Laundry detergent is a high-frequency purchase where small per-load differences add up, so we scored seven on cleaning power first and cost second. Our top pick is Persil ProClean, with an SR Score of 90, for the strongest stain removal in independent lab testing. If you want the best all-around value with nearly identical cleaning, Tide Original (89) is the runner-up — and the line you can buy anywhere.
The ranking
| Rank | Detergent | Best for | Form / price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persil ProClean Stain Fighter | Toughest stains | Liquid / ~$13 (100 oz) | 90 |
| 2 | Tide Original | Overall value | Liquid / ~$13 (92 oz) | 89 |
| 3 | Tide Plus Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty Pods | Best pods | Pods / ~$0.34/load | 88 |
| 4 | Tide Free & Gentle | Sensitive skin | Liquid / ~$13 | 87 |
| 5 | Tide Ultra Oxi Powder | Cold-water wash | Powder / ~$15 | 86 |
| 6 | All Free Clear | Budget sensitive | Liquid / ~$10 | 83 |
| 7 | Seventh Generation Free & Clear | Plant-based | Liquid / ~$13 | 81 |
Methodology
The Home Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria that sum to 100:
- Cleaning & stain removal (35) — performance across body oil, food, dirt, and set stains.
- Value per load (25) — cost per wash, not bottle price.
- Ingredients & skin safety (20) — dye/perfume-free options, dermatological seals.
- Versatility (10) — HE-safe, cold-water enzymes, hard-water tolerance.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — lab testing and owner ratings.
Cleaning leads because a gentle detergent that leaves stains fails the job. Re-weight toward Value and All Free Clear climbs; toward Ingredients and the dye-free picks rise.
Persil ProClean Stain Fighter
The stain-removal champion. In Reviewed.com’s testing, Persil removed about 2% more stains on average than Tide formulas, and it is Wirecutter’s long-standing runner-up. Around $13 for a 100-oz bottle. Best if you cook a lot or have kids in sports.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 34/35 |
| Value per load | 21/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 15/20 |
| Versatility | 9/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: strongly perfumed, and slightly pricier per load than Tide Original.
Tide Original
The all-around value winner. Excellent cleaning, the most recognizable scent in the aisle, and availability everywhere — around $13 for 92 oz. Cleans nearly as well as Persil for a few cents less per load.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 33/35 |
| Value per load | 23/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 14/20 |
| Versatility | 9/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: heavy fragrance and dyes; not for sensitive skin.
Tide Plus Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty Pods
The best pods. Consumer Reports rates this the top single-dose detergent, acing tests for body oil, salad dressing, and dirt. Pre-dosed convenience at around $0.34 per load.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 33/35 |
| Value per load | 20/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 14/20 |
| Versatility | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: costs more per load than liquid, and pods are a poisoning hazard around small children.
Tide Free & Gentle
The sensitive-skin benchmark. Zero dyes, zero perfumes, and seals from both the National Eczema Association and National Psoriasis Foundation, with Tide-level cleaning. Around $13.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 31/35 |
| Value per load | 21/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 19/20 |
| Versatility | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: slightly behind the scented flagships on the very worst stains.
Tide Ultra Oxi Powder
The cold-water pick. Wirecutter named this its top choice partly for strong cold-water results, and the powder form resists clumping and travels well. Around $15.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 32/35 |
| Value per load | 20/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 13/20 |
| Versatility | 9/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: powder can leave residue in very cold or short cycles if undissolved.
All Free Clear
The budget sensitive-skin option. Dye- and perfume-free with dermatological credentials, at around $10 — cheaper per load than Tide Free & Gentle. Best for tight budgets with sensitive skin.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 28/35 |
| Value per load | 23/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 7/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: weaker on heavy, set-in stains than premium detergents.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear
The plant-based pick. Cleans respectably and resists residue well in Consumer Reports tests, with a plant-derived formula and no dyes or fragrance. Around $13.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleaning & stain removal | 27/35 |
| Value per load | 20/25 |
| Ingredients & skin safety | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 7/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: trails the leaders on the toughest grease and protein stains.
Verification
- Persil ProClean — stain-removal lead verified on reviewed.com and nytimes.com/wirecutter.
- Tide Original — cleaning and value verified on reviewed.com and tide.com.
- Tide Plus Hygienic Clean Pods — top single-dose rating verified on consumerreports.org.
- Tide Free & Gentle — dermatological seals verified on tide.com and nationaleczema.org.
- Tide Ultra Oxi Powder — cold-water performance verified on nytimes.com/wirecutter.
- All Free Clear — sensitive-skin credentials verified on all-laundry.com.
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear — residue-resistance verified on consumerreports.org.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best laundry detergent in 2026?
- Persil ProClean wins on raw stain removal in independent lab testing, removing more stains on average than Tide formulas. Tide Original is the runner-up and the better everyday value, and Tide Free & Gentle is the pick for sensitive skin.
- Is Persil really better than Tide?
- On stain removal, slightly. Reviewed.com's testing found Persil removed about 2% more stains on average than Tide. Tide cleans nearly as well, costs a little less per load, and has a wider product line, so the gap is small in practice.
- Are pods worth it over liquid or powder?
- Pods are convenient and pre-dosed, and Consumer Reports' top-tested single-dose pods now clean better than the best gels. They cost more per load and can be a poisoning risk around children, so liquid and powder still win on value and control.
- What is best for sensitive skin?
- Tide Free & Gentle is the long-standing benchmark: no dyes, no perfumes, and it carries both the National Eczema Association and National Psoriasis Foundation seals. All Free Clear is a cheaper alternative with similar credentials.
- What detergent is best for cold water?
- Cold-water cleaning depends on enzymes that work at low temperatures. Tide Ultra Oxi and Persil ProClean both perform well in cold cycles; Wirecutter's testing favored Tide Ultra Oxi for cold-water results specifically.