Laundry Detergent Information

Laundry Detergent Links

Alternative laundry products

The Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaning Kit (*Est. $11 for 12 garments) uses your dryer to simulate dry cleaning, allowing consumers to launder clothing that couldn't normally be washed at home. At Drugstore.com, most reviews are mixed to positive. A few people rave about the stain remover that is included in the starter kit. A similar product on Amazon.com, Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret Dry Cleaning Cloths (*Est. $17 for 56 garments), receives an average of 4.2 stars out of 5 from more than 60 reviewers. Both kits seem to work best on lightly soiled clothing and as a touch-up between regular dry cleaning visits. Clothes may need ironing afterwards. An article on AssociatedContent.com compares these two products and concludes that Dryel has superior stain removal, but that Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret is more convenient because it consists of a sheet that is put into the dryer with the garment. With Dryel, the garment is placed into a bag (with a sheet) that goes into the dryer.

There is also one unusual detergent alternative that receives good reviews on Amazon.com. Maggie's Soap Nuts (*Est. 24 cents per load) are dried fruit from the Chinese soapberry tree -- a plant that produces a natural disinfectant. Consumers put a few clumps into the provided sack and toss them into the wash. Each soap nut can be reused, but only on the same day. Nearly all of the more than 70 reviewers on Amazon.com are very happy with this product, with the exception of someone who tries to reuse the soap nuts after a few days.

Laundry tips

The U.S. Department of Energy provides energy-saving tips for doing laundry.

MSN.com provides strategies for reducing germs, allergens and skin irritants in washed laundry and laundry rooms.

About.com posts an excellent guide to all things laundry, including how to remove stains, how to iron pleats, how to clean a washing machine and how to recover from laundry disasters in "Tips and Tutorials To Do Laundry." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

MarthaStewart.com provides advice on organizing the laundry room and building a travel laundry kit in addition to discussing topics such as stain removal and laundering baby clothes in "Clotheskeeping."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives manufacturers the opportunity to be recognized for products that are safer for the environment. Detergents bearing the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) label have had each ingredient screened for effects on human health and the environment. There are currently 17 detergents recognized with the DfE label.

This Science Daily report presents data from a study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference. A Korean researcher says washing laundry in hot water --140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher -- kills all house dust mites. Dog dander can also be removed with hot water. Cat dander is not tested.

A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology tests removal of cat dander and dust mites by washing. The study concludes that both allergens can be removed from laundry when it is washed with detergent for at least five minutes in water that is at least 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Manufacturer websites also offer some information on their products.

All was developed 50 years ago by Sun Products Corp. There are currently nine different 2X Ultra All liquid detergents, plus one for HE washers. All Small & Mighty has 3X concentration for standard and HE washers, which come in two scents plus Free & Clear. Surf is the company's brand of powdered detergents, which come in four scents.

Arm & Hammer, owned by Church & Dwight, has several liquid and powder detergents for standard and HE washers, plus a scented and scent-free eco-friendly detergent.  

Cheer is a Proctor & Gamble product, along with Tide, Gain and Era. Cheer comes in five liquids (two are also available in high-efficiency formulations) and two powders.

Country Save began making laundry detergent powder more than 30 years ago, and Country Save is now available as a liquid as well. Both are suitable for use in standard and HE washers. Country Save powder is fragrance- and dye-free.

Dropps laundry detergent is the company's sole product. This concentrated detergent is contained in individual biodegradable packages that dissolve in water, so there's no guessing how much to use. In addition to fresh scent and scent- and dye-free versions, there's a baby product that contains no fragrance, dye or enzymes.

Era is a Proctor & Gamble product available in four liquid detergents for standard washers and one for HE washers.

Gain is another Proctor & Gamble brand. Gain liquid, powdered and high-efficiency detergents come in a wide variety of scents.

Method has three liquid detergents that are more concentrated than other brands and that come in a small bottle with a pump dispenser.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day liquid laundry detergents are biodegradable and made with natural ingredients. These detergents work in standard and HE washers and are available in five fragrances and in an unscented version.

Purex makes nine liquid detergents for standard and HE washers and two powdered detergents. Ultra Purex Natural Elements is available in four eco-friendly scents that meet the EPA's guidelines as part of the Design for the Environment (DfE) program.

SA8 is a biodegradable detergent sold by Amway.

Seventh Generation makes one powder and four liquid laundry detergents. The 2X Natural Liquid Detergent works in standard and high-efficiency washers. It's sold in two scents as well as in a scent- and dye-free option.

Tide leads the detergent market with 26 types of detergent, including 10 traditional liquid detergents, seven HE liquid detergents, seven traditional powders and two HE powders. Tide, Gain and Cheer are all made by Proctor & Gamble.

Win High Performance Sport Detergent is a new product on the market that is designed to remove odor from workout and athletic clothes.

Wisk makes three liquid detergents for standard washers and one for HE washers.

Woolite makes four liquid detergents that minimize fading, shrinking and thinning of fabrics.