Laundry Detergent

Powder vs. liquid laundry detergent

According to the Martha Stewart website, "Powdered detergents work best for hard water and for removing mud and clay. Liquid detergents are good for taking out grease, oily dirt, and stains, and work very well as a pretreatment." That's not just Martha's opinion -- we saw this assertion echoed all over the Internet. In addition, most say that powder works better in hot water. Powders are usually less expensive than liquids, but liquids are more popular with consumers, many of whom say liquids are not as messy. (Interestingly, powdered detergents are much more popular in Europe.) In comparison tests, we didn't notice much performance correlation between powdered and liquid detergents, however. A common complaint is that powder formulations can leave residue on clothing. For best results with both powder and liquid laundry detergent, manufacturers recommend that the washing machine be filled with water and detergent before clothes are added (this step might be more essential with powdered detergents). In short, most say it doesn't matter much whether you choose powdered or liquid detergent. According to Good Housekeeping magazine, however, one advantage of liquids is that you can use them to pre-treat stains.

Laundry detergent for standard washers

Tide detergents are tested the most and they receive the best reviews overall. Tide is well-reviewed by consumers and in more formal testing. In the About.com section on housekeeping, Sarah Aguirre lists Tide as number one in her top six laundry detergents. She states Tide, "is one of the best at removing tough grease, grime, stains, and dirt." On RateItAll.com, all Tide detergents are gathered under one heading; 57 voters give the brand almost four stars out of five.

A Tide detergent is the standout in a test for color fastness devised by Eliza Truitt on Slate.com. Truitt compares how well colors resist fading when washed in All (*est. 31¢ per load) , Wisk (*est. 24¢ per load) and Tide with Bleach Alternative (*est. 35¢ per load) . After 14 washes, clothes washed in the Tide detergent are the least faded. All comes in second, with Wisk "just a shade behind." Tide with Bleach Alternative also receives excellent reviews in more formal testing.

In the same article, Slate.com's Truitt tests how well detergents remove stains. She washes fabrics stained with grease, gutter water, barbeque sauce and jelly donut filling with Cheer (*est. 24¢ per load) , Tide (*est. 37¢ per load) , Dynamo (*est. $6.55 for 68 ounces) and K-Mart's American Fare (*est. $4 for 100 ounces). Truitt finds that Cheer works best overall. Tide does well on the grease and donut filling, but it is "not quite as effective as Cheer on the road grime, which was still visible in patches." Dynamo does not do well on the jelly and leaves the odor of barbecue sauce. American Fare performs the worst. As Truitt describes, "When I opened the dryer, the spicy smell of barbecue sauce almost knocked me over, and the briefs were still covered in splotches of orange grease and jelly stains."

A lesser-known brand, Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent (*est. 37¢ per load), is a top seller on Drugstore.com. This detergent is available in several fragrances -- lavender, geranium and lemon verbena – that people either love or hate. For some, these detergents reportedly do not keep colors bright.

Some less expensive laundry detergents also receive favorable reviews. Wal-Mart's house brand, Great Value Ultra (*est. 12¢ per load), receives very good marks in formal testing, placing just behind Tide detergents which cost more than twice as much. The All Small & Mighty line offers "triple concentrated" detergents that are among the least expensive. All Small & Mighty formulations tested do well. These detergents are also praised by Zachay Fruhling, a user-reviewer posting to AssociatedContent.com, whose "clothes came out as clean as could be, even when over-stuffing the washing machine." The All Small & Mighty detergent for regular machines (*est. 19¢ per load) receives an average of 4.5 stars (out of five) from five reviewers on Amazon.com. In more formal testing, 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, Tide with a Touch of Downey (*est. 29¢ per load) , Gain Plus Touch of Softness (*est. 23 ¢ per load) and Arm & Hammer Plus a Touch of Softener (*est. 14 ¢ per load) claim to clean and soften at the same time. But according to formal testing, these detergents/softeners do not soften fabrics more than washing with a regular detergent plus a separate fabric softener.

People with skin sensitivities can choose from a variety of laundry detergents intended to reduce irritation caused by dyes and perfumes in detergents. Choosing something that's fragrance-free may be enough for those with mild sensitivities. Almost all of the major brands offer a fragrance-free option for sensitive skin. 2X Ultra Tide has a "Free" formulation (*est. 35¢ per load) that is made without dyes or perfumes. Another detergent without dyes or perfumes is Cheer Free & Gentle (*est. 19¢ per load), which receives a good review in a detailed user review on AssociatedContent.com. All Small & Mighty Free Clear (*est. 12¢ per load) is hypoallergenic and contains no dyes or fragrances. The All website states that the detergent will remove two common allergens, cat dander and dust mites. However, this attribute is not unique to All; according to scientific studies, these allergens can be removed by using any laundry detergent in hot water. Be aware that detergents for baby clothes may still contain fragrance. The Method baby laundry detergent (*est. 35¢ per load) , for example, has a scent that is too strong for many reviewers posting comments at Drugstore.com.

A web search will uncover many lesser-known detergents that claim to minimize allergic reactions. Without any unbiased reviews or scientific data, it's hard to know which will work, however. Those with sensitivities may also want to read the section below on green laundry detergents, many of which contain no fragrance or dyes in addition to fewer polluting chemicals.

HE laundry detergent

HE washing machines -- including all front-loading machines and some top loaders like the Kenmore Elite Oasis -- use less water and energy than traditional machines. These washers require specially formulated HE detergents, which become less sudsy than regular laundry soap. Use of a regular detergent in these machines can leave suds on clothing and in the machine, which can lead to mildew.

SA8 With Bioquest (*est. 61¢ per load) is one of the best-reviewed HE laundry detergents we find. It can be used in regular or HE machines. Comparison reviews say it excels in cleaning, keeping dirt off and keeping dye off. On RateItAll.com, a small handful of reviewers each give SA8 the highest rating, and users comment that SA8 doesn't bother those with sensitive skin. It should be mentioned, however, that half of those reviews offer a website where the product can be purchased. SA8 is not sold in stores, but through independent distributors, leading us to suspect the motive behind user reviews. Even so, SA8 does well in objective tests, even though it is very expensive.

Most common brands offer an "HE" version. Tide HE powder (*est. 34¢ per load) receives good scores from about 20 owners at Amazon.com and, in professional testing, rates just behind SA8, on par with Gain's HE detergent (discussed below). On the Tide website, Tide HE powder receives a nearly perfect score from nine reviewers. User reviews for the powdered version of Tide HE seem more positive than reviews for the liquid version; a few users say the liquid version can be too sudsy in their HE washer. Tide Free HE (*est. 34¢ per load) also receives mixed reviews from owners even though it scores very well in professional reviews. We found a couple of comments that it can be too sudsy in some HE machines, though this is far from a universal complaint.

Gain HE liquid (*est. 30¢ per load) is also less expensive that SA8 With Bioquest, yet it also scores well for stain removal. Gain HE is available in only one scent, and there is not a perfume or dye-free version. However, on Drugstore.com, Gain HE receives mixed reviews from about six contributors. Most appreciate the fragrance and the price, but for some it doesn't remove tough stains. Two users report allergic reactions.

Cheer Color Guard for High Efficiency HE (*est. 23¢ per load) receives very good marks in testing and it's also less expensive than Tide or SA8 HE detergents. In one test, it didn't repel dye quite as well as others; probably not a problem if you're careful about separating your laundry. We found about a dozen user reviews, most of which are very positive. One does report residue. Still, Cheer is less expensive than most others, and still does well in formal tests, so we've included it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers for those who want a balance of above average cleaning and lower cost.

Some less expensive HE detergents also receive good user reviews. On Amazon.com, All Small & Mighty HE formula (*est. 19¢ per load) receives an average of 4.5 stars (out of five) from about 20 reviewers. In formal comparison tests, it doesn't clean as well as Cheer, Gain or Tide HE detergents, however. An HE detergent from Costco, Kirkland Signature Ultra (*est. 12¢ per load), achieves very good results in formal testing, though we didn't see it widely reviewed otherwise, and you need to be a Costco member in order to buy it.

Green laundry detergents

Laundry detergents can improve their environmental impact in two ways: by promoting the use of cold water during washing and by using non-toxic ingredients.

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, we 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. Hot water is better for diapers and underwear. This approach seems to be supported by science. Cold water may not be enough for microbes 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 markets a laundry detergent specifically designed for use in cold water (*est. 31¢ per load) that receives a perfect rating from six reviewers on Amazon.com. On Epinions, however, the 22 reviewers are less enthusiastic and even provide some cautionary tales: clothes marked by white streaks and blue stains. A few reviewers object to the strong fragrance. Reviewers really aren't convinced that you need to use a special detergent for cold-water washes. Cheer Color Guard Detergent (*est. 23¢ per load) is formulated for use in any water temperature, including cold. However, really, there's no reason you couldn't try any detergent on a cold-water cycle.

The Green Guide website provides an excellent examination of the environmental concerns raised by regular laundry detergent. Perhaps the most surprising find is that most regular detergents are made with crude oil (petroleum). They also contain other ingredients that can be harmful to the environment when dispersed into the water supply. Linear alkylate sulfonate, alkylphenol ethoxylates and the bleaching ingredient sodium perborate are three ingredients that are harmful to aquatic life, but you probably won't find them listed in the ingredients on the label. Detergent manufacturers are not required by law to list all ingredients, so most don't. According to Consumer Reports, many of these ingredients are characterized as Nonylphenol ethoxylates, also known as NPEs, and have been proven to be harmful to marine life by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Interestingly, you don't really need to look for a "green" laundry detergent to avoid NPEs. According to Consumer Reports, many standard laundry detergents no longer contain these ingredients. The organization's chemical analysis of detergents demonstrates that almost no major-brand detergents -- including those from Tide, Cheer, All, Gain and Purex -- contain NPEs. However, they may contain other controversial ingredients or petroleum. Because detergent manufacturers aren't required to list ingredients, advocates at The Green Guide suggest using warning labels as a guide: "If laundry product labels don't list specific ingredients, you can learn something about a product's hazards by a signal word, such as "Danger," "Warning" or "Caution," which appears on every label and provides some indication of a product's toxicity."

Many detergents claim to be "organic," "natural" or "non-toxic," but The Green Guide notes that there are no standards regulating such language. Even the term "biodegradable" on its own isn't much help, because most agents will break down eventually. Most "green" laundry detergents use oil made from plants, such as corn, palm kernel and coconut. In addition, they avoid use of ingredients that can be harmful to aquatic life. Because standard laundry manufacturers don't have to list ingredients on packaging, you might consider a laundry detergent that voluntarily lists its formulation and advocates environmental responsibility. Many aren't any more expensive than Tide.

In a survey of more than 400 visitors to The Green Guide website, vegetable-based, non-petroleum Seventh Generation laundry products are the most popular "eco-friendly" detergents. Seventh Generation Free & Clear (*est. 30¢ per load) liquid receives average scores in comparison tests, cleaning as well as many other standard detergents. It is very good at cleaning and keeping dye off, though just fair at keeping dirt off. On Amazon.com, the powdered version of Seventh Generation detergent receives a very high average rating among 20 reviews. Many reviewers appreciate the lack of fragrance and dye. One reviewer cautions that the detergent must be dissolved in the washing machine water before clothes are added to avoid residue stains. On Drugstore.com, Seventh Generation detergents are the best sellers (to be fair, Drugstore.com does not carry many mainstream detergents). At the very least, Seventh Generation appears to work about as well as detergents from Era, Cheer and All, but it costs more. Seventh Generation detergents are low-sudsing, so they can be used in regular or high-efficiency washers.

Bi-O-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry Powder (*est. 25¢ per load) contains no known carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens or pollutants, including petroleum. It receives enthusiastic reviews on Amazon.com. Many people first try it for the environmental benefits and then are impressed by its cleaning power. It can be used in regular or HE machines. We haven't seen Bi-O-Kleen compared to other detergents in formal comparison tests, however.

Another eco-friendly detergent made from plant-based ingredients is Ecover Ecological Laundry Wash (*est. 39¢ per load) . On Drugstore.com, seven reviewers award it a perfect score. They like the cleaning ability and its light scent. One reviewer notes that she uses less detergent than the bottle recommends, so the price per load could be reduced. We haven't seen Ecover compared to other detergents in formal performance tests.

Laundry soap for special uses

Woolite is a brand promoted as a "mild detergent for fine washables." Woolite original detergent (*est. $6.50 for 50 ounces) has been joined by formulas for all colors (*est. $6.50 for 50 ounces) , dark clothes (*est. $6.50 for 50 ounces) and HE machines (*est. $9.35 for 75 ounces). In a short review of gentle detergents on RealSimple.com, Woolite is described as offering "fine results and a good value." These products can be used to wash clothes by hand or in your machine's gentle cycle. A Good Housekeeping study tests detergents for fine fabrics. It compares Ivory Snow (*est. 44¢ per load) , Woolite, Victoria's Secret Gentle Affection (discontinued) and Origins Clean Sheets Fine Linen Wash (discontinued) with a regular detergent, All (*est. 31¢ per load). Silk, wool and polyester swatches stained with petroleum jelly, lipstick, make-up and perfume are hand washed. Ivory Snow, Woolite and All are the best at removing stains; Ivory Snow even removes the smell of the perfume. The silk remains softest when laundered by the detergents from Victoria's Secret and Origins. However, none of the detergents harm the fabrics.

Fragrance is a key component in laundry detergent; reviews almost always mention it. Most major brands come in a variety of scents. Some detergents promise to impart a fragrance that will remain in the fabric. Good Housekeeping tests a few of these aromatic detergents against Tide. For stain removal, only Caldrea White Clover Laundry Detergent (*est. 76¢ per load) comes close to Tide. To test fragrance, towels are washed, dried and stored away in a closet. After one week, only the towels laundered in Thymes Laundry Detergent (*est. $16 for 50 ounces) are still fragrant.

Detergents specially formulated for dark clothing are usually more expensive than regular detergents. In testing, Cheer Dark Formula (*est. 35¢ per load) does not maintain darkness better than regular detergents. Perwoll Black Magic Laundry Liquid Soap (*est. 90¢ per load) receives four out of five stars based on 15 customer reviews on Amazon.com. Reviewers conclude this detergent helps black clothing look blacker; some compare it favorably to Woolite Dark Laundry. Others don't like the smell, however, and it's very expensive.

Win (*est. 50¢ per load) is a detergent specially formulated for sports clothes. It receives rave reviews on Amazon.com and Drugstore.com. On Slate.com, Eliza Truitt uses clothing worn by a fitness instructor to test three detergents formulated to remove odors: Gain (*est. 30¢ per load) , Surf (*est. 26¢ per load) and Fab (*est. 18¢ per load). According to Truitt, "Fab and Gain both did a great job and removed the odors completely." Surf did not remove the odors as well and left a "cloying grape scent."

Cheer True Fit Laundry Detergent (*est. 31¢ per load) is formulated to help clothes maintain their shape through washing and drying. In a review on AssociatedContent.com, one user review finds that the detergent keeps its promise, even revitalizing an old sweater. However, we failed to discover any expert reviews that test True Fit detergent.

Important Features: Laundry detergent

Reviewers report the following about shopping for laundry detergent:

• Powdered detergents work best in hard, hot water and for removing mud and clay. Liquid detergents are better for removing grease, oily dirt and stains.

• Products without perfumes or dyes may be helpful to people with skin allergies.

• Consider buying detergent in bulk and transferring it to smaller containers at home, saving on plastic waste.

Experts recommend the following about using laundry detergent:

• Do not use regular detergent in an HE machine. Suds may remain on clothing or in the machine, subsequently causing mildew.

• Manufacturers recommend that both powder and liquid detergents be added to water in the washing machine before clothes are put in. Powder can leave residue on clothing if added to the machine before the water.

• Cold water is fine for lightly soiled clothing. Hot water should be used for diapers, underwear and clothing worn by people who are ill.

• You can pre-treat a stain before washing by applying a liquid detergent or a paste made from powder detergent onto the fabric on the opposite side of the stain.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Tide with Bleach Alternative (*est. 35¢ per load)	details
2	SA8 HE with Bioquest (61¢ per load)	-
2	Seventh Generation (30¢ per load)	details
1 each	All Small & Mighty HE , Cheer , Cheer Free & Gentle, Cheer Colorguard , Gain , Gain HE , Tide HE , Tide with Febreze , Fab, Cheer True Fit, Woolite Original , Method Fresh Air 3X Concentrate, Great Value Ultra Glacier Breeze, Kirkland Signature Ultra, Ivory Snow , All , OxiClean

Tide laundry detergents are reviewed the most and most reviews say they work the best overall, even if they are more expensive than others. Tide with Bleach Alternative does a good job at cleaning, keeping dirt off and helping colors to stay bright. SA8, an expensive HE detergent, is only available through Amway representatives and online. Almost all of the detergents that were tested clean well and would be fine for lightly soiled garments. Ratings are often based on additional factors such as scent, feel of fabric and brightness of colors. For instance, in formal testing, Wal-Mart's Great Value laundry soap works nearly as well as Tide for much less. The same can be said for Costco's Kirkland Signature Ultra HE detergent. Among green laundry detergents, we found the best reviews for Seventh Generation, which can be used in both standard and HE washing machines.

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