Popular | High-Efficiency | Biodegradable | Cheap | Old
Finding the best detergent brands can be a daunting task. A simple stroll into a supermarket or department store and you will be confronted with rows and rows of options. Detergents are a necessity for everyone, we need them to have clean, disinfected,, and great smelling laundry. So, it is no wonder a lot of people are on the hunt for the best detergent brands for their households.
There are more than a few options of detergent types and formulations these days. The soap for clothes industry has existed for hundreds of years. However, detergents were not formulated until after the second World War. Since then, different scents, ingredients, and formulas have been tried and tested. We currently have everything from the familiar powder detergents to detergent pods and newer formulations are also being developed. While shopping, you may instintively reach for the most familiar brands, detergent brands offering a good deal or something with nice packaging. But, your detergent choices should go a little deeper than that. After all, the detergent you choose will directly impact the cleanliness of your clothes, sheets, and other household items.
Fun fact about detergents: Detergent and soap are not the same. Detergents are formulated especially for washing machines cleaning methods. It suspends the dirt in the water allowing the washing machine to use pressure to remove stains from fabrics.
To help you make these all-important detergent decisions, we have rounded up a list of the top Detergent brands proven to pack a punch. When it comes to cleaning, our comprehensive list will help you make a better and more informed decision the next time you find yourself wandering down the Detergent aisle.
Top Popular laundry detergent brands
#1 Tide
The Brand; Tide laundry detergent is one of the most recognizable detergent brands worldwide. It ranks as the highest-selling detergent globally, a testament to its popularity. It is manufactured and marketed by P&G and was officially introduced in 1946.
Need to know: Tide is so popular in some parts of the world that it is stolen off shelves to sell on the black market.
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#2. Ariel
The Brand: Ariel Laundry detergents have 50 years of relevance in the laundry industry. The brand was established in 1967 and is famed for its ability to make whites brilliant and remove tough stains. Ariel detergent also has a line of detergents formulated for colored clothes. This formula is much more gentle.
Need to know: Ariel is the first detergent manufactured with stain-removing enzymes.
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#3. Arm & Hammer
The Brand: Arm & Hammer was founded in 1846 by brothers in law John Dwight and Dr. Austin Church. The brand started off selling baking soda and a few other household essentials. They then branched into laundry detergents in 1970. Baking soda remains an essential part of their formula and it is also included in their laundry detergent. The Arm & Hammer symbol of their logo is a representation of a roman legend of Vulcan, the god of fire. The symbol represents strength and is translated into the strength of their products.
Need to know: Arm &Hammer were the first to distribute phosphate-free detergent nationally.
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#4. Gain
The brand: Gain laundry was introduced in 1969. It is part of the P&G family and is the second best-selling detergent in the United States. The brand is highly famed for its unique scents that are reminiscent of fresh outdoor smells.
Need to know: Gain was originally introduced as a stain removing detergent.With the popularity of their first scented version, they decided to focus on scents.
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#5. Persil
The Brand: Persil laundry detergent was created in 1907. The brand is manufactured by Henkel in some countries and by Unilever in others. The stain removing action was first noticed when the creators dissolved some ordinary soap and salt. They discovered it was very effective at taking out stains without damaging the clothes. The original formula used to be mixed into a paste before use.
Need to know: Persil’s name is derived from the two main ingredients sodium perborate and silicate.
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Top high-efficiency laundry detergent brands
#1. Member’s Mark
The Brand: Member’s Mark detergent is sold exclusively at Sam’s Club. The laundry detergent is part of its private line. It is a high-efficiency detergent that is affordable and tough on stains. The detergent contains a powerful combination of whitening and cleaning agents that leave clothes sparkling.
Need to know: Member’s Mark works great in both hot and cold water settings.
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#2. All (Stainlifters)
The Brand: All laundry detergent was established in 1959. All detergent was originally manufactured and distributed by Unilever. The brand was acquired by Henkel in 2016 and has continued to produce top-quality laundry detergents. All high-efficiency detergent is tough on stains but made free of perfumes, preservatives, and dyes. So, it is great for children and users with sensitive skin.
Need to know: All free clear is highly recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin.
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#3. Era
The Brand: Era (inactive site) laundry detergent is owned by Procter & Gamble. The detergent comes in a variety of scents and categories. It was Procter & Gamble’s first liquid laundry detergent and it was launched in the 1970s.
Need to know: Era laundry detergent is sometimes difficult to find in local stores. However, they can easily be found online.
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#4. Charlie’s soap
The Brand: Charlie’s soap was founded in 1976 by Charlie Sutherland Jr. It is a natural detergent brand. The idea for creating the soap came from Charlie’s father who was a yarn lubricant seller. His clients in textile mills wanted a powerful cleaner and he asked his son, who was a chemist, to start marking them! The soaps were so good for industrial use that workers at the textile mills started sneaking some homes for their personal use. This gave the brand the idea to branch into the production of household laundry detergents.
Need to know: Charlie’s soap is still a family-run business to date. It is run by Charlie Jr and his kids.
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#5. OUT
The Brand: OUT laundry detergent is created by Summit brands. The brand started in 1958 and their first line of business was distributing rust stain removers. They have since branched into other cleaning products. OUT detergent is formulated to work on tough stains and strong odors especially on activewear, uniforms and work clothes.
Need to know: OUT can be combined with other laundry products for an even stronger wash.
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Top biodegradable nontoxic laundry detergent brands
#1. Biokleen
The Brand: Biokleen laundry detergent is nontoxic, chemicalf ree, and plant-based. It uses mineral agents to get rid of stains. The brand was established by Jim Rimer in 1980. At the time, he worked as a sales executive in a chemical supply company. He was retrenched when he pointed out the harmful effects of their chemicals so he went on to create a cleaner and safer alternative.
Need to know: The brand was created for professional cleaning but users loved it so much, it started to be used in households as well.
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#2. Tru earth
The Brand: Tru Earth was established in 2018 by friends Brad Liski, Kevin Hinton and Brian Mckenzie. They each had a passion for waste reduction, the environment and clean laundry. They developed the idea of a laundry detergent that was so zero waste its packaging would be no bigger than a smartphone. Small but mighty, it would contain an entire jug of cleaning detergent.
Need to know: Tru Earth’s parent company eco-friendly vegan brand Dizolve
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#3. Ecover
The Brand: Ecover is a plant-based laundry detergent brand made with consciously chosen materials. The brand was founded in 1979 by a group of friends. They decided to act after discovering how much harm cleaning chemicals caused aquatic life. The brand is eco-conscious through and through. Their warehouse in Malle, Belgium is made from sustainable wood, recycled waste, and has a green roof.
Need to know: The brand launched a 100% recyclable bottle made from renewable sugarcane in 2011.
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#4. Pur home
The Brand: Pur home laundry detergents come in a 100% recyclable container. It does not contain harmful ingredients and is made from mineral and plant-based ingredients. The brand was Launched in 2017 by Angela Richardson. Since then, it has actively promoted eco-friendly living and kindness to Mother Nature. Pur home is a black-owned brand.
Need to know: Pur home is leaping bunny certified. This means that their products are not tested on animals and are completely cruelty-free.
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#5. Cleancult
The Brand: Cleancult laundry detergent is biodegradable and comes in refillable cartons. Their packaging is 100% recyclable and the product is safe and kind to skin. The brand was founded by Ryan Lupberger and Zachary Bedrosian in 2016. It’s scientists and engineers are mostly based in Puerto Ricp. They use a coconut-based “cococlean” technology to fight stains and remain gentle on your skin.
Need to know: Cleancult offers a subscription service where you first get a glass jar containing your initial batch of cleaning products. Subsequent refills are sent in biodegradable milk cartons.
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Top cheap laundry detergent brands
#1. WindFresh
The Brand: Windfresh is an affordable detergent brand that is so tough on stains it can also be used to clean concrete, walls and floors. It is great for multipurpose and commercial use. WindFresh is exclusive to Sam’s Club
Need to know: WindFresh is part of the Member’s Mark line.
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#2. Purex
The Brand: Purex was invented by a father & son in 1922. Roy and Lionel started off creating and selling bleach at much cheaper prices. The brand has since branched into creating other cleaning products including laundry detergent. To this day, they remain committed to providing strong cleaning agents at non-inflated prices.
Need to know: Purex was acquired by the Dial Corporation in 1985. The Dial corporation was then acquired by Henkel in 2004.
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#3. Ajax
The Brand: Ajax is a heavy-duty laundry detergent with a bold scent. Ajax was introduced in 1947 and it is manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive. In 2005, the brand licensed the name ‘Ajax’ for laundry detergents in Canada and the US. It is now distributed by the Fab & KInd company in these regions.
Need to know: If customers are dissatisfied with a product, Ajax offers its customers a money back guarantee
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#4. Dynamo
The Brand: Dynamo is an Australian laundry detergent launched in 1979. The brand embraces innovation and continues to evolve and adapt to changes in the laundry detergent industry. They phased out phosphates from their detergents in 2016 and enhanced their formula to be even tougher on stains.
Need to know: Dynamo is owned by Henkel.
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#5. Total Home
The Brand: Total Home laundry detergent is a brand from CVS. The detergent contains stain removing enzymes and delivers an ultimate clean.
Need to know: Total Home works well in all water temperatures
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Top old laundry detergent brands
#1. Dreft
The Brand: Dreft laundry detergent was created in 1933 as the first synthetic detergent. The brand is over 80 years old and is manufactured by Procter & Gamble. It was originally created for general use but the gentle formula did not work on tough stains. Dreft is still sold today but the gentle detergent is now primarily used as a baby detergent.
Need to know: Fairy and Cascade dish soaps are marketed as Dreft in some countries.
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#2. Burnus
The Brand: Burnus was the first laundry detergent with enzymes. The brand was established in 1836, but it wasn’t until 1907 that the breakthrough on detergent enzymes was created. The brand was originally concerned with making candles and soaps. They soon turned their focus to cleaning supplies and detergent following the breakthrough.
Need to know: Burnus has acquired several cleaning companies and most recently in 2015, they acquired the detergent brand Rex.
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#3. Wisk
The Brand: Wisk laundry detergent was created by Unilever in 1956. Sun products took over its production in 2008. It was the first liquid detergent introduced to the laundry detergent market. In 2016, Sun products was acquired by Henkel. Following their parent company’s acquisition, the brand was discontinued in favor of Henkel’s Persil laundry detergent.
Need to know: Wisk can still be found in a few stores but it is very rare.
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#4. Cheer
The Brand: Cheer is one of the oldest laundry detergent brands. It is manufactured by Procter & Gamble. The brand was established in 1950 making it 71 years old. Cheer is great for colored clothing as it does not contain bleach and keeps colors looking brighter and fresher.
Need to know: Cheer was popularly called ‘Blue Cheer’ because of the blue granules in the detergent powder.
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#5. Sunlight
The Brand: Sunlight was introduced by Lever brothers in 1884. It was the very first branded and packaged soap. It was also the first soap used for a variety of household chores such as laundry and dishwashing. The original packaging was a long bar cut into smaller pieces and packed in paper, making it easier to carry.
Need to know: Sunlight laundry detergent has been discontinued in several countries.
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Sources
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- https://www.dynamo.com.au/all-about-dynamo/history-of-dynamo.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purex_(laundry_detergent)
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- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/laundry-detergents/g375/best-laundry-detergent/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_(cleaning_product)
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