powder tablets that are soluble in water. Each strip is pre-allocated to provide the exact amount of detergent needed for large quantities of laundry. No dumping, no overflow. Since laundry bars are lightweight and will not stain, they are ideal for travel and take up less storage space than detergent or pods. Most importantly, the laundry bar does not contain plastic.

My family of four has to wash a lot of clothes. We process at least five times a week: sheets, towels, white clothes, dark clothes and delicate clothes. It was a year to wash 260 pieces of clothes-and a lot of plastic waste. If a bottle of 1 liter of detergent is used every 25 loads, we can easily throw away 10 plastic cans a year.

Of course, we put plastic pots in the blue trash can-but they are likely not to be recycled. According to a study commissioned by the Canadian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, only about 22% of plastic packaging waste in Canada enters recycling facilities. Of these, only 15% are recycled into new products. The rest are either piled up in landfills or littered in the environment. According to Oceana Canada's plastic activist Ashley Wallis, plastic packaging accounts for 47% of Canada's plastic waste.

On a global scale, this number is even more severe. Researchers estimate that as of 2017, 8,300 metric tons of virgin plastic were produced. Only 9% is recycled. 12% were burned down, and up to 79% were piled up in landfills or littering the environment.

Even if every bit of discarded plastic is recycled, the manufacturing of plastics still contributes to climate change.

"Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil resources such as oil and natural gas," Wallis said. "It is estimated that if no action is taken, by 2050, plastics will account for 10% to 13% of our global carbon budget (according to the Paris Agreement)."

When detergent enters the sewers, they enter our waterways and drinking water, where they do not biodegrade, but linger and accumulate in the ecosystem. Many are considered highly toxic to aquatic life.

If you prefer to wash clothes with natural ingredients, laundry bars are a good choice. They are made of plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, are gentle on sensitive skin, and can be safely used in septic tank systems.

Since laundry bars are liquid-free, they can be packaged in cardboard or paper-which is easier to recycle than plastic. In addition, the packaging itself is made with content recycled after consumption.

Each pack of laundry bars replaces plastic detergent tanks. Comparing apples with apples, a pack of 32-packs of Nature Clean laundry bars replaces 1.8 liters of Nature Clean laundry detergent, which can complete 30 standard loads.

Wallis pointed out that plastic pollution cannot be solved by individual actions alone-we need system-level changes, including stricter bans on unnecessary and harmful single-use plastics. But until then, it's up to individuals and industries to pave the way.

"Over time, we should absolutely phase out all unnecessary plastics," Wallis said. "When the industry proves that there is no possibility of plastic, it helps to create room for government action."

Reducing plastic means reducing carbon emissions. Plastics are not only made of petrochemical products derived from petroleum, but the manufacturing and transportation of virgin plastics also emit greenhouse gases.

And because laundry bars are lighter and more compact than liquid detergents, they are easier to transport-reducing fuel consumption and emissions during transportation.

Washing powder noodles are dissolved in hot or cold water. Whether you are using a top-loading or front-loading washing machine, simply place the strips in the drum at the beginning of the cycle. They are suitable for all types of washing machines, including high-efficiency washing machines. When washing hands, tear the strips in half, dissolve them in water, and add the clothes to be washed.

The laundry bar is designed to wash ordinary, slightly soiled clothes. If you want to carry out a smaller load, you can use a half bar. For large or heavily soiled loads, you can use two strips.

With a three-year-old and a five-year-old child, I washed some dirty clothes. I'm talking about peeing, ketchup smearing, sawdust inlays, muddy puddle splashing, marking dyed clothing. All the brands I tested did a good job of cleaning.

Unlike some pods or washing powders, the laundry bar dissolves completely without clumping or leaving residue. They don't produce foam like traditional detergents, but all these foams are just for show off-their cleaning effect is not good. They are also taboos for efficient machines.

I usually use odorless detergents because I am sensitive to odors and have children. But because I was given some fragrance samples, I would love to try them. When I opened the package for the first time, I found that the smell was a bit strong, but that was because they were too strong. After washing the clothes, there is almost no smell. Even if I use two towels to hold a large pile of towels, they smell fresh and clean when they come out—no fragrance.

I also like the fact that when my family stays in the cabin for a few weeks, I can throw a pack of laundry strips into my bag-they won't take up much space or spill. They come in handy when I have to wash my daughter’s favorite clothes by hand, and they come in handy when I need to go to the laundry to do the laundry.

Below are some Canadian brands that are biodegradable, vegetarian-friendly, safe for septic tank systems, and packaged in recycled paper or cardboard.

Good Juju is made in Canada and produces plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars as well as laundry bars. All of their products are plastic-free: they are shipped in post-consumer recycled envelopes and boxes with recyclable kraft paper tape and GreenGuard certified stickers. Online stores are carbon-negative: for every order they place, they will buy carbon offsets and donate a portion of their sales to support carbon emission reduction plans.

Good Juju laundry bar (odorless or summer rain), $14.99/30 bars

Nature Clean is a well-known Canadian company that produces a wide range of household cleaning and personal care products. Their laundry bars are made in Canada and made in China. They have been tested by allergy tests and dermatologists and found to be safe for sensitive skin. You can buy them online or find them in most grocery stores or pharmacies.

Nature Clean Washing Powder Bar (Odorless or Wildflower), $10.99/32 Bars

Kind Laundry was founded in Toronto by Angie Tran and Bernard Law, who wanted to provide an environmentally friendly laundry detergent that can reduce plastic pollution. They worked with their manufacturers in China to formulate cleaning strips in zero-waste packaging without unnecessary fillers or surfactants. Their laundry bars have only five plant ingredients, each of which has been carefully selected to be very effective and gentle on the most sensitive skin. They also produce wool drying balls and stain remover sticks.

Kind laundry detergent sheets, $19.95/60 sheets