The Best Tide Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber
Published on
February 22nd, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben has over a decade of experience in cleaning projects of all types along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician), WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning and leading teams goes back as far as he can remember.

The Cleaning Institute

Tide has a long-standing reputation of being one of the top manufacturers of laundry detergent. But with so many different types of detergents available, it can be understandably difficult to know which one is best for you. The good news is there’s a Tide product for virtually every need and budget.

Some of the things to look for when evaluating Tide laundry detergent is the strength, gentleness, scent and cost, among others. If you have children, you may be best suited for a Tide detergent with heavy stain-removal properties and has a gentle formula so it won’t irritate their skin. And if you are conscious about the environment, Tide also has options available that are eco-friendly and still deliver similar quality.

We have our years of experience in analyzing and evaluating various cleaning products, and we’ve done extensive research and testing on Tide laundry detergent. Based on our own categories, we are assigning Tide PODS 3-in-1 as our Top Pick for Tide laundry detergent, while Tide Liquid Smart Pouch, HE Turbo Clean receives our Honorable Mention award, and Tide Purclean Plant-Based Detergent gets our Green Pick.

Testing Categories

It’s important for you to know how we came up with our Top Pick, Honorable Mention and Green Pick, so you can make your purchasing decision a little easier. Each testing category we used factored into the overall score of the dozens of products we evaluated, and ultimately led us to making our three selections.

Power: The power category is determined by how much of the product is needed to create the most desirable results. With Tide laundry detergent, the less amount of detergent you have to use, the more powerful it is and the higher score it received. If a particular detergent requires you to use more of the product or have to re-wash to achieve the desired results, then it received a lower score in this category. Power was weighed heavily in our final assessment, since it typically leads to a better value and higher customer satisfaction.

Application: For this category, we assessed how easy the label was to read regarding the recommended amount to use, as well as whether there were any problems actually putting the detergent into the washing machine. If the containers did not seal completely or did not have clear lines for measuring purposes, then those products received a lower score. Convenience of use was one of the main factors when evaluating how to apply the product, as long as the convenience did not sacrifice quality.

Odor: We tried to be as neutral as possible when evaluating the odor of Tide laundry detergent, and understanding the fact that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to scents. Some products are scentless, while others have different fragrances. The main thing we looked for was whether the scent was overpowering or had an undesirable scent, in which it received a lower evaluation as a result. In most cases, a subtle scent is more appealing and provides a fresh smell anyone would be attracted to.

Top Pick

Tide
PODS
3-in-1

Tide PODS 3-in-1 pacs use a breakthrough formula of highly concentrated detergent, stain removing properties and color protectant to clean and protect even the toughest loads of laundry.

Price Check

Most notable upside: Most average-sized loads of clothes only require one pod for maximum cleaning. However, for larger loads, two pods may be required. This is our Top Pick and the Tide laundry detergent we highly suggest buying because of the convenience of being able to simply place a pod into the washing machine and not have to measure out liquid detergent, which reduces waste. And the spring meadow scent will leave your clothes smelling as fresh as a cool spring morning.

Biggest downsides: You have to remember to place these pods in your washing machine prior to filling it up with clothes or water, otherwise you may run the risk of not giving them enough time to dissolve. The scent is also pleasing to most people, but be aware that it is very strong. If you have sensitivity to smell, you should be cautioned that the spring meadow scent is very powerful.

Honorable Mention

Tide Liquid
Smart Pouch,
HE Turbo Clean

All it takes is one dose of Tide HE Turbo Clean to get the job done, compared to six doses of other brands. This particular detergent is specifically designed to be used in HE washing machines.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Tide Liquid Smart Pouch is environmentally-friendly, since it uses less packaging and allows you to reuse your empty Tide container or pour directly from the pouch. It’s also scentless, so you can enjoy having clean and fresh clothes after washing, without having to smell any unnatural scents you may have sensitivity to. And of course, you’ll always get the same quality Tide products offer with every load.

Biggest downsides: The cap on these smart pouches don’t tighten the best, so you’ll have to be careful when storing them to prevent spilling. Or you could eliminate the problem and pour the pouches into an empty Tide container that seals tightly. You’ll get a good value for the detergent by purchasing them in this form, but it earned our Honorable Mention selection mainly because of the design of the packaging.

Green Pick

Tide Purclean
Plant-Based
Detergent

Tide Purclean Plant-Based detergent is made for both standard washing machines and HE models. It’s also made with 100% renewable wind power electricity with no manufacturing waste.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Tide Purclean Plant-Based detergent earned our Green Pick because of the ingredients used and the lack of waste during the manufacturing process. The formula contains plant-derived surfactants, processing aids and enzymes, as well as a coconut-derived cleaning agent and mineral-based enzyme stabilizer. The entire product is 65% plant-based, so you’ll still get the same quality you expect from Tide products, but be using a more sustainable product at the same time.

Biggest downsides: The price per ounce is a little more than other Tide products, but the quality is still high as usual. The honey lavender scent is also very subtle, which could be good or bad depending on your sensitivity to such scents. Tide Purclean isn’t quite as strong as regular Tide detergent, but it still gets the job done when you follow the recommended amount of liquid depending on load size.

All Our Picks

Tips for Effective Use of Tide Laundry Detergent

It’s important to follow the recommended amount of Tide laundry detergent to use, depending on the load size, in order to maximize its strength and value. The packaging of each Tide product will clearly indicate the amount that should be used per wash cycle, so you’ll never have to guess and wonder if the amount you’re using is correct.

When it comes to Tide Pods versus liquid detergent, you should be able to use them the same way. However, when making your purchase of Tide laundry detergent, be sure to read the label to see what the formula is designed for. Some detergents are specifically formulated for stain removal, protecting colors and more, so you can make your purchase based on your needs.

A Note About Safety and Storage

While Tide laundry detergent is easy to use, it’s important to be cautious when using it so it doesn’t splash in your eyes. If the product does get in your eyes, rinse them very well with water for at least 15 minutes to ensure it has been flushed. And of course, never attempt to swallow Tide laundry detergent or dispense other liquids from the reusable bottles.

You should always store your Tide laundry detergent on a high shelf that’s not reachable for children or pets. Even green products contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful and dangerous when children or pets come in contact with them. The best thing to do is place the containers on a high shelf in your laundry room where it’s out of sight until you actually need to use it.

The Best Tide Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Tide
PODS
3-in-1

Tide Liquid
Smart Pouch,
HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean
Plant-Based
Detergent

All Our Picks

Tide
PODS
3-in-1

Tide Liquid
Smart Pouch,
HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean
Plant-Based
Detergent

Tips for Effective Use of Tide Laundry Detergent

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Tide Laundry Detergent

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Tide PODS 3-in-1

Tide LiquidSmart Pouch,HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean Plant-BasedDetergent

All Our Picks

Tide PODS 3-in-1

Tide LiquidSmart Pouch,HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean Plant-BasedDetergent

Tips for Effective Use of Tide Laundry Detergent

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Tide
PODS
3-in-1

Tide Liquid
Smart Pouch,
HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean
Plant-Based
Detergent

Tide
PODS
3-in-1

Tide Liquid
Smart Pouch,
HE Turbo Clean

Tide Purclean
Plant-Based
Detergent