Best laundry detergent

The best laundry detergent can be a bewildering item to shop for with so many choices available, so we've narrowed it down for you.

laundry detergent
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The best laundry detergent is a necessary purchase that all households need to consider. What's most important to you when choosing a laundry detergent? Is it the fragrance, the formula's stain-fighting power, or the ease of use? We're here to help with the task of finding the right laundry detergent to clean and freshen all of your family's favorite clothing and linens. Read on to check out our favorites in our carefully considered collection of the best laundry detergents currently available. 

Staff pick

laundry detergent

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Tide pods 3-in-1 laundry detergent

More than just cleaning power

The addition of a color protectant keeps your favorite items from fading. 

Pros:

  • Fights stains
  • Preserves colors
  • Fresh scent

Cons:

  • Can't adjust to size of laundry load

These Tide pods offer three ways to treat your clothes in the wash. They will clean with detergent, remove 100 percent of common stains, and protect your favorite bright colors from fading. You can use hot or cold water to dissolve these pods. These pods offer a pleasant and fresh Spring Meadow scent when your washing cycle is finished. Each great value pack offers you 81 laundry pods, so should sort your laundry needs for a good few weeks. 

Best for babies

laundry detergent

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Dreft hypoallergenic laundry detergent

A long history of reliable cleaning power

 This liquid detergent is free of chemicals that could irritate your baby's skin. 

Pros:

  • Ideal for sensitive skin
  • Measuring cap
  • Recommended by Pampers 

Cons:

  • Need to use more for very dirty items 

Looking for a detergent that is specifically formulated to clean your baby's clothes or washable diapers? This hypoallergenic option from Dreft is made for newborns and won't irritate their skin. This Dreft option is currently the number one pediatrician-recommended baby detergent and has been trusted by parents and carers for over 80 years. This detergent works in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines. You can clean 32 loads of laundry with each 50-ounce bottle of detergent. 

So fresh

Laundry detergent

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Gain laundry detergent plus Aroma Boost

Long-lasting scent after washing

Febreze brings a fresh scent to your laundry that keeps for six weeks.

Pros:

  • Works in cold water
  • Can be used in any washing machine
  • Made with renewable energy

Cons:

  • Scent might be overpowering for some

Want a greener option? This detergent is made with 100 percent renewable wind power electricity and can be used in cold water. It will also make your closets and drawers smell fresh because the Febreze Moonlight Breeze scent applied during the wash will last around six weeks, even when stored in closets or drawers. This is a twin-pack of 65 fluid-ounce bottles, each of which should cover you for around 48 loads of washing. 

Deep cleaning

Laundry detergent

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Tide Hygienic Clean laundry detergent liquid soap

Ten times as strong as comparable products

This no-nonsense option will cover you for nearly sixty loads of washing. 

Pros:

  • Large bottle for lots of washing
  • Complete with measuring lid 
  • HE-compatible 

Cons:

  • No special scent 

This 92-ounce detergent will wash up to 59 loads of laundry. There's a dispenser cap with measurement markings so you can quickly and easily measure out the appropriate amount of detergent for your load of clothes. This detergent offers Tide's heavy-duty, Hygienic Clean technology that claims to offer ten times the power of alternative detergents. This special formula gets between your fabric's fibers to clean dirt that's invisible to the eye. 

Best for gym clothes

Laundry detergent

(Image credit: Amazon)

Arm & Hammer 4-in-1 power paks

Odor-fighting detergent for smelly items

This trusted solution from Arm & Hammer battles sweat and stains with one cleanser.

Pros:

  • Powerful stain removal
  • Refreshes clothing
  • Combats odors with baking soda

Cons:

  • Power paks are premeasured

Get effective cleaning strength with these laundry power paks from the trusted brand Arm & Hammer. Each is premeasured to work for a small load, and you can use two for a larger load. The baking soda will help neutralize odors, while the fast-dissolving microcrystals help clean and apply the scent to all items. This works effectively in four ways; it fights stains, attacks odors protects colors from fading, and gives you that "Clean Burst" scent booster. 

Crystal clear

Laundry detergent

(Image credit: Amazon)

All mighty pacs laundry detergent

No perfumes or dyes to irritate skin

Choose the number of hypoallergenic mightypacs to use based on load size.

Pros:

  • Unscented
  • One pac for one small load
  • No irritants

Cons:

  • May not fully dissolve in cold water washes

This four-in-one All solution allows you to wash your family's linens and clothes without worrying about irritating substances in your detergent. All's mightypacs leave no residue on your fabrics and are 100% free of fragrances, perfumes, and dyes. Small loads of laundry only require one mightypac, meaning this twin-pack will go a long way in the average household. There are 66 mightypacs in each tub, and you’ll receive two.

Get fresh 

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

All these laundry detergents enable you to clean your fabrics. Our overall staff pick, the Tide pods 3-in-1 laundry detergent is the best option for most people. The pods have a pleasant fresh scent, keep your colors bright, and even fight stains. There’s also no measuring detergent with each load since you can toss the pod into the machine before your laundry.

Another scented option we're fans of is the Gain laundry detergent plus Aroma Boost. This features Febreze's Moonlight Breeze scent which lasts for an impressive up to six weeks after your wash. 

If your nose is very sensitive, you may want to consider an option with no fragrance. For this task, the All mighty pacs laundry detergent is a great option. There is no scent added to the detergent, zero irritants, and the mightypacs work in all machines. 

Why trust us?

At Real Homes, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Freelance Writer

Nicole Cozma is a freelance writer for Future. She's known for being inquisitive and finding the tiny details that may otherwise go unnoticed. When she's not writing about products, she can be found playing Blizzard game titles, doing copy editing work, cooking, or expanding her photography skills.