Best Antibacterial Laundry Detergents
Laundry. The word probably fills you with a mild sense of dread, especially if it’s followed by the word “day.” No one loves doing laundry. It’s a necessary evil. One that we all must face in order to avoid stinking up a storm. Having clean clothes to wear every day is a vital part of life, after all. Clean clothes are something that gives use the strength and confidence to face every day. And in order to have the sparklingly clean clothes that will help you face day, you need to have the right detergent. It’s as simple as that.
So, how do you find the right antibacterial laundry detergent? Well, it certainly isn’t easy. If you’ve been down the detergent aisle in Wal-Mart lately, you’ll know that there are a seemingly endless supply of cleaning products out there begging for your dollars and attention. How could anyone possibly choose from such a vast array of options, especially with every box and bottle claiming to be the best. Simple: by deferring to the expertise of the team here at The Sleep Judge.
We’ve done the legwork. We’ve tried all of the best and worst antibacterial detergents on the market. We know which ones will make your clothes feel like new and which ones will leave all of your smells and stains in tact after a full wash cycle. Below you’ll find our picks for the finest antibacterial laundry detergents on the market. Below that, you’ll find a definitive buyers guide that will reveal everything that you need to know to choose the perfect detergent for your home. So keep on reading. The perfect antibacterial laundry detergent is almost in your grasp!
1. Tide Free And Gentle – Editor's Choice
- Completely devoid of harmful fragrances and dyes.
- Recognized by the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation.
- Potent cleaning power.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
2. Persil ProClean Stainfighter
- One of the most powerful detergents on the market, capable to tackling any stain.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
3. Arm & Hammer OxiClean With Odor Blasters
- One of the most powerful detergents on the market, capable to tackling any unfortunate smell.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
4. Tide Pods 3-In-1 Turbo
- Powerful cleaning formula.
- No need to measure.
- Childproof container will keep the pods out of your kids hands and mouths.
Best Antibacterial Laundry Detergents
1. Tide Free And Gentle – Editor's Choice
Pros
- Completely devoid of harmful fragrances and dyes.
- Recognized by the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation.
- Potent cleaning power.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
Cons
- Some complaints about the packaging for the liquid and powder detergents leaking.
- Unscented, so not ideal if you prefer to have a detergent that leaves a pleasant aroma on your clothes.
Simply put, there’s not commercial laundry detergent that checks as many boxes as Tide Free And Gentle. The formula is carefully calibrated to qualify as hypoallergenic. Anyone with sensitive skin can rest easy after putting their clothes through the wash with this detergent, earning recognition from both the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation. However, the detergent remains as potent and powerful as anything containing more harmful chemicals. To top it off, Tide Free And Gentle is available in powder detergent, liquid detergent, and pods. This will truly suit any possible detergent preference and as a result, is the only logical choice to top this list.
2. Persil ProClean Stainfighter – Runner Up
Pros
- One of the most powerful detergents on the market, capable to tackling any stain.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
Cons
- Strong smell.
- Not a good mix with sensitive skin.
Sometimes our preferences in detergents come down to one quality and one quality only: cleaning power. If you have heavily soiled clothes (or children, who tend to be experts at producing heavily soiled clothes), you’ll know how frustrating it can be to suffer through endless wash cycles that struggle to remove unsightly stains. That’s when you need a detergent that you can depend on to thoroughly clean any batch of laundry that you could possibly throw at it. That’s when you need Persil ProClean. Sure, detergent this powerful means that it will not be safe for sensitive skin and will leave behind an odor, but when it also strips away any potential filth and stains this effectively, it’s worth it for those who can handle it. This is a detergent to use on any major laundry problems. It’ll take care of just about anything.
3. Arm & Hammer OxiClean With Odor Blasters – Best Powerful
Pros
- One of the most powerful detergents on the market, capable to tackling any unfortunate smell.
- Available in liquid, powder, and pods.
Cons
- Strong perfume left behind.
- Not a good mix with sensitive skin.
There are few things in this world worse that dirty clothes bathed in a potent stink. Whether you’ve been sprayed by a skunk, fallen into a sewer, or simply have an award-worthy case of B.O., sometimes we’re stuck with clothes that need to be given special care when it comes to stink. If that’s the situation that you find yourself struggling with, then you need to reach for Arm & Hammer OxiClean With Odor Blasters. As the name implies, this is a laundry detergent specially formulated to know any smell off of your clothes with power and gusto. It will even clean a pleasant odor behind to make your grateful to shove those once-stinky garments right into your nostrils.
4. Tide Pods 3-In-1 Turbo – Best Pods
Pros
- Powerful cleaning formula.
- No need to measure.
- Childproof container will keep the pods out of your kids hands and mouths.
Cons
- Strong perfume left behind.
- Not a good mix with sensitive skin.
- Dangerous if ingested.
Finally we come to the style of laundry detergent that launched a million viral videos. Yes, we’re talking about Tide Pods. No, you should never even consider eating them for attention. Yes, you absolutely should use them to clean your clothes. There’s a reason why detergent pods have become so popular. This is the easiest way to enjoy high efficiency detergent. No tricky measuring. Barely any thinking required. Just pop a pod in with your laundry and let it do the work. These are powerful formulas as well, guaranteed to knock out just about any stain or stink that you get all over your clothes. If you’ve been skeptical about pods in the past, a few loads with these pad boys should have you singing their praises to anyone who will listen.
Things To Look Out For
Here are some things to consider when choosing which laundry detergent is right for you.
Liquid, Powder, or Pods
These days all detergents come in one of these three forms, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Liquid detergents are the most common form and they are also the most versatile. They will work with almost any style of washing machine, the only challenge is that you have to make sure to measure liquid detergent carefully measured as an excess amount can leave a residue on clothes and damage your washing machine.
Powder detergents tend to be the strongest and excel at removing stains. However, there can be problems with the powder full dissolving, so it’s important to wash it on a powerful cycle and never in cold water (or perhaps dissolve the detergent into water before adding it to the machines). Finally, pods are the newest and trendiest form of detergent. They are premeasured for single use and require the least effort and preparation. However, this is the weakest and most expensive form of detergent, plus any teenagers in your home may eat them for viral infamy. All three forms will get the job done, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. So which one works best for you is entirely a matter of taste.
High Efficiency
You’ll see the acronym HE plastered across most detergents these days (liquid, powder, and pods). It stands for high efficiency and this style of detergent has pretty much replaced all traditional detergents at this point. Essentially, it’s all about suds. These detergents pack more power than the old stuff, but produce dramatically less suds so that modern washing machines can use dramatically less water. So, don’t be put off by this label or worry if your machine can use this style of detergent. It can. This is about saving water and energy and is an important development in the evolution of laundry detergent.
Allergies and Irritation
Not all detergents are right for all people. Specifically, clothes washed in strong detergents have been known to spark irritation and allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin. It typically comes down to harsh dies and perfumes used to heighten the effects of detergents. If you fall into this category, you’ll have to find a special hypoallergenic detergent that produces clean clothes that feel more gentle on your skin. Fortunately, hypoallergenic detergents are readily available these days, just not as common.
Environmental Friendliness
If you’re someone who wants to live a green life, then laundry detergent is certainly something to be wary of. Many use harmful chemicals and all have some sort of unnatural chemical element within its ingredients. However, there are options available to help make your detergent choice a bit more ethical. It’s certainly possible to find entirely organic options. They will not be as strong, they will be expensive, and they are hard to find. But they exist. The easier option is to seek out a bottle with a Safety Choice label, which ensures that the detergent has been approved by the EPA for being composed entirely of safe and approved ingredients. Likewise Leaping Bunny certification ensures that the detergent was never tested on animals. So, there are a number of ways to ensure that your laundry detergent was produced as ethically as possible.
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