I Tried 5 Laundry Detergents, and One Ruined the Rest for Me
by Kelly Lewis
13 October 2026
Last updated October 2026
Read this article to never buy the wrong detergent again.
Luxury Scents
Made with Plant-Based Ingredients
Free From Phthalates and Parabens
Powerful Clean
Eco Metal Tin
TLDR: I ran a blind test to compare the top “clean” laundry detergents and Mozi Wash won by a mile.
What I Graded On
Cleaning power
Whether it actually get stains and body odor out
Scent
How it smells wet, dry, and a few days later
Ingredients
Enzyme-based vs. synthetic, and whether it's free of parabens and phthalates
Price
Cost per load, not just price tag on the bottle
How It Shook Out, Best To Worst
#1 Mozi Wash
10,000+ Detergents Sold
Clean
9/10
Scent
10/10
Ingredients
10/10
Price
5/10
This one ruined the other four for me, and I mean that as a compliment. Cleaning power is right up there with Tide, honestly comparable to everything on this list. What sets it apart though, is everything else.
It's plant and enzyme powered, free from all the no-nos (parabens, phthalates, dyes, and sulfate). The scents are inspired by expensive fragrances, and unlike literally every other detergent I tested, my clothes still smelled like the scent even after a full day of wearing them!
Now, let me say this… it is not cheap. But it's also concentrated enough that it lasts longer than the bottle size suggests, and it’s a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make given the quality.
Pros
Scent lasts all day
Handful of scents to choose from
Plant-based ingredients
No parabens, phthalates, dyes, or sulfates
Cons
Costs more per load than the others
Popular scents sell out
#2 Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
Clean
7/10
Scent
4/10
Ingredients
9/10
Price
6/10
While the ingredient list is about as short and clean as it gets, it contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate that’s known to dry out and irritate skin. As someone who’s already sensitive, I didn’t enjoy using it. Plus the scent went away minutes after my clothes left the dryer.
Pros
As clean as an ingredient list can get
Biodegradable and septic-safe
Cons
Contains skin-irritating ingredients
Scent doesn't last past the dryer
#3 Seventh Generation Free & Clear
Clean
8/10
Scent
1/10
Ingredients
7/10
Price
6/10
I love what Seventh Gen is doing on the ingredients side, and it cleans fine. My issue is that it's fragrance-free, completely. So if you're judging on scent (which I obviously am), this one is opting out entirely.
Pros
Good for sensitive skin
Plant-based cleaning agents
Cons
No scent, by design
Pricier than Tide for less fragrance payoff
#4 Tide Original
Clean
7/10
Scent
2/10
Ingredients
2/10
Price
9/10
Put simply, Tide cleans. I’ve used it my entire life and it has never once let me down. The problem is its generic "detergent smell" that clings to everything, plus the formula has harsher stuff.
Pros
Reliable stain removal
Works in every machine
Cons
Generic "detergent" scent
Not plant-based and has dyes
#5 Arm & Hammer Clean Burst
Clean
7/10
Scent
3/10
Ingredients
1/10
Price
9/10
This is the easy-to-grab option. It cleans fine. But the scent faded for me within about ten minutes, and the ingredient list isn’t great in my opinion.
Pros
Cheapest per load
Easy to find anywhere
Cons
Scent fades fast
Synthetic ingredient list
My Pick: Mozi Wash
If you want to figure out which scent is your favorite before committing to a full bottle, that’s exactly what their sample kit is for. Be sure to try the Desert Poppy, it’s my current #1.
Try the 9-scent sample kit
Best Overall Product
Mozi Wash
Luxury scents that last
Paraben and phthalate-free
Made with plant-based ingredients
Dye and sulfate-free
Deeply cleans clothing
Sample scents last 2-3 loads each
Shop Sample Kit Now
*Disclaimer: This article contains sponsored content. Mozi Wash is not affiliated with Tide, Arm & Hammer, Seventh Generation, or Dr. Bronner’s. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Scores below reflect my own experience washing normal household laundry and are not the result of a lab test.
4.8
6,000+ Reviews