What Type of Laundry Detergent Should You Use?

Choosing a laundry detergent involves a number of factors that come down to personal preference. Some people enjoy scented cleaners, others prefer detergents that are eco-friendly, and yet others must use laundering products that are void of fragrance and other allergens. Homeowners who use high-efficiency front-load clothes washers (such as those offered by ASKO) should use detergents designed especially for these machines, known as HE detergents. Washer manufacturers recommend that only HE detergents be used in these clothes washers because the solutions are concentrated and are low-sudsing.

The main reason most people choose a particular detergent, however, is because they appreciate its effectiveness. Good Housekeeping recently published a list of detergents that its editors judged to be “best.” The Tide brand washed right over most of its competitors in a number of categories, although Gain makes a strong showing and a number of other brands rate well in particular detergent categories. Here’s what Good Housekeeping came up with (click over to the website to read more thorough reports of each product):

Tide was judged to be “the Test’s best” detergent. To be more specific, the judges liked Ultra Tide Plus Bleach powder and Ultra Tide powder because “the former has a white-boosting blast of color-safe bleach, while the latter offers more scent options, including fragrance-free.” A very close second, according to the testers, was Gain Dazzle & Shine With Bleach Alternative.

Tide also did well in the liquid category, with the judges determining that the brand’s Tide Plus Bleach Alternative and Tide With Acti-Lift were “best in their class.”

For Plant-Based detergents, the judges liked ECOVER’s fragrance-free Laundry Power Zero, which is also a good option for people who have sensitive skin or allergies to fragrances. For a liquid in this category, Caldrea was suggested, although it is scented with essential oils and did leave behind some tough stains, especially when used in a cold water wash.

Tide was on a roll, however; the brand also did well in the cold-water category with its Ultra Tide Coldwater powder. But Gain made gains (pun intended) in the liquid cold water category with its Gain Original solution.

If you do have a high-efficiency front-load machine Good Housekeeping suggests that you consider Target’s Up & Up 2X HE liquid. The judges liked this inexpensive HE option, although they noted that it did come up short on some tough stains, like mascara in hot water and wine in a cold-water wash.

In the value category, Great Value’s powder, available at Wal-Mart, passed the test, although it wasn’t successful at ridding clothes of some of the most challenging stains.

Tide rounds up the judges’ favorites by earning a mention in the “pod” category (no-mess tablets that are lighter and easier to store), although Arm & Hammer entered the winner’s circle here with a mention for its Toss ‘N Done Power Paks.

A product reviewer at Grist recently reviewed a number of eco-friendly, or “green” laundry detergents to determine which performed the best. The reviewer looked for detergents that avoided the use of such ingredients as the surfactant nonylphenol ethoxylate or NPE, an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimic; phosphates, which cause harmful algal blooms in waterways; and bleach, which can be detrimental to lung health. Because manufacturers of laundry detergents are not required by law to disclose their ingredients, the reviewer had to trust the eco-claims on the packaging, or what the companies noted that their products don’t contain. She also went with detergents that billed themselves as “free and clear” of dyes and perfumes, or fragrances. You can click through to Grist to read the individual reviews, but in the end the author noted that although none of the detergents removed all of the tough stains, they all produced otherwise-clean clothes. The reviewer writes: “For maximum eco-claim and stain removal with the lowest price and least-perfumy scent, we suggest Seventh Generation Free & Clear.”

When making your own decision about a laundry detergent, it’s best to determine your own preferences and requirements regarding fragrance, ingredients, and “green” credibility, and then to test a number of brands in your price range. The reviews above should help. Happy laundering!