Pros
- Cleans whites and colors
- 'Designed for Delivery' bottle
Cons
You've probably used Tide liquid detergent at some point in your life, but this one is even better. It's got ten times the cleaning power, so your clothes will get a deeper clean, and smell fresher. The high-efficiency detergent will also clean faster, and rinse out quicker (even in cold water!), thanks to Smart Suds technology. The best part? It's totally budget-friendly.
Pros
- Single-dose
- Extra odor fighters + stain removers
Cons
It's hard to top detergent packs for convenience, and it's also hard to top Tide Pods in our tests. They earned the most perfect scores, removing mud, chocolate, gravy, grass, and more from cotton and polyester in warm and cold water. Its 3-in-1 formula consists of a super concentrated detergent, extra stain fighters, and color protector.
Seventh Generation Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Packs, Free & Clear
Pros
- No dyes, fragrances, or artificial colors
Cons
Seventh Generation Laundry Packs topped our cotton in hot water wash tests. It was the only detergent to get oil out of cotton completely, a difficult feat to reach! And these powder packs, specifically, are without scent or dye, so if you have sensitive skin, it's one less thing to worry about, and could be safer than liquid packs in home with kids, if you like a single-dose.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Safe for whites and colors
Cons
If you prefer liquid detergent, Persil ProClean Stain Fighter won't disappoint. It topped our test of 42 formulas doing the best job erasing stains from all of our swatches in cold water. It totally zapped coffee and egg from all fabrics so don't worry if you're having a bad breakfast. Persil has your back!
Pros
- 6x the cleaner power in half the time
Cons
There's no beating Tide Plus Bleach Powder, which works just as well in cold water as hot. It also gives clothes a splash of color-safe bleach to make your whites and colors brighter with every cycle. It does not contain chlorine bleach, so that's what makes it safe for all washable fabrics and colors.
Sarah Bogdan, a trained mechanical engineer, is a former Product Analyst for the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she researched and evaluated home appliances and cleaning tools.
Sienna is a Deputy Editor at Hearst, where she oversees coverage of style, beauty, lifestyle, and more. She lives in California with her husband and two littles.
