Interested in the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box? Read my review, save $40, and enter a giveaway for the October 2020 box…
Hi, friends!
If you’re a loyal reader (or a loyal follower over on my Instagram), you’ve probably already heard me GUSH about Simply Earth.
I’ve been receiving their subscription box for the last couple of months.Read More »
A non-sponsored, thorough Dropps review. Does this non-toxic laundry detergent really work? Direct comparison to Tide…
Okay, guys, here it is! My Dropps review, featuring their non-toxic laundry detergent and wool dryer balls!
I usually write and schedule my posts out a bit, but since I shared my purchase of these pods on my IG stories, I’ve had so many messages requesting this Dropps review and asking when the heck I’m going to post it that I’ve decided to go ahead and push it up to today!
Before I go into my Dropps review, I want to mention that this is a non-sponsored post. I paid for all of these products myself with my own money so I could try them out and give you guys an honest review (which I ALWAYS do), but this way I can directly compare Dropps laundry detergent to other name brand products and mention direct price points, and how other products compare to this new brand we’re trying out.
Sometimes with sponsored posts, brands don’t want you to mention other brands at all, and I like my freedom, y’all.
So, here it is. I’m covering everything.
In this post, I’m talking about why we chose to go with this brand, pricing differences, cleaning and drying performance, and my honest thoughts on these products.
*This post may contain affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own, as always!*
We’ve been wanting to try Dropps for several months now after hearing about it on Instagram. I have been on a journey to live a less toxic life with our young family, and have really enjoyed trying out new non-toxic products.
Like last week, when I shared my review of a non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner that I absolutely fell in love with.
Today’s non-toxic cleaning options are really surprising and pleasing! I feel like this is finally the right time to start trying and introducing effective, non-toxic cleaning products into our lives.
Here’s everything I ordered:
Stay tuned for the dish detergent pods review! I failed to check how many dishwashing pods we had before I ordered everything, so I have plenty of dishwasher tabs to use up before I can even get to these dish detergent pods, but as soon as I have the opportunity to try these out and review them for you guys, I will.
For this review, I’m featuring the laundry pods and wool dryer balls in my experience and will be highlighting the benefits that drew me to wanting to try this brand’s products.
I personally loved the packaging that Dropps came in, and appreciated the built-in child safety lock the boxes contained. My 9-year-old could still get into the box of pods if he wanted to, but my toddler would not be able to. With everyone having to worry about their kids popping pods in their mouths these days, that’s a safety measure this mom applauds Dropps taking…*claps enthusiastically*.
Not that I have that particular problem, but it’s super important, and the thought really means a lot!
The boxes are also 100% recyclable and compostable. If you’re concerned about our nation’s recycling and environmental waste, this should make you very happy considering roughly 68% of plastic jugs and pod containers from other brands are not recycled and end up contributing around 275 tons of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and waterways each year… (source)
At first, this lack of plastic was a bit of a concern for me.
I know, I know. I can sense your eye roll from this side of the screen…
My boxes came within another box, and I get that there are multiple layers of cardboard protecting the pods, but these pods are designed to only get wet in the washing machine. I immediately wondered what happens if my subscription box gets wet and all my pods leak or stick together?
But on their website, this topic is covered under the FAQ section and requires you to submit a picture of your damaged product along with the lot number and order number (if you still have them), and an estimate of how many salvageable pods you still have. See that question and answer here on their website.
I think that’s pretty reasonable!
I know, you’re curious about the pod membrane, aren’t you? I know I was.
Dropps’ pod membrane (what forms the pod that holds the detergent) is a water-soluble, biodegradable film made up of polyvinyl alcohol which breaks down when it comes into contact with water. Microorganisms in our water systems break down the polyvinyl alcohol into water and carbon dioxide.
Dropps does not have a leg up necessarily when it comes to the membrane makeup, though, as all laundry pod membranes are made up of polyvinyl alcohol, even Tide pods.
Alright, let’s break down laundry costs…
You’ll have to pardon the rough math, but I’m just trying to put the costs into the small terms we should all be looking at like cost per pod, cost per load of laundry, and cost of laundry per year with this pod versus that pod.
Is this 100% accurate? Nope. But it gives you a rough idea of what laundry is costing you per pod, per load, and per year.
I typically use Tide. I grew up using Tide, and have always loved the smell and how clean it makes our clothes feel. But with having to use two pods per wash cycle, I cringe every time I had to restart a load of laundry…the container goes so fast!
Cost is also extremely important to our family, as we are currently expecting baby #3 and back to school shopping is right around the corner, along with Christmas, all of our winter month birthdays, and let’s face it, life throws some crazy curve balls that we like to be financially prepared for ;).
I’m going to break down the cost of each pod and load of laundry, Tide vs. Dropps, and use sale/subscription pricing to give them both the benefit of the doubt.
For reference, we hardly ever run a small load of laundry. As a family of four, we use two laundry pods per larger load of laundry, as you should according to all laundry pod instructions.
So here’s how Dropps and Tide compares, cost-wise:
Our usual Tide 73-count pods cost 21.99 on sale (reg. 24.99)…
Tide cost: $0.30 per pod, or $0.60 per large load (two pods).
Tide Pods would cost about $0.34 per pod and $0.68 per load regularly priced.
Dropps family size subscription includes 210 pods that cost $40 with the subscription ($50 without a subscription)…
Dropps cost: $0.19 per pod or $0.38 per large load of laundry (two pods).
Dropps Pods would cost about $0.24 per pod and $0.48 per load without subscription pricing.
So with Dropps laundry pods, I’m saving about $0.22 per large load of laundry.
Realistically, I do 5 loads of laundry per week (that number includes the load or two that I forget about and have to restart the next day with new pods). 52 weeks in a year x 5 loads of laundry per week = 260 loads of laundry in a year.
Here are the annual costs of Tide laundry pods vs. Dropps laundry pods:
Tide yearly cost: 260 loads of laundry x $0.60 =$156.00 per year
Dropps yearly cost: 260 loads of laundry x $0.38 = $98.80 per year
That means with Dropps, I’m saving $57.20 on laundry detergent per year. I like that number – with that, I can fill my kids’ stockings for Christmas!
Dropps laundry pods are marketed as a non-toxic and plastic-free laundry detergent option that is gentle on skin and the environment. EWG rated their ‘Clean’ scented pods a ‘B’ in 2016, which is the most recent rating and grade.
To put this rating into perspective, let’s take a look at Tide’s Original Pods EWG rating for the most current year, which also happens to be 2016:
If your argument is that I’m not taking their sensitive Free & Gentle version into account for fairness, then here is that EWG rating as well:
Dropps wins by a landslide in the EWG rating department!
Here are some of the main points that led me to want to try Dropps laundry pods:
They…
Our biggest reason for wanting to switch laundry detergents is both of my sons’ sensitive skin. They both rash easily, and one of my boys’ has a skin condition called Dermographia, which accelerates even the smallest bug bite or rash.
Even the scented versions of Dropps laundry detergent are supposed to be gentle for skin, although Dropps does offer a non-scented sensitive version as well.
Dropps laundry pods are not meant to be placed in the liquid detergent well and should be placed in the bottom of the washer drum before any clothes are loaded in. Each box of laundry pods comes with a cold water pouch where pods can be placed before putting clothes into the washer, though know that they don’t have to be. The cold water pouch helps keeps the pouches fully submerged in the water for machines that are more efficient and use less water for the best washing cycle and outcome.
However, you can just drop your Dropps right in the washer drum if you wish!
Here are the ingredients for the laundry pods I’m featuring, which are the lavender eucalyptus pods, taken directly from the Dropps website for accuracy:
“Alcohols C12-13 ethoxylated* (cleaning agent), Laureth Sulfate*(cleaning agent), Glycerine* (solvent), Propylene glycol* (solvent), Water, Triethanolamine oleate* (cleaning agent), Sodium formate* (buffering agent), Subtilisin* (cleaning enzyme), FWA-1 (optical brightener), Ampha-amylase* (cleaning enzyme), Butylated hydroxytoluene* (cleaning enzyme), lavender* (lavendula augustifolia) (natural essential oil), lavandin* (lavandula hybrida ) (natural essential oil), corn mint* (mentha arvensis) (natural essential oil), and eucalpytus* (eucalyptus globulus leaf) (natural essential oil), polyvinyl alcohol film (PVA) with bittering agent (synthetic water-soluble film). *Denotes plant or mineral origin.” – Source
I ordered the lavender eucalyptus scent for our family, which are lightly scented with natural essential oils. Other detergents use chemicals to fragrance their laundry detergent pods, whereas Dropps uses natural essential oils and botanical extracts.
That being said, our clothes came out smelling clean, but not very scented. I honestly wasn’t expecting them to smell super perfumy though, given the lack of fragrance chemicals in their ingredients. Overall, I wasn’t disappointed because I knew a naturally scented product isn’t crazy strong and so I didn’t expect it to be.
Again, for reference, we use two pods per load of laundry because we run large loads of laundry as a busy family of four.
I was very pleased with how clean our clothes were. It was confusing at first, because, to be honest, I correlate the scent of our clean clothes with how clean they are. I’m used to pulling clothes out of the washer with a strong perfumed smell that tells me they’re ‘clean’. With Dropps, I didn’t get that, so I immediately brought them to my nose before tossing them in the dryer to see if they still smelled dirty.
They didn’t stink like sweat, dirt, and outdoor play. They smelled clean, as I mentioned above, just not CRAZY STRONG like before when we used Tide pods.
My boys haven’t randomly broken out in a rash. Can I say that Tide was causing skin issues for our kids? No, I’m just speculating at this point. But I don’t think it was helping their already sensitive skin.
These laundry pods are designed to be compatible with all machines.
Dropps encourages its consumers to wash clothing in cold water. Hot water has been shown to decrease detergent effectiveness, and almost instantly dissolves laundry pods in the drum.
Almost all of the energy your washing machine puts out (around 90%!) goes into just heating your water for your wash cycle.
Dropps XL wool dryer balls are made with 100% premium New Zealand wool. This is special to note because New Zealand farmers have to meet certain standards for their sheep regarding cruelty-free practices and environmental sustainability. New Zealand sheep have their wool removed in a pain-free practice and are able to graze happily and comfortably for their entire lives.
Dropps 3-pack of wool dryer balls come with a white ball, a gray ball, and a black ball.
WHITE: use with light loads
GRAY: use with mixed loads
BLACK: use with dark loads
I’ve debated switching to wool dryer balls for about 2-3 years now. I just haven’t taken the plunge until now. But there are plenty of advantages and benefits to using wool dryer balls…
Did you know that most commercial dryer sheets contain fragrance ingredients that contain more harmful ingredients than toxic kitchen and bathroom cleaners, and can even disrupt your hormones? Dryer sheets ingredients are also not fully disclosed to consumers. (source)
So while wool dryer balls aren’t beautifully scented like your favorite dryer sheets, they are also completely free of toxic chemicals and harmful ingredients that you probably don’t even know are there in your dryer sheets!
If you’re craving some scent to your laundry though, feel free to add some undiluted essential oil drops to your dryer balls.
Don’t be shy when adding your essential oils, either. I tried following their instructions to add just ‘a few’ drops, but saw no improvement in scent, and am now trying several drops of both lavender and eucalyptus.
Now, let’s talk about savings with dryer sheets versus Dropps wool dryer balls...
We typically use Bounce dryer sheets at $9.29 for 200 sheets.
Dryer sheets cost us $0.05 per regular load of laundry or $0.10 per super large or bulky load of laundry.
Dropps wool dryer balls 3-pack sells for $20, meaning each ball costs $6.67 in the set. Each dryer ball lasts for up to 1000 dryer cycles (which amounts to about 2-4 years).
Dropps wool dryer balls cost $0.00667 per load – that’s less than a penny!
Over the course of a year, considering the earlier 260 load estimate per year I mentioned for our family of four, Bounce would cost us $13 per year (with only one sheet per load) while Dropps would cost us $1.73 per year.
That’s a savings of around $11.26 per year.
We’ll also be saving money on our gas bill because wool dryer balls reduce drying time up to 50%, although I haven’t found a way to calculate that and include it in our annual savings here for this post.
Wool dryer balls are EWG-approved and recommended, while commercial fabric softeners aren’t recommended (see the EWG’s recommendations of fabric softeners here).
Here is Bounce’s dryer sheets EWG rating, current as of 2016:
I will let the rating speak for itself.
I have never used anything other than dryer sheets. I’m used to tossing a new dryer sheet in with each load.
Getting used to removing the clothes from the washer and leaving the ball in the dryer is new for me and there have definitely been a few times I have piled everything into a laundry basket and brought the load upstairs, dryer ball and all ;).
Overall, I love the convenience of tossing in a wool dryer ball and the fact that there are three different balls for the different types of loads we wash.
Short answer: Yes!
Long answer: I had my doubts and was very skeptical about their performance, but I had high hopes given all the reading and research I’ve done on them. I really didn’t think anything would match up to how soft our dryer sheets made our clothes feel and be able to help with wrinkles.
But I was pleasantly surprised.
With our dryer sheets, I relied on them to help smooth out wrinkles and soften our clothes. I never really noticed or expected them to provide scent after pulling them out of the dryer. So I’m not really missing anything in the scent department when it comes to the wool dryer balls.
I’m still figuring out how many drops of essential oils to drop onto the balls to provide a scent, but I’m happy with their performance overall in terms of drying time (I’m able to cut our dryer cycle down by at least 10-15 minutes so far), wrinkle care, softness, cost, and convenience.
As I covered earlier in this post, we’re saving around $57 per year using Dropps laundry detergent pods and $11 using the wool dryer balls.
DRYER BALLS: $11.26
LAUNDRY PODS: +$57.20 =
PER YEAR SAVINGS: $68.46
In total, Dropps saves us roughly $68.46 per year.
Next year, with three kids, one of them being a newborn, we’ll be doing more loads of laundry, which means even more overall savings.
Have you tried Dropps, or are you thinking about trying it? Was there anything I missed from my Dropps review that you wish was included? Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to pin this for later!
Post published August 2019, updated October 2020.
Are you on the fence about purchasing a Lily Jade diaper bag? Read my full Lily Jade Shaylee diaper bag review to see if it’s the right fit for you, learn how to set up the backpack strap, and what sets Lily Jade apart from other diaper bags…
Hi friends and #slayathomebabes! I’m so excited to share today’s post, in partnership with Lily Jade, because I finally have the chance to tell you guys that I found THE BEST DIAPER BAG EVER, hands down.
In the last three years, I’ve gone through five total diaper bags. I’ve been on the hunt for a backpack diaper bag that works with my on-the-go schedule and can be worn for hours on end. I’ve been deeply disappointed in the past by bags that look cute and seem worth the chunk of change I spent, but have uncomfortable straps, not enough pockets, or have fallen apart at the seams.
All that has changed now, and I’m so happy to be able to share my new Shaylee bag from Lily Jade with you…
First off, let me just say that this bag is incredible. It fits my frame perfectly, holds everything I could ever want or need in it, and I love how organized it is inside.
I should’ve done my research and just gotten this one from the start.
It puts all of my other bags to shame. I imagine my old bags have collected themselves in the corner of my closet, quietly sobbing together as they realize I’ve moved onto something better…
When it comes to diaper bags, backpack diaper bags are my favorite. They are easier to carry and allow you to get things done hands and arms free!
Since having my little wild child (isn’t the second child always the crazy one?), I have to have my hands free so I can catch him. He loves running away from me – especially when we’re in public or near traffic. I wish I was kidding. I won’t even entertain the idea of buying a diaper bag that doesn’t have straps so I can wear it like a backpack now that I have an insane toddler to chase after.
I need my hands to be free so I can scoop him up when he tries to escape. With this diaper bag, I can do #allthethings.
I wanted to add in this post, if you are a petite mom like I am, and are worried about how large this bag is or would be on your frame – don’t fret! I can tell you as a 5′ tall, size 0 slender woman that this bag does not disappoint.
Other Lily Jade styles, like the Meggan or Elizabeth, are larger and may not fit your petite frame as well as the Shaylee will.
The Shaylee diaper bag from Lily Jade is spacious, and it is one of their smaller bags – so if you have a petite frame, or don’t want to lug around a large diaper bag, this one is perfect for you!
The Shaylee is super lightweight and is comfortable to carry around for hours. I take it with me when we are out at the park, clothes shopping for the boys, or walking through apple orchards together! It goes everywhere with me.
You can get this beautiful bag in camel (like mine!), black, galena (silver), brandy (deep brown), black, blush, or gray!
The interior of the Shaylee bag is so spacious! The insert makes it possible to keep everything totally organized, which is great because after having two kids, I know all about how crazy the inside of a diaper bag can get. Especially when you’re constantly on the go like we are!
Inside every Lily Jade bag is an insert that can be taken in and out.
The jade-colored insert is not only removable but washable as well. With 12 large pockets, it has room to store everything you need for a newborn up to a toddler and beyond.
Past the baby phase and don’t need the extra pockets as much as you need the extra room? Take it out!
I’m able to store Jax’s clothes, mascara, numerous snacks for both boys, diapers, wipes, a Lily Jade changing pad, my wallet, and a few extra toys to keep my toddler entertained in my Shaylee.
With both a 3-year-old and a 9-year-old who are both going through growth spurts, the extra room for snacks is great!
I love this interior key clip – I secure my keys on this clip so they don’t get travel to the bottom of the bag! It’s just another way my Lily Jade bag keeps me organized and hassle-free.
Also included with every Lily Jade diaper bag is a beautiful jade changing pad. This soft and cushiony pad is great to use in public restrooms when you need to change your baby. Just unfold it, use, and roll it back up to stash back in your Shaylee.
You can use the extra long strap that comes with your Lily Jade bag to transform it into either a messenger bag or a backpack style bag.
Here’s a video from Lily Jade that shows how to turn your beautiful leather bag into a backpack diaper bag:
This bag is so comfortable! Wear it as a messenger bag, shoulder tote, or as a backpack.
For me personally, I love wearing my Shaylee like a backpack. Wearing my Shaylee with the tote handles is just as comfortable, though.
Some other ‘high-end’ diaper bags use a sand and stamp method to make their leather bags look and seem soft and to be of higher quality. This helps them sell lower grade leather for higher prices.
Lily Jade doesn’t skimp on quality when it comes to their leather – they tumble their full-grain leather to bring out its natural texture!
They also tuck in the leather on their bag’s handles, straps, and pocket edges so that you don’t have edge paint that will wear and crack over time.
Reinforced stitching ensures this bag will last! That’s a great feeling to have when you know that you’ll be using this bag for years and years to come.
Price range: $$$
When you have a baby or a young family, cost can be a huge factor. No one gets that more than I do. I’m always trying to figure out a way to do things on the cheap so my family and I can live better. But if I added up all the money over the years that I’ve spent on other diaper bags, I could pay for this bag twice over.
Lily Jade bags are made to last. Not just a stylish diaper bag, the Shaylee has endless uses, wears, and possibilities. They are well worth the price for the comfort, durability, and style that they offer. They’re made to get you through the early newborn days, the terrible twos and threes, and countless mom’s-night-out’s with your friends!
Lily Jade also backs up their bags with a 1-year warranty that you can read about here.
If you’re dying for a quality bag from Lily Jade but can’t afford the cost up front, Lily Jade does offer a payment plan option!
I’m madly in love with this bag. I can’t recommend it enough, and can honestly say that I’m so sad to have wasted so much time, money, and closet space with my other bags. Nothing compares to the quality, durability, wearability, style, and comfort that the Shaylee provides.
P.S. I recently did a Lily Jade VS. Fawn Design diaper bag review on Youtube that you can check out below…
