11 Best Laundry Detergents to Buy in 2022, According to Testing

Our top picks: ; Best Overall Laundry Detergent. Hygienic Clean Heavy 10x Duty Power PODS Tide ; Best Overall Liquid Laundry Detergent. ProClean + ... 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WeupdatedthisstoryinMay2022toselectanewBestOveralllaundrydetergent,addrecommendationsforbestsmellingandsensitiveskindetergentsandreplacesoldoutordiscontinuedproductswithnewerformulationsbasedonmorerecentGoodHousekeepingCleaningLabtests.Wealsoincludedinformationabouthowtomeasuredetergentcorrectlyandthesafeuseofdetergentpackets.Ifthere'sonethingwe'velearnedaboutlaundrydetergentsinallouryearsoftestingthematGoodHousekeeping,it'sthatnodetergentgetsouteverything,buteverydetergentgetsoutsomething.Knowinghowtodolaundrytherightwaycanbechallengingandalwaysgettingcleanresultsisn'tguaranteed.That'swhylaundrydetergentsaresomeofthemostfrequentlytestedproductsintheGoodHousekeepingInstituteCleaningLab.It'stheonecleaningessentialthatvirtuallyeveryoneusesandthere'salwaysaconstantstreamofnewonescomingourway.Alllaundrydetergentsclaimtoremovestains,whiten,brightencolorsandgenerallyjustbe"newandimproved,"soit'sdifficulttoknowwhichreallyworkbest.That'swhyweputthemthrougharigorousgamutoftestsinourLab.Afterstainingcotton,polyesterandblendedfabricswith20commonbuthard-to-removestains,likebloodandink,wewashtheswatchesinourtestdetergentsinhot,warmandcoldwater.Afterdrying,eachstainontheswatchisgivenaremovalgradewhenviewedunderstandardlightingandwecalculateanoverallscoreforeachdetergent.Hereareourtoplaundrydetergentpickstotackleeverykindofmessandforeverykindofload,basedonourtesting.Ourtoppicks: BestOverallLaundryDetergent HygienicCleanHeavy10xDutyPowerPODS Tide $19ATAMAZON ReadMore $19ATAMAZON BestOverallLiquidLaundryDetergent ProClean+StainFighterLiquidLaundryDetergent Persil $6ATAMAZON ReadMore $6ATAMAZON BestOverallPowderLaundryDetergent PlusBleachPowderLaundryDetergent Tide+ $18ATAMAZON ReadMore $18ATAMAZON BestValueLaundryDetergent UltraCleanLiquidLaundryDetergent KirklandSignature $21ATCOSTCO ReadMore $21ATCOSTCO BestLaundryDetergentPackswithOxiBleach ProCleanDiscsLaundryDetergentPacs+Oxi Persil $13ATAMAZON ReadMore $13ATAMAZON BestLaundryDetergentforSensitiveSkin HygienicCleanHeavyDuty10xPowerPODSFreeLaundryDetergent Tide $21ATAMAZON ReadMore $21ATAMAZON BestSmellingLaundryDetergent EverydayLaundryDetergent Safely $14ATWALMART ReadMore $14ATWALMART BestLaundryDetergentforDarkColors AllDarksLiquidLaundryDetergent Woolite $15ATAMAZON ReadMore $15ATAMAZON BestLaundryDetergentforBabies NewbornLiquidBabyLaundryDetergent Dreft $20ATAMAZON ReadMore $20ATAMAZON BestPlant-BasedLiquidLaundryDetergent BotanicalsPlant-BasedLaundryDetergent Gain $14ATAMAZON ReadMore $14ATAMAZON LoadMore ShowLess Advertisement-ContinueReadingBelow BestOverallLaundryDetergent HygienicCleanHeavy10xDutyPowerPODS P&G Tide $19ATAMAZON $29ATWALMART Cleansawaydirtyoucan'tsee BiggerPODSaregreatforbigloads Whitenswithoutbleach PODSmaybetoolargeforverysmallloads Believeitornot,eventhebestdetergentsmaynotcompletelyremoveallthebodysoilsandstainstrappeddeepwithinitemsinyourwashload.Sotheclothingandbeddingthatlookstotallyclean,maynotbe.That'swhereGoodHousekeepingSealstarTideHygienicCleancomesin.It'sformulatedtobetterpenetrateintoandbetweenfiberstodissolveandremovebodyoilsandothersnastiesyoumaynotevenbeabletosee.Toprovethatitworks,wehadaconsultwiththemanufacturerwhereaUVlightwasusedtoshowthatTideHygienicCleanleftclothingcleanerthanregulardetergent.Inourownat-hometests,whitet-shirtsandbeddingwashedinthisTideemergedwhiterthanusual,withouttheneedforbleach.ThesejumboPowerPods(withmorecleaningingredientsthantworegularPods)didanamazingjobzappingstainsfromourLabtestswatchesandareagreatchoiceforfamilieswithlotsofbigloadsoflaundrytodo.Costperlargeload:48cents BestOverallLiquidLaundryDetergent ProClean+StainFighterLiquidLaundryDetergent Henkel Persil Now25%off $6ATAMAZON $16ATWALMART Worksgreatincoldwater Excellentstainremovalperformance Hasastrongscent Moreexpensivethanothers Ifyoupreferliquiddetergent,PersilProCleanStainFighterwon'tdisappoint.Ittoppedourtestof42formulasdoingthebestjoberasingstainsfromallofourswatchesincoldwater.So,ifyou'veswitchedtocoldwaterwashingtosaveenergy,Persilisagreatchoice,anditcarriesourGoodHousekeepingSeal.Ittotallyzappedcoffeeandbeateneggyolkfromallfabricsinallwatertemperatures.Costpermediumload:41cents BestOverallPowderLaundryDetergent PlusBleachPowderLaundryDetergent P&G Tide+ $18ATAMAZON $28ATWALMART Formulaincludeswhitenersandcolorbrighteners Removesstainswellanddissolvesincoldwater Powderscanspilleasilyandclumpnearmoisture Ifyou'reapowderdetergentdiehard,there'snobeatingTide+PlusBleachPowder.Inourtests,itworkedjustaswellcleaningourcottontestswatchesincoldwaterasitdidinwarmwhichalsohelpeditearnourGoodHousekeepingSeal.Tide+PlusBleachincludesacolor-safebleachandanactivatingingredienttohelpgetandkeepyourwhitesandcolorsbrighterwitheverycycle.Itdoesnotcontainchlorinebleachsoit'ssafeforwashablefabricsandcolors.Thispowderisformulatedtoworkanddissolveinbothtraditionalandhighefficiencywashingmachinesandinourtestsitdid.Costpermediumload:34cents BestValueLaundryDetergent UltraCleanLiquidLaundryDetergent Costco KirklandSignature $21ATCOSTCO Inexpensive Workswellincoldwater Requiresmembershiptobuy Moreexpensivefromothernon-membershipretailers Ifyouarelookingtobuyahard-workingdetergentatagreatvalue,Costco'sKirklandbrandisagreatchoice.Inourmostrecentlaundrydetergenttest,ittiedforfirstplaceatgettingthemoststainsoutofpolyesterincoldwater.Italsodidmuchbetterthanmostonremovingtea(asurprisinglytoughstaintogetout!)frombothcottonandpolyesterfabricswatches.Theextralargejugcanbelaidonitssideonacounterforeasydispensingintothemeasuringcap.WhilethisKirklanddetergentisavailableonAmazonwithoutaCostcomembership,itissignificantlymoreexpensivethere.Costpermediumload:14cents BestLaundryDetergentPackswithOxiBleach ProCleanDiscsLaundryDetergentPacs+Oxi Henkel Persil Now13%off $13ATAMAZON $13ATWALMART Removesstainswithoutpretreating Brightenscolorsandwhites Well-priced Tubwasabitdifficulttoopenwhennew Awinnerinthelaundrycategoryinour2021GoodHousekeepingCleaningAwards,PersilProcleanDiscs+Oxiscoredatopspotamongthedetergentsthatwetested.NotonlydiditperformwellonourLab-stainedswatches,butitwasafavoritewithourconsumerpanelaswell.OnetesterexclaimedthatitremoveddriedberryandgrassstainswithoutpretreatingandanothersaidshewasswitchingtoPersilfromherregularbrand.Thecolorfuldiscsdissolveeasilyinallwatertemperaturesandtheoxicomponentissafetouseoncolorsandwhites.Costpermediumload:32cents BestLaundryDetergentforSensitiveSkin HygienicCleanHeavyDuty10xPowerPODSFreeLaundryDetergent P&G Tide $21ATAMAZON $23ATWALMART Excellentstainremovalperformance Veryconvenienttouse Cleansdeeply PODSmaybetoolargeforverysmallloads Makingadetergentthat'ssafeforthosewithsensitiveskinisaboutmorethanjustremovingthedyesandfragrances.Ithastocleanwell,too,toremovehiddensoilsthatcanalsoirritateandinflamedelicateskin.Tide'sPowerPodsFreedoboth.Awinnerforcleaningandstainremovalinour2021GoodHousekeepingCleaningAwards,thisTidedetergentbeatoutalltheotherdetergentswetestedinremovingstainslikeketchup,redwineandgrass.Thefactthatit'sgentleonskinandrecognizedbytheNationalPsoriasisFoundationandtheNationalEczemaAssociationprovidemakeagreatchoiceforthosewithsensitiveskin.Andliketheregularversion,thesejumbopackscanhandlejumboloads.Costperlargeload:45cents BestSmellingLaundryDetergent EverydayLaundryDetergent Safely Safely $14ATWALMART Fabulousscent Cleanswell Easytomeasureandstore Capneedsrinsingafteruse Bottlemadefromonly10%post-consumerrecycledplastic JustlookingattheSafelylaundrydetergentbottle—partofKrisJenner'snewcleaningline—tellsyouit'ssomethingdifferent,andonceyouopenthecapandtakeasniff,you'llknowit'ssomethingdifferent.Whilewehaven'tyetdoneourusualbatteryofstaintestsonSafely,sofarweareimpressedwithhowit'scleanedtheloadsoflaundrywehavedone.Butmostnoticeableisit'samazingscent."Spring"isalightfloralscentwithnotesoforange,jasmineandgeraniumwithwoodsyundertones.It'scrispandnaturalsmelling,notheavyorartificial.Andwelikethatitleavesclothingsmellingclean,freshandohsolightlyscented—notoverlyperfumed—evenoutofthedryer.Onlinereviewersraveaboutit,andanewscent"Calm"isjustlaunching.Wealsolikethetall,slimeasy-to-storebottleandtheoutercapthatdoublesasaclearly-markedmeasuringcup.Aftermeasuringoutyourdose,though,thecapwillneedrinsingtokeepthebottlefromgettingdrippy.Costpersmallload:35cents BestLaundryDetergentforDarkColors AllDarksLiquidLaundryDetergent RB Woolite Now15%off $15ATAMAZON $15ATWALMART Worksforalldelicateandsturdyfabrics Well-priced Won'ttackletoughstainsaswellasothers Nothingisasdisappointingasseeingyourfavoritepairofblackjeansturnafadedgrayafterjustafewwashes.Thebestwaytopreventthatfromhappeningistowashtheminsideout,incoldwaterandwithacolor-preservingdetergent,likeWooliteAllDarks.Itsspecialformulapullscolor-fadingmetalandchlorineionsfromthewashwater,smoothsroughfibersandseversthepillsthatcanmakefabricslookoldbeforetheirtime.Woolite'sneutralformularemoveslighteverydaysoilsfromallfabricsandisaGHCleaningLabfavoriteforcleaningandprotectingdelicatefabricsanddarkcolorsfromtheabrasiveeffectsofwashing.Andconsumersagree.WooliteAllDarkshasover3,200five-starAmazonreviews!Costpermediumload:23cents BestLaundryDetergentforBabies NewbornLiquidBabyLaundryDetergent P&G Dreft $20ATAMAZON Removesstainswell Gentleondelicateskin Comesinmultipleformulastouseaskidsgrow Containsfragrance Babieshavesensitiveskinthatneedstobeprotected,butboy,cantheymakestains!That'swhynewparentsneedadetergentthat'saneffectivecleaner,butdoesn'tleaveharshresiduesbehind,andDreftisatraditionalfavorite.Itcontainsenzymestoeffectivelyremoveproteinstains,likeformula(orpoop!).InGHCleaningLabtests,itcleanedandremovedstainsaswellastraditionaladultdetergents.Andthecleanerclothesare,thelessirritatingtheyareondelicateskin.Plus,Dreft'shypoallergenicformulameansnoskinirritatingresidueswillbeleftbehind.Ifyourchild'sskinissupersensitiveandyoupreferadetergentwithoutfragrance,considertheplant-basedandfragrance-freeversion,DreftPureGentlenessLiquidDetergent.Costpermediumload:31cents BestPlant-BasedLiquidLaundryDetergent BotanicalsPlant-BasedLaundryDetergent P&G Gain $14ATAMAZON 65%plant-basedformula Comesintwouniquescents Madewithoutdyes Scentmaybetoostrongforsome GainBotanicalstoppedourtestwithitsplant-basedformula,provingyoudon'thavetocompromisecleaningtodogoodfortheenvironment.Itwastheonlydetergenttoremoveteacompletelyfromeachstainswatchwetested,anditdidconsistentlywellamongallotherstains.ThisGainformulaisaUSDACertifiedBiobasedProductwith65%ofitsformulacomingfromplant-basedingredients.Welovethetranslucentcapthatmakesmeasuringsoeasy,plus,itcomesintheuniquescentsoforangeblossomvanillaandwhitetealavenderthatoneexpertcalled"heavenly!"Costpermediumload:26cents BestPlant-BasedLaundryDetergentPacks Free&ClearLaundryDetergentPacks SeventhGeneration SeventhGeneration $13ATWALMART $35ATTRACTORSUPPLYCO Madewithoutdyesandperfumes EPASaferChoicecertified USDA-Certified94%BiobasedProduct Requiresaseparateadditivetobrightenwhitesandcolors SeventhGenerationLaundryPackstoppedourstainremovaltestswhenwewashedcottonfabricswatchesinhotwater.Itwastheonlydetergenttocompletelyremovetheoilstainoutofcotton,adifficultfeattoaccomplish!Andthesepowderpacksarewithoutscentordye,sotheyareworthconsideringforthosewhopreferadetergentwithoutaddedfragrance.WeapplaudSeventhGenerationforlistingtheentireingredientlistonthepackagefortransparency.ThisformulaisEPASaferChoicecertifiedanda94%USDA-CertifiedBiobasedProduct.Andifyoulikeusingasingle-dosedetergent,thesepacksarepowder—notliquid—sotheywon'tburstopenaseasilyandcouldbesaferinhomeswithkids.Costpermediumload:28cents Howwetestlaundrydetergents JodhairaRodriguez/GoodHousekeeping Foreverynewlaundrydetergentwetest,wefirstreviewthelabelingforthethoroughnessofthedirections,howmuchisrecommendedtouseformedium,largeandheavilysoiledloadsandwhetheritcontainstherequiredsafetylabelingcautionsrequiredbylawbasedontheingredients.Foranyclaimswecan'ttestintheLab,weaskthemanufacturerstosupplyuswithsupportdocumentationthatwereview.Wethenapplyabatteryof20carefullymeasuredstains(includinggrease,coffee,wineandmore)towhitecottonandpolyesterwovenandknitfabricsandallowthestainstosetfor24hoursbeforewewashthem.Injustourlasttestof42detergents,weappliedandratedover2,500stains!Thenextday,theswatchesarewashedintop-andfront-loadingwashingmachinesinhot,warmorcoldwaterwithseventoeightpoundsofadditionalitemsliketowels,t-shirts,sheetsandpillowcasestosimulateanactualat-homeload.Weaddintheamountofdetergentrecommendedonthelabelforaloadwithheavysoilandrunthecycle.Whenit'sdone,weremovetheswatchandallowittoairdry.Then,wetakethefabrictoaspecialdarkgradingroomwhere—understandardindustrylighting—wegradetheremovalofeachofthe20stainsonaonetofiveindustryscale(wherefiveiscompleteremovalandoneisnoremoval).Wealsohaveaspectrophotometerthatallowsustomeasuretheamountofeachstainleftbehindonthefabricafterwashingandcalculateasoilremovalscore.Finally,wenotehowneatandeasythedetergentistodispense,theamountofsudsitproducesandifitleavesanynoticeableresiduebehindonourtestloadsorinourmachines. Whattypeoflaundrydetergentcleansbest? CarolynForte/GoodHousekeeping Thereareadvantagesanddisadvantagestoeachtype.Whichformyouchoosewilldependonpersonalpreferenceandwhichyoufindmostconvenienttouseandmosteffectivebasedonthebrandandthetypesoflaundryloadsyoudo.Here'sourtakeonthethreemostpopularformsoflaundrydetergent—powder,liquidandsingle-usepacks.✔️Powderdetergentwasthefirsttypeoflaundrydetergent,anditistypicallycheapercomparedtoitsliquidandsingle-dosecounterparts.Detergentsinthiscategorytendtoperformwellonoutdoorstainslikemud,clayorgrass,soit'sgreatforlittleones'socceruniformsandyourgardeningclothes.Keepinmind:Powdermustbestoredinacompletelydryareatoavoidclumping.Alsonotethatifyoulikewashingincoldwater,somepowdersmaynotdissolvecompletelyandasaresult,unwantedresiduemaysettleonyourclothing.✔️Liquiddetergentperformsparticularlywellonoilandgreasestains.Conveniently,itcanbeusedasaspotpre-treater,andyou'llneverhavetoworryaboutitnotdissolving.Don'tforgettousethecorrectamount,though:Thelinesonthemeasuringcapsarethereforareason!Toomuchwillcauseover-sudsing,orthesoapmaynotrinseoutwhenthecycleisover.Toolittle,yourclotheswon'tgetclean.Trustus:Yougetbetterresultswhenyouusetherecommendedamount.✔️Single-dosepacketsareveryconvenientbutonaverage,costalittlemore.Youdon'thavetoworryaboutusingtoolittleortoomuchdetergentasitisalreadypre-measuredwitheitherliquidorpowderdetergent.Usually,onepackisrecommendedforaverage-sizeloadsandtwopacksforlargeorheavilysoiledloads.Onepackmaybetoomuchforverysmallloads,andyouneverwanttobreakthem.Keepinmind:Somepackshavetroubledissolvinginsomemachines,especiallyatlowerwatertemperatures,somakesureyouaddthepacksbeforeaddingtheclothes.Somenewermachinesnowhavesectionsinthedispenserdrawerjustforthesepacketssotheydissolvebetterinlesswater.SafetyNote:Makesureyoustoreyoursingle-uselaundrypacketsintheiroriginalcontainersandawayfromchildren,petsandanyoneelsewhocouldbeatriskofingestingthemorusingthemforanythingotherthanlaundry.Forsafetyreasons,wedon'trecommendplacingpacketsinunmarkeddecorativejarstoleaveondisplayinyourlaundryareaandwon'trecommendanyliquidsingle-dosedetergentsthatdon'tcomeinchild-resistantpackagingwithappropriatesafestorageandusedirections. Howmuchlaundrydetergenttouse Ourruleofthumbistostartwiththerecommendationsonthedetergentlabel.Manufacturersformulatedetergentsdifferently,sotheamountyouuseforonebrandmaynotbeadequateforanother.Mostdetergentdirectionsincludedosagerecommendationsformediumorregularloadsandforlargeorheavily-soiledloads.Youalsohavetofactorinthesizeofyourwashingmachine'stub.Amediumloadmeansdryclothesfillthetubhalfway,alargeloadfillsit3/4ofthewayandafullloadfillsthetubbutstillallowstheitemstomovefreely.Neveroverstufforcramaloadin.It'sbettertodotwoloads.Bottomline:Alwaysmeasure!Neverjustpourliquidsorpowdersin.Addmoreforextralargeandextradirtyloadsorifyourwaterisespeciallyhard. WhytrustGoodHousekeeping? CarolynFortéisaconsumerproductsexpertwithover40yearsofexperience.Withabackgroundintextilesandyearsoftestingbothlaundrydetergentsandlaundryappliances,sheknowsathingortwoaboutgettingstainsout.FortéisExecutiveDirectorofGoodHousekeeping'sHomeAppliance&CleaningLab,writesthemonthly"InsidetheGHCleaningLab"adviceandtipscolumn,hasauthorednumeroushomecareandcleaningbooksandisthefirstpersonGHstafferscomeseewhenthey'vedribbledsomelunchontheirshirts! CarolynForté,GoodHousekeepingInstitute ExecutiveDirector,HomeCare&CleaningLab CarolynForté,aconsumerproductsexpert,istheexecutivedirectoroftheHomeCare&CleaningLabattheGoodHousekeepingInstitute,wheresheoverseesalltesting,researchandeditorialproductioninvolvingcleaningappliancesandproducts,likevacuumcleaners,dishwashers,detergentsandmore. 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