6 best eco-friendly laundry sheets that are kinder to the planet

We were a little weary of laundry sheets when we first started testing, as we were unsure they’d deliver the same results as our liquid detergent. We also soon noticed there weren’t as many different fragrance options available as with liquid detergents and you’re often stuck with a plain “fresh linen” option. That’s the main reason we loved this option from The Green Company.

We tried the brand’s fresh linen option too, but the lavender-scented one really stood out for us. Its scent lingered after washing and, overall, these sheets left our clothes feeling soft and both smelling and looking clean. We’ve been reaching for these sheets since long after the testing period was over.

The price of this pack was a little shocking at first, until we found out it included 92 sheets. For comparison, most of the others we’ve tried came in batches of 32 of 64, so we’d say Reco’s sheets are worth the extra cost. Additionally, you can subscribe and save 20 per cent.

The brand also offers a convenient testing pack of 10 sheets (£1, Reco.shop), which will last you for five to 10 washes, so you can try out the formula without having to fully commit.

This was, again, one of the stronger-smelling sheets and its fresh linen scent lingered long after washing. For harsher stains, we’d still recommend treating them before chucking your load into the washing machine. But less aggressive stains (rosé, in this particular case) were easily removed.

As this option is fragrance-free, we tested it on a load of our dirty sports clothes, to make sure it would still get the job done and leave them smelling fresh before our next workout. Luckily, they delivered. While there was still a faint smell to the sheets upon opening the box, after washing they are – you guessed it – fragrance-free.

We were impressed by how well it could tackle the smell of post-match hockey clothes, without leaving a trace. If you prefer a scented detergent, though, Kind Laundry also has an ocean breeze option (£17.48, Kindlaundry.com).

We found, for our clothes, the recommended half a sheet wouldn’t do the trick. However, the sheets are quite small and, even when using a full one, it’s still less product than you’d use with most of the other products.

The formula is hypoallergenic and certified by independent dermatologists, so, if you have sensitive skin or allergies, this might be a good option. It’s also vegan, paraben-free and phosphate-free.

As with the other fragrance-free options we tried, the subtle scent of these sheets mostly disappears when washing, but our clothes still felt clean after using. The only thing we were a bit worried about was how sticky these sheets felt in comparison with others we’ve tested, meaning you might want to store them within a box to make sure they won’t get too damp and spoil.

With only 24 sheets included in one pack, they won’t last you as long as some of the others we’ve tried, but you can subscribe to receive a new load every one, two or three months, to make sure you’re never without.

When opening this batch, we were surprised by how similar its sweet, floral scent was to our go-to liquid detergent, so we were curious to find out how well that would last after washing. While our laundry definitely smelled and looked clean coming out of the machine, the scent didn’t linger as much as some of the other ones we tried. The brand recommends half a sheet per load but, in contrast with most of the other sheets we’ve tested, it didn’t come with a perforated line, so you have to tear them up yourself. Luckily, they split quite easily, so this wasn’t too much of a hassle.

With its subscription service focusing on the number of weeks rather than months before your next delivery, it’s a lot easier to find a frequency that suits your preference. Simply choose the fragrance you want (spring fresh, coconut or fragrance-free), the package size (32 or 64) and whether you want them delivered every two, four, six or eight weeks. For those who don’t want to commit to a subscription, the brand does also offer one-off purchasing (£8, Simplelivingeco.com).

We appreciated the easy-to-follow instructions that come both pictured and in writing. Our laundry came out smelling fresh and looking clean, but we did always opt for two sheets (providing more cleaning power) rather than one, as it gave us better results.