January 2007
Laundry detergents
Clean and green options
The chemicals in laundry detergents that clean clothing are called surfactants. But in the case of at least one type, surfactant
is also a dirty word.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates, also known as NPEs, are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as toxic to aquatic plants and animals. They’re also banned in parts of the European Union. But some detergents made for the U.S. still contain those chemicals because they cost less. And in our tests, many laundry detergents with NPEs performed worse than those with more environmentally friendly surfactants. Some other findings:
Price versus performance. The highest-rated detergent, SA8 with Bioquest (made by the company formerly known as Amway), cleaned up when it came to, well, cleaning our test swatches, which were impregnated with nine common staining agents, including blood and makeup. It was also the most expensive, at 61¢ per load. Plus, it’s available only online. Fortunately, store-bought alternatives, such as Tide Free HE and Gain HE, perform nearly as well for less than half that price.
Cleaning ability isn’t enough. To boost sales and differentiate themselves from the competition, manufacturers are offering a larger bouquet of fragrances, fragrance-free options, and even detergents mixed with fabric softener. For more information on the latter, see Softergents. Our tests revealed that none of those ingredients tended to affect cleaning ability.
Dropping the ball. OxiClean sells a slow-dissolving detergent ball, encased in a mesh sack. You put it in your washing machine tub, and it’s purportedly good for up to 25 loads. Though slightly more convenient than adding detergent at the beginning of every wash cycle, the product performed poorly from the first load to the 16th. It was the worst detergent we tested. Another new product, Dropps, a premeasured packet of gel detergent that dissolves in the wash, also settled near the bottom of our Ratings (available to subscribers).
HOW TO CHOOSE
Our tests have shown that there’s little performance difference between powders and liquids; it’s simply a matter of personal preference. To get the best results from any detergent: First, start the water; then, add the detergent, giving it time to dissolve or mix in the flow; finally, add the clothing. Newer machines have detergent dispensers that will add detergent automatically. Some more tips:
Use the right one for your machine. Front-loader manufacturers recommend high-efficiency detergents, typically labeled “HE,” which are made to work with smaller volumes of water. It’s not as clear-cut for top-loaders, so check the owner’s manual. Using the wrong type can lead to oversudsing or poor results.
For gleaming whites, opt for optical brighteners. But use detergents with brighteners judiciously because they can make dark clothing look faded. Use a detergent without brighteners for dark loads.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates, also known as NPEs, are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as toxic to aquatic plants and animals. They’re also banned in parts of the European Union. But some detergents made for the U.S. still contain those chemicals because they cost less. And in our tests, many laundry detergents with NPEs performed worse than those with more environmentally friendly surfactants. Some other findings:
Price versus performance. The highest-rated detergent, SA8 with Bioquest (made by the company formerly known as Amway), cleaned up when it came to, well, cleaning our test swatches, which were impregnated with nine common staining agents, including blood and makeup. It was also the most expensive, at 61¢ per load. Plus, it’s available only online. Fortunately, store-bought alternatives, such as Tide Free HE and Gain HE, perform nearly as well for less than half that price.
Cleaning ability isn’t enough. To boost sales and differentiate themselves from the competition, manufacturers are offering a larger bouquet of fragrances, fragrance-free options, and even detergents mixed with fabric softener. For more information on the latter, see Softergents. Our tests revealed that none of those ingredients tended to affect cleaning ability.
Dropping the ball. OxiClean sells a slow-dissolving detergent ball, encased in a mesh sack. You put it in your washing machine tub, and it’s purportedly good for up to 25 loads. Though slightly more convenient than adding detergent at the beginning of every wash cycle, the product performed poorly from the first load to the 16th. It was the worst detergent we tested. Another new product, Dropps, a premeasured packet of gel detergent that dissolves in the wash, also settled near the bottom of our Ratings (available to subscribers).
HOW TO CHOOSE
Our tests have shown that there’s little performance difference between powders and liquids; it’s simply a matter of personal preference. To get the best results from any detergent: First, start the water; then, add the detergent, giving it time to dissolve or mix in the flow; finally, add the clothing. Newer machines have detergent dispensers that will add detergent automatically. Some more tips:
Use the right one for your machine. Front-loader manufacturers recommend high-efficiency detergents, typically labeled “HE,” which are made to work with smaller volumes of water. It’s not as clear-cut for top-loaders, so check the owner’s manual. Using the wrong type can lead to oversudsing or poor results.
For gleaming whites, opt for optical brighteners. But use detergents with brighteners judiciously because they can make dark clothing look faded. Use a detergent without brighteners for dark loads.
ODDBALLS Two new twists on laundry detergent, Dropps gel packs and the OxiClean ball, promise convenience as well as cleaning power. But both cleaned much worse, in our tests, than liquids or powders. |
