Smol and other laundry detergent subscriptions: are they worth trying?

Subscriptions for everyday essentials such as laundry detergent, pet food and fresh vegetables are a convenient way to make sure you never run out of necessities. They’re also perfect for having bulky items delivered straight to your door, saving you time and effort.

Brands such as Bower Collective, Tallow + Ash, Smol and Splosh position themselves as a greener alternative to conventional supermarket products, with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly packaging.

While these companies offer a range of household items, including cleaning sprays and dishwasher tablets, here we focus specifically on their laundry detergent offerings and how they compare.

Read our guide to the best and worst laundry detergents to find out which brands were the best at banishing stains in Which? lab tests

Laundry subscriptions at a glance

Smol

Price comparison

• 24 bio or non-bio laundry tablets £6 (one per wash, 25p per wash).
• 2 x 500ml bio or non-bio laundry liquid £12.50 (50 washes, 25p per wash)
• Available from Smol.

Smol laundry capsules can be popped into your wash in just the same way as regular detergent tablets. Bio and non-bio tabs are available.

Capsules from bigger brands - such as Ariel's The Big One pods - can cost up to 55p per wash, whereas a supermarket own-brand powder detergent like Aldi's Almat Bio costs just 10p per wash. So, while Smol is on the cheaper side for a laundry tablet, it's not the thriftiest option.

Smol's 'free' trial also isn't technically free (you'll have to pay £1 to cover postage), but you can try it out with nine capsules delivered to your door.

How often you'll receive a new pack depends on how many washes you do each week and how many capsules you use per wash. One capsule is suitable for most washes, although Smol recommends using two for heavily soiled loads, larger drums or in hard water areas. You can pause, bring forward or change your deliveries at any time.

You don't need to be at home to receive your order, as each pack is posted in a slim box designed to fit through a standard letterbox.

Green claims

• Plastic-free, FSC-certified recyclable cardboard packaging.
• Vegan, cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny approved.
• Full life cycle from production to delivery produces 35% less carbon than bigger brands.
• B Corp-certified

Smol says all of its cardboard and paper packaging is made from FSC-certified materials and is fully recyclable. The company says an independent life cycle assessment found its laundry capsules produce 35% less carbon over their lifetime than leading supermarket brands.

Its products are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, suitable for vegans, and the company is B Corp-certified, meaning it meets independently assessed standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

In addition to laundry capsules and liquid detergent, Smol also offers fabric conditioner, dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, cleaning sprays and other household cleaning products through its subscription service.

How well does it clean?

We haven't tested Smol laundry capsules or dishwasher tablets recently, but you can see what consumers think of Smol according to a Which? survey.

Cut your laundry costs by £184 this year: see what cost savings you can make with a few quick and easy changes

Splosh

Price comparison

• 430g fragranced non-bio laundry powder tin £8.35 (22 washes, 38p per wash)
• 430g fragranced non-bio laundry powder refill £8.98 if you subscribe (22 washes, 41p per wash), or £9.98 for a one-time purchase (22 washes, 45p per wash)
• 1.72kg fragranced non-bio laundry powder SuperSize refill £17.93 if you subscribe (88 washes, 20p per wash), or £19.92 for a one-time purchase (88 washes, 23p per wash)
• 10% off most products when bought on a subscription.
• Available from Splosh.

Splosh retails slightly higher than Smol and Bower Collective, with its laundry powder costing between 38p and 45p per wash. 

However, bigger Splosh SuperSize non-bio refills are available to buy for between £17.93 and £19.92, with one box containing enough powder to top up your tin four times – equivalent to 88 washes. This means your price per wash goes down to between 20p and 23p.

Splosh doesn't sell liquid detergent, and it has a smaller catalogue of scents and products for its laundry powder than some brands. But it does sell laundry stain remover and fabric conditioner, dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, shampoo and hand wash, so you can get all your cleaning products delivered regularly. You also have the option to buy empty bottles and tins for future refilling.

Green claims

• Empties can be sent back to Splosh to be reused.
• Cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and septic tank-safe.

Splosh says its concentrated laundry powder is manufactured at its factory in Wales and supplied in recyclable cardboard packaging, eliminating the need for plastic detergent bottles.

The company says it sources ingredients from the UK where possible and that its direct-to-consumer model helps reduce unnecessary transport and packaging. As with Smol and Bower Collective, Splosh says it does not test its products or ingredients on animals.

How well does it clean?

We haven't tested any Splosh products recently.

Bower Collective

Price comparison

• 1L fragrance-free refill £6.29 if you subscribe (30 washes, 21p per wash), or £7.86 for a one-time purchase (30 washes, 26p per wash).
• 5L fragranced refill £28.99 if you subscribe (150 washes, 19p per wash), or £36.24 for a one-time purchase (150 washes, 24p per wash).
• 1kg Bio-D Concentrated Washing Powder £5.59 if you subscribe (33 washes, 17p per wash), or £6.58 for a one-time purchase (33 washes, 20p per wash).
• Available from Bower Collective.

Bower Collective's non-bio laundry liquids are pricier than many supermarket brand non-bios when bought as a one-off. They're similar in price-per-wash to Ariel, Fairy and Persil liquid detergents. Scents include lavender, orange blossom and fresh linen, although fragrance-free versions are available.

Bower Collective also sells a reusable one-litre PET bottle for £5.99 for your liquid refills, as well as a 1kg Bio-D washing powder (Bower Collective's non-bio detergent) for £5.59.

It also sells lots of cleaning products, including dishwashing liquid, plus a variety of personal care items and kitchen accessories such as bamboo kitchen roll, eco cleaning brushes and cloths, most of which can be included in your subscription.

Green claims

• Made using ethically sourced, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients in the UK.
• Refill pouches reduce plastic waste.
• B Corp-certified
• Empty refills can be sent back to be reused.

Bower Collective says its laundry products are made with plant-based ingredients and are manufactured in the UK where possible to help reduce transport emissions. 

Through its Return, Refill, Repeat scheme, customers can return empty refill pouches free of charge. It says that the reusable pouches are cleaned, sterilised and refilled, while those that can't be reused are recycled into new products.

Bower Collective also partners with the Marine Conservation Society, with purchases helping to support its work protecting and restoring UK marine habitats.

Like Smol, the company is additionally B Corp-certified.

How well does it clean?

We haven't tested Bower Collective products recently.

Seven easy ways to get fresh-smelling laundry

Tallow + Ash

Price comparison

• 2 x 800ml The Laundry Duo fragranced laundry shampoo and conditioner Set £11.70 if you subscribe (26 washes, 45p per wash when using both products together), or £12.99 for a one-time purchase (26 washes, 50p per wash when using both products together).
• 2 x 700ml fragranced laundry shampoo refills £12.49 both if you subscribe and for a one-time purchase (48 washes, 26p per wash).
• First subscription orders include free shipping and a complimentary discovery set.
• Available from Tallow + Ash.

Tallow + Ash calls its liquid detergent and softener 'laundry shampoo' and 'laundry conditioner'. You can typically only buy these products as a set of one shampoo and one conditioner in a range of scents (although there's no unscented option). If you don't mind which scent you get, you can opt for a Mystery Laundry Duo which sends you a randomised set for a slight discount.

The products are designed to be used together, with the shampoo cleaning clothes and the conditioner softening fabrics and providing scent.

Most sets are also available to buy as 700ml refills of either one shampoo and one conditioner, or two shampoos.

Subscriptions can be tailored to how often you do your laundry, with deliveries available as frequently as twice a month or every other month.

Green claims

• Made with plant-based, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.
• Uses biodegradable ingredients that break down naturally after use.
• Formulated without harsh chemicals and described as non-toxic.
• Recyclable packaging.

Tallow + Ash says its laundry shampoo and conditioner are made with plant-based, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients using what it calls 'clean chemistry'.

The formulas are biodegradable and free from phosphates, phthalates, microplastics, dyes and harsh biological enzymes, while the bottles are made from 100% recyclable HDPE plastic and are designed to be reused with refill pouches.

The company also says its products work effectively at lower washing temperatures, which can help reduce energy consumption, and are safe for septic tanks and aquatic life when used as directed.

Tallow + Ash says it is working towards both Leaping Bunny and Vegan Society certifications.

How well does it clean?

We haven't tested Tallow + Ash products recently.

Find out more about green cleaning brands in Green brands: how sustainable really are they?