Though I loathe most household chores — who doesn’t? — I adore doing the laundry. The warm, clean clothes, fresh out of the dryer, the new wardrobe possibilities… but most important is that fresh, clean scent, and of course that all of my clothes came clean! The right laundry detergent is key, and I have a bunch of favorites. Here are 7 of my favorite laundry soaps.
Price: $15.49 at drugstore.com
This laundry soap is available in three scents: peony blossom, free and clear (no scent), and fresh air. I like the “fresh air” the best, but they’re all soft and light. Four tiny pumps of this laundry soap will clean one entire load of laundry, so this small 20 ounce bottle can clean up to 50 loads! This detergent is also 95% plant-based, hypo-allergenic, and completely biodegradable.
Price: $15.99 at drugstore.com
I love the entire range of Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, but especially this laundry detergent, which is lightly scented with lavender. There are other scents, too, including lemon verbena and basil (sounds odd, but smells divine). I love that you can use this one detergent in all machines, including HE machines, and that the formula isn’t tested on animals but is biodegradable.
Price: $10.99 at drugstore.com
This is my all-time favorite every-day laundry detergent, ideal for adding a summer scent to your clothes even in the middle of winter. This detergent is made for HE machines, and will clean up to 50 loads of laundry. It’s also safe for septic tanks and the bottle is recyclable and made from at least 25% recycled materials.
Price: $9.99 at drugstore.com
I used to add a scoop of Oxy to all of my loads of laundry, until I discovered this detergent, with Oxi built in. This detergent smells fresh and clean, and contains no phosphates. It’s safe for septic tanks and this one bottle will clean up to 32 loads of laundry. What a bargain!
Price: $20.99 at drugstore.com
Domestic queen Martha Stewart has branched out from simple décor to a new line of cleaning products, and this one’s marvelous. It’s focused on keeping clothing looking new, while still cleaning effectively. This detergent’s made for HE machines, is 99% plant and mineral based, and is made without animal testing, artificial colors, and harsh chemicals. It also smells really, really good! It’s a little pricey, but bear in mind it does clean 85 loads of laundry.
Price: $19.99 at drugstore.com
This is the most upscale laundry detergent I’ve ever used, and it’s worth every penny. I’ve never used a soap that cleans so well, leaves my clothes smelling so sweet, and leaves them looking so… new! It’s not tested on animals, either, so it’s guilt-free.
Price: $14.99 at drugstore.com
This is the detergent I use for my gym clothes, and it works beautifully. The added Febreze keeps even my smelliest gym clothes fresh and clean, and Acti-Lift technology protects my clothes from stains. It’s also phosphate-free and biodegradable, and is safe for septic tanks.
Those are my favorite laundry soaps, and since I have so many of them, I’m always using a different one for each type of laundry! The Tide is for my gym clothes, the Laundress for my delicates… and the Apple Mango Tango for everyday clothes! Which of these laundry detergents do you like best, and why? Or is there another one you like more?