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I’ve been running into a big problem recently. See, I live a pretty active lifestyle: Basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays, pickleball just about every other day, runni—you get the point.
And for some reason, I naturally sweat more than anyone else I know and added on top of that, I live in Austin and it’s like 100 degrees every day this time of year. (That’s maybe a bit dramatic, but not much.)
All of this adds up to my clothes smelling gross. Someone at basketball even pointed it out one time. So needless to say, I was quite embarrassed. At this time, I was using a bulk container from Costco that obviously wasn’t doing the trick. But no hate on Costco, we love you.
I needed something better. I found the best laundry detergents available today, from classic Tide to upstart brands like Laundry Sauce and Dirty Labs, to find which one is best for different use cases.
Keep reading to find the right laundry detergent for you.
How We Tested
The testing process was straightforward and realistic, especially if you only do laundry for yourself. For each detergent, these were the parameters followed:
- All clothes were thrown in one load, with no separation of colors or fabrics: Personally, I’ve gone back and forth on this throughout the years. I have experienced some color bleeding, but generally speaking, I’ve had very few issues and certainly not enough to make me want to separate everything.
- Clothes were washed on the “Normal” setting with Warm water.
- Clothes were dried on the “Normal” setting with Medium heat.
- Manufacturer’s amount of detergent recommendations were followed.
Keeping this consistent, I put each detergent to the test. If it could handle both ultra-sweaty and gently-worn clothes in the same load, then it can handle delicate cycles and more.
Here’s my breakdown of each one.
The Best Laundry Detergents of 2024
Best Overall:
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per container: 100 | Cost per load: About $0.20 | Scent: Original
With its signature fresh scent and a strong formula, the Tide Original liquid laundry detergent removes even the most stubborn spots, leaving your clothes soft and bright. Its phosphate-free formula is friendly to your skin and the environment, while it dissolves dirt, sweat, and grease stains easily. Suitable for all types of garments and high-efficiency washing machines, the Tide Original gets the job done in hot and cold water. Its convenient packaging fits into most cabinets, while the cost per load offers a great value as you don’t have to use a ton of it to get your clothes clean.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “Is it hard to go wrong with this one? Tide Original is a classic for a reason. I will say that it smells like kitchen cleaning products, but maybe that’s better than the alternative. If you’re looking for a do-it-all detergent that’s affordable, this is your best bet.”
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Best Smelling:
Type: Pods | Number of loads per container: 69 | Cost per load: About $1.00 | Scents: Australian Sandalwood, Egyptian Rose, French Saffron, Indonesian Patchouli, Italian Bergamot, and Siberian Pine
If you think that your laundry is destined to smell the same forever, let me tell you that you’re completely wrong. With five sophisticated scents, ranging from sandalwood to pine, the Laundry Sauce pods leave your clothes with a unique fragrance, like if you had just bought them from a luxury candle store. Free of harsh chemicals to be gentle with your skin, these squishy laundry pods are crafted to dissolve in all water temperatures, leaving no trace behind in your washing machine or garments. If you need to commute to do your laundry, they will stay in their shape without leaking and making a mess in your laundry bag. The sleek packaging gives your laundry room a touch of elegance and style, which is a nice change up from most laundry detergents.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “Wow. Just wow. I didn’t realize that even laundry detergent could get the luxury treatment, but here we are. The box is beautiful and the pods make it easy to just throw in the machine—no measuring cups needed. It did leave my clothes smelling very strong, which I can’t say is totally my preference, but if it’s yours, you’ll love Laundry Sauce.”
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Best Natural:
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per container: 32 | Cost per load: About $0.33 | Scent: Free & Clear (Scent-free), Murasaki Scent (Jasmine, Matcha, and Vetiver), and Signature (Magnolia, Bergamot, Cedar)
If you’re looking for conscious chemicals, Dirty Labs Signature offers cleanliness without harmful ingredients that are harsh on your skin, making it great for pet and baby garments. Whether you wash clothes, bedding, or other linens, this cruelty-free formula combats dirt with the help of PhytolaseⓇ, a signature component that effectively breaks down stains and odors while being gentle for the environment. Its hyper-concentrated formula provides plenty of washes without overfilling the cup, while the aluminum bottles are forever recyclable for a greener planet. Available in two fragrances and a scent-free version, Dirty Labs laundry detergent is definitely worth the try.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “I’ve been watching Dirty Labs since they first came out a few years ago, so I was finally excited to give it a try. The bottle is minimalist and looks good on the counter. This detergent gets the job done, smells great, and seems to be best for the environment from a packaging and ingredients standpoint.”
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Best Pods:
Type: Pods | Number of loads per container: 24 | Cost per load: About $0.41 | Scent: Unscented
Crafted with plant-based ingredients, the Public Goods Laundry pods are suitable for standard and high-efficiency washing machines. Although they’re all-natural, their fragrance-free formula handles even the toughest marks, including oily salad dressings and tomato sauce. Their water-soluble composition, powered by soda ash, dissolves in hot or cold water cycles, while their resealable packaging makes them easy to transport if you need to hit the laundromat. Made to protect your skin and the environment, these pods have been tested by dermatologists and are free of harmful chemicals.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “Like the Laundry Sauce pods, I really appreciate that you don’t need to do any measuring with these, just toss it in with your clothes. The main issue is that sometimes the pods break in the bag, but as far as cleaning they do the task and leave no smell, for better or worse.”
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Best Heavy Duty:
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per container: 59 | Cost per load: About $0.24 | Scent: Sport
Created for workout garments, the Tide Plus Sport Odor Defense leaves your clothes clean, bright, and fragrant for three times longer than its sibling Tide Original. This laundry detergent is formulated to fight week-old spots and set-in sweat odor in all sorts of clothes. While it’s also made to work its magic in all types of washing machines at different water temperatures, the Tide Plus Sport Odor features a scent-renewal technology, which makes your clothes release a fresh scent as you move around. Available in an 84-fluid-ounce bottle, this laundry detergent is a great choice if you’re looking for a heavy duty option at a very affordable price per load.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “This was one of the detergents I was most excited to try. As mentioned earlier, my clothes have been left with a terrible stench after sweating in them. After one washing with Tide Sport, the smell went away so I’m satisfied, although I’m not sure if it’s just masking the odor or actually cleaning it. Either way, I don’t have to worry about comments on my dirty clothes any more!”
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Best Sheets:
Type: Sheet | Number of loads per container: 60 | Cost per load: About $0.33 | Scent: Fresh or Unscented
Earth Breeze makes laundry sheets that are free from parabens, phosphates, bleaches and dyes, and other harmful chemicals. They’re not your standard liquid laundry detergent, so how do they work? The sheets work with all types of machines (and even when hand washing) and dissolve in hot or cold water to help get out stains. Unlike traditional thick jugs, the box doesn’t take up a ton of space in your home and it’s made of cardboard, so the impact on the environment is less damaging than single-use plastic.
Our Tester’s Overall Thoughts: “I love how simple these are—there’s no mess and all it takes is one sheet, thrown in my machine. Because the brand offers guidelines around how many sheets depending on how big the load is, I don’t need to spend time guessing how much detergent they use. And as far as their efficacy, let me tell you: These work just as well as traditional liquid detergent to get out all of my tough smells and stains.”
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Laundry Detergent FAQs
What are the main active ingredients in laundry detergent?
The active ingredients in regular laundry detergents are builders, enzymes, surfactants, and bleaches. Although these are the usual components that work together to remove stains, nowadays laundry detergents can have other ingredients considered more sustainable.
What is the difference between laundry soap and detergent?
Laundry soap is made from organic components like plant oils or animal fats, while laundry detergent is composed of synthetic cleansing agents like bleach and surfactants. Although laundry soap is naturally more friendly to the environment, some brands are now producing laundry detergents with organic ingredients to offer the same performance as regular products while protecting the planet.
Is it OK to use normal detergent in a washing machine?
No. The formula in normal detergent can cause excessive suds that will prevent your washing machine from working properly. At the same time, this will leave detergent residue on your clothes.
Laundry Detergent Tips & Considerations
Type of Apparel
Consider the type of clothes you’ll be washing regularly. For instance, if there are baby clothes in your laundry, you may want to get a product suitable for sensitive skin. If you have a lot of active apparel, you’ll likely need a heavy-duty detergent to get out sweat.
Scent
Although there are many scent-free detergents in the market, you may still want to go for scented options. Sometimes clean clothes are all about the smell. In this case, opt for a detergent whose fragrance pairs well with your perfume, deodorant, or body lotions.
Cost Per Load
Most laundry detergents offer great value when it comes to cost per load. However, some of them can be way out of the budget. When buying laundry detergent, always divide the cost per container by the number of loads. This simple equation will tell you how much you’ll be actually spending on detergent each time you do your laundry.
For your nicer clothes, you may be fine with an expensive, luxurious detergent like Laundry Sauce, while other loads like sweaty clothes could call for a simple heavy-duty detergent that you buy in bulk for cheap.
Why You Should Trust Us
Joe Niehaus is a freelance commerce writer at sites like GQ, Travel + Leisure, Men’s Health, and more. He specializes in products like workout clothes, footwear, and home goods, so he’s well versed in fabrics, chemicals, and which ones pair best with each other. For this piece, he went through the process of actually testing laundry detergent to turn his previously very stinky clothes into actually pleasant-smelling garments.
