Best Overall
HEX Performance Laundry Detergent
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent4.5/5
- Effectiveness4.9/5
- Value5/5
- This effective stain fighter is also a space saver.
This effective stain fighter is also a space saver.
- There may be a slight chemical scent when you get really close to the product.
There may be a slight chemical scent when you get really close to the product.
Most of the detergents on our list weren’t able to fully remove any stains on their own, and while this liquid detergent didn’t wipe all of them out, it did manage to completely dissolve chocolate, wine, and foundation from different fabrics. This is a big win since not having to pretreat every single stain saves time and money.
Its effectiveness had no impact on the actual feel of the laundry—everything came out feeling light, unwrinkled (except for, understandably, the linen), and without leftover residue. Because it’s concentrated, the container is on the smaller side, saving space and making it lighter and easier to lift than others. Our tester pointed out that it was also easy to pour, likely due in part to the container’s size and shape.
The one con our tester noted was the scent: There is a slight chemical smell to the detergent and the laundered items. That said, it was fairly subtle and unnoticeable further than 6 inches away. If you’re particularly sensitive to scent, this product comes in an unscented formula as well.
Product Details: Type: Liquid | Scent: Scented and unscented | Number of Loads: 64 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / GRANT WEBSTER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / GRANT WEBSTER
Best Scented Pods
Tide Pods Spring Meadow Laundry Detergent
- Ease of Use5/5
- Feel4.8/5
- Scent5/5
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Value5/5
- This product is small, lightweight, and easy to use.
This product is small, lightweight, and easy to use.
- During testing, none of the stains were completely removed in the wash.
During testing, none of the stains were completely removed in the wash.
Laundry pods are undeniably convenient, partly because no measurements (or mess!) are required and partly because the container is lightweight, easy to lift, and clearly marked with directions in multiple places. (You can also easily decant the small pods into any number of canisters, bowls, or boxes.)
This Tide option landed on our list due to its best-selling Spring Meadow scent. It’s fresh, sweet, and not at all overpowering. It leaves clothes with just enough fragrance to make them smell extra clean.
Beyond that, Tide Pods compared similarly to other top performers. All the tested items (except for a towel) were softer than before washing. Our tester also pointed out that despite the shirts feeling like they had some sort of coating, they washed up to be residue-free.
Not unlike most of its competitors, all of the items we washed still had one or more stains visible to the naked eye, with the chocolate coming out the most. (It is worth noting, however, that these pods include a general stain remover.)
Product Details: Type: Pod | Scent: Yes | Number of Loads: 81 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Liquid
Tide Laundry Detergent
- Ease of Use3/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent4.8/5
- Effectiveness4.3/5
- Value4/5
- Items come out pretty clean, with a pleasantly clean scent to boot—plus, the box is refillable.
Items come out pretty clean, with a pleasantly clean scent to boot—plus, the box is refillable.
- There’s a learning curve to using the box and spout.
There’s a learning curve to using the box and spout.
As with all detergents, there are some areas where this product could use some work, but there are a lot of things it gets right. First and foremost is how clean it was able to get the materials—while none of them were completely free of stains, it removed not just the chocolate but also the oil and most of the wine and sauce stains without any pretreatment.
The scent was also a plus: It’s slightly sweet and floral yet subtle and doesn’t smell like chemicals or perfume. After drying, the scent went away and left the items simply smelling clean. Not only was there no residue or stiffness to the dried fabrics, but the towel ended up significantly more fluffy than other detergents left it.
Now for the drawback: the box itself. While we give it points for reusability and sustainability (refills are sold separately), the spout was a challenge. Several testers found themselves reading and re-reading the instructions before finding the perforated twist nozzle that they had to turn at a horizontal angle.
It was also tricky to dispense the right amount of liquid despite clear recommendations based on the load size and marks on the cap because the contents pour out quickly. Though as one tester said, “If you can pour a glass of wine from a box, you can probably handle the Tide in a box, too.”
Product Details: Type: Liquid | Scent: Yes | Number of Loads: 96 loads
- BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Scent
Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Ease of Use5/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent4.9/5
- Effectiveness4.8/5
- Value5/5
- This is an effective detergent at a great price.
This is an effective detergent at a great price.
- None of the items were completely stain-free after washing.
None of the items were completely stain-free after washing.
We’ll cut to the chase in explaining how this made our list. In the words of one tester, “The smell is phenomenal and the stain removing power was competitive.” So much so that they’re considering switching the detergent they’ve used throughout adulthood in favor of this one.
Reminiscent of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum, the scent is slightly sweet and fruity with nice florals mixed in. Ever the crowd pleaser, thanks to the Aroma Boost, you could still catch a good whiff of it after the materials were dry. Plus, all the items we tested came out clean, light, and fluffy, especially the towel—no residue or stiffness whatsoever. The linen and cotton textiles came out a bit wrinkled, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary.
When it came to stain removal sans pretreatment, the results were mixed—as they were for every detergent tested. In this case, chocolate was nearly or completely removed from the white tee, gray athletic shirt, and napkin. It also got rid of more wine and foundation than almost any other formula. However, grass, sauce, mud, and oil were still prevalent.
The last consideration was the ease of use, which it earned top marks for, with its clear instructions on the small, lightweight bottle and (literally) clear cap with visible measurements.
Product Details: Type: Liquid | Scent: Yes | Number of Loads: 90 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Pods
Gain Flings
- Ease of Use5/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent4.9/5
- Effectiveness4.7/5
- Value5/5
- This detergent delivers on performance and comes at a fair price.
This detergent delivers on performance and comes at a fair price.
- The scent is pretty subtle.
The scent is pretty subtle.
If you like the sound of our Tide Pods review but prefer something with a little less scent, Gain Flings is for you.
Gain Flings ranked similarly when it came to stains, feel, and ease of use (packaging for both was a small, lightweight plastic container). The price for Gain Flings was even a bit lower than Tide, coming in at 25 cents a load—the median cost for detergent overall, making it a good value.
When the tested items came out of the dryer, each one still had at least one stain remaining, though they were all less visible than they were before.
Overall, these pods performed equal to or better than the Tide Pods in our testing. In particular, Gain was able to get rid of more of the foundation stain, which was a struggle for almost all of the detergents we tested. None of the items picked up any residue or felt stiff or scratchy after laundering, and the towel was fluffier than it was before. Except for the linen washcloth, which was fairly wrinkled, the rest of the items came out only slightly wrinkled.
Fragrance, as mentioned before, is where there was more of a difference; while Tide Pods had a fresh, sweet scent that lingered post-wash, Gain Flings had a subtle scent but did leave the clothes smelling clean after washing.
Product Details: Type: Pod | Scent: Yes | Number of Loads: 112 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Natural
Molly's Suds Laundry Detergent Powder
- Ease of Use5/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent5/5
- Effectiveness4.7/5
- Value4.8/5
- It’s ideal for sensitive skin.
It’s ideal for sensitive skin.
- The product’s stain-fighting ability is nothing remarkable.
The product’s stain-fighting ability is nothing remarkable.
Many people argue that natural products aren’t as effective, but this one is proof that that’s not necessarily the case. The stain removal wasn’t overly successful (again, not uncommon), leaving the foundation, grass, mud, and oil while getting rid of the chocolate and wine.
This powder detergent is unscented, and while you can technically smell the borax if you get really close to the container, you’re otherwise in the clear—a huge plus for those with sensitivities to scented products. The all-natural ingredients also make this product ideal for those with sensitive skin.
After washing and drying various items with this detergent, none of the items had any leftover residue, and they all felt soft and pliable, especially the towel. Similar to the results with other products, the linen napkin had deep-set wrinkles, but unlike some of the other detergents, Molly’s Suds left the other fabrics wrinkle-free.
The packaging provides a great user experience. The lightweight, resealable bag has specific instructions on the back and a small scoop inside. One other thing that makes this one of the best laundry detergents? The price.
When you consider the value of an unscented and plant-derived formula, this product is a solid option. The ease of use is a big pro, too, adding even more to the value.
Product Details: Type: Powder | Scent: No | Number of Loads: 70 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / GRANT WEBSTER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / GRANT WEBSTER
Best for Sensitive Skin
All Free Clear Liquid 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Feel4.8/5
- Scent5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Value5/5
- It’s hypoallergenic, good at stain removal, and reasonably priced.
It’s hypoallergenic, good at stain removal, and reasonably priced.
- Since there’s no fragrance, it has a slight chemical scent.
Since there’s no fragrance, it has a slight chemical scent.
If you’ve ever put on freshly washed clothes only to end up covered in a rash, you know the importance of detergent for sensitive skin. This product’s formula is tough on stains, significantly lightening each one we tested (oil, mud, foundation, grass, sauce, and some of the wine) if not removing the stain completely (chocolate and some of the wine).
The results were impressive for no pretreatment. Aside from one slightly stiff shirt, all the other fabrics dried to be super soft. Along with the linen washcloth, the shirt was also a little wrinkly, which was a letdown but in no way a dealbreaker.
This hypoallergenic liquid formula is free of fragrance and dyes, but you’ll notice a slight chemical scent if you smell the liquid detergent up close. Part of this has to do with the concentrated formula, which also makes the container lightweight and easy to pour. And, bonus, smaller containers are also easier to store—no unsightly jug sitting atop the washer.
Not only did this detergent outperform other products, but at 16 cents per load, it was also significantly less expensive. While fragrance enthusiasts may be disappointed with the lack of scent, if that’s the worst con we can come up with, this formula has earned its spot on our list of best laundry detergents.
Product Details: Type: Liquid | Scent: No | Number of Loads: 110 loads
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Eco-Friendly
Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets
- Ease of Use4.3/5
- Feel5/5
- Scent4.9/5
- Effectiveness3.3/5
- Value3.5/5
- It has an upscale scent and is convenient for travel.
It has an upscale scent and is convenient for travel.
- You’ll need to use a separate pretreatment for stains.
You’ll need to use a separate pretreatment for stains.
So many of us are taking steps to become more eco-friendly, and finding a detergent that also reduces waste is an accessible way to do so. Instead of powder, pods, or liquid, this detergent comes in sheet form, making storage easier and more convenient.
Are you traveling and not sure if your vacation rental will have detergent? Will you be staying in a camper or perhaps even a cramped apartment? Just throw a couple of these in your bag. The cardboard container is recyclable and biodegradable, automatically reducing your carbon footprint without any effort.
On the container are directions outlining exactly how many sheets should be used based on the size of the load, plus descriptions of what each size load looks like so there’s no confusion (it’s common to use too much detergent). Let’s hear it for taking out the guesswork!
Where these laundry detergent sheets fell short is in stain removal sans pretreatment. Besides the chocolate, which was mostly removed, all the other stains were still clearly visible. Still, though, all the items came out delightfully soft without any kind of residue.
Coming out of the dryer, two items didn’t have any wrinkles, while the linen napkin had many, and there were some obvious ones on the white tee as well. All of the laundered items held the pleasant citrusy floral scent of the detergent, which doesn’t happen often. Given all the pros and cons, 27 cents a load seems like a fair price for a handy product.
Product Details: Type: Sheet | Scent: Scented and unscented | Number of Loads: 60 loads