Our tests of dozens of laundry detergents show there are real differences from one formula to the next—and that some detergents barely clean better than running a cycle with water alone.
When you're shopping the detergent aisle, though, there's no easy way to tell which formulas deliver. A vast selection of products have promises that they'll fight stains, keep colors vibrant, brighten whites, eliminate odors, or be gentle on the skin and the environment.
In terms of sales, three manufacturers pick up, tallying up almost three-quarters of the amount of money consumers devote to getting their laundry clean, based on IRI, a market research firm. Procter & Gamble leads the pack, and its lineup includes Cheer, Gain, and Tide. Henkel follows and is better known for Persil, and Church & Dwight sells Arm & Hammer and Xtra detergents.
Liquid detergents remain the absolute most widely sold type. Although pods, also known as laundry packs, are convenient to use, they present very real dangers if you have children in the house. (See our cautions about detergent pods, below.) Also, even the best pods, also called packs, can't match the cleaning power of CR's top-rated liquid detergents. Some pods are more expensive per load, too.
What about powders? Sales have dissolved, and you will find not many brands on store shelves. Instead, a niche market of biodegradable laundry sheets (also known as detergent strips) are greening up laundry aisles being an eco-friendly choice. They're plastic-free, low-sudsing, and dissovable, and they help prevent detergent overuse. But our tests reveal that they're less capable of removing stains than traditional liquid detergent.
Detergent formulas today are highly concentrated. This can help to lessen the quantity of plastic or cardboard needed to make the containers. But old habits die hard, so be sure you're following directions and gauge the detergent—no further free-form pouring.
By the way, if you're here because you suspect it's not your soap your washer that's failing to get your clothes clean, check out our comprehensive automatic washer ratings and buying guide for the recommendations of full-sized and compact machines. And if you're worried about the impact your laundry chores may have on the environment, read our guide to the greenest washing machines.