So much depends on detergent. After dragging your clothes to the laundromat, you better come back with clean clothes. But even though their whole purpose is to provide a palace to clean your clothes, your local laundromat might not sell the best detergent in their coin dispensers. You don't always have time to hand wash stubborn stains with hot water and baking soda.

While we’re on the subject, can detergents be more environmentally friendly? Look at the difference in water content between eco-friendly laundry detergents and regular detergents. Higher-efficiency formulas are more concentrated in the same amount of detergent, meaning they're better stain fighters and take less shelf space. The best natural laundry detergents also use few or no phosphates, which may help hard water but hurt the planet.

We know laundry is a low-priority task on the to-do list, so we're here to lighten the load. Whether you're looking for laundry detergent for sheets, towels, trousers, or t-shirts, we'll be with you every cycle. Here's our list of the 11 best laundry detergents.

1. Gain + Aroma Boost Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent 46oz

Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent infuses your clothes with the fragrance of the green, clean, airy outdoors, so you're always just one quick sniff away from the most invigorating scent experience known to humankind. Equipped with the cleaning power of Oxi Boost and the odor-removal properties of Febreze, Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent provides excellent results wash after wash. Get rid of set-in odors and two-weeks old stains with the power of Oxi Boost, composed of highly effective pre-treaters, surfactants, and enzymes. Packing 50% more scent compared to regular Gain powder detergent, you can now revel in the amazing scent of Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent for up to six weeks following wash.

$8.29

2. Tide Original High Efficiency Liquid Laundry Detergent 46oz

Its high-efficiency (HE) variety has an improved formula, reengineered to attack tough body soils. Tide HE Turbo Clean detergents feature Smart Suds technology. The quick-collapsing suds of this high-efficiency detergent clean faster and rinse out quicker, even in cold cycles.

$10.49

3. Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent 46oz

Tide has specially designed this for sensitive skin. With no dyes or perfumes in production, it's dermatologist tested to provide your fabrics with a great clean that's gentle on your skin. Tide Free & Gentle will work great on heavily soiled clothes. 

$10.49

4. Seventh Generation Eucalyptus & Lavender Liquid Laundry Detergent 50oz

Powered by plants, this laundry detergent formula is 100% biodegradable. Seventh Generation’s Fresh Lavender Laundry Detergent helps you tackle tough stains for when life’s all-too-familiar messes come your way. Without using dyes, synthetic fragrances, or optical brighteners in production, the fresh lavender scent comes from 100% essential oils and botanical ingredients for a refreshing, not overpowering smell. Fresh lavender and aromatic notes provide the exhilarating entrance of this creative blend creating a refreshing bloom. 

This plant-based laundry detergent is a USDA Certified Biobased Product 97% and works great in standard and high-efficiency washing machines, and in any water temperature, for clean laundry you can feel good about.

$10.99

5. Seventh Generation Concentrated Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent 50oz

We believe Seventh Generation Concentrated Free & Clear Laundry Detergent is everything a detergent should be. It's easy to grab, carry, and store. It's concentrated so that you get more washes with less added water. EPA Safer Choice Certified and a USDA Certified Biobased Product 96%, so you know it's formulated with people and the planet in mind. Plus, it's free of fragrances, dyes, artificial brighteners, and dermatologist-tested for sensitive skin. Finally, it does what you and your busy family need most from a laundry detergent — it fights tough stains. It's a clean you're going to love.

$16.99

6. Gain Moonlight Breeze Liquid Laundry Detergent 50oz

This keeps fantastic freshness in your clothes even after two weeks! Great scents in liquid detergent — your nose and clothes will thank you. It lifts dirt and locks in amazing freshness. 

$7.99

7. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent 50oz

This hypoallergenic formula is fragrance-free and easy on sensitive skin. It uses citrates, gluconates, and carbonates to replace phosphates, which lead to algae blooms. Wash your clothes without dirtying the earth.

$10.49

8. Love Home and Planet Lavender & Argan Oil Concentrated Laundry Detergent 50oz

A little goes a long way with our concentrated laundry detergent. It’s made with plant-based cleansers and is so smart it detects the type of stain it encounters to cleanse effectively yet gently; plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free. Inhale the blend of Moroccan argan oil and infused with the calming scent of French lavender.

$18.99

9. Lysol Crisp Linen Laundry Sanitizer Additive 41oz

For a thorough clean, this kills 99.9% of bacteria detergents leaves behind and the COVID-19 virus. It contains 0% bleach and works in cold water. At the same time, it’s gentle on most fabrics, including whites and colors, and works in all standard and HE machines.

$7.99

10. Gain Tropical Liquid Laundry Detergent 40oz

Gain’s unit-dose laundry detergent brings 50% more scent to your laundry room and clothes. Oxi boost fights stains while removing odors with the odor-elimination technology of Febreze, so your clothes are left wonderfully clean with an amazing scent. Like a breath of fresh air from a moonlit stroll, the sweet and lush scent of Gain Moonlight Breeze will make you happy.

$6.99

11. Tide Pods Original 16ct

Take out the guesswork. No measuring required: laundry detergent pods provide the perfect amount of detergent every time. Keep your clothes so fresh and so clean.

$7.99

FAQ

What detergent makes clothes smell good?

What makes clothes smell good depends entirely on your point of view. Are you one of those hyper-sensory people they show in commercials? Do you linger at the washer for the fresh scent after pouring the detergent in? If the best-smelling laundry detergents do it for you, many think Tide has the quintessential laundry smell, like the Coca-Cola of aromas.

However, if scents set you off, the point of cleaning is not to smell anything. Seventh Generation's Free & Clear is the best laundry detergent for odors, and we mean all odors. You could also try their laundry detergent pods. These bad boys are unscented and hermetically sealed so you can get in and out of the laundry room and on with your life, fragrance-free.

What’s the best baby laundry detergent?

If you're buying detergent for your baby, the build-up of harsh chemicals and allergens can be just as bad as body oils. It's a balancing act. Something needs to kill all the germs that thrive in dirty clothes. But what's the point if it makes you and your kids itchy?

Luckily, our dedicated detergent makers also thought of this and concocted formulas with less stuff causing skin irritation. If you're looking for the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin, Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent is a safe bet. If your child is experiencing harsher symptoms than the average rash, please consult a pediatrician. 

What are the best dryer sheets?

Detergent can only take you so far. After your clothes are out of the wash, you've got to dry them, which comes with an entirely new set of considerations. You could put them out on the line. But people in apartments in a hurry probably need to use the dryer, and dryer sheets will help soften fabrics and reduce wrinkles and lint.

Bounce is a classic brand for dryer sheets that will help bring the best out of your clothes. If you're looking for a brand that uses natural ingredients, try Mrs. Meyers, made with a cruelty-free floral formula.