Laundry detergents

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What's behind our laundry detergent Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 78 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.
Type
Detergent type this includes: Liquid, Powder, Pods or packs, and Sheets.
Cleanability
Cleanability score
Cool water cleanability
This is the washing performance of the detergent in cool water (75 deg F).
Grass - Very good at removing
This indicates that the detergent is very good at removing Grass stains.
Blood - Very good at removing
This indicates that the detergent is very good at removing Blood stains.
Dust Sebum - Very good at removing
This indicates that the detergent is very good at removing Dust/Sebum stains that are commonly called "ring around the collar".

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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 (78)

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

Choosing between powder and liquid used to be the main decision with laundry detergents. But with the advent of high-efficiency washing machines, you now also have to pick between conventional and high-efficiency (HE) detergents, or look for one of the new "dual-use" detergents, suitable for all machines, that makes our recommended list. Single-use packs, similar to what we've seen in dishwasher detergents for years, are another new option among laundry detergents.

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