The Best High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker
Published on
May 24th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Adam has a passion for cleaning from his youth growing up in England, and he has carried it with him to the US. Adam’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the Advanced System Cleaning specialist (For HVAC cleaning / ductwork), through NADCA (this is the highest certification that NADCA has), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Adam has either advised, consulted, or done research with dozens of cleaning and cleaning related business entities. Adam holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Business School.

The Cleaning Institute

Few people enjoy doing laundry. It’s one of those never-ending chores that is done again and again. Consumers have strong opinions about their choice of laundry detergent. Some are extremely brand loyal, while others are swayed by product / packaging features or environmentally friendly characteristics. We did loads (and loads) of laundry with different high efficiency detergents, and we recommend Tide Free & Gentle HE Turbo Liquid Laundry Detergent. Our reviewers liked the powerful cleaning abilities combined with the cost effective price, and the lack of dyes and perfumes.

We gave honorable mention to Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch, Original Scent, HE Turbo Clean, and recommend Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Unscented as our green pick, the environmentally friendly option.

Testing Categories

Smell – Consumers care about the smell of their detergent. Testers found that the most pleasant smelling detergents somewhere in the middle between too overpowering, or too weak, giving loads of laundry a clean fresh scent.

Power – All detergents were tested on how clean the clothes became after being washed. Specifics included stain removal, the brightness of colors / whites and whether or not there was any residue left on the clothes after being washed with each detergent.

Packaging – The packaging of laundry detergent is important to consumers. They are using it often, and want it to be functional, and convenient. The packaging also comes into play when they have to store extra units. Some companies have experimented with lighter, smaller packages than the traditional jugs. These smaller pouches weigh less and are easier to store, ship and dispense.

Price — When looking at price, we considered both price per ounce, and price per load. Some detergents since required less detergent to wash a load of clothes, and so they were more efficient.

Top Pick

Tide Free
& Gentle HE Turbo Liquid
Laundry Detergent

We fell in love with this high efficiency laundry detergent and it scored at the top of the detergents that we tested, making it our top pick.

Price Check

Testers liked that they could use less detergent in their high efficiency machine, and get the same great results that they were used to from Tide. The whites remained white, and the colors remained bright. And the stains were gone. They found the scent to be subtle, but present, so the laundry smelled clean, but it was not overpowering. People with sensitive skin and those with children / babies thought that the detergent was gentle enough for those with sensitive skin, but that it still was powerful enough to be used for the whole family. In fact, several noted that this detergent was the same quality as the more expensive sports brands. The packaging was in a plastic jug, but it was smaller than the traditional jugs that testers were used to, and so they felt it was easier to store in a small laundry room and to lift and pour.

Most notable upside: Testers were impressed by the efficacy of the detergent, even though it was the free and gentle version. They liked the smell and thought it was a great choice for those with sensitive skin, and those without sensitive skin!

Biggest downsides: Some testers found that the top of the jug came off during shipping. Other testers had a problem with the measuring amount on the cup not being marked well.

5/5
Power
5/5
Smell
4/5
Packaging
5/5
Price

Honorable Mention

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch
Original Scent,
HE Turbo Clean

Our testers found that Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch, Original Scent, HE Turbo Clean was rated high across the board, earning it second place among its competitors.

Price Check

This high efficient detergent is conveniently packed in small pouches that testers found to be multi functional. They make it easier for consumers to store and dispense the detergent compared to a big, bulky, traditional jug. Testers differed in opinion on how they would actually use the pouches. Some commented that they would pour the detergent right out of the pouch, because of their compact size and thought they would be easier to store in their small laundry room, and were lighter to lift and pour right into their machine and then would just throw them away. Other testers considered the pouches as a refill and thought they should be used to pour the detergent directly into a traditional size jug of detergent. All testers agreed that it was easy to pour from the pouch, and that when finished, the pouch is fully drained (unlike a traditional large jug). Testers loved everything about the actual detergent. They found that the scent was not too overwhelming, but was pleasant nonetheless. And were impressed with the detergent’s ability to eliminate stains, and keep the colors and whites bright and fresh.

Most notable upside: Testers loved the packaging and the light, fresh scent.

Biggest downsides: Some testers experienced leaking pouches, and thought that the cleaning power was not as effective in the high efficiency version.

4/5
Power
5/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
4/5
Price

Green Pick

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented

Our testers thought that Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Unscented was the best environmentally friendly detergent that they tried. They felt good about purchasing this product because the detergent is hypoallergenic and fragrance free -- designed to be safe for people with sensitive skin / allergies, and the detergent is also good for the environment. The jug is biodegradable, which was a big positive for our testers. And it is an EPA Safer Choice Certified Product.

Price Check

While some testers touted the efficacy of the detergent, and claimed it was great on stains, others said that it was not strong enough to get their stains out, and made their clothes dull. The price was higher than the other detergents tested.

Most notable upside: The combination of environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic.

Biggest downsides: There were conflicting reviews on the effectiveness of the detergent.

4/5
Power
4/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
4/5
Price

All Our Picks

Green Pick

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented

Our testers thought that Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Unscented was the best environmentally friendly detergent that they tried. They felt good about purchasing this product because the detergent is hypoallergenic and fragrance free -- designed to be safe for people with sensitive skin / allergies, and the detergent is also good for the environment. The jug is biodegradable, which was a big positive for our testers. And it is an EPA Safer Choice Certified Product.

Price Check

FAQs about Liquid Laundry Detergent

Q. How much detergent should be used per load?
A. First of all, you should check the label of the detergent. Some people think that using more detergent makes cleaner laundry. That is not the case. In fact, that can result in a residue that is left on your clothes. So measure the detergent carefully before you put it in the machine. You should consider things like the size of your load, if your water is known to be hard or soft, and how dirty the clothing is when you are washing it.

Q. What temperature should be used when washing laundry?
A. The temperature of the water does not necessarily make cleaner laundry. Some people think that warm water is more effective to eliminate some stains, but it is not significant. Using cold water can create residue buildup in your machine. Occasionally run the machine on a hot cycle and use a washing machine freshener to get with of the residue.

Q. What features are important to consider in an eco-friendly detergent?
A. There are a lot of green detergent options on the market. Choose detergent with low-phosphates, and with minimal packaging. The EPA Safer Choice website can provide you with a host of safer and environmentally friendly cleaning products for you to consider.

FAQs about High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Q. What Is High-Efficiency Laundry Detergent?
A. Laundry detergent that has a “HE” symbol on the packaging is especially formulated to be used in high-efficiency washing machines. These type of machines use less water than older standard washing machines. HE detergents are especially designed to have less suds, and create cleaner loads in low water volume washing machines. High Efficiency detergent simply cleans clothes better in high efficiency machines, and should be used if you have a high efficiency machine.

When you were growing up, your family probably used a standard washing machines that used approximately 40 gallons of water per load! Detergents then created lots of suds because people thought that more bubbles meant cleaner clothes. Luckily the washing machines then used so much water and were able to get rid of those suds. Today, standard top load washing machines use approximately 27 gallons of water. However, high efficiency machines use only 11 to 14 gallons of water!

Q. Can I Use High-Efficiency Laundry Detergent in a Standard Washer?
A. You can absolutely use high efficiency detergent in a standard mahine. There won’t be a lot of suds, but the clothes will still get clean. Don’t use more than ¼ cup of the high efficiency detergent in a normal to large load in a standard machine.

Q. Can I Use Regular Laundry Detergent in a High Efficiency Washer?
A. No! Using traditional detergent in high efficiency could result in mold and bad odors being left in the washing machine. Because there is less water flowing through the mahine, the suds and dirt aren’t being washed away properly. This could stick to the inside of the washing machine and create mold as well as a horrible smell.

How to Choose the Right Detergent?

With all the options out there, how do you choose what laundry detergent is best for your family? We narrow it down for you, below:

FORMULA TYPE

Some brands make it easier for you to choose, by specializing in certain features that you feel are important in a detergent.

Brightening: This type of detergent aims to keep whites and colors as bright as possible. For those who are concerned about their white clothing turning grey or yellow, you might consider a brightening detergent.
Gentle: People with sensitive skin, babies and children might be better off with a gentle detergent. This type generally does not have dyes or fragrances. If you don’t like strong detergent smells or perfumes, this type could be good for you too.
Fabric Softening: Some detergents add fabric softener to the detergent, thus eliminating one step in the laundry process. This type can result in softer clothing and can eliminate static electricity as well.
Color Safe: This type of detergent aims at keeping your colors as bright as possible, which is very important to some consumers.
Cold Water Detergent: This detergent is designed to be used in cold water. So, if you are looking to save energy by using a cold water cycle, this is great because it can dissolve in any temperature, though works best in cold water.

Eco-friendly Detergent: This type of detergent has been gaining popularity recently. Everyone wants to help the environment, so why not do it with something you use as frequently as laundry detergent? Unfortunately “green” or “eco” has no official federal standard definition. Also, some people question the effectiveness of these types of detergent in cleaning and removing stains, because they are missing certain ingredients.

Price

The price of laundry detergent can vary by type of detergent, and by brand.

The range is approximately $0.15 to $0.55 per load.

Powder detergents are less expensive, detergent pods are the most expensive, and liquid detergent is in between.

The Best High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Tide Free
& Gentle HE Turbo Liquid
Laundry Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch
Original Scent,
HE Turbo Clean

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Tide Free
& Gentle HE Turbo Liquid
Laundry Detergent

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch
Original Scent,
HE Turbo Clean

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented

FAQs about Liquid Laundry Detergent

FAQs about High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

How to Choose the Right Detergent?

Price

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Tide Free& Gentle HE Turbo LiquidLaundry Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart PouchOriginal Scent,HE Turbo Clean

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry DetergentFree & Clear Unscented

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Tide Free& Gentle HE Turbo LiquidLaundry Detergent

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart PouchOriginal Scent,HE Turbo Clean

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry DetergentFree & Clear Unscented

FAQs about Liquid Laundry Detergent

FAQs about High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

How to Choose the Right Detergent?

Price

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Tide Free
& Gentle HE Turbo Liquid
Laundry Detergent

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch
Original Scent,
HE Turbo Clean

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented

Tide Free
& Gentle HE Turbo Liquid
Laundry Detergent

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Smart Pouch
Original Scent,
HE Turbo Clean

Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Free & Clear
Unscented