Laundry detergents

What's behind our laundry detergent Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 57 models in laundry detergents to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score based on warm, hard-water washing performance of cotton swatches heavily soiled with blood, mud, chocolate ice cream, grass, red wine, ring around the collar, and tea. Displayed scores are rounded; products are listed in order of precise overall score. Note that many detergents brightened white swatches significantly based on analysis under black (UV) light; those providing little or no brightening are footnoted.

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Laundry detergent user reviews

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Recommended laundry detergents

Recommended laundry detergents are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended laundry detergents

Laundry detergent buying guide

To find the laundry detergent that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Laundry detergents Ratings

Find out which Laundry detergents scored the best on our tests. Our tests are based not only on government and industry standards but also on standards our specialists think should apply, which re-create the experience you will have with the product.

Latest laundry detergent ratings

Our laundry detergent tests show that some laundry detergents deal especially well with specific stains, such as ring around the collar, grass, tea, chocolate, or clay. But most people need a laundry detergent that can tackle a wide range of common stains. If you're looking for information about laundry detergents, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ laundry detergent reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our laundry detergent buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and laundry detergent reviews to help you choose the best laundry detergent for your needs.

Ratings & recommended laundry detergents

Laundry detergents (57)

Our latest tests using conventional and high-efficiency washers continue to show that buying a high-priced detergent doesn't guarantee cleaner clothes. Several products that cost 15 cents or less per load out-cleaned several pricier competitors. Our tests also reveal that none of the triple- and other super-concentrated products were tops at cleaning. The Ratings at rank detergents by overall score. Choose the type that matches your washer. Then see our Recommendations for products with performance and value.

Laundry detergent buying guide

Thanks to new ingredients, many detergents have been reduced to a half or a third of their former volume (you'll see 2X or 3X on their packaging). And yet each downsized package promises to wash the same amount of clothes as the bulky old package it replaces.

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