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r/Anticonsumption · u/Double_Engineer4226Aug 1, 2026, 10:39 AM

Laundry powder is disappearing

Powdered laundry detergent used to be the norm. It’s cheaper, easy to use, and comes in a recyclable box. Now look at the shelves in the supermarket. It’s all liquids in plastic bottles, unless you squat down to find the powders. The Super expensive pods are making a move from the top shelves too. This is corporations positioning their products to influence purchasing behaviour. They want you to buy the more expensive stuff. Just wait, soon powder will be discontinued, and the shelves will be filled with overpriced pods.

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Comments

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u/AtomizerKourosa594Aug 1, 2026, 10:40 AM
As it was with dishwasher powder...
- u/Flashy-Cranberry-999467Aug 1, 2026, 10:46 AM
  Biggest scam they ever pulled was convincing people that pouring the power into the machine was hard and we should use their overpriced pre-measured pods.
  - u/Traditional_Long_383265Aug 1, 2026, 10:55 AM3 replies
  - u/M1sfit_Jammer-7Aug 1, 2026, 10:59 AM1 reply
  - u/Zantac15030Aug 1, 2026, 11:05 AM1 reply
- u/Double_Engineer422646Aug 1, 2026, 10:50 AM
  Yes! It’s very hard to get dishwasher powder now, I think there is maybe two or three brands and not all stores stock them.
- u/[deleted]1Aug 1, 2026, 10:51 AM
  [removed]
- u/VirusInteresting79187Aug 1, 2026, 11:01 AM
  I know there is OceanSaver and Ecover in the UK that are better(?) than most, but i cannot recall the last time I saw dishwasher powder that wasn't a salt refill.
- u/[deleted]1Aug 1, 2026, 11:23 AM
  [removed]
- u/NotATreeJaca1Aug 1, 2026, 11:28 AM
  See powder doesn't work super great in my machine but gel does. Not pods lol
u/mage_irl69Aug 1, 2026, 10:43 AM
Still available everywhere in Germany, maybe check an Aldi if you have one nearby
- u/GodIsANarcissist18Aug 1, 2026, 11:15 AM
  I shop at Aldi in the US and the powders have gone from ours too :/
u/IIRCIreadthat117Aug 1, 2026, 10:45 AM
We get our powder from the local co-op. It's not even packaged, they have it in a giant bucket and you bring your own container and pay by weight.
- u/Double_Engineer422618Aug 1, 2026, 10:54 AM
  What’s a co-op? I see it mentioned now and then, but I don’t really know what it is.
  - u/PlayWhatYouWant-11Aug 1, 2026, 10:57 AM
  - u/MightyKrakyn30Aug 1, 2026, 10:58 AM1 reply
  - u/IIRCIreadthat16Aug 1, 2026, 11:04 AM1 reply
  - u/coinneach_stiubhard10Aug 1, 2026, 11:06 AM
u/TubeSockLover87264Aug 1, 2026, 10:46 AM
Powder all day. You can get huge tubs if nellies laundry powder from costco. Cascade powder for dishes is still widely available. Its amazing how much better the powders work, and also how much cleaner the machines stay.
- u/AshamedOfMyTypos1Aug 1, 2026, 11:23 AM
  And then we’re not paying to ship water around. So ridiculous.
- u/DevaOni1Aug 1, 2026, 11:31 AM
  and not everybody lives in a country that has a costco
u/RoughAddress-6Aug 1, 2026, 10:48 AM
Pod life
- u/mrayner91Aug 1, 2026, 10:50 AM
  Fr theres too many compartments on washing machines im not taking the risk 😆
- u/No_Pianist225011Aug 1, 2026, 10:51 AM
  The plastic in the pods will eventually kill the drain motor.
- u/Double_Engineer422614Aug 1, 2026, 10:52 AM
  They’re no good if you’re only doing a half load, or a really full load, though. How do you add half a pod? 1/4 of a pod? (Plus they’re ridiculously expensive)
u/CDavis1071714Aug 1, 2026, 10:51 AM
In the past powder laundry detergent contained pulverized nut shells to add inert bulk to it that washed away. Now, water is added as that bulk to the minimal amount of detergent that’s needed.
u/leafymans1Aug 1, 2026, 10:52 AM
Detergent sheets that come in cardboard packaging all the way!!!
- u/ParentheticalsAside13Aug 1, 2026, 10:56 AM
  Detergent sheet contain a tiny amount of detergent and don't provide enough for an effective wash. They're a scam that preys on people's desire to be eco friendly.
u/iamunwhaticisme11Aug 1, 2026, 10:53 AM
Can anyone elaborate on the subject? In my country, liquid forms are usually cheaper than powder and my wife says it's more practical.
- u/treedecor10Aug 1, 2026, 10:57 AM
  I'm not sure if liquid or powder works better, tbf. I think the big reason OP is upset is that in the US, powder is typically less expensive than the liquid and works just fine. You can get a big bag of powder that lasts a while for significantly less than the detergent, at least where I live
  - u/TheModWhoShaggedMe9Aug 1, 2026, 11:16 AM
- u/Double_Engineer422617Aug 1, 2026, 11:00 AM
  Here (Australia) liquid is about 30% more expensive per wash (depending on the brand). I also don’t find it more practical as I hate the way the bottle gets drips all over it, and I don’t like having to lift the big heavy bottle to pour it out into the lid, and then pour it again into the machine. I also don’t like carrying home the big heavy bottles of liquid either. My little tub of powder sits on the bench, I scoop up a scoop and stick it in the washing machine, couldn’t be easier. No mess. Plus I find powders clean clothes very well.
  - u/iamunwhaticisme5Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
- u/Real_RobinGoodfellow3Aug 1, 2026, 11:15 AM
  Liquid is way less efficient, by virtue of the, well, liquid added. So you get far fewer washes out of a bottle and therefore the packaging waste is much greater (plus as OP points out, the bottles are plastic- whereas powder would come in cardboard boxes). So it’s less efficient use of packaging x less-recyclable packaging = much worse outcome in terms of waste. That’s before getting to the fact that it’s almost always cheaper in a per-wash basis to use powder. For a similar reason, some low-waste folks use shampoo and conditioner bars rather than liquid. Or, bar soap versus liquid soap. Basically, it’s a whole lot more efficient to add the liquid (water) yourself, at home, rather than having that liquid pumped into packaging and shipped all over the place
u/wrongarms13Aug 1, 2026, 10:55 AM
I use the laundry sheets now, or powder, both sold in cardboard. They are the minority section amongst all this plastic waste. This makes me think if I could make my own. I'll look into it
- u/ParentheticalsAside16Aug 1, 2026, 11:03 AM
  Have you checked how much actual detergent your laundry sheets contain? Most don't have enough detergent in them for an effective wash, and are basically a scam that preys on people's desire to be eco friendly.
  - u/TheModWhoShaggedMe1Aug 1, 2026, 11:25 AM
  - u/seeking-jamaharon671Aug 1, 2026, 11:32 AM
u/AllstarGER0Aug 1, 2026, 10:56 AM
Guess what, it is the consumers fault. Market regulates.
u/butidrathernot250Aug 1, 2026, 11:00 AM
I hope that thanks to r/laundry, powder is having a resurgence. I didn’t even know that laundry powder existed until last year, and now I’m a total convert! The main draw for me is that it *works better* (but the frugality is nice too). Something to do with the active ingredients being better stored in the dry vs all intermixing with each other in liquid.
- u/AggressiveSherbetty1Aug 1, 2026, 11:26 AM
  It works SO much better
u/belchertina8Aug 1, 2026, 11:01 AM
And powder works so much better at actually cleaning clothes! I have to order mine online now since nobody carries it in stores. Pods and sheets are just plastic garbage that don't really do anything.
u/Hexnohope-1Aug 1, 2026, 11:02 AM
Tf is laundry powder?
- u/sallysalsal21Aug 1, 2026, 11:05 AM
  Laundry detergent in powder form instead of a liquid or pod
- u/ParentheticalsAside4Aug 1, 2026, 11:06 AM
  Tf do you imagine it is...?! The clue is in the name! 😂
u/No_Milk_41430Aug 1, 2026, 11:02 AM
I’m not a fan of the plastic in the pods but from a savings perspective, this is a low-yield priority for me. Say at 3 loads/ week for the family, switching from brand pods to powder only saves me about $8-33 per year. Liquid equates to even less savings.
- u/ParentheticalsAside4Aug 1, 2026, 11:12 AM
  The other benefit of powder is it offers greater flexibility in dosage. Pods contain a fixed quantity that might be more detergent than some washes really need, or not enough for others. Powers tend to be more effective than liquids because they keep certain ingredients separate until they're dissolved, so you can often use less powder than a liquid alternative, which adds to the saving. Does depend on the brand, though.
u/hautepotato25Aug 1, 2026, 11:02 AM
This is Australia isn’t it? I bloody hate it. Boxed powders are so much easier for me to store at home, recyclable packaging, lasts longer for me, and I’ve always preferred them. They also perform best in the Choice magazine testing. I’ll never be a liquid user as long as powder is available!
- u/Double_Engineer42267Aug 1, 2026, 11:05 AM
  Yes, Australia. And exactly! Cheaper and work better.
  - u/Real_RobinGoodfellow2Aug 1, 2026, 11:17 AM1 reply
u/MysteryBat3215Aug 1, 2026, 11:02 AM
This aisle has more powder soap than my supermarket has had for years. There’s literally 2 varieties and they are at the bottom hidden pretty well
- u/Real_RobinGoodfellow3Aug 1, 2026, 11:18 AM
  If you’re in the US, that’s probably because you’re just a few years ahead of us on this hell curve :(
u/BananeDionne2Aug 1, 2026, 11:03 AM
Don't you have refill station where you live? I'm from a small town but a few towns away there is a factory where they produce and sells bio cleaners and stuff. So you buy you first jug full of soap and then you come back with you jug only to refill it. I see it being more common in drug stores and I saw it in a few walmart.
- u/Double_Engineer42262Aug 1, 2026, 11:04 AM
  Not that I am aware of. Also, I have to be particular with washing powders as we all have sensitive skin.
  - u/Real_RobinGoodfellow1Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
u/nternet-explorer-6663Aug 1, 2026, 11:03 AM
This isn't new... And there's powder on the bottom shelf.
u/MoeBlacksBack5Aug 1, 2026, 11:03 AM
Dishwasher powder too . They must make more $$ on liquids
- u/faramaobscena1Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
  I looked for dishwasher powder in all the supermarkets here in Romania and couldn’t find any, it’s crazy! It’s all tablets here.
u/ElContador694Aug 1, 2026, 11:04 AM
I started making my own powder. It's ridiculously cheap and I like the natural smell of soap much more than any flower scent or whatever. Would definitely recommend making your own. I invest 1-2 hours every 3 or 4 months and that's it
- u/brookilini1Aug 1, 2026, 11:29 AM
  Can you please share the recipe? I make my laundry detergent but it’s liquid. Would love to try a powder and see the difference.
  
  Here’s the recipe I use: laundry detergent. I found it needs to be stored in a wide mouth glass jar with a lid to keep the consistency easy to use.
u/artgarfunkadelic3Aug 1, 2026, 11:05 AM
Bottom shelf, my guy
u/OGbake683Aug 1, 2026, 11:07 AM
Is there any brand that presses these powders into small tablet shapes?
- u/SmilingCosmos1Aug 1, 2026, 11:18 AM
  Blue land. It’s not the cheapest but it’s plastic free
u/garden_g5Aug 1, 2026, 11:07 AM
The ones with lipase are all thats needed
u/jf82042Aug 1, 2026, 11:10 AM
Don't know if my concern is legitimate, but I always assumed powders weren't ecological. I mean, they are like purple and really don't look like something I'd put into my river.
u/runski14263Aug 1, 2026, 11:12 AM
Sheets only these days.
- u/SmilingCosmos6Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
  Sheets are also plastic based
u/CamiloArturo4Aug 1, 2026, 11:13 AM
I do have to say I prefer liquid soap. It's easier to avoid waste. Plus, a big jug of liquid detergent usually lasts easily 6-8 months. It would be though a great idea if you could refill your jug instead of vilyying s new one though
u/Best-Hunt89173Aug 1, 2026, 11:15 AM
There seems to be less liquid options and more pods.
u/faramaobscena3Aug 1, 2026, 11:17 AM
There’s plenty of powder where I live (Romania), I hope this isn’t the trend because powder is so much cheaper and it works better for washing bed sheets
u/WhoaMimi3Aug 1, 2026, 11:18 AM
I just bought some at an Ollie's, a place many products go to die. I thought it was just an unpopular scent, but perhaps I'll stock up. I live in Metro Detroit, and Ariel (Mexican laundry detergent) is still available (and cheap) at big chains.
u/626eh4Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
Bunnings sells big boxes of laundry powder
u/krispy-leavez2Aug 1, 2026, 11:19 AM
Soap nuts are an eco friendly alternative that some people like to use
u/SmilingCosmos2Aug 1, 2026, 11:20 AM
I really like the blue land brand. It’s powder based and plastic free. It’s not as economical as the old powders but I feel like I’m doing my part where I can.
u/Sure_Acanthaceae_3481Aug 1, 2026, 11:22 AM
You can still make your own. If you have an old food processor laying around, give this a try.

https://www.sixfiguresunder.com/homemade-powdered-laundry-detergent-zote/
- u/brookilini1Aug 1, 2026, 11:32 AM
  Thanks for sharing. I am going to give this a try.
u/Repulsive_Chard_36521Aug 1, 2026, 11:22 AM
Probably a localized problem - powders are very popular where I live, almost as common as liquids. Pods never caught on here and are a minority in laundry detergent sections.
u/einat1621Aug 1, 2026, 11:23 AM
I don't think powder will be completely discontinued, but you might need to look for it more (either bottom shelf or specific stores). I'm currently using liquid I bought on sale a while back, but I use about a spoon per load, so it will take me forever to finish the bottle. I will never get pods. I will do everything I can from using that.
u/DubFistDaGlizzy1Aug 1, 2026, 11:24 AM
Yall are some culty people up in here Jesus 😂
u/Bostnfn1Aug 1, 2026, 11:25 AM
I use the sheets. Come in small boxes or pouches
u/Much-Jackfruit25991Aug 1, 2026, 11:25 AM
Oh no! I have to squat! Impossible! Jesus, reminds me of the whiny woman during Katrina or another Hurricane afterwards, who complained that the truck handing out emergency rations was half a mile away.
u/Throwaway_Turned1Aug 1, 2026, 11:26 AM
Amazon
u/MrPuddington22Aug 1, 2026, 11:27 AM
Liquid is more expensive to buy, but actually cheaper to make. So there is more profit -> it sits right in the middle. Powder is better for some applications, but not as profitable -> bottom shelf it is.
u/Turbulent_Diamond_771Aug 1, 2026, 11:28 AM
Target and Walmart always have powder where I live. As do most grocery stores just in smaller quantities. I personally don’t use it because it doesn’t always dissolve fully in my washer, in my old washer though it worked great and I used the Ariel brand.
u/Maladine1Aug 1, 2026, 11:28 AM
I had to go to 3 stores to find the powders necessary for "laundry stripping" and it was only washing soda, borax and powdered tide. I'm also so over everything being a turbo charged fragrance fest that triggers migraines.
u/Realistic-Upstairs-61Aug 1, 2026, 11:28 AM
I am able to get powder detergents from a company that rhymes with drove, and have been very happy with both products. The dishwashing detergent is a powder that is in a pod and the laundry detergent is from a woman owned company.
u/Reese99511Aug 1, 2026, 11:30 AM
I switched to laundry sheets and couldn’t get happier. There are multiple brands. I use Clean People and you can buy online. They aren’t cheap but there’s no plastic, they are natural and don’t have alot of the nasty ingredients liquid does.