Clean People is a laundry detergent brand that uses sheets rather than liquid, which is a growing trend in the US. The brand describes their products as "scientifically formulated with clean ingredients to powerfully lift stains and leave you with fresh clothing."
But does Clean People Laundry Detergent contain research-backed ingredients for cleaning clothes? Is it a healthier option than traditional laundry detergent? What was our Product Tester's experience trying it for a month? And is it better or worse than other popular "healthy" detergents like ECOS?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Clean People Laundry Detergent to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective for cleaning clothes, and how it compares to traditional detergent in terms of healthiness.
We'll also share our Product Tester's experience trying this product, discuss its environmental impacts, and compare Clean People Laundry Detergent to other popular "healthy" detergents to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Much healthier formulation than traditional detergent
- Fragrance can be harmful to human health
- We currently recommend the Fragrance-Free version of Clean People Detergent
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Estroven Complete Multi-Symptom Menopause Relief, the brand's most popular supplement, are shown below:
Vegetable glycerin is described as a stain-remover by Clean People, but it can also naturally improve scent according to a 2019 research review.
Starch is a safe and non-toxic cleansing ingredient according to a 1993 clinical review.
The good news is that there are no ingredients in the Fragrance Free version of this product that we consider to be unhealthy.
The scented version contains fragrance, which may pose risks to human health depending on the fragrance chemicals used, as we documented in our review of another laundry detergent brand called Laundry Sauce.
To illustrate why we consider Clean People Laundry Detergent to be a healthier option than most commercial detergent brands, let's review the ingredients in a Purex detergent, shown below:
Fragrances is a questionable additive as discussed above.
Methylisothiazolinone is a preservative and its use is strictly controlled by Health Canada over safety concerns.
Colorants is a broad descriptor that fails to document whether the colors used are naturally-derived or synthetic.
Overall, we consider Clean People Laundry Detergent likely to be effective and safe for cleaning clothes, and a healthier option than traditional laundry detergent.
We Tested Clean People Laundry Detergent
One of our product testers named Aly Goldstein used Clean People laundry detergent for a month. Here's her experience:
This product was extremely easy to use. You don’t need to measure or worry about spilling any detergent, you just toss one of the sheets into the washing machine.
The packing was easy to open, and incredibly compact and easy to store. Much smaller than a bottle of liquid detergent. I had no issues opening the box or using the sheets.
The detergent really was fragrance-free, which I loved. Despite being fragrance-free, my laundry came out smelling fresh and clean.
My laundry was well cleaned each time I used it. I was skeptical at first because I have only ever used liquid detergent, but the sheets really did work. Clothes were also soft and no residue was ever left behind.
I have very sensitive skin and I had no issues after wearing clothes that were cleaned with this detergent.
Overall, I would rate Clean People Laundry Detergent 10/10, and I plan on purchasing it again.
Clean People vs. Popular Detergents
Here's how Clean People Laundry Detergent compares to other popular laundry detergents in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
ECOS
Contains a synthetic preservative which is clinically shown to be harmful to human cells (at least in a test tube study).
The brand is also currently being sued over this preservative (and other ingredients).
Winner: Clean People Laundry Detergent
Earth Breeze
Like Clean People, Earth Breeze laundry sheets contain research-backed active ingredients, and the brand offers a fragrance-free version without any unhealthy ingredients.
Winner: Tie
Blueland
Contains one more active ingredient we can find research support for than Clean People, and is also free of harmful additives.
Winner: Blueland
Is Clean People Environmentally-Friendly?
Clean People laundry detergent sheets are significantly healthier for individuals and the environment than liquid detergent, in our view.
Plastic bottling is clinically shown to leach harmful chemical compounds into liquid under certain conditions, so a plastic-free option is safer.
We do not believe that Clean People is "greenwashing" as some brands have accused them of; we comment any detergent brand using laundry sheets or powder instead of liquid bottled in single-use plastic.
Overall, we consider Clean People to be significantly more environmentally-friendly than traditional detergent, due to its packaging.
Clean People Detergent Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains natural cleaning ingredients
- Fragrance Free version has no unhealthy additives
- Affordable
- Environmentally-friendly
- Highly positive online customer reviews
- Free shipping on all orders
Cons:
- Fresh Scent version contains fragrance
