Best and worst laundry detergents

No one else tests laundry detergents as thoroughly as we do. Our independent lab tests mimic the everyday dirt and stains you get on your clothes and linen, so you can be confident that our Best Buy laundry detergents really will get your grubbiest washing clean.

We review three different types of laundry detergent – liquids and gels, which are the best for keeping colours bright, washing powder that shines when it comes to getting whiter whites, and laundry capsules that are the most convenient option to use, but tend to be less effective.

Here we compare bio and non-bio detergents from brands such as Ariel, Ecover and Persil, as well as own-brand laundry products from Aldi, Co-op, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

The best liquid and gel laundry detergents from our tests

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The liquid and gel laundry detergents we tested

All the liquid and gel laundry detergents we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Aldi Almat Super Concentrated Non-Bio Laundry Liquid

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Available from Aldi (£2.79)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.47 litres

Washes per pack 42

Cost per wash 7p

Ariel Original Gel

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 840ml

Washes per pack 24

Cost per wash 29p

Ariel Original Liquid

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 2.45 litres

Washes per pack 70

Cost per wash 19p

The Co-op Non-Bio Laundry Gel

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Available from Co-op (£3.20)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 720ml

Washes per pack 24

Cost per wash 13p

Ecozone Bio Laundry Liquid

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 2 litres

Washes per pack 50

Cost per wash 22p

Kit & Kin Fragrance Free Laundry Liquid

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Available from Kit & Kin (£6.99)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1 litre

Washes per pack 25

Cost per wash 28p

Remove stubborn creases from your garments in minutes with the best clothes steamers

Marks & Spencer Sensitive Non-Bio Laundry Liquid

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.5 litres

Washes per pack 50

Cost per wash 11p

Method Wild Lavender Concentrated Laundry Detergent 

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.56 litres

Washes per pack 39

Cost per wash 26p

Miniml Fresh Linen Non-Bio Laundry Liquid 

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1 litre

Washes per pack 33

Cost per wash 29p

Sainsbury's Non-Bio Super Concentrated Laundry Liquid

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Available from Sainsbury's (£3.75)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 720ml

Washes per pack 24

Cost per wash 8p

Waitrose Essential Bio Laundry Gel

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Available from Waitrose (£2.75)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 720ml

Washes per pack 24

Cost per wash 13p

Waitrose Essential Non-Bio Laundry Liquid

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Available from Waitrose (£2.50)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 900ml

Washes per pack 36

Cost per wash 7p

Wilton London Eco Non-Bio Lavender Laundry Liquid

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1 litre

Washes per pack 28

Cost per wash 29p

The best laundry capsules from our tests

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The laundry capsules we tested

All the laundry capsules we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Aldi Almat 3-in-1 Bio Laundry Capsules 

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Available from Aldi (£2.89)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 420ml

Washes per pack 20

Cost per wash 14p

Aldi Almat Non-Bio Liquid Laundry Capsules

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Available from Aldi (£3.29)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 420ml

Washes per pack 20

Cost per wash 16p

Ariel Original All-in-1 Pods

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Most recently tested August 2024

Pack size 477g

Washes per pack 25

Cost per wash 26p

Ariel Platinum Pods + Extra Stain Removal

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Most recently tested August 2024

Pack size 672g

Washes per pack 29

Cost per wash 28p

Ariel Platinum Pods + Febreze Odour Defence

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 620g

Washes per pack 29

Cost per wash 34p

Ecover Bio Laundry Capsules

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 691g

Washes per pack 34

Cost per wash 32p

What's the best and cheapest way to dry clothes indoors? See our top tips

Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Capsules

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 691g

Washes per pack 34

Cost per wash 32p

Ecozone Non-Bio Laundry Capsules

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 500g

Washes per pack 20

Cost per wash 53p

Marks & Spencer Sensitive Non-Bio Laundry Capsules

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Available from Marks & Spencer (£6.50)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 570g

Washes per pack 30

Cost per wash 22p

Ocean Saver Non-Biological EcoCaps Laundry Detergent 

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 420ml

Washes per pack 30

Cost per wash 27p

Persil Bio 3-in-1 Capsules

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.792kg

Washes per pack 66

Cost per wash 18p

The best washing powders from our tests

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The washing powders we tested

All the laundry capsules we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Aldi Almat Non-Biological Washing Powder

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Available from Aldi (£3.75)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 2kg

Washes per pack 40

Cost per wash 9p

Aldi Almat Bio Washing Powder

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Available from Aldi (£3.75)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 2kg

Washes per pack 40

Cost per wash 9p

Bio-D Concentrated Non-Bio Washing Powder 

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1kg

Washes per pack 17

Cost per wash 28p

Ecover Bio Washing Powder

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 750g

Washes per pack 10

Cost per wash 48p

Looking to dry clothes fast? Check out our list of the best heated clothes airers

Ecover Non-Bio Washing Powder

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 3kg

Washes per pack 40

Cost per wash 36p

Marks & Spencer Sensitive Laundry Powder

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Available from Marks & Spencer (£5)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.43kg

Washes per pack 26

Cost per wash 19p

Sainsbury's Non-Bio Laundry Powder

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Available from Sainsbury's (£3)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.25kg

Washes per pack 25

Cost per wash 12p

Waitrose Essential Non-Bio Laundry Powder

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Available from Waitrose (£3.30)

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Most recently tested June 2024

Pack size 1.35kg

Washes per pack 27

Cost per wash 12p

How we test laundry detergents

We thoroughly test washing powders, capsules, liquids and gels in the Which? lab, so you can be confident that the detergent you buy will not only remove tough stains, but will also leave your whites white and colourful clothes bright. 

We test each detergent six times in order to answer all the crucial questions about laundry detergents.

How well does the detergent work on different types of tough stains?

We apply stains to laundry in 5cm-diameter circles before washing and then measure stain-removal power after washing using a photospectrometer.

17 different types of stain are tested, including drinks (eg red wine, tea, coffee, fruit juice), food (eg tomato purée, chocolate ice cream, curry, mustard) make-up, grease, oil and everyday stains such as blood, sweat, ink, grass and mud.

Does it protect white fabrics?

We wash three white pieces of cotton, polycotton, polyester and polyamide to see whether whites go grey after six washes.

Will it stop colours fading in the wash?

14 different coloured swatches are added to our test load and washed 20 times with each detergent to see how badly they fade.

All the washing powders we test fade clothes a little, but liquids don't usually fade clothes to the same extent as they don't contain bleach.

Will it cause pilling on clothes?

Pills are the name commonly given to the little balls or 'bobbles' that form on the fabrics of your clothes and linens. After 20 washes, we inspect the fabric to see if it's fuzzy or bobbly.

What is its environmental impact?

We examine the eco-credentials of each laundry detergent so that you can make a more informed buying decision. 

We look into the ingredients used and what their environmental impact is, including whether they are biodegradable, harmful to aquatic life or persistent (whether they are likely to accumulate and linger in waterways). We consider how transparent manufacturers are about the ingredients they use. 

We also take into account how easy the packaging is to recycle and how much information about recyclability is given on the packaging.

We regularly revisit the laundry detergents on sale to see if there are any more popular brands that need testing and when we find them we do. 

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

Where should you put laundry detergent?

You'll commonly see three compartments in a detergent drawer, but it's rarely immediately clear which one you should use for what.

The first thing we'd suggest doing is to read the user manual for your own washing machine model (especially if you have one with an automatic dispenser). It's the only way you can be 100% confident that you're putting the right substance in the right place.

Generally though, you can assume that the compartments can be used as follows:

• I symbol = Pre wash You may wish to add detergent here for particularly stained or dirty loads.
• II symbol = Main wash Put your laundry liquid, gel or powder here.
• Flower symbol = Fabric softener Used less commonly these days, some people still like to finish off the wash with this liquid.

Bio vs non-bio: what you need to know

The key difference between biological and non-biological laundry detergent is the presence of enzymes. Biological powders, liquids and capsules contain enzymes that help break down proteins, fat and starch. This helps remove stains, such as chocolate or burger grease.

Based on our testing, biological laundry detergents containing enzymes are generally more effective at removing stains than non-biological products.

Different types of stain are removed by different ingredients in the detergent. Besides enzymes, surfactant (soap) and bleach in the detergent tackle different types of stains. Bleach helps remove tea stains, for example, and some surfactants work on greasy stains, such as cooking oil.

But take care if you're washing delicate fabrics, such as wool or silk. Some biological washing detergents state on their packaging that they're not suitable for washing wool or silk. This is because some enzymes can start to break down the protein in wool fibres, damaging the fabric over time. Instead, use wool-safe or delicate detergents specifically made for these items.

And while many people think non-biological washing powders and detergents are kinder to their skin because they don't contain enzymes, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that enzymes can cause skin irritation.

5 surprising uses for laundry detergent

Laundry detergent tips and hacks include anything from mopping floors to cleaning upholstery, as well as getting it to work on carpets and surfaces – we tested them all, with mixed results. 

Just make sure your detergent isn't going to be harmful to anything you're cleaning, especially if it's not being used for its original purpose.

1. Mopping floors Mixing a teaspoon of laundry detergent with a couple of litres of hot water created a good amount of suds that cleans up minor dirt and food spillages quite well.
2. Cleaning upholstery If there's one of these hacks that we would consider a hidden gem for laundry detergent usage, this would be it – we were very impressed by using detergent to clean sofas. You just have to be careful that it doesn't react badly with the material, and it's vital to take care not to oversoak your settee. You only need half a teaspoon of detergent with a litre or two of warm water and a soft sponge to apply it.
3. Cleaning carpets Adding laundry detergent to your carpet cleaner machine is one hack to avoid. It creates too many suds and it can even damage your appliance. Carpet shampoo is much more effective at lifting these kinds of stains.
4. Cleaning surfaces This is unfortunately another big no-no. We found laundry detergent highly unsuitable and it won't be up to scratch for getting your kitchen or bathroom spotless.
5. Removing stains The least surprising result of the lot, laundry detergent applied prior to washing is an excellent way to rid your clothing of stubborn stains without having to invest in a dedicated stain remover. Simply apply neat and leave it to work for at least 10 minutes before placing your clothing in the washing machine. We found it was hugely effective on both stubborn red wine and coffee stains.