travel wash aldi

Best Travel Laundry Detergent for Washing Clothes on the Go

Packing Tips , TOILETRIES

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Doing laundry while traveling is a great way to keep all of your clothes nice and fresh, and while this sounds easy to do, it’s still wise to create the best travel laundry kit, so this task isn’t messy or cumbersome. See these top reader recommendations to know what detergent to bring!

Travel Size Laundry Detergent

Table of contents.

TFG readers definitely know travel, and when it comes to washing clothes, they have some great things to suggest. 

Our readers share their tips, tricks, and products for keeping clothes fresh and clean. Check out these picks for the best travel laundry soap !

Best Travel Detergent

Tide Laundry Detergent Travel Packets

Tide Travel Size Laundry Detergent Packets

Tide travel size laundry detergent packets come in convenient one-load sizes. You can slip them into your luggage without taking up too much space. 

Readers sing the praises of Tide and say it’s excellent for washing clothes on the go. Other TFGs who struggle with where to buy travel size laundry detergent suggest simply pouring larger bottles of this soap into smaller containers. One reader says, “I put Tide into one of my shampoo 3-1-1 bottles.” 

Decanting your detergent into travel size bottles is an awesome and easy travel hack.

SinkSuds Travel Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap

SinkSuds Travel Laundry Detergent Packets

The SinkSuds travel size laundry detergent packets are 0.25 fluid ounces, so it’s TSA friendly and super convenient to add to your toiletries bag . 

If you’re just washing a couple of items in a sink or tub, all you need to do is pour one packet into the water and let everything soak, then rinse and hang dry. It’s effective yet gentle, so you can wash swimwear and delicates as well as any regular clothing. 

One reader says, “Very handy for traveling. I can use one packet to wash a couple of items in my hotel room sink. Packs very easily. If you have to wash items in the sink, but don’t have access to detergent, I recommend these.” 

Find out how to do laundry while traveling with three easy options.

SOAK Scentless Travel Laundry Detergent

SOAK Unscented Travel Laundry Detergent

This no-rinse laundry detergent is another fantastic option for hand washing clothes while traveling because it’s SO convenient. With SOAK, all you need to do is… well, soak your clothes! 

There’s no rinsing necessary, so just ring them out, let them dry, and you’re good to go. And your clothes will feel super fresh and smell great. Because SOAK comes in larger bottles, you’d just have to pour some into a travel size bottle to take it with you. 

One reader says, “I love this product because you don’t have to rinse it out! For dirty stinky stuff, I take it into the shower first to rinse off dust and grime but then soak it in the sink for 15 minutes, and no need to rinse it out again. I roll my clothes in a microfiber travel towel and squeeze them out and then hang dry.” You can also pick up SOAK in handy travel size laundry detergent packets . 

Best Travel Laundry Detergent Sheets

Lazy Coconuts Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent Strips

Lazy Coconuts Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Strips 

The Lazy Coconuts eco-friendly detergent strips make for the easiest handwashing experience while traveling. Just add to a sink full of water (or a washing machine if available) and you’re good to go! Each package has 48 strips that equate to 48 loads, which is an incredible value for the price. 

They weigh virtually nothing and take up very little space, so these are perfect for travel. And they’re made all the better by the fact that they’re carbon negative, cruelty-free , and produce zero waste! 

One user shares, “Great for travel! We went hiking , ziplining, and whitewater rafting in Colorado. Washed laundry in the hotel washer using these sheets. The laundry came out smelling clean and fresh. No heavy detergent smell.”

If your accommodation doesn’t have a dryer, take a look at these portable travel clothes lines that are all very packable!

Finzy Laundry Soap Sheets

FINZY Travel Laundry Soap Sheets

Washing on the go has never been easier than with these FINZY travel detergent sheets . This package contains 32 loads, and you can take what you need along with you on your trip. 

These detergent sheets clean your clothes quickly and efficiently, and what’s really cool is you can use them to wash your hands as well!

One traveler raves, “These literally saved me from overpacking for a three-week trip to Italy because I knew these handy, lightweight sheets were packed in my suitcase taking up no room. A true lifesaver for travel!” 

Breezeo Laundry Detergent Strips

Breezeo Travel Detergent Sheets

Breezeo laundry detergent strips have come highly recommended in the TFG Community. They’re super easy to pack and use, and they dissolve completely in both hot and cold water.

One reader reports, “Breezeo is my solution. They work great in my opinion, and leave absolutely no mess or possibility of a mess. I guarantee they can ‘fit’ in any compact luggage and adheres to TSA guidelines. I travel with them everywhere. I use one sheet for smaller loads (or hand washing) and two sheets for larger loads or more heavily soiled clothes. Economical too.”

Here are the best ways to clean dirty packing cubes .

Earth Breeze Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent Sheets

Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets

Earth Breeze detergent sheets are another fantastic and eco-friendly option for travel. These sheets are major space savers, while also offering a deep clean, so they come highly rated by travelers. They’re perfect for sensitive skin, too. 

They have both “fresh scent” and unscented travel laundry detergent options for you to choose from. Use anything from half a sheet to two sheets depending on your load, and you’ll have fresh and clean clothing for the rest of your trip!  

One user says, “I purchased these laundry sheets for a two-week trip and it was the best purchase ever! Not only is it good for the environment but it fits easily in a suitcase. I was amazed that the sheet just dissolves in the water! No bulky plastic bottles to carry! I would use this again!! I might even use it at home!”

WashEZE 3-in-1 Laundry Detergent Sheets

WashEZE Laundry Sheets

WashEZE 3-in-1 laundry sheets are great. They provide detergent, softener, and static control all in one handy little soap sheet. Travelers say that these are super easy and effective when handwashing. If you have access to a washer and dryer, you can use the same sheet in both machines to get all the great benefits. 

One reader shares, “I was finishing a three-week tour of the Outer Hebrides Islands, in the United Kingdom , so there was a was a lot of mud on my trip. I used WashEZE detergent sheets and they did a GREAT job for hand washing or machine washing. Hint: cut the sheets into quarters and strips to make it easy when you’re on the road. I found a half sheet was fine for the smaller washers that are in most homes in the UK, and about half of a quarter panel was plenty to hand wash a shirt in the sink.”

Tru Earth Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent Sheets

TruEarth Natural Laundry Detergent Sheets

TruEarth laundry sheets are ultra-gentle and suitable for sensitive skin, yet are praised for their effectiveness and stain-removing capabilities! These little strips both restore colors and brighten whites with a powerful formula that’s hypoallergenic, vegan, and paraben-free!

You can use a whole strip or half a strip depending on the size of your laundry load, and they work equally well in both washing machines and sinks. Plus, users say that a little goes a long way, so you’ll likely only need a few sheets for your entire trip.

One traveler says, “I travel a lot and these are a game changer! No more worries about an unexpected liquid mess in my suitcase! These worked great on my cruise. They dissolve so easily. I would highly recommend them for everyday use but especially for travel.” 

Travelon Laundry Soap Toiletry Sheets

Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets

Travelon soap sheets were made specifically for travel, as they’re super compact and come in a lightweight container, and is small enough to throw in any bag. Travelers say these are amazing for hand-washing in the sink or tub and always get the job done. 

One happy user reports, “This came in handy during my two-week vacation to Europe ! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather, so packing was going to be difficult. Rather than overpack, I brought layers, and with these laundry soap sheets were able to wash clothes in the sink so that I had the right clothes for each climate.” 

Find out how to handle your dirty clothes when you’re traveling.

Best Travel Laundry Soap Bar

Fels Naptha Laundry Soap Bar

Fels Naptha Travel Soap Bars

The Fels Naptha soap bar is a great alternative for laundry detergent while traveling, and is noted by the TFG Community to be incredibly effective! This soap is said to have amazing stain removal capabilities and is ideal for super active trips where your clothes will need a deeper wash. 

You can take only a piece of this laundry bar if you don’t need a lot, and because it’s solid, you can pack it in a carry-on bag with no TSA concerns. One reader shares, “I use Fels Naptha for travel washing. It’s very good for removing stains and particularly adept at removing sweat from clothing—ideal for workout, hiking, biking clothing.”

Ethique Eco-Friendly Laundry Bar

Ethique Eco-Friendly Laundry Stain Stick

This laundry stick from Ethique is a standout option for not just washing clothes of all colors and fibers, but also works as dish soap and hand soap! It has so many incredible capabilities! 

It’s sustainably made with natural ingredients, smells deliciously of lavender, peppermint, and coconut, and comes in waste-free packaging! 

One reader shares, “I bought this for a 19-day trip and absolutely love it! It cleans beautifully and smells great and lasts forever. It’s small and I still have half a bar left!” 

Sea to Summit Pocket Soap

Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash Pocket Soap

The Sea to Summit travel laundry soap sheets come in a handy case filled with 50 leaves that travelers adore. These are especially useful for outdoor excursions such as hiking and camping because it can be used for many different purposes besides laundry, such as hand washing, body washing, and dishwashing. All you have to do is add water! 

One of our readers says, “I like Sea to Summit. They say one sheet per sink load is enough. If I’m washing a couple of things, I add about three. They clean very well and come in a tiny handy dispenser.”

Sard Wonder Soap with Eucalyptus

SARD Wonder Travel Laundry Soap Bar

SARD’s Wonder soap is excellent for removing stains and works well for those trips when your clothes might get a little messy.  When traveling, you can simply bring a piece of this soap with you and lather up your clothes for a thorough clean. 

One reader shares, “I use a small chunk of Sard soap. It’s not a detergent sheet, but it’s still good for sink washing.” 

Zote Laundry Soap Bar

Zote Pink Travel Laundry Soap

Many of our readers love to bring this Zote Pink soap bar with them on their travels because it’s gentle and easy to pack. Users love this because it can be used on any normal clothing, as well as delicates, swimwear , and even things like makeup brushes. 

One TFG reader says, “I really like Zote solid laundry soap bars. I cut a sliver off of the bar and keep it in a bag just in case I need it. it has a little bit of lemongrass or citronella scent, which makes everything smell fresh (even if it’s really not!!).” 

Chek out the best travel containers , where to get them, and how to use them!

Top Accessory Readers Use in Their Travel Laundry Kits

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag

Scrubba Bag

Th e Scrubba portable washing bag i s a revolutionary travel item that our readers rave about. It’s essentially the world’s smallest washing machine that you can bring with you absolutely anywhere! 

Whether you’re camping in the wilderness or staying in a hotel in a fun city, the Scrubba washing bag will seriously come in handy. It’s so easy to use too—just add clothes with some detergent into the Scrubba, close it securely, press down and deflate, rub the bag with clothes inside, and then rinse the clothes, and hang dry.

A traveler shares their experience, “This is one of the best items I’ve ever purchased for travel. Taking this meant that we could bring carry on bags instead of having to check our suitcases and just wash a few things halfway through our trip. using this just twice has more than paid for itself in baggage fees. It’s very easy to use and really got our clothes clean, despite mud, sweat, and sand. Pairing this with a travel clothesline and travel detergent means I can always pack light!”

Here is a step by step guide on how to hand wash your clothes while traveling! 

Travel Laundry Detergent Comparison Chart

[wpsm_comparison_table id=”404″ class=”center-table-align”]

What do you think is the best travel size laundry detergent ? Share with us in the comments!

For more tips on travel laundry and clothes care, please read:

• How to Pack Dirty Laundry While Traveling
• What Is the Best Travel Steamer? See Our Top Picks!
• How to do Laundry while Traveling – 3 Options!

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54 comments.

new products to try

Also like Clean People Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent Strips. They come in both scented and unscented. For stains, I bring along a small slice of Basin’s Fabric Stain Remover Soap.

Thank you for this helpful post. Before reading it, I didn’t even know that laundry strips were a thing. But I got some Lazy Coconut strips for a recent trip to France. They were awesome, and helped me with sink laundry so I could pack light and travel with just a backpack and carryon.

This is incredibly helpful! With so many to choose from and never using them before I’ve had a hard time deciding. Thank you so much!

I used the Ethique laundry bar to wash clothing in the hotel room sink on our 3-week Scandinavia trip in August. It worked great!

I use “eco-friendly” Kind brand unscented laundry sheets. You can easily tear off a piece for smaller washes. For stains, I slice off a piece of The Soap Works Stain-Remover Laundry Bar (from a Canadian company) and pack it in a small plastic bag.

I love my powder (citrus for easy rinse out) Forever New . Carry in a small zip lock bag and use for sink wash out. roll in towel, squeeze and hang to dry.

I travel with the Scrubba washing bag and, typically, use the hotel shower gel or shampoo. The Earth laundry papers are good too.

Thanks for sharing so many helpful options! I’m looking forward to trying some of the eco laundry strips on my next trip as they seem very compact and easy to adjust based on the amount of items I need to wash.

These Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets were a game changer on our last few trips to Italy. So portable, not a liquid and get the job done!

Thank you for all of the travel laundry suggestions! Going to Ireland and Germany in 2013 and these items will rally help!!

We are FINALLY leaving for London THIS WEEK!! I purchased Breezeo. I am looking forward to trying it. I have been a follower for years and enjoy your travel content and recommendations.

We are leaving for London THIS WEEK!!!! I purchased Breezeo. Excited to try it. Love the travel content and recommendations. Been following for years.

Thank you for your info on laundry detergent sheets. I didn’t even know that they were a thing until I logged into TFL. I have a medical condition that results in the need to do laundry often. You have made me feel confident that I can now travel again without worrying about laundry.

I have used Tide sheets and they worked wonderfully! So thin to pack and weigh next to nothing – they are a must fir any trip longer than a weekend!

I usually just used shampoos provided by the hotel to do laundry. But eh pods or the sheets would dona better job. Thanks for sharing so many options for us.

I always take the Travelon Detergent sheets. Work great!

I used the Travelon laundry sheets on our family trip to the Betheelands in June and they worked great! We all traveled with carryons only!

Netherlands not Betheelands!!

For years I used the hotel shampoo to wash my clothes but on my last trip I switched to TruEarth laundry sheets. They were a game changer I cut several full size load sheet into fourths, just the right size for a sink wash. And they are eco friendly for a win win.

For the way I travel, I like to bring powdered soap, it’s lighter weight and less messy than liquid. I usually just bring some of the Charlies laundry soap powder I use at home. I’m sensitive to fragrances so it works great for me.

After reading this post, for Australian readers, I found an Australian brand Strip Clean that makes detergent strips that are free from phosphorus, parabens and harsh chemicals. Took them on our recent trip to The Red Centre in Australia. Great product

I often travel with Dr. Bronner’s for washing, but I use Soak at home–& I’m eager to try sheets! So many options for my next trip.

Thank you for all the wonderful research… it makes packing so much easier!

I just ordered Lazy Coconuts detergent strips for our trip to Italy. Love that they are fragrance free and super compact. Thanks for all of the helpful options. I’ve used Sink Suds too and love them also.

This was super helpful! Wish I had seen this sooner!

I love using Soak for my knitting projects! I never thought about it for travel. I will definitely try this fall when in Switzerland

I was shopping the Breezio strips last weekend and realized I already own a Fels Naptha bar that I can carve some off to take to the UK in a couple of weeks. Glad I kept reading! Thanks for all the hints! They’re spot on!

I’m bringing the Sink Suds on a cruise soon, they seem like the perfect way to wash some of my unmentionables mid-trip! 🙂

Love the laundry sheets; a small bit is usually ample for travel sink laundry.

The Fels-Naptha idea is brilliant! I always spill something on myself that needs a little extra cleaning power. Since I use this at home, it is always on hand to pack.

My travel buddy brought the Earth Breeze laundry sheets on our trip to Italy and I loved them so much I use them at home now too!

Thanks for sharing other readers’ comments and reviews of these products. Very helpful! I use The Laundress wash and stain bar when traveling. It comes as a palm sized bar of soap, but I cut it in 1/4 pieces so it’s more compact and takes up less room.

Great article will be traveling to Italy for the first time in October and this group has been a great help fora first time traveler. Than you

I love that you’ve included some eco-friendly options. I have a trip coming up and plan to try out the laundry sheets.

I love using Soak, but now I’m excited to try out some of these other options. I especially like the idea of the solid detergents, that don’t have to take up room in my quart bag!

I brought a pack of Breezo detergent sheets on a work trip to Europe and I became everyone’s best friend! The sheet of strips made for easy sharing with my fellow travelers and they were very thankful (especially when the learned of the price for the hotel laundry service!). Bonus – my luggage smelled great from the pack itself!

I love detergent sheets, and use rhem at home as well! Grove Collective has great ones that travel perfectly, for machines. For sinks, I like the Travelon ones.

I’ve been looking for this info and of course you’ve got it. Thanks!!

Great options! Way better than my usual M.O. (using shower gel or shampoo in a pinch, lol!). I think I will try a couple at home before my next trip. Thanks TFG!

I love these tips!

I always look forward to these posts!! Either a method I didn’t know I was looking for or a reminder about a diy for an upcoming trip, thank you for helping me build a travel arsenal of info!

After reading this post I went with the Breezeo laundry sheets. Not only were they easy to pact and took up NO space, they had a fresh scent that permeated my suitcase!

I’m beginning to plan a lifelong dream of going to the UK and I know I’m going to need to use some of these suggestions for washing my clothes.

Funny, I have never brought laundry soap on my trips. I usually just use my bar soap. 🤔

I had no idea that there were so many choices either. I would love to have some samples of some of these options to try at home before our next travel date.

Thanks for all of the different choices! I had no idea there was such a thing as washer sheets, what a great invention! Timely for a trip to Europe this Fall.

We actually bought the Scrubba bag this year for our trip to Europe & it worked amazingly well! Saved us a ton of money & time from having to find somewhere to do our laundry. Thanks for the recommendation on travel laundry soap!

Wow I didn’t know there are so many laundry soap options❣️ I am going to France for a month traveling with a carryon luggage and personal item only backpack. I have been following Travel Fashion Girl website since 2016. I love all the helpful information and the links to items shared for purchase❣️

I subscribed to the Earth Breeze laundry sheets over a year ago – no more big plastic jugs!! Stuffed several into a ziploc for 3 weeks in Ireland and tore some in half or used a whole sheet, depending on how much I sink washed at various stops. Next trip: 2 weeks in Spain in Feb – already committed my brain to using the 10 piece Essential wardrobe!!

This was a great article that introduced me to a lot of options for sink washing that I was not aware of. I’ve used Woolite packets and Travelon sheets for years, but I’m going to give SOAK a try. The rinsing is always the worst part of hand washing, so I’m intrigued by the idea of no rinse needed. I’m going to try it at home first just to see how it works. Thanks for all the information you’ve shared through the years. It’s been so helpful when packing for a trip!

Great options. I wish more were unscented.

Oh my gosh, too many choices. I had no idea there were this many to choose from

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Travel washes to take with you on holiday

Keeping clean on holiday without adding to your luggage allowance is easy

Nobody wants to bother with laundry while they’re on holiday , but if you’re away for a while, don't want to take a huge amount of clothes out with you or have messy youngsters in tow, then it’s impossible to avoid a bit of hand washing in the hotel bathroom.

To find out, we tried a selection of travel washes against some typical holiday stains - such as olive oil , foundation, pasta sauce and sun cream on identical white t-shirts . We found that - unsurprisingly - all travel washes worked better than shower gel but not one of them managed to remove the notoriously difficult foundation or pasta sauce stain (so take extra care putting on your make-up or eating Italian food when you're away!).

But as a way of rescuing stained clothes in an emergency or making sure you get to wear used clothes more than once on a longer break, they were certainly up to the task.

Here's a selection of travel washes you can take on your well-earned break:

Superdrug’s Travel Detergent £1.20 100ml Superdrug

Lifeventure Fabric Wash £4.99, 100ml LifeVenture

Dr Beckmann Travel Wash £4.05, 100ml Amazon

Pyramid Travel Soap £4.99, 60ml Mountain Warehouse

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6 Products for Washing Clothes While Traveling

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If you’re going on a long trip, be it a summer in Europe or a cross-country road trip, it can be tempting to bring your whole wardrobe. But between baggage fees and weight restrictions, that’s not always possible or practical. One way to avoid overpacking is to wash your clothes while you travel. That’s often easier said than done: Laundromats can be hard to track down or inconveniently located, laundry services at hotels and on ships can be prohibitively expensive, and if you’re spending time in the backcountry, neither are an option.

Taking matters into your own hands isn't as much of a chore as you might think, though: There are plenty of tools that make doing laundry while traveling cheap and simple (and we're not just talking about Tide to Go pens ), without adding too much extra bulk to your luggage. Below, six on-the-road laundry hacks.

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag

The Scrubba is basically a dry bag with a ribbed interior that functions like a washboard. You put your clothes, some clean water, and detergent in, and rub the garments against the bumps for a few minutes before rinsing everything out. Not counting drying time, the whole process takes about five minutes—and it actually does a good job of cleaning your clothes. It’s fabulous for long-term travelers and for those on days-long camping trips , where packing light is optimal. Plus, it folds down to the size of a deck of cards, so it won’t take up valuable suitcase or backpack real estate.

Nasdom Travel Clothesline

If you’ve ever done laundry in a sink, you’re familiar with the creative exercise in finding enough surfaces to drape your dripping clothes over. This 13-foot clothesline, which comes with built in pins, is easily packable. The hooked ends make it sturdy enough to connect between bed posts, across a balcony, or even from the shower curtain rod to a towel bar in a pinch.

Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets

These laundry soap sheets dissolve in water, so there’s no chance of spillage in your bag (you won't have to worry about the TSA's liquid restrictions either). There are 50 sheets in a box slightly bigger than a raisin container, so you’ll be able to get a lot of mileage out of each pack. Toss one sheet into whatever vessel you’re doing laundry in—a sink, tub, or scrub bag—and it’ll turn into suds. Just be careful to handle the carrying case with dry hands, so you don't accidentally dissolve any of the delicate sheets.

PackTowl Personal Towel

It might not be the most high tech option, but a microfiber towel can dry your sopping wet laundry faster than a clothesline. Start by spreading the towel out on a dry surface. After you wring out as much excess water from your clean clothes as possible, lay a few items on top of the towel. Then tightly roll up the towel with the clothes inside and squeeze. The microfiber fabric will sponge up more of the water (it can actually absorb four times its weight in water). This is a good method for washing heavy garments like jeans or thick sweaters when you need them dry by morning. In addition to its normal functions, this easy-to-pack towel can double as a lightweight blanket on a plane or something to sit on at the beach .

Mudder Silicone Tub Stopper

For some reason, it always seems that when you actually need a plug for your hotel room or rental's sink, there isn’t one to be found. Use this universal drain cover in any sink or tub: It is heavy duty enough that it won’t move as you soak your clothes, reducing water and soap waste, but light enough that you won't mind tossing it in your suitcase on trips when you know you'll want to do laundry.

Urpower Garment Steamer

Sometimes doing laundry while traveling comes out of necessity; but other times, it just feels good to freshen up your outfits. Some fabrics, like linen, love to wrinkle in transit; use this travel steamer to smooth out delicate outfits. It’s fairly portable, clocking in at just over eight inches tall and two inches wide. We think it’s worth the luggage space to make sure your outfit looks smart, especially if you’re traveling for a destination wedding or business trip .

Packing List

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• Join CHOICE

The best and worst laundry detergents from our lab tests

Omo dominates the top of the table, while yet again we find some products that barely perform better than water..

The CHOICE laundry lab has conducted its latest round of detergent  testing , analysing more than 90 popular laundry powders, liquids, capsules and sheets for their cleaning prowess – or lack of. 

And the results have delivered some big surprises, especially when we compare performance against price. 

Want to know if your detergent is a winner or a wash-out? We reveal the best and worst cleaners from our tests below. 

On this page:

Best detergents for front loaders

The best front loader detergents for your wallet, worst detergents for front loaders, are laundry detergent sheets any good, are laundry capsules any good, best detergents for top loaders, best buys for top loaders, worst for top loaders.

CHOICE's head of reviews and testing Matthew Steen in the laundry lab.

No, you're not seeing double – our detailed laundry detergent test results have two entries for each product. So why the double-up?

When we test any product in our labs, we leave nothing to chance: our testers are a diligent bunch. Not only do we test each detergent on multiple types of stains, we also test each one in a top loader and a front loader.

"Top loaders and front loaders perform quite differently: front loading machines generally give you a better wash, so the detergents score higher in front loaders," says CHOICE head of reviews and testing Matthew Steen .

"We test detergents in both top and front loaders so you can see which detergent will work best in your washing machine."

Read more on how we test laundry detergents.

Omo has really cleaned up in our latest laundry detergent test, with three of its products topping the results, and a total of nine Omo detergents recommended by our experts.

Historically we've seen Omo perform well over the last 10 years of testing, having at least one recommended product in our tests.

Omo Ultimate Powder was the front runner with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 86%, followed by Omo Laundry Powder and Omo Ultimate 3 in 1 Capsules , which earned CHOICE Expert Ratings of  84% and 82% respectively. 

But those kinds of results don't come cheap. The top performing Omo product is one of the most expensive in our test – it costs a whopping $32 per 2kg, or $1.23 per wash. 

Omo has really cleaned up, with three of its products topping the results, and a total of nine Omo detergents recommended by our experts

In other unfortunate news for our hip pockets, only four out of the recommended detergents are supermarket own-brand products, which are priced much lower than big-name brands. 

Woolworths' and Coles' laundry capsules really punched above their weight in our test, earning scores high enough for a recommendation and delivering great results.

Coles Ultra Concentrate Laundry Capsules will set you back just 40 cents a wash, but they scored as highly as products costing more than twice as much.

And Woolworths Clean Ultimate Sensitive Laundry Capsules are also recommended by our experts but cost just 31 cents per wash.

Omo products dominated in our front loader test.

Top performers for front loaders

• Omo Ultimate Powder (86%)
• Omo Laundry Powder (84%)
• Omo Ultimate 3 in 1 Capsule Front Loader (82%)
• Biozet Attack Power Capsule + Eliminator 8 in 1 Clean (80%)
• Dynamo Professional Discs Deep Clean 7 in 1 Action (80%)
• Dynamo Professional Discs Deep Clean Odour Eliminator (80%)
• Omo Ultimate Liquid (80%)
• Omo Ultimate Sensitive Liquid (80%)
• Omo With A Touch of Comfort Freshness 3 in 1 Capsule (80%)

Read the full results in our detailed laundry detergent review .

There's more than one way to be a winner. These products might not be at the top of the class, but that doesn't mean they're not a smart buy. 

While they may not have made the cut to be recommended by our experts, they offer great value for money and are well worth considering. We call them our Best Buys. 

They all cost less than 30 cents per wash and have a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 70%.

Aldi's Laundrite Laundry Powder: Good for your wash and your wallet.

Best buys for front loaders:

• Aldi Laundrite Laundry Powder (79%)
• Coles Tropical Paradise Concentrate Laundry Powder (76%)
• Woolworths Clean Laundry Powder Fresh Getaway (75%)
• Aldi Almat Laundry Powder Concentrate Sunshine Fresh (74%)
• Aldi Trimat Advanced Concentrated Laundry Liquid (74%)

While Aldi products often perform well in our tests, the bargain retailer bombed with its Laundrite Laundry Liquid , which took out the wooden spoon in our tests.

While you may be tempted by its low cost per wash of just 6c, it was the worst performer out of all the liquids and powders we tested, scoring just 50% – no better than plain water. 

Aldi's Laundrite Laundry Liquid took out the wooden spoon in our tests

And it's not just liquids and powders that disappointed – detergent sheets and capsules were also represented at the bottom of the table.

If you're using one of the products below, you might want to rethink your next purchase.  Here are the detergents to avoid:

Aldi hit high and low notes in our tests, with its Laundrite liquid coming last.

• Water only: 50%
• Aldi Laundrite Laundry Liquid (50%)
• Re.stor Pre-measured Laundry Detergent Sheets Tropical Breeze (52%)
• Surf Tropical Capsules (53%)
• Earth Choice 3 in 1 Triple Action Laundry Capsules Fresh Burst with Eucalyptus Oil (54%)
• Coles Lemon Laundry Liquid (54%)
• Biozet Attack Sensitive Liquid (54%)
• Coles Ultra Concentrate Sensitive Laundry Liquid (55%)
• Lucent Globe Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent Sheets Ocean Breeze (56%)

Can't see your brand? See the full laundry detergent test results .

Re.stor laundry detergent sheets scored just 52% in our front loader test.

You might've noticed two laundry detergent sheets in the list above – so what are they?

A relative newcomer to the laundry scene (and highly featured on your preferred social platform), laundry sheets are sheets of dissolvable paper embedded with detergent. 

When they come into contact with water, they disintegrate, releasing the detergent into your wash.

They're marketed as an 'eco-friendly' option to traditional laundry detergent: they're lightweight and don't contain any water so they create fewer emissions to package and transport; they come in cardboard rather than single-use plastic; and they oven tout 'chemical-free' ingredients lists with 'no nasties'.

The laundry detergent sheets we tested didn't knock (or wash) our socks off

So how well do they work? From what we've seen in our testing, not very.

The laundry detergent sheets we tested didn't knock (or wash) our socks off: they were some of the lowest scoring detergents overall.

• Earth Rescue Laundry Detergent Sheets Fresh Linen (60%)

If sustainability is vitally important to you, then you might be quite happy with laundry detergent sheets – not having perfectly-white whites may seem like a reasonable tradeoff for the environmental benefits. 

"The concept is great, but the execution isn't quite there yet," says Matthew. 

"With some more development they may live up to their potential, but for now we don't think they're a great buy."

Some capsules don't perform well in our tests, such as these Surf capsules that scored just 53%.

Laundry capsules are single-use capsules, or pods, of liquid laundry detergent concentrate in a dissolvable plastic wrapper. 

They're designed to be dropped straight into your washing machine. 

Capsules can be hit and miss in terms of performance: some capsules are among the best performers, but others sit at the bottom of the table.

In our previous tests, capsules generally haven't performed well but this time around we've seen a big improvement, with a total of 18 products recommended by our experts.

Capsules are convenient with no messy pouring or measuring required – but there are some downsides

They're certainly convenient with no messy pouring or measuring required – but there are some downsides.

"Although some top-performing laundry detergent pods in our latest test cost less per dose than some powder and liquid products, there are plenty of pods that were more expensive," says Matthew.

And as the dose is fixed, you can't save money by using less.

"We've found that you can get just as good a wash using half the amount of powder or liquid detergent, which can reduce your cost per wash, but you can't change the amount of detergent in a capsule."

You may notice that ratings for top loader detergents are much lower than for front loader detergents. That's because our testing has found top loading machines don't wash as well.

"With that in mind, choosing a high performing detergent is even more important for people with top loaders," says Matthew.

Supermarkets scooped the top spots, with Aldi taking out first and third places and Coles just missing out on tying for third

Supermarkets scooped the top spots in our top loader testing, with Aldi taking out first and third places and Coles just missing out on tying for third by one percentage point. 

Omo made an appearance once again, claiming second place with a score of 65%. But while it'll leave your clothes clean, it'll also clean out your wallet: it costs a huge $1.23 per wash. That's more than seven times the cost of the Aldi Laundrite powder!

"The performance of the Aldi powder in our tests goes to show that you can get a great wash for a fraction of the cost of the leading brands," says Matthew. 

Aldi took out two podium spots in the top loader testing.

Top products for top loaders

• Aldi Laundrite Laundry Powder (69%)
• Omo Ultimate Powder (65%)
• Aldi Trimat Advanced Concentrated Laundry Powder (63%)
• Aldi Trimat Advanced Sensitive Concentrated Laundry Powder (63%)
• Coles Lemon Fresh Laundry Powder (62%)
• Biozet Attack Ultra Concentrate (61%)
• Cold Power Advanced Clean Powder (60%) 
• Coles Tropical Paradise Concentrate Laundry Powder (60%) 
• Coles Ultra Concentrate Laundry Powder (60%).

These discount detergents will give you a great clean without taking you to the cleaners.

To achieve Best Buys status, these products must cost less than 30 cents per wash and have a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 60%.

• Aldi Laundrite Laundry Powder (69%) – Recommended
• Coles Lemon Fresh Laundry Powder (62%) – Recommended
• Coles Tropical Paradise Concentrate Laundry Powder (60%) – Recommended

Another Aldi detergent dud: this time it's the Green Action Laundry Liquid.

Our testing revealed plenty of dud detergents that rated below 50%, including some big name brands. 

And laundry detergent sheets once again make an appearance at the bottom of the ladder:

• Water only (45%)
• Aldi Green Action Laundry Liquid (46%)
• Re.stor Pre-measured Laundry Detergent Sheets Tropical Breeze (47%)
• Lucent Globe Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent Sheets Ocean Breeze (47%)
• Ecostore 3x Concentrate Laundry Liquid (47%)

Stock images:  Getty, unless otherwise stated.

Join the conversation

To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum.

Departments

Tide PODS Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent Pacs

Picked for you, gain liquid laundry detergent, original scent, 107 loads, duke's mayonnaise, real, smooth & creamy, pringles potato crisps chips, lunch snacks, on-the-go snacks, cheddar cheese, frito lay flavor mix, related items, tide pods liquid laundry detergent pacs, spring meadow scent.

Likely out of stock

Tide Simply + Oxi Liquid Laundry Detergent, Refreshing Breeze

Tide liquid laundry detergent soap pacs, arm & hammer plus oxiclean fresh scent, often bought with, crest complete whitening toothpaste, minty fresh, radiance lemon disinfectant wipes, boulder drawstring kitchen bag, febreze odor-fighting air freshener linen & sky scent.

Taking care of sensitive skin doesn’t have to be hard. Each Tide PODS contains breakthrough 3-in-1 laundry solution with super-concentrated detergent, stain remover and color protector that is specially designed free of dyes and perfumes. Simply put in one pac for most loads, but use two pacs for large loads and three pacs for extra large loads. For a simple, worry-free laundry experience that’s gentle on skin, Tide PODS Free & Gentle laundry detergent will keep your family looking and feeling great. It outperformed the leading free detergent on 10 different stains (1).

Unlike many other HE detergents that can slow washers down because of too many suds, Tide HE Turbo contains quick collapsing suds and targets tough stains. So you can get amazing results without the extra rinse cycles to remove the suds.

(1) under standard single-wash conditions on Polycotton fabric in a standard top-loading washer

CONTAINS NO PHOSPHATE

no perfumes

Ingredients

MEA C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, MEA Laureth Sulfate, C10-16 Pareth, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, MEA Salts Of C12-18 Fatty Acids, Polyethyleneimine Alkoxylated, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, PEG-136 Polyvinyl Alcohol, MEA-Citrate, Sodium Bisulfite, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, Zeolite, Subtilisin, Amylase Enzyme, Styrene, Denatonium Benzoate, Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer, Water

Close lid tightly after use.

Concentrated detergent pacs can burst if children put them in mouth or play with them. The liquid inside is harmful if put in mouth, swallowed, or in eyes. KEEP PACS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. Store container where children cannot reach or climb to it, out of sight and in a secure place. Keep container fully closed. Never leave any pacs out of container. DO NOT let children handle pacs, even if supervised. AVOID BREAKING PACS. Do not handle pacs with wet or moisthands. Do not expose pacs to moisture. Do not cut or puncture pacs. If pacs stick together, do not try to separate them. MAY IRRITATE EYES. Do not get in eyes. Keep out of reach of children. FIRST AID TREATMENT: Contains nonionic and anionic surfactants, ethoxylated polyethylene polyamine (polymer) and enzymes. Call a Poison Control Center (US: 1-800-222-1222) or doctor Immediately if detergent gets in mouth or eye or on skin. Immediately and thoroughly rinse eye or skin with water for 15 minutes. If swallowed, have person sip a glass of water or milk if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting.

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Aldi is selling a collapsible washing machine and other must-have camping gear for your next adventure

Laundry on the go this portable purchase has you covered, article bookmarked.

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With the worst of the cold weather now (hopefully) behind us, many of us may be dusting off our tents and camping equipment  – and searching for that annoyingly elusive sleeping bag – in the hope the spring weather will hold up enough for us to set off camping.

If you do already have a date marked in the diary, you have probably already started sourcing your non-negotiables for the trip, whether that be waterproof jackets and suncream for everyone (because you never know) or an insulated flask for copious amounts of tea.

One item you may not have thought about is a washing machine – yes, but stay with us. As part of the supermarket’s Special buys camping range , which is available to buy online, Aldi is selling a collapsible washing machine for doing laundry on the go. You may never run out of clean socks again.

Along with a number of other outdoor must-haves, Aldi is offering the space-saving design with a 40 per cent discount when you use the code “OUTDOOR40”, which means the budget supermarket’s competitive prices are even more purse-friendly, for a limited time.

Whether you’re bracing the chill now or getting your ducks in a row for an early summer camping excursion, here are the camping essentials to consider for your trip, from blow-up airbeds to gazebos .

Leisurewize collapsible washing machine: £69.99, Aldi.co.uk

Designed to be portable, you will never be stuck without clean socks again, thanks to this collapsible washing machine. With a relatively roomy capacity of 15l, you can bung your dirty clothes in the cleaning drum, which will then spin with 400rpm (rotations per minute). When it comes to packing up before you’re homeward bound, it can, as its name suggests, be collapsed down to help save space.

Adventuridge camping shelter gazebo: £129.99, Aldi.co.uk

Whether it’s pelting it down or miraculously sunny, it’s always a good idea to have some protection from the elements when spending long periods outdoors. Made with a dome-shaped cover to protect from any showers and the sun’s rays, it features UV50+ protection and is water-resistant, should the weather not play ball. Internal storage pockets will also be helpful for stashing your outdoor essentials – especially if the ground has become muddy and wet.

Bestway airbed with built-in pump: £49.99, Aldi.co.uk

There really is nothing worse than a lumpy sleeping bag with nothing underneath to cushion yourself, so, make sure you’re properly equipped for a comfortable night’s sleep by investing in a blow-up airbed. This option from Bestway comes complete with a built-in pump said to get the task done in as little as four minutes, making setup simple and speedy. Bestway’s bed is also billed as having a soft surface and being finished with an antimicrobial treatment.

Coleman lamp with Bluetooth speaker: £39.99, Aldi.co.uk

Quite possibly the camping gadget we never knew we needed, you could easily use this lamp-and-speaker hybrid at festivals or even in your outdoor space at home. While emitting light in all directions – stretching as far as 8m – for at least seven hours at a time, you can also connect the lamp via Bluetooth, which means you can blast music and keep the party going for hours. Fit for purpose when it comes to outdoor use, it’s also water-resistant.

Gardenline portable BBQ and cover: £49.99, Aldi.co.uk

If rustling up a burger or two while camping is non-negotiable, you’ll want to find a small, portable barbecue option that you bring with you. Smart-looking, modest in size and perched on silicone feet, this portable charcoal option from Aldi’s Gardenline range features an integrated fan and grill rack measuring 35cm wide. Helpfully, the barbecue comes complete with four batteries. Transporting this to the site and back again should be fairly hassle-free too, owing to the inclusion of a storage bag with handles.

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on camping and outdoor gear, try the links below:

• GO Outdoors voucher code
• Very discount code

Don’t settle for anything less than the best sleeping bags for your next getaway

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