Tru Earth is a laundry brand that's marketed as a healthier and more environmentally-friendly detergent than the competition. The company describes their product as "as sensitive on your skin as it is to the environment."
But what's Tru Earth actually made of? Is it healthier than commercial detergent like Purex or Tide? Does Tru Earth contain any questionable ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the scent and effectiveness of this detergent?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Tru Earth detergent strips based on clinical studies to give our take on whether the brand is really a healthier option.
We'll compare the healthiness of Tru Earth to Purex (a commercial detergent brand), feature unsponsored Tru Earth customer reviews, and provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells Tru Earth for the best price.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in the Fragrance Free version of Tru Earth (which is also branded as Tru Earth Baby) are shown above.
We always recommend fragrance-free versions of detergent over fragranced versions, because fragrance compounds can be allergenic according to a 2018 medical review.
Tru Earth Fragrance Free contains active ingredients that are clinically shown to be non-toxic and effective.
Corn starch is clinically shown to be a safe and effective natural cleansing ingredient, as we documented in our Earth Breeze reviews article.
Glycerin can naturally improve scent, as shown in a medical review published in the International Journal of Toxicology.
We cannot identify any other research-backed active ingredients in this formulation, but the main benefit of the Fragrance Free version of Tru Earth Laundry Strips is that they are entirely free of unhealthy additives.
To provide a comparative example to show how much healthier Tru Earth is, consider the ingredients in a commercial detergent called Purex, shown below:
Colorants fails to describe whether these colorants are natural or synthetic.
Fragrances are unhealthy in our opinion for reasons cited above.
Methylisothiazolinone is a synthetic preservative and its use is strictly controlled by Health Canada due to "potential safety issues," as we documented in our review of Clean People Laundry Detergent.
Overall, we consider Tru Earth to be significantly healthier than commercial detergent, and we have no issues with the Fragrance Free version from a health and safety perspective.
We Tried Tru Earth Ourselves
As the author of this article, I wanted to try Tru Earth myself to share my thoughts on its effects and the overall product experience.
I found a pack of the fragrance-free strips at my local Stop & Shop.
My towels and washcloths came out of the washer/dryer smelling clean and fresh without any artificial scent.
I typically use a fragrance-free powder detergent, and I couldn't notice any difference in the softness or smell of my clean load.
My main complaint is the cost. My typical detergent covers 100+ loads for under $20, and since I don't notice any added benefits from this product, I wouldn't pay a significant per-use premium for it.
I do think Tru Earth is a better option than commercial detergent for health reasons, and if I were traveling or out of my typical detergent and needed something in a bind, I'd consider purchasing this.
Overall, I'd rate Tru Earth Fragrance-Free Laundry Strips 6/10.
Where to Get the Best Price
Tru Earth Fragrance Free is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase of the 64-count at the time of publishing this article:
Brand website: $39.95 (free shipping, link)
Walmart: $39.90 (free shipping, link)
Amazon: $27.92 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Tru Earth Fragrance Free is currently 30% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand's website.
Real People Try Tru Earth
A YouTube creator named "Green & Happy Mom" has a review testing the effectiveness of Tru Earth Laundry Strips:
Another YouTube creator named "Clean Freak & Germaphobe" compared Tru Earth to other laundry detergent strips:
What are the Best Commercial Detergents?
A YouTube video from Consumer Reports is under two minutes long and tests some of the most popular detergents in terms of effectiveness:
Real Customers Review Tru Earth
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
The Fragrance Free version of Tru Earth has been reviewed over 23,000 times at the time of publishing this article, with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "Rhonda Markham" who gives the product a 5/5 star rating and suggests it's effective even for consumers who have sensitivities:
"I was amazed!...as an asthmatic who is one of the sensitive population when it comes to fragrances, aromas, baked goods, candles & even household cleaners &/or body wash/hair products...This is not strong enough to set you off on a coughing event; nor is it likely to start a sneezing spell."
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "J" who gives the product a 1/5 star rating and suggests it's not as effective as their regular detergent:
"I placed the clothes in the washer and placed the laundry sheet on top of the clothes (direction say just toss in washer) then ran a normal cycle. After the washer was finished my clothes were not clean like they normally are using tide powder."
Tru Earth currently has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Facebook.
Tru Earth currently has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
Tru Earth Laundry Strips currently has an average review rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google.
Pros and Cons of Tru Earth
Here are the pros and cons of Tru Earth Laundry Strips in our opinion:
Pros:
- Healthier than commercial detergent
- Convenient
- Contains research-backed active ingredeints
- Fragrance Free version has no unhealthy additives
- Highly positive online customer reviews
- Environmentally-friendly
Cons:
- Scented versions contain fragrance
