I tried Dropps eco-friendly laundry detergent pods - they cost the same as brand-name detergents and perform just as well

• Dropps are eco-responsible laundry detergent pods that come in biodegradable pods and compostable cardboard boxes.
• Formulas are plant-based and free of dyes, fillers, and colorants. Some are lightly scented with natural essential oils.
• I used Dropps for weeks, and they performed like traditional options with the added benefit of not cutting corners on safe ingredients or eco-conscious design hacks. If you're interested in trying, you can find them on Amazon and Dropps.

Ideally, the household laundry detergent is a renaissance man. It's tasked with effectively removing stains, preserving the integrity of clothes, and leaving behind no residue. On top of that, it should smell great.

Dropps, a company that makes eco-friendly laundry detergent pods, delivers on these standard needs. Plus, it exists in the sweet spot between sustainability, convenience, and cost.

Its pods are biodegradable, and once the film dissolves in the washer and enters the water stream, the company says that micro-organisms that commonly exist in nature break down the remaining key ingredients, including synthetic ones like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). You'll see plant-based ingredients and natural essential oils used for the scented options. You won't see any dye or colorants ever. And they don't test on animals. Dropps will also be delivered to you in recyclable, repulpable, compostable cardboard packaging.

Dropps offers laundry detergent pods in pretty much every variety, scented or unscented: standard laundry detergent pods, pods made for small loads, pods made for sensitive skin, pods for baby laundry, scent boosters and fabric softener pods, oxi booster pods, and bestseller bundles. They also make dish detergent pods, odor defense spray, and laundry bags and dryer balls.

You can find them on Dropps, or shop the Dropps Amazon store directly for all the perks of an Amazon membership. Prices range from $15 (50-count) to about $30 (160-count) depending on the formula and how many washes it covers. (For reference, Amazon's Choice for Tide Pods is about the same at $0.25 per load). You can also save up to 20% by subscribing, and the Dropps site offers free shipping.

I tested the Dropps Stain & Odor Pods in Clean Scent ($20, 56 loads) and Small Loads Sensitive Skin Pods ($25, 100 loads) in 15 loads of laundry and was pleasantly surprised. My clothes came out clean, smelled fresh, and felt soft to the touch. Dropps performed well on food stains, daily grime, and dirt, and on a variety of materials: denim, cotton, flannel, and nylon among them. The clean scent wasn't overwhelming, but it did linger after the wash. If you don't want to smell fragrance after washing, you should buy unscented.

In terms of dirt and stain removal, Dropps performs as well as traditional options, though marginally less than the strongest on the market, according to Wirecutter. For the perks of a safe, relatively eco-responsible product, though, I didn't have to compromise on performance.

Dropps products meet the EPA's Safer Choice standards, which are designed to enforce stringent human and environmental health criteria. When designing new products, the company uses the program as its gold standard.

According to Dropps, 68% of traditional liquid laundry detergent bottles are not recycled and contribute to approximately 606 billion pounds of plastic that ends up in our oceans annually. By using a biodegradable pod and zero plastic, the company aims to reduce plastic consumption by not encouraging any to begin with.

Though Dropps' eco-friendly ethos and descriptions like "eco-responsible laundry detergent" have the ring of a 21st century startup, the company has been around in some form for decades. Seven years before the introduction of Tide Pods, Dropps pods were released as a more eco-friendly alternative. In 2017, they were awarded the EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year title for outstanding achievement in formulation and product manufacturing.

Dropps has managed to create powerful laundry detergents that are convenient and cost-effective. For consumers concerned about planet earth and with a budget, it's a win-win-win. If you're looking for a guilt-free option that performs like the standard stuff you've been using, this is a good option.

Shop Dropps directly on Dropps or Amazon