We Tested 6 Popular Laundry Detergents to See Which Is Best for Cleaning and Scent
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Scent means a lot to me. Probably more than it should. But between my ever-growing perfume collection, my candle stash, and my scent-specific cleaning products (they have to complement my candles and soaps, of course), I still haven’t found the best laundry detergent to match the scent profile I’ve curated for my home. So, I decided to finally put myself to the challenge and test out the laundry detergents going viral around social media, cleaning blogs, and Reddit forums in an attempt to find my Goldilocks laundry detergent: one that smells fabulous and packs cleaning power.
That latter point is important, because I take cleaning seriously, too. (You can take a peek at my Shark Stratos vacuum review to see what I mean when it comes to maintaining a well-kept house.) And just like how the best cleaning products help your home look and feel fresh, the right laundry detergent can do the same for your clothes and fabrics. I tested out six laundry detergents leading the market right now for their cleaning power, high-tech formulas, and supreme scents, and here’s what I found.
Laundry Detergents We Tested
How We Tested
I have an HE front-load washing machine and dryer that I used to test out each laundry detergent with batches of clothes, bedding, towels, or fabrics. I performed two tests: One initial test, following the instructions on the back of the package (how much liquid to use, etc.), without any additional scented products that could throw off the study (fabric softener, laundry sanitizer, scent beads, dryer sheets, or the like); and a second test six months later using different methods like dryer sheets to enhance scent, combining detergents for better cleaning power, and diluting detergents to test fragrance longevity. To keep the testing consistent, I tested each detergent with the same conditions and settings in both the initial and the six-month tests:
- Two tests for each detergent: One dark load, one light load
- Small to medium load for each wash
- Warm water, normal spin, regular wash
- Medium heat, normal spin, regular dry
To test cleaning effectiveness: I intentionally stained three 100% cotton washcloths for each detergent in the light load with some common household stains: oil, red wine, and makeup. After washing and folding, I noted how well the detergents washed out the stains, and how well they brightened light fabrics and cleaned dark fabrics without dulling.
To test scent longevity: This one was pretty simple. I just paid attention to how long the scent lasted on specific items after drying—towels, blankets, and clothing.
So, which one was the best smelling laundry detergent? And which one came out on top in terms of cleaning power? Read on to see my favorite, as well as the best liquid laundry detergents in each category, from longest-lasting smell to the best nontoxic formula, cleanest deep clean, and more. Plus, find out how they performed after six months of continuous testing.
01
Best Overall
DedCool Liquid Laundry Detergent 01 Taunt
Amazon
$35.00
At-a-Glance:
Price: $35
Size: 32 oz.
Scent: 01 Taunt
Pros:
✓ Enjoyable scent
✓ Good cleaning power
Cons:
✗ Pricey
Review:
If I could have my entire house smell like this all the time, I would. (They do have a room spray and incense in the same scent, so I may have to make that happen.) It’s fresh, slightly sweet, and a little musky—exactly what I want for my clothes and sheets. But besides smelling luxurious, DedCool 01 Taunt cleans impressively, too. It was able to get red wine and makeup stains out well (oil was more stubborn), and it left clothes looking clean without feeling stripped. When I know I want a luxe wash for my bedding, special outing clothes, or guest room blankets, this is definitely going to be the one I reach for.
6-Month Update:
After testing this one out for close to six months now, I have to say, I’m still obsessed with it. I actually got the Dedcool dryer sheets in the matching 01 Taunt and fan-favorite Xtra Milk scents, and they really help the longevity of the detergent fragrance. They’ve become such a staple in my routine, in fact, that I even use them with my Tide and Dirty Labs detergents, and they add that gorgeous scent to those laundry loads as well! I’m hooked.
02
Best for Deep Cleaning
Tide Ultra Hygienic Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent
Amazon
$22.49
At-a-Glance:
Price: $20
Size: 132 oz.
Scent: Original
Pros:
✓ Affordable
✓ Deep, thorough clean
✓ Best at lifting set-in stains
Cons:
✗ Plain scent
Review:
The Tide Hygienic Clean is easily the best deep cleaning laundry detergent I’ve tried. I was never a Tide gal, but after testing it out on set-in, dried stains; gym clothes; and towels, it’s easily become a must in my laundry routine. It was able to release every stain in my test, while also brightening my clothes and leaving them feeling crisp and fresh. For everyday, well-worn clothing items and the like, Tide Hygienic Clean is now my go-to laundry detergent. The scent is middle-of-the-road—it’s certainly not a luxury scent, but it does leave my clothes smelling simply fresh. And for the price and cleaning power, that’s a good deal.
6-Month Update:
I don’t know how I lived without Tide Hygienic Clean before this. It gets everything—and I mean everything—out of even the most delicate fabrics and linens. It’s fully removed set-in stains, brought dingy-looking clothes back to life, and kept our bath towels in great shape. I’m never getting rid of this one in my cleaning arsenal.
03
Longest-Lasting Scent
TYLER Glamorous Laundry Wash Diva Detergent
Amazon
$19.00
At-a-Glance:
Price: $20
Size: 16 oz.
Scent: Diva
Pros:
✓ Extremely long-lasting scent
✓ A little goes a long way
Cons:
✗ Scent wasn’t my favorite
✗ Not the best clean
Review:
If you’re looking for scent longevity and projection, let me stop you right here, because Tyler Glamorous Wash takes the cake. It’s easily the longest lasting of any of the laundry detergents I tried on this list (or any of the laundry detergents I’ve tried ever, period). I could still smell the detergent on my living room blanket two weeks later! The scent was slightly too floral for my taste—but if you enjoy flowery, petal-like scents, then you will absolutely love this one. I will be trying out one of their more musky, woody scents and using them on my sheets, blankets, and pillows, though. The cleaning power wasn’t great (it didn’t get any stains out in my test), but if you’re using it as a vanity wash purely to make your fabrics smell good, then it’ll go above and beyond.
6-Month Update:
To be completely honest, this scent has really grown on me. I felt odd about it—not bad, not good—when first using it, but after using it on our bedding, couch pillows, and drapes, I realize that I actually love the way it brings a cozy, easygoing scent to our everyday fabrics. Pro tip: To help amp up the cleaning power, I mix it with Tide Hygienic Clean (1 part Tide to 1/2 part Diva). It helps dilute the Diva scent just enough, but it still smells amazing and you get that crisp, clean feel.
04
Best for Removing Odors
Dirty Labs Signature Scent Bio-Liquid Laundry Detergent
Amazon
$20.00
At-a-Glance:
Price: $20
Size: 8.6 oz.
Scent: Signature
Pros:
✓ High-tech, bio-enzyme formula
✓ Feels like fabrics are truly clean
Cons:
✗ No long-lasting scent
✗ Expensive
Review:
Okay, so I truly love this stuff. I hadn’t even really heard of it until I went researching for some viral laundry detergents, but this one kept popping up, and so I had to see if it lived up to the hype. And… It does. This detergent leaves clothes clean—I mean, clean clean. The scent doesn’t last for longer than a few hours to a day, but I don’t really care about scent when my clothes feel this pristine afterwards. It seems like the bio-enzyme formula breaks down the source of the grime and completely gets rid of it. Like after you get a teeth cleaning and your mouth just feels brighter? That’s what Dirty Labs does for your clothes.
6-Month Update:
I truly love what Dirty Labs did for our high-use fabrics like towels, bedding, and clothes. It feels like a magic trick how well it cleaned and got out smells I didn’t even know were there. It didn’t last as long as I would have liked (8.6 ounces doesn’t go very far), and I haven’t repurchased just because I haven’t needed to (as you might imagine, we’ve got a ton of detergent sitting on our washing machine right now from all this testing!). However, after we run out of the others, I’d definitely consider buying it again.
05
Best Nontoxic Formula
Snif Old Money Laundry Detergent
Amazon
$19.00
At-a-Glance:
Price: $19
Size: 16 oz.
Scent: Old Money
Pros:
✓ Nice, unisex scent
✓ Nontoxic formula
Cons:
✗ Not the best clean
✗ Scent doesn’t last long
Review:
This scent had to grow on me, which it did after the first wash. It definitely smells different inside the container than it does on your clothes and fabrics after drying, so keep that in mind the first time you use it. Snif cleans well overall (it didn’t fully get the red wine or oil stains out, but it did well with the makeup stain), and it leaves a pleasant, unisex scent on your clothes that doesn’t linger, so it’s nice for couples or families who wash their clothes together. And the nontoxic formula is a plus for folks who appreciate a clean laundry detergent that’s safe around pets, kids, and sensitive skin.
6-Month Update:
Snif is such a great Goldilocks detergent. It cleans, but it’s not aggressive; it smells great, but it’s not overpowering; and it makes laundry day feel just a little more luxurious without an insane price tag. I love it for kitchen towels, duvet covers, and table linens.
06
Best Plant-Based Formula
Indigo Wild Zum Amber Laundry Soap
Amazon
$21.99
At-a-Glance:
Price: $21.99
Size: 64 oz.
Scent: Amber
Pros:
✓ Natural, plant-based formula
✓ Pleasant scent
Cons:
✗ Not great at removing stains
Review:
I actually use the Zum room spray in my bathroom in the Frankincense and Myrrh scent (it is fantastic), so I’m fairly familiar with their scents. (Oh, and FYI, if you’re looking for a new room spray, check out our editorial director’s review of the best room sprays right now!). But I’ve never tried their laundry detergents before. I loved the way the Amber scent made clothes smell coming out of the dryer; it was a sweet, woody combo that smelled super cozy and warm. But the scent itself didn’t last very long after wearing the clothes throughout the day. Not a bad thing—just something to note.
6-Month Update:
I’m convinced all Zum scents are just amazing. Though the cleaning power still doesn’t blow me away, the way it makes fabrics smell for a relatively affordable price is fantastic. Because the scent wasn’t lasting long after the dryer, I actually tried what I did with the Dedcool laundry detergent and went out and bought the Zum dryer balls in the same scent. Let me tell you, that made all the difference! The scent is still very mild coming out of the dryer, but if you snuggle up with a blanket post-detergent-and-dryer-ball combo, you definitely smell that amazing amber fragrance.
Check Out Our Other Laundry Room Faves
Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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