Best Laundry Detergent? Let’s Find Out!

Introduction

This tutorial aims to help you choose the best laundry detergent by comparing the performance of various brands against common stains and odors. We will walk through a step-by-step analysis of how different detergents perform, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your laundry needs.

Step 1: Prepare Stain Tests

To accurately assess detergent performance, we need to create controlled stains on white cotton t-shirts.

• Use permanent markers to outline six test zones on each shirt.

• Apply the following common stains in designated areas:

  • Egg yolks (top left corner) for protein stains.
  • Motor oil (top right corner) for oil-based stains.
  • Dark coffee (middle left) for pigment stains.
  • Mustard and tomato sauce (middle right) for dye-based stains.
  • Soy sauce (bottom left) for a combination of oil, dye, and protein stains.

• Allow the stains to dry completely in direct sunlight for several hours.

Step 2: Wash Without Detergent

Before testing each detergent, evaluate the effectiveness of washing without any detergent.

• Use a washing machine set to:

  • Extra small load
  • Cold water
  • Super Wash cycle

• Add a red cotton t-shirt to check for color transfer or fading.

• After the cycle, observe the t-shirts. Note that without detergent, the stains will likely remain.

Step 3: Test Each Detergent

Now, let's test each laundry detergent to see how well they remove the stains. Here’s a list of brands to evaluate:

1. Tide
2. Arm & Hammer
3. Gain
4. Persil
5. Tide Pods
6. Amazon Basics
7. All
8. Molly’s Suds
9. Seventh Generation
10. ECOS
11. Biokleen
12. Tyler

For each detergent:

• Use the recommended dosage for heavily soiled clothing.
• Wash in the same machine settings as before.
• After washing, dry the shirts and observe the results.

Step 4: Compare Results

After drying the shirts, evaluate the performance of each detergent based on the following criteria:

• Stain removal effectiveness: Check how well each detergent has removed the various stains.
• Odor elimination: Assess if any detergent has effectively removed odors, especially from the manure-stained shirts.
• Color preservation: Note if any detergent caused color transfer to the unstained portions of the shirt.

Step 5: Rank Detergents

Based on the results observed, rank the detergents from best to worst performance. Here’s a guideline for ranking:

1. Best Overall: The detergent that removed the majority of stains and odors.
2. Best Budget Option: Consider performance per load cost for affordability.
3. Most Effective on Specific Stains: Identify which detergent excelled at particular stain types.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively evaluate and choose the best laundry detergent for your needs. Remember to consider both performance and cost-effectiveness when making your decision. If you want to explore the effectiveness of stain removers in the future, consider leaving feedback or suggestions for further tests. Happy washing!