The Best Laundry Detergents in 2022 for Spotless Clothes
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Tide Boost Duo Pac In-wash Booster, 37 ct Laundry Detergent -
WIN Laundry Detergent -
Puracy Liquid Laundry Detergent -
Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent -
Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Plus Bleach Alternative, Original Scent -
ARM & HAMMER Liquid Laundry Detergent -
Tide White Plus Laundry Detergent Powder -
All Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free Clear With Odor Relief -
Woolite Everyday, Laundry Detergent, Mega Value Pack, 2.96 L, With Colour Renew -
Grab Green Natural Bleach Alternative Pods, Unscented/Free & Clear, 60 Loads, Non-Chlorine Bleach, Fragrance Free -
Henkel Persil Color Megaperls -
Shout Color Catcher Dye-Trapping Detergent -
Clorox 2 Stain Stain Remover and Color Booster, Free & Clear, 66 Fluid Ounces -
Buyer's Guide
It seems like the days when we wear that favorite white piece of clothing, we end up with a big stain of some sort on it by the end of the day. It’s then you look down and wonder if you’ll ever get your favorite garment clean enough to wear in public again. Finding a great detergent specific to white attire is sometimes hard to find, but there are a few out there that can get the job done and rid of those stains better than the rest of their competitors.
We've put together a list of what we think are some of the top detergents on the market. These products were chosen based on their ability to get rid of stains on attire in as little as one cycle. They’re safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines, and these picks can be used with all types of fabrics so you won’t have to worry about damaging clothing.
Grab Green Natural Bleach Alternative Pods, Unscented/Free & Clear, 60 Loads, Non-Chlorine Bleach, Fragrance Free
Our Take: The Top Ten Laundry Detergents
Tide Boost Duo Pac In-wash Booster, 37 ct Laundry Detergent - Best Laundry Detergent Overall
Found to be more effective than chlorine bleach-based detergents, Tide Boost Stain Release Plus Bleach detergent comes in highly concentrated, prepackaged sacs with a dissolvable lining. Simply throw these mess free sacs into your washing machine prior to starting your load and that’s it. Each sac contains the active cleansing enzymes needed to attack the stains on clothing in just one wash cycle. Even though this product is safe for use on colors, it’s mostly sought out for its whitening abilities. This pick is formulated to be less harsh on your clothing during the wash since it doesn’t contain chlorine bleach.
WIN Laundry Detergent - Best for Activewear
The WIN Laundry Detergent is designed specifically for activewear because it can get rid of odor from synthetic and microfiber fabrics. It will brighten colors and also restore cloth that has been stretched. It will also enhance the elasticity of sportswear including compression socks, compression sleeves, and sports bras. You can choose from a fragrance free or a lightly scented option, depending on your preference. It comes in a recycled plastic bottle, and the company does not test their product on animals. The low pH formula ensures that the texture of your sportswear remains intact. 32 and 64 ounce bottles are available.
Puracy Liquid Laundry Detergent - Best Quality
You might be shocked to learn that a 24-ounce container in a two-pack gives 192 loads total or 96 loads for each bottle. You only need a small amount of detergent per load to wash the clothes. It's also free of sulfate, chlorine, and other hazardous ingredients, making it ideal for sensitive skin and allergies. It's particularly good for you if you experience rashes or itching from typical detergent products.
It contains plant-based substances that may be used on all types of clothing, including delicate. If you're looking for something that will leave your clothes smelling beautiful without being overpowering, this is the best option. It's safe to use in HE machines, and it works on any washable cloth in either cold or hot water.
Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent - Best Ingredients
Want to take your washing routine to the next level? This super-concentrated laundry powder is made with natural ingredients that are completely biodegradable and non-toxic — making it safe for your family and the environment. It is perfectly ideal for activewear and sensitive skin. With 2,8pounds capacity, you will be able to use this detergent for over 90 loads without any issues whatsoever. And, on top of everything mentioned above, this specific laundry detergent is also vegan and cruelty free - how amazing is that?
Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Plus Bleach Alternative, Original Scent - Most Reliable
Tide Vivid White Plus Bright Original Scent detergent is another great alternative to using a chlorine bleach-based detergent. Phosphate-free and made with biodegradable soaps that are safe for septic systems, this product uses strong active enzymes to break down the grime on your attire during each wash. With this detergent it only takes one full cycle for clothing articles to come out looking their cleanest. While this pick is safe to use for color laundry loads, it’s targeted towards customers looking to whiten their whites. Tide is also mindful of the environment as they this product comes in packaging made with recycled plastics.
ARM & HAMMER Liquid Laundry Detergent - Honorable Mention
Safe for use in standard and high efficiency washing machines, Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Concentrate Plus Oxiclean is a product dedicated to helping you get your whites looking the best they in just one wash. This new and improved formula now includes the cleaning agent Oxiclean and has been proven to break down even the most determined of stains without damaging your attire in the process. Oxiclean, is America’s number one stain fighter so you can rest easy knowing your clothes are getting the very best treatment available once the wash gets going. For those who like to have an added scent to their laundry loads, this pick comes in three different smells including fresh scent, cool breeze, and clean meadow.
Tide White Plus Laundry Detergent Powder - Consider
Tide Ultra Vivid White Plus Bright Plus Bleach is a powdered laundry detergent with many of the same benefits as its liquid counterpart, but is somewhat easier to use in terms of reducing messes. This detergent is a fantastic alternative to using a chlorine bleach product, because it’s active ingredients are much gentler on your clothes during the wash cycle. Tide Ultra White has been credited with being one of the best laundry detergents out there for brightening whites and also keeping colored clothing safe as opposed to competitors with rougher cleaning agents. If you are someone that prefers to use a powdered detergent, look no further than this one.
All Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free Clear With Odor Relief - Best Laundry Detergent for Whites
All Ultra Free Clear Oxi Laundry Detergent has drastically improved their formula over recent years to include the Oxi cleaning agent that works as both a pre-wash and during-wash treatment for stains on your white clothing. This detergent is known for efficiently getting rid of tough stains without damaging clothing in the wash; in fact this detergent even has clothes come out a touch softer than they went in. This is a liquid product that comes with a pourable spout so adding it to your laundry load prior to each wash is easy and convenient. Additionally, this pick has been rated as the number one choice by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians for use by individuals who have sensitive skin.
Woolite Everyday, Laundry Detergent, Mega Value Pack, 2.96 L, With Colour Renew - Best Laundry Detergent for Colors
Woolite Darks Laundry detergent is one of the few options specifically designed for dark colored clothing washes, being extremely effective in removing all of the dirt and grime that your clothes may pick up from your busy days. The detergents potent formula prevents fading and shrinking during a load but is also gentle enough to keep your clothing items looking fresh even after 20 washes. It’s worth noting there aren’t any harsh chemicals or additives in Woolite Darks formula and it’s safe for use in all types of washing machines. This pick simply does a fantastic job of keeping your colored garments looking vivid and new.
Grab Green Natural Bleach Alternative Pods, Unscented/Free & Clear, 60 Loads, Non-Chlorine Bleach, Fragrance Free - Best Laundry Detergent for Colors
Oxo Brite Color Safe laundry detergent utilizes a safe, non-chlorine bleach that’s effective for use on both white and color garments. It excels at removing a wide variety of stains and dirt while deodorizing and brightening up your colored items. This detergent is fairly gentle on laundry loads, making it ideal if you have clothes you want to last longer without the colors dulling dull or looking worn out after just a few washes. Additionally, it also functions as a fantastic pre-soak (up to six hours) for extra-soiled clothes that need to be worked on a little more prior to a wash. Like our other picks, Oxo Brite Color Safe Laundry detergent works equally well in both standard and high efficiency washing machines.
Henkel Persil Color Megaperls - Best Laundry Detergent for Colors
Henkel Persil Color Megaperls is a non-liquid, dry laundry detergent formulated to give you the best results for efficiently washing all of your colored garments. This is a highly concentrated detergent that has been proven to gently protect colored fabrics during a wash while tackling all of the grime and dirt that might be worked into the material. Compared to the competition it has some of the best cleaning performances available since you don’t have to use a lot of it every load and will help you keep your clothes looking new for a longer period of time. It is compatible will all different styles of washing machines as well as being safe for the environment since it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or additives.
Shout Color Catcher Dye-Trapping Detergent - Best Laundry Detergent for Colors
Shout Color Catcher Dye-Trapping detergent is a 24-dye trapping cloth product that’s formulated to act as a sponge during your wash loads. It absorbs and traps any loose dyes during each load of wash and prevents them from bleeding onto any other clothes too, so you won’t have worry if you don’t separate your lights and darks 100 percent. This detergent is also a very effective cleaner so fabrics look clean and fresh after a load while gently protecting and boosting colors at the same time. This pick is also safe to use with all types of standard and high efficiency washing machines.
Clorox 2 Stain Stain Remover and Color Booster, Free & Clear, 66 Fluid Ounces - Best Laundry Detergent for Colors
This pick is one of the best products out there for colored laundry loads because not only is it bleach safe and gets out all of the dirt and grime of your garments, but it also can function as a pre-treatment soak that will even get out some of the toughest stains. This bleach-free detergent also serves as a color booster which keeps your clothes looking newer for a longer period of time. Even though it is formulated for colored clothing wash loads, it is also perfectly fine to use with white loads as well. Additionally it’s free of all perfumes and dyes as well as being compatible with both high efficiency and standard washing machines.
Buyer's Guide
Laundry detergents have been a household staple for hundreds of years. They offer an extra level of cleanliness that hot water can’t fully achieve on its own.
There are many varieties of laundry detergent available. They come in different forms, with different scents, and are made with different ingredients. With so many to choose from, it is easy to get confused, especially if you are environmentally conscious or worry about potential allergens.
Check out the rest of the article below for all the things you should consider before buying laundry detergent.
A Brief History of Laundry Detergents
Before the invention of laundry detergent, people used lye or animal fat to wash clothes. This may sound like a strange combination, but animal fats have often been used throughout history to make soap. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is still often used in soaps because of its corrosive properties. Manufacturers made the first fully constructed laundry detergent way back in 1946.
What Is Laundry Detergent Made Of?
Modern laundry detergent is made of two main components - surfactants and hardness sequestrants (builders).
Surfactants remove topical dirt and prevent the dirt from reattaching to materials. Builders reduce water hardness, allowing surfactants to do their job more easily.
Other ingredients include buffering agents, stabilizers, lather enhancements, perfumes, and brighteners.
Things to Consider When Buying Laundry Detergent
When it comes to buying laundry detergent, there are a few things you may want to consider before making your decision. These include:
Health-harmful ingredients
There are numerous ingredients you should avoid when choosing your laundry detergent. Although some substances are safe in smaller quantities, they can still irritate the skin over time. When it comes to your family’s safety, it is better to have as little contact with harmful substances as possible.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate/ Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLS/ SLES) are proven to inflame skin, eyes, and lungs. They are also known to damage internal organs.
- Phosphates are linked to osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
- Breathing or smelling formaldehyde can increase your chances of getting cancer.
- Chlorine bleach can cause caustic burns to the skin and eyes. It can even cause pulmonary edema - fluid build-up in the lungs.
- Ammonium sulfate is a category 3 oral, skin, and respiratory toxin.
- Dioxane is a known carcinogen meaning it causes cancer. It is also known as Diethylene and Dioxin. Once you are exposed to this chemical, it can damage your organs.
- Optical brighteners are eye, skin, and lung irritants. This chemical is also known to combust spontaneously!
- Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers are known to cause eye, skin, and lung damage.
- Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (Nonoxynol, NPEs) can cause harm to the lungs, as well the eyes and skin.
- Dichlorobenzine or Benzene can cause damage to your eyes and is listed as a known carcinogen.
- Unspecified fragrances are also used in many laundry detergents. Due to a legal loophole, many manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used for the fragrance in their laundry detergent. Artificial fragrances are responsible for chemical sensitivity, rashes, and allergic reactions. When choosing a laundry detergent, choose a product with natural fragrances.
Dyes are often hormonally active agents causing disruptions in normal hormonal functions. They are also a common allergen.
Environmentally-harmful ingredients
When you use a laundry detergent, many of its chemicals contaminate your local water system and harm wildlife. Check the label when you buy your laundry detergent to find out if the product is eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Many cleaning products contain tiny particles of plastic - otherwise known as microbeads. You should avoid purchasing these types of products wherever possible. The names of the plastic used in microbeads are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and nylon (PA).
Forms of Laundry Detergent
There are four main types of laundry detergent: liquid, powder, pods, and tablets. You may find it easier to use pods or tablets if you have difficulty measuring the right amount of detergent you need per each wash. Powders and liquids can also cause more mess when spilled; however, these are usually cheaper.
Sensitive skin
If you (or a member of your household) suffer from sensitive skin, opt for a laundry detergent with a hypoallergenic formulation. Remember - if you avoid laundry detergents with the ingredients mentioned above, you will also reduce your chances of having an allergic reaction.
Cruelty-free
Many laundry detergents or their ingredients are tested on animals. If you do not wish to contribute to this practice, you should buy products with a cruelty-free leaping bunny symbol.
Fragrance
This is purely down to personal preference. Obviously, if you use your laundry detergent regularly, you want to ensure you enjoy the scent. After all, it’s only going to be on your clothes every day until the bottle runs out!
Price Range
You can buy a bottle of good-quality laundry detergent for about $4 in most grocery stores. However, if you buy laundry detergent in bulk, you will save money in the long run. You can pay up to $28 per kilogram of laundry detergent.
Detergent Buyers Also Ask
What items should you never wash in a washing machine?
There are several items you should never put in a washing machine; doing so may ruin your clothes and cause irreparable damage.
Some of these items include suits, embellished garments, clothes with zippers and buttons, swimsuits, bras, throw blankets, lace garments, and sweaters.
Can I suddenly develop an allergic reaction to my laundry detergent?
You can become allergic to a product the first time you use it or after repeated exposure. Most people can prevent allergic reactions to laundry detergent rashes by using dye-free or fragrance-free laundry detergents.
Can you use too much laundry detergent?
Yes, you can use too much laundry detergent. Using too much laundry detergent can cause stain residue on clothes. It can also cause an unpleasant odor due to trapped excess laundry detergent residue.
