Best Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent for standard washers

Tide detergents are tested the most often and they receive the best reviews overall. The only problem is deciding which version of Tide to recommend -- it comes in so many formulas and scents that no single Tide product gets more than one reviewer pick. Still, Tide in all is picked as a top performer no less than nine times, more than double any competitor. Tide is well reviewed by both consumers and more formal testing.

In mid-2008, Tide revamped its detergents into double-strength "2X Ultra" formulations. According to the manufacturer, 2X Ultra Tide detergents contain 44 percent less water than before, so you'll use half the amount of detergent. We didn't find many reviews of the new formulations, but they have received top marks in comparison testing. We've placed Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated with a Touch of Downy (*Est. 31 cents per load) at the top of our Best Reviewed products because it received high marks from very credible reviewers, but all of the Tide 2X Ultra products were superior performers in testing, and it probably doesn't matter which specific one you choose; formulations for cold water, or with bleach or bleach alternative, also perform very well.

A lesser-known brand, Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent, is much more expensive, but it has a strong fan base. On Drugstore.com, Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent in the lavender scent (*Est. 39 cents per load) receives four out of five stars from nearly 60 reviewers. On Amazon.com, Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Liquid Detergent in lemon verbena (*Est. 34 cents per load) receives a perfect score from nearly 25 reviewers. (It also comes in a geranium scent.) People either love or hate the fragrances. A few people do report that these detergents do not clean very well and fade colors.

Some less expensive laundry detergents also receive favorable reviews. A Wal-Mart brand, Great Value Everyday Elegance 2X Ultra (*est. 11 cents per load), receives very good marks in formal testing, placing just behind more expensive Tide detergents. The All Small & Mighty line offers triple-concentrated detergents that are among the least expensive, and these do well in testing, too. The All Small & Mighty formula for regular machines (*Est. 19 cents per load) receives an average of nearly four stars (out of five) from a handful of reviewers on Amazon.com. In more formal testing, though, All Small & Mighty is merely average; the Wal-Mart laundry detergent is a better performer.

Many major brands offer a detergent plus fabric softener combination. For example, Gain Plus Touch of Softness (*Est. 18 cents per load) and Arm & Hammer Plus a Touch of Softener (*Est. 28 cents per load) claim to clean and soften at the same time. But according to formal testing, these combination detergents/softeners do not soften fabrics more than washing with a regular detergent plus a separate fabric softener. The new Tide formulation that tops our Best Reviewed chart, Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated with a Touch of Downy (*est. 31 cents per load) is one of these combination products.

Cold-water laundry detergents

Washing in cold water could benefit both your electricity bill and the environment. Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tide, claims that cold-water washing could save consumers up to $63 a year in energy costs. According to TerraPass.com, an environmental website, consumers could eliminate 30 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere if all washers in the United States used only cold water.

The site SavingAdvice.com has an interesting forum in which contributors discuss the merits of cold-water washing. For most lightly soiled clothing, cold water is fine, they say, but hot water is better for diapers and underwear. This approach seems to be supported by science -- cold water may not be enough to eradicate germs that can cause disease. In an article from Environmental Science & Technology, Ian Hardin, a professor of textile sciences at the University of Georgia, recommends hot-water washing of clothes worn by people who have a bacterial or viral illness to avoid spreading the illness throughout the household.

Tide sells several varieties designated for use in cold water including Tide Coldwater Liquid (*Est. 49 cents per load) and Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated for Cold Water (*Est. 20 cents per load), but reviewers really aren't convinced that you need to use a special detergent for cold-water washes. Cheer Original Color Guard Powder (*Est. 20 cents per load) is formulated for use in any water temperature, including cold. But there's really no reason you couldn't try any detergent on a cold-water cycle.