Choosing the best laundry detergent is not a simple task. How often have you spent hours staring at the supermarket shelves, searching for the ideal product? A detergent removes stains, respecting your laundry’s colors and fabrics, affecting the environment.
And then, what is the most convenient format? Better in powder, liquid, or capsules? What are the differences? Let’s see it in the guide that follows.
Table of Contents
What characteristics and requirements must have good laundry detergent?
Whether liquid, powder, or capsules, a good laundry detergent must have basic characteristics.
- First, it must remove the clothes effectively without damaging the colors: the garments must not be faded after washing.
- Secondly, a good detergent must be able to remove any stain. The most difficult, you know, are those on the neck and cuffs, and in some cases, it may be useful to pretreat with a stain remover to get better results.
- It must also be easy to dose, avoid waste and overdose, and be harmful to laundry, the washing machine, and the environment.
- Finally, the ideal laundry detergent should not be too harmful to the environment, even if the most effective detergents are also the most harmful. The advice is to look for a good compromise.
How to choose laundry detergent: types and characteristics
In the market, there are different sizes of detergent for washing machines. Let’s see what they are and their characteristics.
- In powder: always the most-used type. It is practical to dose, inexpensive, preserved for a long time and has a lower environmental impact because it contains fewer preservatives. Also, powder detergent has improved over time, and today many brands can stain already at 20°.
- Liquid: easy to dose and excellent cleaning efficiency (especially if concentrated). Even liquid detergents have high performance at low temperatures. They respect the colors and can also be used to pretreat, but, on the other hand, they are, on average, more expensive and polluting because of the plastic container.
- In capsules or tablets: the last frontiers of detergents for washing machines are single-dose capsules or tablets. They are not the cheapest solution, but they are certainly comfortable and easy to use: insert them directly into the basket, and you’re done. A fixed dosage, calibrated on a standard load, is not indicated for a quantity of laundry that is inferior to normal. It is also good to pay particular attention to the casing, which melts when in contact with water and can be dangerous, especially for children.
Apart from the format, there are a whole series of products suitable to meet particular needs: detergents for dark, white, colored, delicate garments, and so on. I will make the choices based on usage.
Why is it important to choose a good laundry detergent?
A good laundry detergent guarantees hygiene and cleaning with every washing and takes care of our laundry, preserving fibers and colors over time.
It is also an important choice for energy consumption: quality detergents, as we have mentioned, are activated at low temperatures (some already at 20°), allowing cooler wash cycles and a consequent reduction in consumption. If it contains fewer preservatives, dyes, and chemical agents, it also becomes an ecological choice that respects the environment.
The best laundry detergent for washing machines for effectiveness and cleaning power
Below are the top 10 best laundry detergents for washing machines tested and selected for effectiveness and cleaning power. We recommend getting clean laundry and effectively protecting your appliance.
- One 166.5 fl oz bottle of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean with Odor Blasters Laundry Detergent,...
- Triple-power HE laundry detergent fights tough odors, blasts away stains and boosts...
- With trusted ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda plus an odor fighter, this HE laundry detergent is...
- Tide PODs laundry pods are 3-in-1 concentrated laundry detergent, stain remover, and color...
- These Tide laundry pods offer a Fresh Spring Meadow scent giving your clothes the...
- Laundry pods works on 100% of common stains—even in cold water
- One 170 fl oz bottle of ARM & HAMMER Clean Burst Liquid Laundry Detergent cleans 170...
- Concentrated laundry detergent is formulated to get out tough dirt and odors with 2X...
- Blended with ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, this HE laundry detergent is formulated to deeply...
- all free clear is the #1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists and...
- Works in all washing machines including high efficiency (HE) washers
- This concentrated formula delivers 2X more cleaning power in every drop vs our standard...
- Tide Liquid Laundry Detergenent comes in the classic, fresh scent that you know and love...
- Tide Liquid Laundry Deteregent cleans deep, and brings a renewed sensation to your laundry
- This laundry detergent whitens fabrics you want whitened and brightens fabrics you want...
- One 140 fl oz bottle of ARM and HAMMER Sensitive Skin Free and Clear Liquid Laundry...
- Dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic laundry detergent that's gentle on skin but tough on...
- Dye-free, worry-free detergent with no perfumes or preservatives is certified 100% by...
- Tyler Glamorous Wash will let you enjoy your favorite scents throughout the day and night.
- The Tyler detergent has been formulated to clean effectively yet remain gentle on...
- Use the Glamorous Wash to clean your linens, lingerie, fine fabrics, and much more for the...
- Tide Simply laundry detergent tackles 99% of most common stains and odors including food...
- With a more concentrated formula, you get more cleaning agents in your laundry detergent...
- Save even more money using Tide Simply laundry detergent to clean musty towels and dirty,...
- Surprisingly powerful clean in 1 step
- 3-in-1 laundry pacs: super concentrated detergent, extra odor fighters, extra stain...
- From America’s #1 detergent brand* (*Tide, based on sales)
- From America's #1 Trusted Detergent Brand* *Tide is Consumers' #1 Trusted laundry...
- Built-in pre-treaters to remove even the toughest stains
- With a more concentrated formula, you get more cleaning agents and less water in every...
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