Wirecutter

This liquid laundry detergent was a top performer in our stain testing, lifting more of a wider variety of stains than any other detergent we tried.

Consumer Reports

CR’s take: Pretreat stains with a dab of the top-rated Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release, and the results are better than most of the stain removers above. Tide removes common stains like dirt and grease in 5 minutes, and even tackles chocolate ice cream well. But if gravy and used motor oil stains show up in your laundry basket, the OxiClean MaxForce can do a better job (it's also better at taking on black coffee and baby food if you let it soak in overnight). As a laundry detergent, Tide removed more grass stains than any of the dozens of detergents we test.

amazon.com

walmart

target

powerreviews

BabyGearLab

Puracy Natural comes in a small bottle with a big impact working for up to 96 loads when used as directed! This easy to use pump bottle detergent is free of sodium lauryl sulfate &#40;SLS&#41;, sodium laureth sulfate &#40;SLES&#41;, sodium coco sulfate &#40;SCS&#41;, petrochemicals, sulfates, caustics, phosphates, animal by-products, dyes, chlorine, allergens, or optical brighteners and is certified cruelty-free. The pump comes loose, and you need to screw it in place, but it is a nice change from the more common fill the lid variety. It is a plant-based formula that is safe for septic systems, vegan, gluten-free, and biodegradable. The company claims it is 99.5% natural. In our tests, it worked well on our food and formula stains, with only a light yellow discoloring from the fecal matter. 
While the Puracy liquid worked well on the food and formula staining, it struggled somewhat with the poop. It didn't have as much staining as some other contenders, but you can see a yellow remnant under some lights. It is also somewhat more expensive than the competition. However, if you do the math per load with 96 loads in one bottle, it is actually fairly economical per load. Unfortunately, we suspect most parents will use more than they need as the prescribed amount doesn't "feel" like enough, and we struggled with the desire to add more liquid to each load. Overall, we like the lack of concerning chemicals and that it is safe for septic systems and cruelty-free. The fact that it more or less gets clothes clean in our testing is just icing on the cake. 

TechGearLab

The All Mighty Pacs Free Clear are designed for families or individuals looking to avoid any strong scents or potential skin irritations. The formula has a slight yellow tint and lacks cobalt blue dyes, which may irritate some people's skin. All claims it's the number one dermatologist, pediatrician, and allergist recommended brand; this is an internal claim and does not have a third-party seal for more credible verification. These are designed to prevent reactions in most people, but everyone's skin is different, and we recommend doing research based on your skin characteristics. These pods performed well in removing stains and packed a punch when it came to cleaning power.
These containers are easier to get into through trial and error than other options on the market. All in all, this product pack plenty of cleaning power and provides the benefit of being an affordable dye and perfume-free option. 

bazaarvoice

expert-review

All Free Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent Review

The Babyganics Liquid Baby Detergent is an all-purpose laundry detergent free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, 1,4 dioxane, optical brighteners, chlorine, phthalates, and phosphates. This detergent is plant-based and, in our tests, works well on most stains, removing all food and formula we tested. It is a concentrated formula that claims to work on up to 60 loads and is compatible with h.e. machines. Babyganics is made in the USA and never tested on animals. It has a small cap that works well and prevents a build-up of sticky detergent around the collar.
Like most of the competition in our tests, the Babyganics detergent struggles with dried poop on our test onesie, even when pre-treating. While it removed more staining evidence than most of the competition, we could still see a slight yellow tinge to the white fabric after washing. Also, the largest available size is 60 oz, which isn't huge compared to some competitors. While they claim a 60 load ability for this bottle, we imagine some parents will want a larger container on par with the bottles you find in a big box store. However, we liked the smaller bottle and feel it is more user-friendly. Overall, we love what this product has to offer and what it chooses to exclude. Our test clothing was scent-free, clean, and soft, and we feel it outperformed the competition in this group, hands down.

Laundry pods are generally a more expensive detergent option. However, the market still contains options for the bargain shopper. The All Mighty 4 in 1 Odor Lifter proved to be competitive in our stain removal tests while maintaining a very approachable per load price. This formula didn't sacrifice cleaning power to obtain its attractive price and was one of the best performers when put to the test against set in grass, mud, wine, and oil stains. We also appreciated the built-in odor cleaner for our sweat-soaked shirts after days of playing in the mountains. While not all odor is created equal, we found it effective against body odor. 
While we hold this product high on our podium, one caveat is that the lid is easy to remove, meaning that for smaller humans, it's more accessible. We simulated a smaller hand size, easily opening the lid after a few tries by lining up the arrows at the top. If you don't have kids, this actually might be a plus for you. But, this lid style is the fastest to open both with eyes closed and with movement limitations. Still, if you're in the market for a high-value detergent that does wonders against stains while maintaining a good price, look no further.

Best Laundry Pods of 2022

A cleaning powerhouse but a gentle giant, this is a great alternative if you don’t want a no-rinse detergent or don’t have to wash wool or silk. It costs only pennies per hand-washing load.

Laundry Detergent Comparison