The 13 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025, According to Expert Testing
Pros:
- Excellent stain-fighting capabilities
- Suitable for washing machines or hand-washing clothes
- Effective for color and fabric care, maintaining the longevity of clothes
Cons:
- Fresh scent may be too strong for some users
- Not eco-friendly
Tide Original Liquid Laundry Detergent is a household name for a reason. Its powerful clean and fresh scent continue to impress, making it a top pick for many households.
Size: 84 ounces Load size: 64
Pros:
- Gentle on fabrics while effectively removing stains
- Extremely effective in cold water
- Compatible with HE washers
Cons:
- Not ideal for delicate fabrics or those with extremely sensitive skin
Persil ProClean Liquid Laundry Detergent is another top-notch option. While I haven’t reviewed this particular formulation yet, expert Ahmed Mezil recommends it as his top overall pick, along with Tide. It boasts over 8,000 reviews on Amazon for its ability to make clothes gleaming and is compatible with HE washer-dryer combos and laundry machines.
Size: 82.5 ounces Load size: 110
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Excellent for reducing odors, thanks to baking soda in its formulation
- Bleach-free and aluminum-free, making it more suitable for sensitive skin
Cons:
- Doesn’t perform as well in cold water compared to some higher-end detergents (may require warm water)
Arm & Hammer Clean Burst Liquid Laundry Detergent is a staple in my laundry room, thanks to its powerful cleaning power and value-based formula. It lasts on my shelf for a good while, which makes sense given its ability to power through almost 105 loads.
Size: 105 ounces Load size: 105
Pros:
- Has an incredibly fresh scent
- Excellent value, with 107 loads in its bottle
- Helps maintain the brightness of colors
Cons:
- Not as effective on tough, set-in stains, but not a deal-breaker
Gain + Aroma Boost Laundry Detergent is an excellent value option. It has one of the best scents I tested, with over 90,000 laundry-lovers feeling the same. It provides an excellent clean with a lasting, pleasant scent and is HE-compatible and good for around 107 loads.
Size: 154 ounces Load size: 107
A Step-by-Step Laundry Process, According to Our Expert
The ideal cleaning routine has been unlocked. Follow this order to ensure you’re going about your laundry process in the most effective way possible.
- Read the detergent instructions. Then check the labels on your clothes to see what can be cleaned in the washer and dryer and how. For delicate items, you can either hand wash them or, if they can be machine washed, you may want to put them in a mesh wash bag for added protection.
- Sort laundry by color, level of soil, and any specialty fabrics, like delicates.
- Inspect clothing for stains and pretreat them. The American Cleaning Institute’s stain guide has instructions for a wide variety of stains.
- Determine if you need any additional laundry products and when they should be added in the process by reading the label instructions. These can include things like laundry sanitizers, scent boosters, dryer sheets, and optical brighteners.
- Put laundry in the washer with the detergent and choose the washer settings. Depending on your washer, this can include load size, water temperature (cold is usually sufficient), and cycle setting (this usually depends on the delicacy of the fabric). Start the washer and wash your hands.
- Move clothes from the washer to the dryer. If any item still has a stain, send it back to get rewashed before drying. Be sure to follow the fabric care label when it comes to dryer temperature.
- Remove clothes as soon as the dryer is done. Remove any wrinkles, either with a wrinkle spray, steamer, or iron.
- Fold and put away.
How to Separate Your Laundry, According to Our Expert
No more mixing in red clothes with your whites. Below, take a look at how to properly separate what’s in your hamper to ensure maximum results.
- Check each fabric care label: Put clothes needing to be hand washed in a separate pile.
- Sort by color and soil: Wash all whites separately, then wash pastels and medium colors together and brights and darks by themselves.
- Sort the heavily soiled items from the lightly soiled ones: These should be washed separately since lightly soiled items can pick up the extra soil from the wash water.
- Sort out specialty fabrics: This includes separating delicates from regular wash loads so you can wash them on a gentle cycle and washing flannel, terry cloth, and other lint losers away from things like corduroy that tend to pick up lint.
When to Use Fabric Softeners and Wrinkle Sprays
"Fabric softeners soften clothes, reduce static, and help prevent wrinkles," Ek explained. "They also can protect color and prevent stretching, helping clothes last longer. Wrinkle sprays are typically used after garments come out of the dryer to reduce or eliminate the need to iron."
How to Choose the Right Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin
According to Ek, baby detergents tend to be milder and designed for sensitive skin.
What’s the Best Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin?
Interestingly enough, if you have sensitive skin, there isn’t one particular ingredient to look out for. A laundry detergent made without harsh parabens and one that’s designed with sensitive skin in mind is recommended by Ek.
How We Tested
Ahead, find our expert-approved testing criteria we kept in mind for testing and reviewing laundry detergent for one year. The brands above are either expert-recommended or individually tested here at Post Wanted, and we’re continuing to update this guide with top picks:
- Efficiency: Look for detergents that effectively remove stains and odors.
- Ingredients: Opt for detergents with skin-friendly and eco-friendly ingredients.
- Sustainability: Eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging is a plus.
- Compatibility: Ensure it’s suitable for your washing machine type, especially if you have a high-efficiency (HE) machine.
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