Tru Earth Eco Laundry Strips Review - The Good and the Not So Good
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Tru Earth Eco Laundry Strips Review - Can a laundry strip weighing less than 3 grams clean your clothes just as well as any liquid detergent or pod? That's the claim made by Tru Earth and not only that, they make some pretty significant claims about its environmental benefits as well.
For this review I bought a package of these strips and put them to the test to see if it cleaned my clothes as well as an intentionally stained dish towel as well as a regular detergent would. I also take a look at the environmental claims made by the company to see if they are realistic and achievable.
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GREAT review because unlike other TH-camrs who did a review on this product, they didn't even demonstrate the cleaning power on clothing that had obvious dirt or stains like you did! I can now have the confidence of buying this product thanks to your excellent demonstration. Thank you for all your hard work to make these reviews for the community and keep up the good work. I am now proudly one of your subscribers and proud to support a fellow Canuck!
Thanks very much for the comment, the feedback and for subscribing. Canucks stick together, eh?! ;)
@@TheNovakReport I am a Canuck only by visitation. Prejudice of NY and Florida....lol Eh? Snow Birds!
Thank you for this! I just bought this for my husband since he travels a bit! Helps with space in luggage as well!
How about a control wash without any detergent? I bet most stains will come out fine. Also, did you let those stains dry at all?
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I payed 20 for a trial. You are supposed to tear it in half for a normal load of laundry so it is 60(ish) loads. I think Shipping was free and I got it in Montana in a week. If I want a subscription it will be around $12 for the same thing. I am fairly impressed with the cleaning power so far. I have 4 kids so they are pretty dirty. I think it cleans about as well as tide. I have done about 5 loads so far. I REALLY like the space saving of Tru Earth. I travel in an RV and a huge box of Tide takes up so much valuable real estate. The space saving is huge for me. If I buy more I will definitely get the subscription.
What do the fragrances contain? If they are green, then it should be natural perfumes/fragrances, like essential oils. If they are using fragrances derived from petroleum, then, they aren't all that concerned about the planet.
Good idea. I suspect that due to the interest and packaging and space savings the other major brands will switch to this method very soon.
If that happened, the Tru Earth folks might not love it but as an advocate of sustainability, I'd be quite happy. To me it's always about the end goal and less about exactly how we got there.
They’re on Amazon, order now arrive tomorrow. Ref the eco claims it would be really interesting to see the full CO2 analysis on how these are made?
One would also have to consider the environmental footprint of ordering via Amazon. From Tru Earth warehouse to your front door would likely involve stops at a fulfillment centre, sortation station and then a delivery station before being put on a vehicle and driven to your door. This likely increases the overall footprint of the product due to the logistics Amazon employs.
Great to stay sharp, engaged and properly informed. I purchased these strips & a similar competitor by Nature Clean, both have proven to be a laundry success in our active 5+ active household. Kudos to those that grow the anti-plastic revolution -- may you all stay informed, creative & visionary. Thanks for reducing my plastic load while keeping my lifestyle simplified & better for the environment. Thanks Eric & keep up the sparking everyone to be the best they can be.
Thanks Michelle. Much appreciated! Be well.
I've actually giving it a try it's really cool Michelle
You're right, reducing plastics in the consumer stream is hugely more important than depending on recycling them after purchase, use, and discard.
Especially when you consider that only about 9% of all eligible plastics are actually recycled.
Thanks for the review Eric. I ordered the annual supply (which should last me at least 18 months, so I'll hold off on the annual subscription). I don't recall any difficulty placing my order. My package arrived 4 work days later, in Edmonton. I've only tried it once so far. Seemed to do the trick, but hard to tell. I take a bus for groceries, and carrying a heavy bottle or package is a drag. I've eliminated that from my grocery shopping now. I'm glad it's getting into stores. Way less shelf space at the store, and here at home. I hope it works. I've got a year to find out.
Thanks Jim - feel free to comment again after you've had time to run a dozen loads or so - it would be good to hear your thoughts.
These are available on Amazon now. I purchased a pack and it arrived in about 3 days. Of course they'd still be better if they were in stores, but they can obtained much faster now.
Within the last couple of weeks I have now seen them available at the Supermarket where I buy my groceries. In fact they were placed almost exactly in the spot where I photoshopped them in towards the end of this video.
So yes, progress is indeed being made.
I saw them at superstore in Vancouver! The fragrance free and scented
If these showed up in supermarkets at half the price I would try them, and maybe even switch entirely over to using these alone. Makers of TruEarth should seriously try to make this happen. You've made a lot of valid points, and I thank you for going to the trouble to reviewing it in a realistic manner.
Thanks John. I appreciate the comment, and let's hope that these strips will get to supermarkets soon. Cheers!
I just tried these, and yes, their claims are correct on their ability to clean laundry. I've been buying the large environmentally sensitive laundry detergent bottles at costco (and yes, I do plan) but these things are enormous, and heavy and difficult to pour from, and since I have nothing but a small closet for my stacked HE machines, I have very little room to store those big bottles, so this helps me immensely. I saw the ads for this on Facebook and True Earth does advertise there, and I wouldn't have bought them without having seen the ad, so that part of the marketing, at least for myself, worked. This will grow through word-of-mouth, and IS on Amazon, so that's the ultimate "big box" store. They'll get in the Krogers, Safeways, etc, eventually, but only if the company can get enough exposure. I'm not worried about it though, I think they are well on their way.
It's good joy I've actually tried it too
I think the removal of those stains in cold water on a quick wash is amazing. Most eco's need a longer wash for stains or smelly washing, and warmer to hot water to remove such stains, or add an eco stain remover.
I'm pretty sure that if I had added a second strip and/or I pre-treated all the stains, they would have all probably been removed.
It's really good, they've passed the test Angela
Great review I bought those strips years ago at a dollar store they were called disolved something like that and when I ran out I searched all over again only to find out about this. A far cry in price from the $1.25 I scored back then lol. They’ll all be changing over soon the big guys that is,so they better get on to the big stores shelves before they lose opportunity! Sheets or concentrated powder the only way to go these days or we will all be eating plastics soon!
Pretty sure we are already eating microplastics.
Lol 😂😂 their claims are correct I've tried it and it's really cool Cindy
It is realistic to expect the big companies will start making their own kind of laundry strips if we encourage those strips in the free market.
I think it's realistic if consumers show a preference toward using laundry products that minimize plastic.
General Motors killed the EV1 electric car and might not have ever made the Volt or Bolt had an upstart Silicon Valley company called Tesla made some noise. Elon Musk is a disruptor more than anything else and products like Tru Earth can be disruptors too if enough people start to take notice.
I have seen ads on Instagram and here on TH-cam about three years ago, then I started using these detergent strips and it left my clothing feeling clean and fresh. Now I won't go back to plastic containers, I also bought a set of six wool biodegradable dryer balls. All I do is add a bit of essential oil and it leaves my clothing smelling even better and static free. I had to do a lot of research before buying the items. As for the availability and delivery I have to agree with you Eric Novak. It would be great if they Tru Earth had a contract with pharmacies, supermarket stores, and botanical stores. I have only two botanical stores in my State where they sell similar items but not a lot of people know about these products, so with that in mind. It will take some time to educate people on where they can buy the products and why it is better and the price too! As consumers, we want clean, hypoallergenic, vegan, paraben free, dye free and more... but if it costs more than regular container detergent some people will not change their habits. We have to change our mindset and habits and opt for better solutions. For me I have no complaints with the product, it has worked great and I do recommend it! 🙂
Since I first shot this video a year and a half ago, there has been progress made in terms of retail availability. In fact just recently I saw it being sold at the supermarket I usually shop at - in fact it was placed almost in the exact same spot I photoshopped it into towards the end of this video. I was very pleased to see that type of progress and it left me optimistic that more is coming.
And pricing will come down eventually, but it will likely need either a Proctor & Gamble or Unilever to come in and make strips for one of their major brands for scalability to put downward pressure on pricing.
Thanks for the comment!
My wife and I switched to True Earth about one year ago. True, a bit of preplanning is required but buying the bulk pack is usually enough for about 6 months - family of 4, summer months inclusive. Using 1.5 strips for big loads. Aroma is okay but would prefer none. Seems to clean as good as Tide. Interesting to learn about Jack McGuiness!
Thanks Ryan. I'm glad the ordering process works for you as I do believe this is a good product. But my point really is that for it to be as environmentally impactful as it could be, it needs to be far more widely available than it is now. It's impact is being self-limited and that's my biggest concern. I think about families on tighter incomes who would likely buy a 30 pack at the grocery store but can't afford a 384 pack at once. I'm just trying to look at how this product can be as impactful as it is effective - and yes, Jack McGinnis learned much of this in his blue box endeavors. Cheers!
@@TheNovakReport Good point. I enjoy your videos. (From Windsor, ON)
@@RyanRusich thanks Ryan. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Ii seemed to really bug u it wasnt mass produced. Idk kno how long the Co has been arround, how big it is, its level of investors or if u have a MBA degree or if u addressed it bc I did fast foward a lot thru the video. I do kno its hard and takes time to grow a product into MASS production and YEARS to create the Demand so it doesn't tank... marketing, supply, production and distribution for chain retailers. I had to do that in my MBA final simulation (impressively real simulation so much so it made me want to rip my hair out and it was only for 3 months lol) and it took a lot of investors...employee training Benifits compensation packages HR marketing production quality control opening new plants safety inspection guidelines machinery sustainability quality control stakeholders contracts with other companies for ingredients and distribution, social responsibility and more....even thru Much green efforts mass production itself reaks havoc on pollution within communities (as well as factory workers themselves---thousands of dollars to create safe air flow systems and sage working environment initiatives testing fees to keep plant workers healthy) so that may be a factor for them. you do also realize all of that takes YEARS and MILLIONS of dollars with a myriad of stakeholders, investors and business loans right? It seemed to really bug u it wasn't mass produced. If u would have ever I've had to do that simulation I had to go through I think it would give you major empathy for any company that was not some multi billion dollar company or one like Johnson & Johnson.
I’m just thinking out loud but is it possible that big corporate organizations are throwing up resistance for this product reaching major stores? I don’t know but I wonder?
That makes sense actually
Yes, but it's not a brick wall. There is a "pay for placement" structure that does exist in certain cases, but there are always ways to get in. Even if these were sold in the alternative products area of the store, they would at least be found in the big grocery stores.
But at the same time, grocers want to sell what consumers want to buy so if there is enough demand to carry a product, retailers can be persuaded. It might happen regionally or incrementally, but it can happen.
Compared to the teenages running Yutube, you are a review professional. This was very informative!
LOL...thanks Maria. I guess it helps that I'm a lot older than the teenagers plus I've been around media for 30 years, but I appreciate the kind feedback.
Sir Novak, thank you so much for this informative video content. Your information on the product helped me make the decision to make the leap, and I love the product. Now that I have been using this for quite some time, I do have one small point I disagree with you about that I would like to share. That is, you make mention that you feel that this not being accessible by car will make the planning proccess difficult when it comes to the time of needing more. I find this to be the opposite, you are able to visibly see exactly how much you have of this, every time you open the package. So it is quite clear when you would need to re-order something to have it in time for the next time you would need. I find this to be way less frustrating than guessing how much product is still maybe in the bottom of a bottle, and when I measure it out, will it give me 1 or 2 loads. Just thought it was worth the share. Be well!
Thanks for the comment and the feedback. I'm glad that you have found the product useful. And while I appreciate the point you make, I still maintain that it will never reach it's true sustainable impact unless it's widely distributed in the same way that regular detergent is. The reason why I maintain this belief is simply due to understanding human tendencies and behavior.
Society is filled with people who exist and thrive in their routines. If they shop for detergent with their produce and dairy for example, and you want them to switch to something like Tru Earth there are 2 options possible. One is that you can try to persuade that person to change their routine so that they can order these strips, or you can put the strips right beside the pods or liquid they buy regularly. If they are inclined to try it, they will almost always be more inclined if they don't have to change their habits in order to make it happen. That's simply a truism of the human condition and while the online purchase method has worked for you, it won't work for enough people to make the difference that Tru Earth claims it can make.
I hope I've clarified. It's not about the process, but rather the perception. Cheers!
Does it make foam or suds? Is it normal that it doesn't?
I will be honest in telling you that I never lifted the lid to check during the cycle. Perhaps someone else who sees this comment and uses them can advise. But that said, I don't see why they wouldn't create suds. All the detergent elements are still utilized, but what is different is that they have found a way to combine them all in a dry format instead of using water. Liquid detergents are about 80 - 90% water, so eliminating the water is what reduces the need for plastic packaging. The ingredients aren't much different than what you'd see in a mainline brand.
Yes they do Suds up.
I think products like these are the future of laundry, as is online subscriptions for essentials. Not a big deal to me. To order it and wait. I have been ordering trash bags, paper towels and toilet paper from online suppliers for years. It’s just something that is routine for us. In fact, I just ordered the new type of hand soap tabs for my household with reusable bottles that will come in the mail on a regular basis. Not hard, less waste, and money savings.
Unless these items are being delivered together, the carbon footprint of multiple deliveries for products that could be purchased at the same time in a bricks and mortar retailer would be higher. And while the online way of ordering may be normal for segments of society, it's not pervasive enough for Tru Earth to be able to achieve the environmental claims it makes in their promotional material.
But as to the product itself, it would be good if this was the way all detergents were to go, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Proctor & Gamble and Unilever's of this world are working on similar items now.
Costco in Canada sells Tru Earth detergent now. I’ve been using it for two years now and it does a fabulous job plus it’s better for the environment on many levels on top of reduced plastic.
I haven't seen them at Costco, but also I haven't been looking. It's a good start if they're available across the country but I'd still love to see them in a national grocer or similar where membership wasn't required to purchase. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for this information, will buy from Costco now! The cost is about $0.38 per load which is so reasonable.
@@TheNovakReport I seen them in Dominion (lablaws store). I've seen ad's on my Facebook so much, I want to try them. But they're still a bit expensive, so I'm here checking out multiple reviews. 😁
This was by far the best review. A but long, bit informative 👍
Thanks Stephanie. Sorry for the length but I had a lot of points I wanted to make. Cheers!
So I think you have to consider that business models change. In order to be able to convince a larger retailer to sell it they have to show that they have a customer base who would be interested. If you get it into the mail to start and it works, then you can go to your grocery store to ask for it.
It would seem they have achieved a level of success that could warrant the attention of grocers by this point.
You are an amazing and through reviewer. Thanks for being so in-depth.
Thank you Millie! Your words are very kind. I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
It's really informative Millie
Good review- some solutions- I ordered a subscription, on sale, can cancel anytime. When it comes on a regular basis you don’t have to think about. There is a yearly package, at a reduced rate so you don’t have to think about it for 364 days plus even more reduced packaging. I find it works just as well as the “Big” guys and has great options. As for the add ons that pop up- just exit- won’t affect your purchase. I did do the add on of the dryer balls. I haven’t used fabric softener in years. Ask any appliance repair guy- it reduces efficiency and gums up the machine. I recently heard of adding white vinegar instead- softens and helps keep the machine clean - planning on trying this
Thanks for the review - maybe this will make the name brands change to strips and different packaging? 💁🏼♀️
All of your suggestions are valid. However the online method still limits its accessibility. There are people who would want to use it but either don't want to or even can't enroll in a subscription. Not all citizens have credit cards for example.
As to your second point, I think it's only a matter of time before the Proctor & Gamble's and Lever Brothers of the world will put out laundry strip versions of their mainline detergents. It's too good of an idea to stay exclusive to small producers, and when the big companies get on board, the scalability they can offer will bring the costs down as well.
Thanks for your comments!
I have been using vinegar for years and am sure our grandmothers did too. It is a multifunction miracle product.
I’m sure that the major laundry detergent companies are looking at strips, or Another eco-friendly method, if people are switching over to other products. We just have to get to critical mass.
We just got our first shipment of Dropps . I’ll probably try Tru Earth next.
There is is a big benefit to someone who has back problems or is elderly. It’s not picking up heavy bottles.
We used to use the Costco kind. I know my husband had it on the shelf, but it would get very drippy underneath. And he need to lift the heavy Costco bottle to transfer it to something lighter.
Thank you so much for your review! Now we are going to look at cost per load between dropsTru Earth, and Earth breeze
Thank you, Judy! And yes...I'm sure that the major brand manufacturers are paying attention as well. If the end goal is to see the entire detergent category reduce it's plastic usage, we need to see this catch on. Best wishes!
Thank you for your realistic review. I preferred yours over the teeny boppers or non working, just became an adult reviews bc they need to get paid. I am particularly interested for two major reasons. I am ALLERGIC to several household items. PEG to be exact, I break out and begin coughing and recycling. If it is truly hypoallergenic then I'm sold. Powder detergent, colored liquids and smelly liquid are disgusting for our bodies. They have a slew off carcineogens. Lucky for my children I went through so many breakouts that I myself in my early 20s, without insurance, began testing what products work on my skin. Lat 20s began reading labels and then thanks to one of the covid vaccines, got tested and found out I have an allergy to PEG. I appreciate your thorough review and will now take the next step to trying it on my own clothes before using it on my children. There is no barrier of marketing for consumer purchasing ease that can be placed on me to protect my one an only body. Especially to help my children against the canver causing chemicals most well known, commercial brands use. Thank you Again.
I'm glad that my review was helpful to you. Thank you for watching and good luck with your testing.
I ordered on line, but I have seen the Tru Earth Laundry strips in the laundry soap aisle at Super Store in Spruce Grove, AB. They are starting to get this product out there.
I actually saw them for the first time just yesterday at the Real Canadian SuperStore in Ajax, ON. So yes, it looks like there are some positive changes in terms of retail availability taking place!
I use a laundry detergent called SANZ. It is hypoallergenic ( my son has excema) and it cleans better than any other detergent I have ever used. I was shocked how bright my whites were. One bottle will do over 60 loads of laundry... I would love to get your take on it. There is also a Tide detergent I really like but that one made my son break out. I got my sanz on amazon...and I think they have a website too.
I've never heard of SANZ before. Thanks for the tip, and while my editorial calendar is booked almost into spring, I'll look into it and see if it's something that I could review. I have another laundry strip product to review already waiting, but always appreciate suggestions for future reviews.
I have been using Tru Earth for about 2 years. I was immediately impressed..... cleans well, takes very little room, no scent, as that is what I ordered, due to allergies. After the first year, I ordered a one year supply, price was great. I would recommend this with out a second thought!
I have been using tru earth for almost a year. Absolutely love them. I have them on a monthly subscription and I don't have to think about running out. They clean every well, even my muddy jeans from the garden. Of course, I pre treat tough stains. Their youtube commercial is great.
Good point about the accessibility issue; and I never knew blue recycling bins came from Canada. Good anecdote about it. I love random tidbits of information. Also, I am American, but this video just gave me two more reasons to love Canada that much more - Jack McGinnis and you! Thanks! I think I will be buying this product, I've been on the search for something like this anyway. Cheers!
Awww shucks...we're a modest bunch so I'm blushing. Jack is an unknown environmental hero and I always enjoy sharing his story whenever I can. Cheers!
When you live in a small apartment, every bit of closet and shelf space saving is essential. This will definitely open up some much needed real estate in peoples apartments and homes.
That's definitely an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing.
I loved your video, amusing, informative, moved quickly and well spoken.
Thank you Lesley! I appreciate the kind feedback.
It's informative Lesley
Good review. Your most significant criticism was ease of purchase. I have faith that if this is a good product the big companies will copy it and it will be easier to buy. This is always the case with new ideas.
Thanks Jane. I tend to agree, and given my main concern is maximizing environmental benefits and impact, seeing a larger player with the advantage of scalability and significant retail distribution access come on board could definitely help.
Thank you for testing these. I’ve tried other brand & was disappointed. 2 weeks is not a problem for me. In my era 6 to8 weeks was normal. Our instant gratification society must learn patience in order to SAVE THE PLANET.
I disagree that the barrier is a need for instant gratification. Rather it's about understanding that when it comes to how we acquire many of our daily staples of life, we are deeply attached to existing routines.
I would argue that the potential of this product will be fully realized by the makers learning how to offer their product to citizens in a way that aligns with our daily routines and not by our routines being changed to adapt to its sales model.
Appreciate your comments.
Yeah I think they need to be readily available. That's the main problem to me.
They are far more available today than they were when I shot this video. Ironically there is a photo I used toward the end where I imagined seeing these laundry strips on my grocery store aisle next to the regular detergents - and today that's exactly what has happened. I have no affiliation to them so I can't say how far and wide their product is not distributed but I do know it has certainly expanded over time.
Oh ok. thanks for getting back. I just picked up some laundry detergent today. I think they might have Tru Earth at a place like Whole Foods which is not convenient for me.@@TheNovakReport
They are in some stores already the type of stores that have clients looking for organic foods etc
Yes, I did mention that in the video. However, while some are willing to make a special trip, most would not. That's why this product needs to be available wherever laundry detergent is sold for the greatest environmental impact.
I get mine on Amazon same day delivery. Love them. Especially when traveling
Retail, bricks and mortar availability has significantly improved since I first recorded this.
I don't know of ANY laundry detergent that claims to get out the stains you tried from a cotton towel, but a fresh wet stain is the easiest to remove.
A better test would be set fake body soil stains on white T-shirts. Mix 1/2 tsp each stick deodorant, hand cream, bacon grease, bar soap and regular olive oil with enough equal parts hot water and vinegar to thin it so it can be sprayed . Spray a patch 6" in diameter on a brand new T-shirt and let it dry for a week. Then wash it.
As far as packaging, you can buy products with containers that actually do get recycled, like vinegar (gallon bottles are the same LDPE as milk). and dry washing soda or detergent packed in cardboard.
The product has a concealed environmental cost .
Laundry detergents are one of the most dishonest products sold today. Perfume, dye and marketing cost more than the active ingredients. The markup before distribution is nearly 1000% for national brands.
At $0.65 a load Tru Earth costs 20 times as much as a basic generic detergent like Awesome . The work done by the consumer to own that extra money has an environmental impact. If the product is dehydrated that has an environmental impact . The water pollution from the product is identical to the water-based detergents.
People get mustard on their clothes. My kids get chocolate sauce on their stuff all the time. My tests were realistic. And besides...all but the mustard which typically needs an additional stain remover pre-soak, were removed.
The issue with bottles is not that they can't be recycled but rather that they simply aren't. Only 9% of all the plastic we create is recycled, despite the fact that a much higher percentage could be. That's a human behavioral issue as well as a structural issue of governance and corporate responsibility.
And if you feel all detergents are dishonest, what do you use and why do you even bother watching detergent reviews?
I ordered these online from a company called Emeraldology based in Seattle. No hassle, no up-sell, product arrived quickly. Love it.
Earth breeze has a subscription service. You can ship laundry detergent sheets once a month or once every two months and so on. That simplifies the distribution and overall eliminates going out of your way to make an environmentally friendly purchase.
Perhaps, but it still doesn't maximize visibility or availability to general consumers. And maximizing easy access and purchase is how it will also maximize its environmental impact.
The availability matters most edlin
Love the idea of Tru Earth and I've found the cleaning is just as good. However I'm realizing it doesn't remove pet hair as well as my Tide pods do. That's a kicker for me. My ventless dryer says to not use fabric softeners.
I had the same "issue" when I used them.... They're not bad, but I'd rather not walk around covered in husky hair at work 😂
Very interesting. In the hundreds of comments on this video since I first posted it, I don't think up until now anyone has referenced pet hair. Thanks!
As i just watched this video of his review for Tru Earth, they are now available in major grocery stores in Florida!
That's pretty cool! Bit by bit, step by step perhaps we'll see what really needs to happen. Thanks for letting me know.
I enjoyed the review, however, we absolutely can buy this product in our supermarkets here where I live (New Brunswick, Canada) - we can get them at Loblaws, Sobeys, major grocery chains... as you mentioned, the product is manufactured here so maybe it is just a matter of time before they get the product into Ontario grocery stores. I would also suggest, they make a great gift! I was gifted them and never looked back after giving them a try - will be gifting them to many other family and friends for Christmas this year.
Thanks Heidi - I recorded this review almost 2 years ago, and in that time there has indeed been progress made. I've even found them on sale at my own supermarket so it definitely is good to see, but there still is a ways to go in order for this product and other similar ones to get to any type of tipping point. So we'll continue to press on for greater distribution. Cheers!
If Tide, or Cheer or any major tried and true brand did laundry sheets they would do very well. But since they don't, and most don't know if the laundry detergent sheets work. That's why it's a order online thing.
This video is about 3 years old. This product has begun showing up at supermarkets including at the very supermarket I filmed images at for this video. There is growth and positive movement, but it will indeed take a Unilever or Proctor & Gamble to make a strip of their own before we truly see wide spread adoption. My instincts tell me this will happen because there will be a demand for it.
I think we just need to focus on the product for now. If it is as good as it claims, and is a price point that most people can afford, the access to the product will improve with more public interest.
The product is good. The price point is a bit high, but scalability and larger distribution can bring that down. But it's a vicious circle in a way since without widespread distribution to the same level as other laundry detergents, they will never achieve the level of public attention that you suggest. The greatest chance of this product realizing it's full potential I'm afraid only comes through a better sales channel and distribution method.
My wife and I are using an 8 load trial of the product. While it seems to perform adequately, the price just isn't competitive with our normal detergent. We've found that we need to use a full sheet with our normally sized laundry loads. We tend to buy a national brand that costs less than $20 for approximately 140 loads. The equivalent in True Earth laundry sheets would be closer to $120 - at six times the price, this product is simply not competitive!
@@curtislockett5075 that's helpful information. It's unfortunate that it's so costly to help the planet! Rather Similar to electric vehicle issue....
I went food shopping yesterday and I noticed my Foodcoop has it and I purchased them. I seen an ad on it in the passed and thought that it was a BRILLIANT IDEA!
Eventually I believe all major detergent companies will do this.
STAY-TUNED I will get back to you on my results.
There has indeed been an expansion of retail availability for the strips since I first shot this. I can even buy them now at my personal supermarket and I can find them close to where I photoshopped them in the video. Slowly, but surely...
Good idea! Any comments? Happy New Year ⭐
@GwenHa...:I agree with you . Watch P&G, HEINKEL, and others to produce these sheets.
Well, I'm going to give it a try. I'm ordering directly from Tru Earth to support a Canadian company that may be starting out with growing pains. I'm going to give it a try. Good video, by the way.
Thank you Dorothy!
It's cool Dorothy I've given it a try
You make an excellent point about accessibility to getting the product. I searched for retailers and they are all out of the way. If Tru Earth can get their foot in the door of larger stores, including stores like Canadian Tire, they would increase sales significantly and also push other manufacturers to create similar products.
Exactly! The reality of change is that people may say they want to change but they won't do it unless it's easy. Having to order online may be common but it's not a natural way we think about buying our detergent - at least not for the large majority of people. Thanks for your comments and feedback!
I live north-west of Toronto and have seen them recently at my local Zehr's grocery store (which is part of the Loblaw chain). It is a great product. I have started to use another brand of laundry strip from another Canadian company called Good JuJu. The price is comparable, but it does 36 loads. They took a week to arrive from British Columbia and shipping was free.
Thanks for the info. Glad to see it at Zehr's. Now if Loblaw can take them and distribute across their network of brands, it would be a huge deal!
Great review! Many TH-camrs test these strips with a front load washer, nice to see a review from someone with a top load washer.
Thanks Lauri, although I'll admit I do have a bit of front-loader envy. 😀
Appreciate the feedback though.
@9:00 The argument that big brands are not going to be displaced is bs. We as consumers have the power to make things change buy switching to other inovative products. Change could also come through legislation. Again that is our power when we vote or lobby our representatives. Of course it won't happen over time. It's up to us.
I don't really care who makes the sustainable products we all need. I just care that they are made and they are widely distributable and essentially come the new normal. I'll leave the antifa uprising to you and others.
If all companies condensed their products it would be impactful
Agreed!
this vid was 2 years ago he was talking about taking 2 weeks to get the product. today the shortages we have when go to the grocery for things you are out of, the grocery may not have it. I go shopping before I run out in case the grocery is out. I am going to try it because of the waste savings and shipping fuel savings.
I have seen these at my natural grocery stores :) Going to try them after this review! Thank you :)
what about powder detergent?, we dont talk about how those strips are made, there is a huge amount of antieco topics for sure.
I'm pretty sure the ingredient list is available on their website.
Thanks for the great review! I have been wanting to see the cleaning power of these and a lot of other You Tubers literally spending the entire video only discussing the ingredients. If all companies began making strips and selling in retail stores, it would help the plastic waste.
If consumers start buying into the concept, I'd be willing to bet that it won't be long before the Proctor & Gamble and Unilevers of this world will be introducing laundry strips of their own. I'd even be willing to guess they already have designs in the works. Their scalability will also be what bring pricing down, so if I were Tru Earth, I'd be building my retail logistics network now before they find themselves trailing behind competitors who can offer it cheaper and across the entire retail landscape.
@@TheNovakReport exactly right
Just wondering, how long did the dish towel sit with this day prior to washing?
Maybe an hour if I recall. I soiled it specifically for the video so it was same day.
It'll be an uncomfortable shift - at first. It took me only a month to get in the habit of bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. I don't see that as much of a difference.
I don't think it will be a big shift in getting used to using the product. But I don't think it's a wise strategy to try and get people to shift the way they buy their detergent. The way we purchase staples of our daily lives are deeply engrained in habit, and the easier it is for a new product to be worked into existing habits and patterns, the more successful they will be.
Thanks for your comments!
We always pass a law force all company to make only laundry strips and ban any other from of laundry detergent. Sound like something that should be done.
Forcing people to change isn't a way to create lasting change. I think it won't be long before we see Proctor & Gamble, Unilever and other detergent makers offering laundry strips. Once they do, they will be able to scale production up to where pricing goes down and distribution gets to a point where it can totally change the way we wash our clothes. I'd say we're 1 - 3 years away at most.
Thanks for the video review. The ads keep popping up and I was suspicious.
You're welcome
I agree with this review. The upselling in the purchasing flow is a little obnoxious. However the cleaning is good, and I chose the subscription model, where you get a discount, and once the first long wait was over, I've been regularly getting shipments so I never run out. By virtue of the snail mail post, it also probably saves energy and emissions by not being "rushed".
Fair points, but that footprint would likely be reduced further through wide spread retail distribution.
Hi
As you use these on a regular basis do you have any issues with moisture getting into the packaging once it is open?
@@lozzas8170 I purchased a 30 strip package and moisture was never an issue in the time it took me to use them all.
I did what it said the first time - just throw it in with your load. However, when I took my clothes out, 3 of my shirts had thick spots of concentrated laundry soap on them - big spots, spread all over the top of the shirts. I put just those shirts through the rinse cycle three times, but the stains are still there. Customer Service asked me the details and then offered NO compensation for ruining 3 of my shirts. "They never heard of that happening before." and "We stand by our product." Even if they really didn't think it was the strips fault, they could have apologized and offered a coupon or a discount or something. But nothing. I am definitely going to switch to the other product I saw advertised that does the same thing, and I will make sure to dissolve the strip before I add my clothes. Too bad, Tru Earth could of had a loyal customer instead of a pissed off one.
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing this. I was seduced by the no waste, but I don’t want to stain my hubby’s shirts.
did you have bleach in the wash?
AWESOME review I was so interested that I almost clicked then I though wait let’s do some reviews . you hit every point right on the nail thank you so much you have a new subscriber:)
Thanks Rosa! Very kind of you to offer those words and thank you for subscribing! I do have the Earth Breeze strips to review at some point (have them with me, just need to find time to shoot), so stay tuned!
Very thorough review thank you. Was a pleasure to listen to you.
Thank you, Sonia! Very kind of you to say.
I'm just watching you staining a tea towel.... I'm thinking this isn't meant to be a stain remover...not sold as that.. Almost everyone pretreats stains with stain remover.. I'd like to see a comparison of laundry done in the front loader low water washers compared to the regular old style washers that use lots of water.
I usually pre-treat as well, like I said on the video. But if I'm truly going to test the capabilities of something like this, I need to use it and only it to remove the stains. And I'd be happy to demonstrate this with a front loader if I owned one. But since this Hi Efficiency top loader is what I have, it's what I used.
Hi, I am wondering if you have hard or soft water for this test?
It was with hard water, straight from the tap. No filtration.
Powder detergent has them beat in my book the tide powdered detergent is in a cardboard box and lasts longer than a bottle of detergent
The knock against powder is that it can clump up, especially if you put it into a dry tub before clothes and water are added. The best way to use powder is to let the tub fill and then pour so it dissolves properly, and that means you have to wait until the tub fills before adding clothes. At least with these strips and even pods, you just drop them in and go.
@@TheNovakReport we have front loading machines in Europe, thank God.
@@ilektrakaratasiou3352 front loaders are common here too. Just not at my place. 😉
my bottle of detergent I get about 130 loads, the empty bottle gets dropped off at recycling center those strips cost over 10 times more per load
10x cost per load seems like an exaggeration. It's good that you recycle your bottles, but keep in mind that only 9% of the world's plastic is recycled.
No product is right for everyone, but this does offer an alternative for those looking for something with a lower environmental footprint overall and does a good job at removing stains.
@@TheNovakReportI'm looking for it, and checking the final price in Portugal. In fact the governments should find stategies to make these eco alternatives more afordable for the majority of the population.
Happy and blessed New Year ⭐
I have used tide for 40 years, I am changing to earthwash, hopefully all laundry brands will go with this technology.
I believe that eventually they all will. I just can't define what "eventually" means.
You should know when you're low on detergent, and really if you are down to 6 strips, you know you have about 2-3 weeks left, which you can conserve usage by splitting the strips up. People are using too much detergent anyway for everyday cleaning beyond stain removal cleaning.
2nd usually, if you're that lazy, then the product is probably not for you as you never really cared, but indeed eventually, the goal of any product is to reach shelves.
This has little to do with me. I can order this if I want as I did. Remember I went and paid for this...it wasn't gifted to me. The point is there are more people who could use this if it were easier to buy...and why is that a bad thing?
I don't think they are unavailable in stores by choice... it's likely the company needs to grow to a point where they are able to convince the big chains to open up scarce space on their shelves to their product. To do this, they probably need to reach a certain scale of production, which requires a critical mass of sales. I have no experience in this area, but this seems like a likely sequencing of events between small start-up, and mass availability.
So if this is a good product, I suspect all we can do is pay the premium and support them until they reach that scale.
A lot of what you say is true Beau. There indeed is a hierarchy of growth with things like this, but there are a couple of things they could do to help their cause I think. They might not be able to get to the major retailers yet, but I think it would be in their best interest to find some retailers that are not typically identified as eco-stores or organic or holistic per se. They draw a specific segment of people who are good for business but not good for rapid growth. Find some independent retailers or ones with a few locations, but are seen as more mainline. The goal is to convince those who don't specifically look for a product like this that it is a good product for them, even if they don't care about the plastic issue. This would potentially give them added traction which could help to secure a deal with a larger retailer.
But then again you and I are just outsiders looking in. And we are both I assume hopeful that they will get the break they need in due course. Thanks for your comment!
Hi I just want you to know that you can buy it on Walmart online also!
Noted, but it won't have a big enough environmental impact until it can be regularly purchased in Walmart stores.
Very good review, I needed to know the cleaning power of these and you didn’t disappoint. Thank you.
My pleasure! Thank you for watching and for the comment.
Great review. I am now confident in buying this product. Very well detailed and clearly explained. Thanks for your good work.
Thank you Louise for the kind feedback. I'm really glad that you found this helpful. I'll also be doing a review of the Earth Breeze laundry strips soon so expect to see that review online as well in the next few weeks.
now that's how you do a review. I'm interested in this product but was doubting some of the claims they made. "why would this product be better for me specifically"
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I'll be reviewing the Earth Breeze strips in the next little while also in case you're interested.
The whole 'i don't plan' thing cracks me up. I suppose being a mom in charge of groceries and household shopping for years now gives me a different perspective. Other than that, the video was informative.
To understand my point better, you need to step outside of your own personal perspective and into that of the average consumer. To make substantive environmental change it's the indifferent shopper who needs to catch on to and embrace this product. These aren't the people who will ever plan a month at a time to mail order their detergent. They could likely be enticed to try it as a sample but if you want the greatest amount of users buying this product, you make it as easy as possible to buy...and that's not what is set up at the moment.
Thanks for your comment!
@@TheNovakReport ah, that old instant gratification argument.
@@NotTheSameAsIWas not so much instant gratification, but rather making it easy to change. People like you are willing to do more to make positive change. But it's an error to assume that society at large is willing to do the same. And to really change our future path toward a sustainable and prosperous one, we need to recognize that not everyone is equally motivated.
@@TheNovakReport that's exactly the instant gratification argument. The age of Amazon 2day has spoiled the whole lot. "Back in the day" when we ordered from a magazine or commercial and everything said "4-6 weeks." If a company can't get it to you immediately (instant gratification) and you stop using the product because you can't or won't adapt and plan then often you are the one to lose out. Life is literally just planning the next whatever.
Oh and speaking of Amazon, you can literally order these strips with 2-day prime delivery.
@@NotTheSameAsIWas You also need to consider that there are many in society without the means to adapt easily to the online commerce way of shopping that you are referring to. Not everyone carries a credit card for example, but everyone shops for groceries at their local supermarket. If we are to realize the goal of eliminating ALL plastic laundry detergent packaging, it can only be achieved if distribution is done in a manner that allows everyone to easily access products such as this.
I'm perplexed by the pushback my feelings on this have gotten. Sure, anyone with the means and interest can access this product through e-commerce. But why would anyone have a problem with advocating for distribution of these laundry strips in such a way that it's just as easy to buy as any other liquid or pod detergent out there?
Thank you Eric for replying to my comments. This video is very helpful and has a great concept behind it! Keep up the great work. I know myself that developing a presence is hard! Keep up the good work. I know my comments were negative and I am sorry. I should have added a positive twist.
No worries! As you'll probably see the more you scroll the comments of not only my You Tube videos, but just about everything out there, the guise of cyber anonymity enables many to howl scores of outrage without being accountable. We deal with worse, trust me. So your pointed comments were done with sincerity as opposed to acrimony. Be well!
I am buying this from now on. If it cleans my clothes and it is better for mother earth, who care how difficult it is to buy. The cons are absolutely ridiculous! New products take time to manifest. I will bet that Tide and all these large competitors will have strips within the next year. Millions of people are going out-of-their way to live differently to take care of the environment.
If Tide follows suit that will be good for everyone. Millions is a bit of an over-estimate, but not matter - it's good to see that people are indeed going out of their way. It's a good product. But if you want it to also be an impactful product, it simply has to be available anywhere regular laundry detergent is sold. You'll never have the impact it could have by online, Amazon or sold in specialty stores.
@@TheNovakReport Thanks for your response. The laundry strips will not happen overnight, but there ARE millions of people in the US who are concerned about our next generations and our planet's health. We go out of our way to change our habits. Waiting two weeks is not so bad and I have signed up to have a pack delivered every 3 months so I basically never have to buy detergent at the store anymore.
@@susannenagy333 You are to be commended for your actions. However the U.S. is 330 million people. I'm in Canada and we are 37 million people. A couple million users of these strips will not create the tangible change we need, and the same can be said for just about every major initiative or change that we as a society and a species need to undertake to be able to ensure that our future generations are not in jeopardy.
The blunt truth is that we will never achieve the levels of sustainable living that is necessary until that majority of citizens embrace better practices.
@@TheNovakReport but there ARE millions of people committed to lifestyles changes
@@kayladenette5872 millions are not enough. Sustainable change will only happen when it becomes mainstream and widely adopted.
I agree to what he pointed out, #1 distribution/availability- I ordered mine April 10th and just received them 2days ago. #2 the annoying “promotional add-ons” before you can go to payment. And for me it is a little bit pricey compare to some other available products in the market being “clean & environment friendly”. I really like it though quality+performance wise, and would want to support this product, given with the pro’s and cons
I think there are many others who feel as you do. Great product deserving of support, but they need to improve the business model as to how one goes about buying it. Thanks for the comment.
I don't know about other provinces, but they are available at Sobey's in Nova Scotia. Honestly, I would be pleased to see other conventional laundry brands create similar products. I'll still buy Truearth, as I like it but major brands creating something similar would still have a great impact on plastic reduction.
That's interesting to know. I wasn't aware that Sobey's was carrying it anywhere, but that's a good thing! And I agree with you fully that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so if Unilever or P&G and others want to make their own - I'd think that would be a very positive step forward!
It is known u should use less detergent than what it actually says on basically call products. How about for this product??
Well you can use one strip instead of two, but I didn't try to use a half sheet so I couldn't tell you if that would work or not. My test was with one sheet only when perhaps I should have used two and the results were pretty good. Maybe that offers some insight.
I have used Tru Earth strips for over a year and the monthly subscription means I don't have to worry about getting detergents anymore - what's easier to lift an envelope or a detergents jug? The only difference is detergent jugs are full of water and heavy and 32 loads of Tru Earth strips (which is bigger in product usage than even the smallest/medium sized jugs) lasts a lot longer. It doesn't have bad reactions to skin - there are a few detergents I couldn't use as they literally caused my skin to peel off due to chemicals in them. This product does as it says no bull shit or false claims and if the man doing the review had used the right dose there would not have been any residue on his towel.
I noted in my review that I would typically pre-treat these stains, and I might use two strips instead of one. But I used only one strip to see what type of cleaning power and capabilities a single strip would be able to achieve.
Consumer Reports lists the Eco product as one of three detergents to avoid. The best detergents had a score of up to 84, and Tru Earth Eco Strips was at the bottom with a score of 11. In my own test, simple dirt in the bed sheet was not cleaned off. Well, they have great commercials.
I can't speak to the Consumer Reports review as I haven't seen it. I can only speak from my own personal experience and the results shown in the review were consistent with what I experienced while using the remainder of the pack.
I went to consumer reports to find the formal product review and didn't see it there. I still use the eco product, but use 2 strips, just in case.
But Eric if you say “in normal times I would pre -treat with…” it implies you’ve obviously had issues with normal detergents not getting stains out without help so to expect the Earth Breeze single strip to do so seems a little unfair.
Your control should have been a wash using your normal product v a wash with Earth Breeze with both loads containing a similarly stained towel. If one worked and the other didn’t then you could draw conclusions.
Then do a repeat wash using a pre treatment.
Then repeat using two Earth sheets… and on and on…
But hey, I’m just nitpicking and I know the reply is “well go and do your own TH-cam vids if you’re so clever….” but I’m not, and I’m a little lazy and not confident so I rely on you!
I enjoyed your video - thanks.
I purposely didn't pre-treat anything because I wanted to see the true cleaning potential of the Tru Earth sheet on its own. Had I done a pre-treat I wouldn't have been able to objectively say that it was the detergent and not the Oxy that cleaned what it did. For evaluating purposes you have to isolate the product to see what it's capable of.
Appreciate the comment and the input. Cheers!
And also a wash without detergent.
Hmmm. Save energy slugging heavy detergent jugs and no more powders and less cleanup. I can dig it I think.
I can too. I just wish I could do it at my regular grocery store instead of online and by mail.
@@TheNovakReport I believe it will change over time. First step is to know of it. I'm going to have to give it a whirl. Nice to know it's Canadian based too.
EXCELLENT EXCELLT EXCELLENT REVIEW! CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! THANK YOU!
Thank you kindly! Glad you enjoyed it.
reminder that the most important thing is the price per load. in Canada, TruEarth is 8x more expensive than Arm and Hammer Liquid. Is it 8x better? TruEarth is also roughly twice as expensive per load as some of the special formula overpriced Tide powder detergents.
I know that price is a consideration. How do you determine that it's 8x that of Arm & Hammer? What are you basing this on?
@@TheNovakReport walmart sells the 6.21L for $12 which is rated for 140 loads (and frankly i had one for about two years and it’s still about a quarter full so i’m pretty sure i’ll end up stretching it over 140 loads lolol). so like my plastic and carbon footprint from the arm and hammer was that bad lol. i appreciate what TruEarth are doing; just… idk the price difference is huge.
and 8 times more chemical ? Not healthy.
They leave a residue on anything dark. All conditions the same Sunlight, Tide, Persil and others do not leave a residue - powder or liquid. I won't use these strips again - giving the rest away. As a 30+ year Environmental Chemist I wanted to like these TruEarth strips, but the data does not support it.
I've used them other times since shooting this and haven't had the same experience as you.
Have you done a review of Earthbreeze strips? Would be interested in your analysis of eco-friendly claims they make.
I actually have a sample pack of Earth Breeze strips that have been sent to me and I do plan to review them as well. I've been meaning to do it for at least a couple of months now but I've been extremely busy. Your comment has prompted me though to see if I can get it done over the break which is actually when I did the Tru Earth review last year. So hang tight and perhaps subscribe to my channel if you're not already. I hope to have the review done in the next couple weeks or so. Thanks!
@@TheNovakReport thank you for your reply. I did find a review that tested these strips' cleaning power and compared cost against TruEarth. That Rev I reviewer stated they cost less over long-term but that they did contain a couple ingredients that weren't necessarily environmentally harmful, but were petroleum-based. Just FYI. Also stated they are manufactured in China vs Canada so shipping carbon footprint might be higher.
Mustard has turmeric in it and that stuff though very tasty could dye your clothes if you wanted to!!! It notoriously stains everything almost that it touches. 😳So maybe that is an acceptation 🤔🤷♀️
I'm pretty sure that had I pre-treated it or had a second strip in the load...or both that the mustard would have fully come out. But yes, it's a difficult stain in general.
Exception is the word you were looking for
They do a subscription service, so you can have your detergent show up on your doorstep on a regular basis. I am not sure you can get easier than that!
I realize, but a subscription service is not something everyone has the ability to do. And a subscription service isn't necessarily easier than picking up a package whenever you need to when you do your regular grocery shopping. If the goal is to get as many people as possible to use this and exponentially grow the environmental benefits of doing so, then making them available wherever regular detergent is sold is what needs to happen. Thanks for your comment.
Great review you do excellent work
They should offer subscription based, you get your refill shipped say every month.
They do!! At least on the Canadian site I’m on.
That still won't be enough to reach the penetration that they aspire to. Only by making available across all bricks and mortar supermarkets and retailers will they be able to get there.
you can now subscribe and save on Amazon... *yeah, i know, Amazon has it's own issues.
If you find anything that will the mustard stais out, you can make a fortune. Tbe yellow in Muster is from turmeric, and it is probably used as a dye. I can never get it out!
It came out after a 2nd wash. But you're right that it's a tough stain, and Murphy's Law says it's what you're most likely to spill on your shirt! :)
I use Peroxide on any color problem area.
Yeah, it's a lost struggle.
All these claims by TruEarth are well and fair, but if this product reduces water usage, requirements for transportation, packaging, etc etc, why does it cost the same as regular detergents? It feels like this company is trying to tug at the conscience to get at the pocketbook to cash in on a trend.
The process by which is needed to make it is likely more expensive at the moment. Scaling up would probably help to bring production costs down, which is another reason why I'd love to see it on sale at grocery stores everywhere.
It does not cost the same. It costs much more.
maybe they pay their employees non starvation wages in addition to not polluting our planet in the ways Tide, et al are
I've been using these for some time now and recommend the dishwasher pods (no plastic casing and no plastic packaging) and the hand soap tablets (you save again on all the plastic packaging!). It is hardly an inconvenience to buy all of these products ahead of time if you truly care about the earth.
That sounds like a reasonable argument from a certain point of view. But it ignores a couple of realities that shouldn't be ignored. One is that not everyone has the level of income that they can afford to buy a years worth of pricier laundry strips at once, so they buy a week at a time or two weeks at a time as their budget allows. They could be convinced to make the switch but it has to be measured against their realities and not someone else's assumptions.
The second point is that not everyone prioritizes the environment to the level that they would alter their shopping habits just to do so. As the Jack McGinnis example I gave demonstrated, most people are willing to do the right thing, but they also want that option to be convenient. This may not be a glowing endorsement of society, but it's a real one and one that advocates of the environment simply can't ignore. And truthfully, these products should be easier to buy.
@@TheNovakReport yes, thank you for your realistic point of view.
@@dinarusso3320 Thank you, Dina for your kind feedback.
I have seen these at Publix and bought them.