Do Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents Work? TruEarth Review

Summary

In this episode of the 'Green Wife Happy Life' podcast, host Pam reviews True Earth's eco-friendly laundry detergent, discussing its paper packaging, ease of purchase, and safety ratings. Despite not being listed by the EPA's Safer Choice program, it earns a 'C' from the Environmental Working Group. The family finds the detergent effective but notes the lack of fragrance as a downside, as they associate a clean smell with cleanliness. Pam encourages trying new eco-friendly products and provides links for further information.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The podcast episode features a review of an eco-friendly laundry detergent called True Earth.
• 📦 True Earth detergent comes in minimal, paper packaging, emphasizing its eco-friendliness.
• 🔍 The host discusses the importance of packaging, ease of purchase, and health ratings when choosing laundry detergent.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The family's experience with the detergent is mixed, with some finding it confusing due to its paper-like appearance.
• 🏷️ True Earth is not listed on the EPA's Safer Choice program, which evaluates cleaning products for safety and environmental impact.
• 📊 The Environmental Working Group rates True Earth a 'C' on their healthy cleaner database, indicating average safety.
• 🛒 The detergent was initially only available online but is now found in local grocery stores, making it easier to purchase.
• 👃 The family noted that True Earth detergent is fragrance-free and does not leave the typical 'clean' smell on clothes.
• 👕 There is a preference for the 'Fresh Linen' scented version of the detergent, as it provides a more familiar clean scent.
• 🔄 The host encourages trying out new eco-friendly products and is open to reviewing more, even if they are just average.
• 😂 The husband, Rob, humorously suggests giving the detergent an 'F' for its lack of fragrance, adding a light-hearted touch to the review.

Q & A

What is the name of the podcast where Pam and Rob discuss eco-friendly products?

The podcast is called 'The Green Wife Happy Life Podcast'.

What type of product does Pam review in this episode of the podcast?

Pam reviews an eco-friendly laundry detergent in this episode.

What is the name of the company that produces the laundry detergent Pam reviews?

The company is called True Earth.

How is the packaging of True Earth's laundry detergent described in the podcast?

The packaging is described as a paper envelope, which is considered eco-friendly due to its non-plastic material.

What does True Earth describe their laundry detergent as?

True Earth describes their detergent as an ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic laundry strip that is liquidless and pre-measured.

Which two resources does Pam mention for evaluating the safety of cleaning products?

Pam mentions the EPA's Safer Choice label and the Environmental Working Group's Healthy Cleaner Database.

What rating did the Environmental Working Group give to True Earth's laundry detergent?

The Environmental Working Group gave True Earth's laundry detergent a 'C' rating.

How does Pam rate the ease of purchasing True Earth's laundry detergent?

Pam rates it as a 'B' because it used to only be available online, but is now becoming more accessible in local grocery stores.

What feedback did Pam's family give about the laundry detergent's scent?

The family's feedback was that the detergent is fragrance-free and does not make the clothes smell clean, which is a departure from what they are used to.

What does Pam plan to do if there are other eco-friendly products that listeners want the podcast to review?

Pam plans to try out the suggested eco-friendly products, even if they are obscure or new to the market.

What joke does Rob contribute to the discussion about laundry detergents?

Rob jokingly gives the laundry detergent an 'F' grade, implying that he felt his hands were tied and couldn't contribute more to the discussion.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Review

In this segment, the host Pam introduces the topic of reviewing an eco-friendly laundry detergent from True Earth. She outlines her criteria for evaluation, which include packaging, ease of purchase, health and safety ratings, and feedback from her family. The detergent comes in a paper envelope, emphasizing its eco-friendliness by avoiding plastic. Pam mentions checking the EPA's Safer Choice label and the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Healthy Cleaner Database for third-party health ratings, giving the product a 'C' rating. She also discusses the increasing availability of the detergent in local stores and her family's adjustment to its fragrance-free nature, which deviates from traditional laundry detergents' scent associations with cleanliness.

05:02

👕 Family Feedback on Fragrance-Free Detergent

The second paragraph delves into the family's experience with the True Earth laundry detergent. Pam's husband Rob and her teenagers found the detergent's lack of fragrance to be unusual, as they are accustomed to associating a 'clean' smell with cleanliness. The detergent is available in two scents, Fresh Linen and fragrance-free, with the family having tried the latter. Despite the absence of a traditional scent, Pam defends the product's eco-friendliness and the reduction of chemicals typically found in fragrances. She also invites viewers to suggest other eco-friendly products to try and promises to continue providing reviews, ending the segment with a light-hearted joke about Rob's contribution to the discussion.

Keywords

💡Eco-friendly

The term 'eco-friendly' refers to products or practices that are not harmful to the environment. In the video, the podcast hosts discuss eco-friendly laundry detergents, specifically highlighting products that reduce plastic waste and use sustainable materials. The emphasis on eco-friendly products aligns with the podcast's theme of promoting a greener lifestyle.

💡True Earth

'True Earth' is the name of the eco-friendly laundry detergent brand reviewed in the podcast. The product is noted for its minimalistic packaging and innovative design, which includes laundry strips instead of liquid or powder detergent. The brand represents a shift towards more sustainable household products.

💡Packaging

Packaging refers to the materials used to encase and protect a product. In the podcast, the hosts praise True Earth's packaging for being paper-based and plastic-free, which they view as a significant advantage in reducing environmental impact. The discussion underscores the importance of sustainable packaging in eco-friendly products.

💡Laundry Strips

'Laundry strips' are the form in which True Earth's detergent is delivered. These strips are pre-measured and eliminate the need for liquid or powder detergents, which often come in plastic containers. The hosts mention that these strips were initially confusing for their family, but they appreciate the convenience and environmental benefits.

💡Fragrance-free

Fragrance-free refers to products that do not contain added scents. True Earth's laundry detergent is available in a fragrance-free option, which was noted by the hosts as a point of contention, as their family associates clean laundry with a pleasant smell. This discussion highlights how consumer expectations around scent can affect perceptions of product effectiveness.

💡EPA Safer Choice

The 'EPA Safer Choice' is a program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that certifies products that meet strict safety standards for human health and the environment. In the podcast, the host checks whether True Earth has this certification as part of their evaluation of the product's safety, indicating the importance of third-party validation in eco-friendly product choices.

💡Environmental Working Group (EWG)

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization that rates the safety of consumer products based on their ingredients. The host mentions using the EWG's database to check the safety rating of True Earth's detergent, which received a 'C' rating. This rating system helps consumers make informed decisions about the products they use.

💡Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic refers to products that are less likely to cause allergic reactions. True Earth's detergent is described as hypoallergenic, which makes it suitable for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies. This characteristic is particularly important in the context of eco-friendly products, which often aim to be safer for both people and the planet.

💡Product Review

A product review is an evaluation of a product based on its features, performance, and overall value. In the podcast, the hosts provide a detailed review of True Earth's laundry detergent, discussing its packaging, safety, ease of purchase, and family feedback. This review is a central part of the episode's content, aimed at helping listeners make informed purchasing decisions.

💡Ease of Purchase

Ease of purchase refers to how readily available a product is for consumers. The host mentions that True Earth was initially only available online but has become easier to find in local grocery stores. This factor is crucial for consumers who may need to restock products quickly, and it affects their willingness to adopt new, eco-friendly options.

Highlights

Introduction to the 'Green Wife Happy Life' podcast with hosts Pam and Rob discussing eco-friendly lifestyle choices.

Pam's intention to review an eco-friendly laundry detergent that her family uses regularly.

Rob's simple lifestyle and the family's large laundry needs due to their size.

Criteria for the product review include packaging, ease of purchase, health rating, and family feedback.

Introduction of the laundry detergent from True Earth, an eco-friendly brand.

Description of True Earth's packaging as a paper envelope, emphasizing its eco-friendliness.

Explanation of True Earth's laundry detergent as an ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic strip.

Pam's positive review of the packaging due to its paper material and minimalism.

Safety evaluation using the EPA's Safer Choice label and the Environmental Working Group's database.

True Earth not listed on the EPA's Safer Choice list, raising some concerns.

The Environmental Working Group rates True Earth's detergent as a 'C', which Pam accepts as average.

Discussion on the ease of purchasing True Earth detergent, now available in local grocery stores.

Family feedback indicates the detergent is fragrance-free and doesn't provide the expected 'clean' smell.

Rob's humorous critique of the detergent's lack of fragrance, suggesting it deserves an 'F'.

Pam's openness to trying out more eco-friendly products and her interest in reader suggestions.

Invitation for listeners to join the next episode for more product reviews.

Rob's playful contribution to the discussion, adding humor to the podcast's end.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey guys and welcome to this episode of

the green wife happy Life podcast where

I Pam the green wife and my husband Rob

who has a happy life to talk

about green things that I make my family

do and how we like them so just I like

to make super simple swaps perfect so in

this episode what I wanted to do is um

give you a review of a product okay that

I use all the time and uh it's a laundry

detergent which Rob probably knows a lot

about I'm a simple man in a simple life

got it okay right and a happy wife got

it okay who likees laundry detergent

well I mean we have a lot of laundry so

there were there were five of us now

there's four cuz one's a college but in

any case so what I want to do in this

product review is I want to cover a

couple of things just so you know like

what what I look for so I'm going to

tell you um obviously what it is a

little bit about it and then um I want

to talk about packaging I want to talk

about how easy it is to buy like wear

and I want to talk about like a health

sort of rating like a that you know a

third party rating if it's available and

then I want to know what my husband and

what my teenagers thought of it okay I

was wondering what I'm doing here right

that's your that's your job so okay so

the first laundry deter detergent that

I've tried is from a company called true

Earth and

it it's the first eco-friendly laundry

sorry sorry yes it's it's one of the

eco-friendly La laundry detergents that

I have tried so and again what I mean by

that I'm going to go over those things

so okay so true Earth is a company

that makes a laundry detergent that was

I think very confusing for my family at

first but it is in it it comes in a

paper envelope basically that is it

that's all the packaging so that's a for

me an eco-friendly it's not plastic it's

paper and that's it um and the laundry

detergent itself is this small strip of

basically laundry detergent um and the

company uh describes it as um a laundry

strip

that packs Ultra concentrated

hypoallergenic cleaning power into a

tiny pre measured strip of liquidless

laundry detergent so that was very

confusing for my family they're like I

was confused at first too they're like

perforated it looks like it looks like

paper so that's that's it so um

packaging wise I give it a big thumbs up

um safety wise I usually look at like

two resources I look at um the EPA has

it's called Uh safer for choice and they

put like a label on um products like

cleaning products and stuff that they

have sort of evaluated and only things

that meet their standards make it on the

list so um Dre Earth isn't listed in

their product list and I don't know if

that's cuz they never reviewed it um I

don't know how you tell if it's already

been through the process but and the

other one I use is did you know I do all

this with all of our products yes I do

okay I do now I do now and the other one

is I just use these as a guide because

I'm not a chemist I don't I don't know

and you know the I don't even know what

some of these terms mean to be honest so

um and the other is the environmental

working group they have a healthy

cleaner database where they go through

all sorts of testing and you can you

know take from it what you want but then

they give it a rating at the end okay so

this product true Earth they give it a c

so I'm okay with the c honestly cuz

there's so many things that are like FS

that I used to use so I'm okay with the

c AG great cuz we can't find a b or an A

we can but I wanted to try a whole bunch

of them I'm not satisfied with average

okay I

am just kidding oh that's so

mean I'm just kidding wow I'm the I'm

supposed to be the funny one okay anyway

so all right so packaging I think this

is a a thumbs up safety I guess you know

average I'm okay with average

um

um this one I used to only be able to

order online like for me uh that's about

a b in terms of of ease of purchasing

cuz I often forget that I'm out of

something and then I'll be in the store

and I'm be like oh I need to I need new

more laundry detergent and so I would

pick anything off the shelf cuz there

weren't a lot of healthy healthier

eco-friendlier options I mean there more

now like when you go shopping you're

sing exactly more what's next so no so

we're so so this one true Earth I have

been seeing at my local grocery store um

so it is um becoming a lot easier to

purchase so did you have any feedback on

this one when you did the

laundry no no okay I don't think they I

and I might be wrong if if this is one

of them but they don't smell like I

think of laundry smell that's my

critique yeah th right and that was so

this one is actually um fragrance free

yeah fragrance free yeah it smells like

it smells like nothing it also they also

come in uh let's see Fresh Linen and

yeah Fresh Linen that's the other St

well let's get Fresh Linen so so yeah so

um that was the biggest feedback from my

family is that it doesn't smell like our

clothes don't smell clean I think we're

so used to smell clean equaling good

smell that this was like oh they're not

clean but it's the fragrance and stuff

that that a lot of chemicals are used to

create the fragrance so that's the thing

so um so anyway so that is um the

feedback on this from from the family

and I will um you know leave uh links to

this product if you want to read more

about it like if you want to read about

the environmental working group um

evaluation and all the stuff that goes

into it again I just use it as a guide

um to kind of steer me in the right

Direction so and you can look up things

that you are are currently using and see

you know how they rate um safety wise

but um yeah so I'll leave links to that

if there's another product that you want

us to try out I love trying out stuff

that's eco-friendly um obscure things or

you know a lot of things that are new to

the market I love trying them out so and

so does Rob and it doesn't have to be

great it can just be average apparently

right I'll take a

see okay so that is it so um we will see

you guys on the on the next episode and

uh we'll be back with some more product

reviews all right talk to you wait you

want a joke oh oh wa yes I wanted to

contribute more to this discussion on

laundry detergents but I felt like my

hands were

tied I think T getes like an F I'm going

to give that an F all right all right

[Music]

bye