Laundry detergent stand-off

How do they stack up?

Choosing the right laundry detergent used to be a simple decision. Now, with so many options on the shelves and online, how do you decide which to choose?

Should you go old school with powder? Stick to the trusty liquid? Take a chance on pods? Or try the relatively new kid on the block: laundry strips?

We’re weighing up the big four: laundry strips, liquid detergent, laundry pods, and powder detergent - across three important categories: ease of use, cleaning power, and sustainability.

How easy is it to use?

Laundry Strips

Ultra lightweight, pre-measured, and mess-free. You just pop a strip or two in the washing machine and hit start. No cap-filling, no drips, and no second-guessing the dose. You can even tear them in half for smaller loads.

Liquid Detergent

Liquid detergent is familiar and fairly easy to use - but comes with a few messes. Measuring the right amount can be hit or miss, and spills are almost guaranteed, especially with those heavy bottles and awkward to open lids (understandably, it’s for safety reasons so we’ll let it slide).

Laundry Pods

Convenient? Yes. Foolproof? Not always. While pods are pre-dosed and easy to throw in the machine, they don’t always dissolve properly (which can happen in colder washes). This can leave behind a sticky mess and sometimes stain your clothes. Counterproductive in our opinion.

Powder Detergent

Effective, but not exactly convenient. You’ve got to scoop it, measure it, and avoid knocking the whole box over. Powder can leave residue if not dissolved properly, especially in quick or cold cycles.

Winner: Laundry Strips

They’re no-fuss, no-mess, and the dose is done for you.

Does it actually clean your clothes?

Laundry Strips

Don’t let the slim size fool you - laundry strips are formulated with ultra-concentrated cleaning agents. Serious Tissues’ strips work in all standard and HE machines, in hot or cold water - just use 1 strip for a normal load, 2 for heavy stains.

Liquid Detergent

Generally strong performers, especially on oily or greasy stains. Liquid detergent dissolves easily and works well in both hot and cold water. Because it’s liquid-based, it penetrates fabric fibres quickly - but the downside is it often contains more synthetic ingredients.

Laundry Pods

Pods are basically liquid detergent in a plastic jacket. They’re great if you want a strong clean without thinking too much. But as mentioned, they sometimes struggle to dissolve fully - especially in eco-washes or cold water - leaving behind a sticky coating and stains on occasion.

Powder Detergent

Still a solid contender, particularly for ground-in dirt and tough stains. Powder often contains bleach or optical brighteners, which can boost whites - but they’re not always kind to colours or delicate fabrics. And again, if it doesn’t fully dissolve, you might end up with chalky streaks on your favourite fit.

Winner: It’s a tie between Liquid and Laundry Strips

Liquid may have a slight edge on heavy stains, but strips hold their own and do the job for everyday laundry - with less mess, and far fewer chemicals.

How sustainable is it?

Let’s break this into two parts: packaging and carbon impact.

Laundry Strips

This is where our laundry strips truly shine. At Serious Tissues, our strips come in cardboard packaging that’s 100% recyclable and plastic-free. They're ultra-lightweight and compact, meaning they take up less space in transit and require fewer emissions to ship. Bonus points: ours are made right here in the UK, reducing international shipping and supporting local jobs.

Liquid Detergent

Heavy, bulky, and almost always comes in a plastic bottle. Even if that plastic is recyclable, most of it ends up in landfill. Liquid detergent’s high water content also makes it heavier to transport - meaning a bigger carbon footprint per wash.

Laundry Pods

Most come in plastic tubs or non-recyclable pouches. And while they’re convenient, they’re made with a water-soluble plastic film (PVA), which isn’t all that planet-friendly. Research is still catching up, but some studies suggest PVA doesn’t fully break down in water systems.

Powder Detergent

Usually comes in cardboard boxes - so a tick for recyclability. But some come with a plastic measuring cup inside the packaging. Powders also tend to be bulkier than strips and often heavier per dose. If you’re buying big boxes from abroad, the transport emissions add up quickly.

Winner: Laundry Strips

Lightweight, plastic-free, locally made, and low carbon - the others didn’t stand a chance.

The Final Spin

Laundry strips are ticking boxes left, right, and centre. For anyone looking to simplify laundry day and make more sustainable choices, they’re a no-brainer.

And if you’re going to make the switch, make it count: Serious Tissues Laundry Strips are made in the UK, completely plastic-free, and every pack helps recover 1kg of ocean-bound plastic.

Clean clothes, cleaner oceans.