Try These Laundry Detergents for Your Freshest Clothes Yet

Whether you’ve run out of clean underwear or your laundry basket is overflowing, washing your clothes is a chore that can’t be escaped. Having the best cleaning supplies to get the job done makes the weekly (or monthly—we’re not judging!) task a bit simpler. The best laundry detergents don’t just clean clothes on the first wash—they also help remove stains, smell great, and generally prolong the life of your favorite pieces all without irritating skin.

And everything you wear relies on detergent to keep it clean, fresh, and comfortable, but the detergents you use stay on your clothes which touch your skin, so it’s important to consider the ingredients they contain. “Because most laundry detergents are loaded with fragrances and dyes, they have potential to cause skin irritation,” says Brian Moore, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist practicing in Ohio, and the consulting dermatologist for Illuminate Labs. “Some of the irritating compounds to consider avoiding are blue dyes, chlorine, formaldehyde, phosphates, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.”

Meet the Experts: Brian Moore, M.D., F.A.A.D. is a practicing dermatologist in Ohio and the consulting dermatologist for Illuminate Labs, and Beatrice Flores is a cleaning expert with Living Pristine.

In addition to the ingredients in laundry detergent, you also need to think about what types and colors of fabrics you’re washing, whether you need additional stain-busting properties, the size of the loads you typically run, and whether you’re washing clothes for babies or someone with allergy-prone skin. Budget also plays a role, so considering the per-load cost may be something you want to keep your eye on.

Our top picks:

If you’re ready for fresher, cleaner, and brighter clothes, keep reading to discover the best laundry detergent brands in 2022.