A good laundry detergent can make all the difference. But if you’ve ever been down that aisle at the store, there are so many different kinds that it can be daunting to choose one sure to smell great and keep your clothing clean. It’s much easier to grab the first one you see, but with the best laundry detergents, your clothes will be stain-free and fresh-scented.
No one is a fan of doing chores. Actually, two-thirds of young adults dread doing laundry, a study shows. Two in three young Americans avoid wearing their favorite clothes because they don’t want to ruin them in the wash. With the right detergent, you don’t have to stress about doing damage to your favorite fit. High-quality detergents are gentle on fabric and won’t leave your clothing discolored or damaged.
There are benefits to doing laundry besides just cleaning your clothes. In fact, a new study finds just doing household tasks like the laundry can help older women live longer. Women who stick to that pesky to-do list and log just 30 minutes of housework a day may be adding years to their lives.
While there are a lot of detergents out there, it’s a consistent belief among experts that most, if not all, will do the desired job. Some do it better than others, but you likely won’t go terribly wrong with any one specific product. So, the search for the best comes down to personal preference, more often than not. To help you sift through and determine which detergent best suits your washing needs, StudyFinds set out to do the research for you, visiting 10 expert websites to put together this list of the best detergents recommended across the sites. If you have your own suggestions, please leave them in the comments below!
The List: Best Laundry Detergents, According to Experts
1. Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy 10x Duty Power
This detergent is a consistently high-ranking fan favorite. “With more than 7K rave reviews on Amazon, Tide’s Hygienic Clean Heavy 10X Duty Laundry Detergent Soap Pods are a mouthful, but so worth it. Formulated with 10 concentrated cleaning actives, this toss and tumble option is said to be 50% more effective at cleaning than Tide Liquid. Not to mention, it has that coveted scent,” says the New York Post.
Many detergents typically struggle to remove everything, but this one doesn’t. “It’s formulated to better penetrate into and between fibers to dissolve and remove body oils and other nasties you may not even be able to see,” adds Good Housekeeping.
2. Persil Pro Clean Stain Fighter
If you find yourself having to really get tough stains out, look no further. This product has specialized stain-fighting technology that also fights well against odors. “It topped our test of 42 formulas doing the best job erasing stains from all of our swatches in cold water. So, if you’ve switched to cold water washing to save energy, Persil is a great choice, and it carries our Good Housekeeping Seal. It totally zapped coffee and beaten egg yolk from all fabrics in all water temperatures,” says Good Housekeeping about their tests with it.
A little goes a long way for this product, too. So if you don’t want to keep heading back for more at the store, this one is for you. “The Persil ProClean is a very efficient laundry soap that can wash large loads of clothes with just a few drops. It offers premium cleaning with its strong concentrated formula, guaranteeing enough cleaning power for up to 4 months of laundry,” notes Gadget Review.
The New York Post agrees and says this product “is a standout from the rest as it contains odor-eliminating technology in addition to giving your clothes the deep clean they deserve.”
3. HEX Performance Laundry
This product not only fights stains well, but it leaves your clothes feeling soft and unwrinkled after each use, which not many others can say. “In addition to tackling stains, the Hex Performance Laundry Detergent left our laundered items feeling light and fluffy, with no stiffness,” says Real Simple.
The convenience and ease-of-use also keeps customers reaching back for it every time. “Because it’s concentrated, the container is on the smaller side, saving space and making it lighter and easier to lift than others,” adds Better Homes and Gardens.
The Spruce mentions in their review: “Overall, our tester would recommend HEX, noting, ‘It fights stains relatively well, it is in lightweight and compact packaging, and does not cost much more than average.'”
4. Gain Original Liquid Detergent
You can’t go wrong with Gain! It’s been a trusty detergent in homes for over 40 years for a reason. “If you’re looking for a reliable, no-frills laundry detergent, you can’t do much better than Gain. The brand’s Original Liquid Laundry Detergent demonstrated impressive stain-removing power, left garments looking and feeling good, and boasted a smell that we loved getting whiffs of while washing,” says Real Simple.
People are serious about that smell, it’s a big part of what people rave about. If you’re looking for a more subtle scent, this one might not be for you! “Reminiscent of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum, the scent is slightly sweet and fruity with nice florals mixed in,” adds Better Homes and Gardens.
5. Tide Pods
Laundry isn’t particularly the most fun activity, but there’s just something about throwing a pod or two in that makes it a little more bearable. Tide Pods knock out the inconvenience of measuring out liquid detergent, making things so much easier.
“Pods have many advantages over traditional liquid detergents. For starters, pods eliminate the need to measure and pour detergent—you’ll always use just the right amount. There’s also no need to worry about spills or drips or leaving the bottle precariously perched upside-down to get just one more load out of the bottle,” says The Spruce.
You might be concerned that you won’t get the best clean without using liquid, but that’s not a concern at all with this. “Tide Pods contains 90% active ingredients in each pack of detergent for 10x the cleaning power. Forget about buying anything else; each pod acts as a detergent, stain remover, and color protector, making this product extremely cost-efficient,” adds Gadget Review.
According to Better Homes and Gardens, “This Tide option landed on our list of best laundry detergents because of the 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.”
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Sources:
- Gadget Review
- The Spruce
- Better Homes and Gardens
- Real Simple
- Good Housekeeping
- New York Post
- Prevention
- New York Magazine
- Consumer Reports
- Gadget Review
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
What about all those chemicals that cause cancer? I didn’t see that mentioned. Check your facts!
I agree with Tammy. The ingredients in these detergents are also skin irritants and really bad for the environment. Also, not all of us are about the strong fragrance. Shyla definitely needs to do some research.