How Well Do ‘Gentle’ Laundry Detergents Actually Clean?
We put sensitive-skin formulas from All, Dreft, Tide, and other popular brands to the test
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Parents of young children—as well as adults with sensitive skin—face a particular challenge when doing laundry. They need a detergent that effectively tackles tough stains without using irritating or potentially harmful chemicals.
Finding a detergent that balances those needs can be a challenge, but the choices are expanding. “It’s still a niche market, but there’s certainly an uptick of ‘free’ and ‘gentle’ laundry detergents across all major brands,” says Kelly Moomey, CR’s senior market analyst for detergents.
Many of the labels on these detergents feature buzzwords like “free,” “clear,” “hypoallergenic,” “sensitive skin,” or “pediatrician recommended” to claim they’re beneficial for children and others with sensitive skin (see below for what those terms mean). But Moomey says be wary of marketing, because the detergents may still contain allergens.
In our ratings, five detergents have the word “gentle” in their name, and 10 include the word “free,” referring to an absence of certain ingredients. (Some list both terms.) Our ratings indicate whether we found a detergent containing fragrance, dye, or brighteners, three ingredient types that can cause irritation. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, websites like SkinSafe (created in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and whose data CR currently licenses) offer databases and guidance on safer ingredients and alternatives.
What Does ‘Free & Gentle’ Mean?
Detergents marketed as “Free & Gentle” are generally free of allergen dyes, perfumes, optical brighteners, phosphates, phthalates, and 1,4-dioxane (a suspected human carcinogen), according to Eric Boring, PhD, a chemist in CR’s consumer safety testing program.
Can a Gentle Detergent Also Clean Well?
There is a potential trade-off: So-called “gentle” laundry detergents tend to use fewer strong chemicals, which can help with effective cleaning. But are they effective enough?
In our tests, detergents branded “free,” “gentle,” or “clear” (or some combination of those words) earned Overall Scores that ranged from very good to mediocre (which we consider an unfavorable rating). Kirkland, Tide, Persil, and All ranked among the best-performing gentle detergents, while Dreft, All Mighty Pacs, Arm & Hammer, Seventh Generation, and Target’s Up & Up Free+Clear were disappointing.
Although its cleaning performance is inferior to many liquids, only Tide Evo Free & Gentle detergent tiles had a decent performance rating among tiles/sheets. Laundry sheets and powders performed the worst among gentle detergents, ranking mediocre at best and terrible at worst. Detergent sheets generally don’t clean well, so we don’t recommend them. Consumers may have to weigh the need for a gentle detergent against cleaning performance, and then make a choice. “For those with sensitivity concerns, the lower cleaning performance may not be as important,” says Larry Ciufo, who oversees CR’s laundry detergent testing.
Reading Beyond the Label
Can you be sure that a detergent is gentle enough for you or your child just because it says it is, or because it has an adorable toddler pictured on the bottle?
Laundry detergents require surfactants, enzymes, and other chemicals to clean effectively. If you or your child has especially sensitive skin or specific allergies, you may have to read beyond the label.
“Parents should understand that their child still might be allergic to a detergent despite being called ‘free and clear’ due to the presence of allergens or irritant chemicals,” Boring says. In our detergent ratings, we indicate the presence of added fragrance, dyes, and brighteners, each of which can irritate sensitive skin.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice label helps consumers find safer detergents by identifying products that meet its criteria for protecting human health and the environment and have passed performance tests. You can also consult Smart Label, a resource developed by detergent brands and retailers that lists major detergent ingredients. The Environmental Working Group’s gentle detergents list—with boutique brands like 9 Elements, Attitude, Better Life, and Common Good—identifies those that meet its standards for health and transparency. Laundry detergents with strong fragrances are among the most concerning items on EWG’s list.
How CR Tests Laundry Detergents
CR tests detergents, including liquids, pods, and sheets, for cleaning performance. Over 30 percent of the detergents we’ve tested are claimed to be gentle, skin-sensitive, or dye- and perfume-free.
In our tests, we launder fabric swatches saturated with blood, body oil, chocolate, coffee, dirt, grass, and salad dressing—stains that are difficult to remove—to detect genuine differences among detergents. Our testers use a colorimeter (a device that measures color intensity) to compare detergent-washed swatch stains to identical swatches laundered using only water. We also assess how well detergents clean in hard water.
Best Detergents for Kids and People With Sensitive Skin
Below you’ll find the best-performing laundry detergents marketed as gentle or free of certain chemicals. Consult the labels for the correct amount to use. Detergents labeled 2X or 10X are more concentrated, so you don’t need as much for effective cleaning. Using too much can leave residue on clothes, potentially increasing sensitivity.
