The 10 Best Laundry Detergents
Special Honors
Le Labo Rose Signature If scent is just as important to you as efficacy, then Le Labo Rose Signature by The Laundress is for you. This American-made, nontoxic detergent is highly concentrated and contains 31 ingredients blended around rose to create a luxurious fragrance that's both masculine and feminine, with warm, woodsy notes and hints of amber. It's cruelty and allergen-free and has no animal byproducts, phosphates, petroleum, artificial color, or phthalates. thelaundress.com
Thrive Laundry Powder If you find liquids too heavy or messy to deal with, you may like Thrive Laundry Powder. It is an eco-friendly option that is free of dyes and additives, safe for septic tanks, and suitable for vegans. thrivemarket.com
Editor's Notes
March 01, 2021:
Anyone who goes to the store often knows that you don't see a lot of changes to the laundry detergents available from year to year. Sure there are periodically new products, like when Tide first released their Tide Pods, and we see more plant-based options these days, such as Biokleen Liquid, and hypoallergenic choices like Dreft HE, but it's not like these companies are releasing new versions every single year. So, it may not come as much of a surprise that, after looking at the various options available, we determined that no changes needed to be made to our recommendations we selected when we last visited this list. Of course, we will keep an eye on the market to see if anything changes and a new contender or formula is released that should usurp one of our current choices.
September 27, 2019:
Because there are so many options on the market today, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. While there are great contenders out there that are not on this list, we wanted our selection to showcase the best of the bunch, whether you're looking for an effective formula from a trusted brand (Tide Pods, Gain Flings), something that's easy on sensitive skin (True Heavy Duty, Dreft HE), a product formulated to be kind to the environment (Biokleen Liquid, J.R. Watkins Powder), or a detergent with an irresistible fragrance (Tyler High Maintenance Glamorous Wash).
We removed our previous #6 Earth Friendly Products Ecos in favor of the Biokleen brand, which we felt was more compelling both as a detergent and an eco-friendly product. As far as Dreft HE is concerned, it may be confusing for consumers now that the company provides different products for newborn and active babies. We want to clarify that the selection on our list is appropriate for babies of all ages, which we feel is more convenient than switching between formulas.
If you're using laundry detergent and still find that your clothes have a musty smell, don't chuck it out just yet. Your machine may have a buildup of mold, mildew, and other residues from previous washes and detergents, so consider using a washing machine cleaner. For the best results, always dispense the appropriate amount of detergent for the load size and water amount you're using, and consider adding a pinch more if your water is hard. Remember to keep laundry detergents and other cleaning materials well away from children and pets at all times.