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Best liquid laundry detergent (2026)

Our pick is Persil ProClean Original: Reviewed named Persil ProClean its best overall detergent in 2025,1 at 20 cents a load.2 For touchy skin, pick Persil Free & Sensitive. It lists no fragrance and neither MI nor BIT, two preservatives some people react to.3

Persil ProClean Original
Our pick

Persil ProClean Original

An all-round stain fighter for normal skin. Reviewed named Persil ProClean its best overall detergent in 2025.

$0.20 /loadas listed$13.37 on AmazonCheck price on Amazon

By Erin Rose · Updated

An empty plastic laundry basket on a wooden floor

Which liquid laundry detergent cleans best in lab tests?

Reviewed named Persil ProClean its best overall detergent. Consumer Reports' 2020 test praised Persil's 2-in-1 line.1, 4 Reviewed's buy link goes to the Original scent, so that is the one we pick. Persil's other scents are not covered by these results.

Consumer Reports' 2026 top liquid is Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release.5 We have not checked its ingredients, so it is not one of our picks. The Tide guide covers it. Each tester ran its own stains, so compare within a row, not across.

Liquid, as the tester named itReviewedConsumer ReportsOther testers
Persil ProClean liquid2Best overall; it removed an average of 2% more stains than Tide detergents12020: rated its Power-Liquid 2-in-1 Very Good on tough stains such as blood and grass4 Brand-level, 2026: among the best-performing gentle detergents6Not tested
Persil ProClean Sensitive Skin (sold as Free & Sensitive)3, 7Removed the most stains in its sensitive-skin test82020: best sensitive-skin detergent tested for grown-up stains9Not tested
Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release (we have not checked its ingredients)Not tested2026: top liquid5Not tested
Tide Original liquid10Best Value; it lagged slightly behind Persil in its stain test11Not testedNot tested
Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean liquid (we have not checked its ingredients)Removed 6% fewer stains than Persil and 4% fewer than Tide122026: among the top five detergents tested13Good Housekeeping: tied for first on polyester in cold water14
Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear15"It removed about 67% of all the testing stains, a full 7% behind the leader."16Not testedBabyGearLab: does a good job of getting clothes clean17
ATTITUDE Mountain Fresh liquid18, 19Not testedNot testedNot tested

Each cell is that tester's own result for that product line. A blank cell means that tester did not test it, which says nothing about quality. Persil's own page lists the Sensitive Skin line as Free & Sensitive, so we treat them as one line.

Our pick, and four liquids for other jobsFour more picks for other needs

Persil ProClean Original

Persil ProClean Original

Our pick

An all-round stain fighter for normal skin. Pick this one when clean clothes are the job and fragrance is fine for you. The list holds fragrance, a brightener (it makes whites look whiter) and enzymes (they break down stains), and no MI or BIT. Pre-treat set-in stains.2

Recalls: noneProp 65: none
Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive

Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive

Same maker, with no fragrance, dye or MI-family preservative listed. Pick this one if fragrance, MI or BIT bother your skin.3

Recalls: noneProp 65: none
$0.24 /loadas listed$25.99 on AmazonCheck price on Amazon
Tide Original Liquid

Tide Original Liquid

Reviewed's Best Value pick. It costs about the same per load as Persil Original. Pick this one if you want the familiar Tide scent for everyday loads. It lists fragrance and BIT, a preservative some people react to, so skip it for touchy skin.10

Recalls: noneEWG: B
$0.20 /loadas listed$19.97 on AmazonCheck price on Amazon
Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear

Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear

Cheapest liquid we could price that lists no fragrance or MI-family preservative. Pick this one to spend the least. Pre-treat stains first. The list holds a brightener.15

Recalls: noneProp 65: none
$0.09 /loadas listed$8.99 on AmazonCheck price on Amazon
ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Mountain Fresh

ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Mountain Fresh

Plant-based cleaners, labeled EWG Verified. Pick this one for a plant-based label with no MI or BIT. It lists fragrance. Pre-treat stains and add an extra rinse.18

Recalls: noneProp 65: none
$0.42 /loadas listed$16.84 on AmazonCheck price on Amazon

How many liquid laundry detergents list fragrance or MI-family preservatives?

We read the full ingredient list of 87 liquid detergents. 55 list fragrance, an essential oil or a named fragrance allergen. 50 list MI or BIT, two preservatives some people react to. Only 14 list neither. For a child with eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology advises: "Use only detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free."20

List fragrance, an essential oil or a named fragrance allergen55 of 87
List MI or BIT, two preservatives some people react to50 of 87
List neither one14 of 87

What does a load of liquid laundry detergent cost?

Across the 71 liquids we could price, the median is 22 cents a load, and 5 cost under 10 cents. Cost per load uses the Amazon price and the load count on the listing, read on the date at the top of this page. Our cheapest pick that lists no fragrance and no MI-family preservative is Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin, at 9 cents.21 Persil Original and Tide Original cost about the same per load.

Which liquid laundry detergent is best for sensitive skin?

Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive. Its list names no fragrance and no MI or BIT preservative, and Reviewed found its Sensitive Skin line removed the most stains among sensitive-skin detergents.3, 8 The list does hold a brightener, which makes whites look whiter, and enzymes, which break down stains. For other liquids with no fragrance or MI-family preservative, see the fragrance-free guide.

Questions people ask

Is Persil or Tide better?

In Reviewed's test, Persil removed an average of 2% more stains than Tide detergents.1 Consumer Reports' top liquid is Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release, a different Tide from the Original.5

Is Kirkland Signature laundry detergent as good as the name brands?

In Reviewed's test, Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean removed 6% fewer stains than Persil and 4% fewer than Tide.12 A 2026 Yahoo Shopping report on Consumer Reports' test ranks its Ultra Clean liquid fifth among 49 liquids tested.22 That is the Ultra Clean liquid, not the Free & Clear version. We have not checked its ingredients.

Does ATTITUDE liquid detergent clean well?

No tester we read tested the Mountain Fresh liquid. Pre-treat stains and add an extra rinse.

Which liquid laundry detergent has no MI or BIT?

Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive lists neither fragrance nor MI-family preservatives.3 Our guide to fragrance-free detergents lists the rest.

Sources (22)

  1. Reviewed: The Best Laundry Detergents (Persil ProClean), read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Our photospectrometer revealed that, across all our tests, Persil removed an average of 2% more stains than Tide detergents.”
  2. Persil ProClean Original liquid, 40 oz size of the same line: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Persil ProClean Liquid Laundry Detergent, Original, 40 Fluid Ounces, 25 loads ; water ; sodium laureth sulfate ; laureth-12 ; sodium C10-16…”
  3. Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive liquid: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “water ; laureth-12 ; sodium C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonate ; sodium laureth sulfate ; propylene glycol ; tetrasodium iminodisuccinate ; polyethyleneimine…”
  4. Consumer Reports (Yahoo copy): Best and worst laundry detergents, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “earn a Very Good rating in removing tough stains such as blood and grass”
  5. Consumer Reports: Best and Worst Laundry Detergents of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “did a top job removing body oil, salad dressing, chocolate, and plain old dirt”
  6. Consumer Reports: How Well Do 'Gentle' Laundry Detergents Actually Clean?, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Kirkland, Tide, Persil, and All were among the best-performing gentle detergents, while Dreft, All Mighty Pacs, Arm & Hammer, Seventh Generation, and Target's…”
  7. Persil: Free & Sensitive product page (the old Free & Sensitive link redirects to this Sensitive Skin 2X Concentrated Liquid page), read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Persil® Free & Sensitive concentrated detergent for sensitive skin is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dye-free.”
  8. Reviewed: The Best Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Persil ProClean Sensitive Skin removed the most stains.”
  9. Consumer Reports (Yahoo copy): Best and worst laundry detergents, sensitive skin, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “It is the best sensitive-skin detergent tested for grown-up stains”
  10. Tide Original Scent liquid, 125 fl oz: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “INGREDIENTS: Water, C10-16 Alketh, Sodium and MEA C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, Polyethyleneimines alkoxylated, Sodium and MEA Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl…”
  11. Reviewed: The Best Laundry Detergents of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “It lagged slightly behind Persil in our stain-fighting test.”
  12. Reviewed: The Best Laundry Detergents of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “The Kirkland detergent removed 6% fewer stains than Persil and 4% fewer than Tide.”
  13. Consumer Reports: Best and Worst Laundry Detergents of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “ranked among the top five detergents we tested in terms of performance”
  14. Good Housekeeping via Yahoo: Cleaning Experts Reveal The Best Laundry Detergents (Yahoo copy), read November 8, 2026. Quote: “it tied for first place in getting the most stains out of polyester in cold water”
  15. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent - Perfume and Dye Free (42017319): Water; C10-16 alketh; Sodium laureth sulfate; Sodium carbonate”
  16. Reviewed: The Best Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “It removed about 67% of all the testing stains, a full 7% behind the leader.”
  17. BabyGearLab: The Best Baby Detergent, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “This product does a good job of getting clothes clean and avoiding stains.”
  18. ATTITUDE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Mountain Fresh, 40 loads: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Ingredients <5% anionic surfactants / agents de surface anioniques (Sodium Coco-Sulfate), <5% non-ionic surfactants / agents de surface non-ioniques (Lauryl…”
  19. ATTITUDE: laundry detergent product page (label claims), read November 8, 2026. Quote: “EWG Verified”
  20. American Academy of Dermatology: child-friendly products for eczema, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Use only detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free”
  21. ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid: ingredient list, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent - Perfume and Dye Free (42017319): Water; C10-16 alketh; Sodium laureth sulfate; Sodium carbonate”
  22. Hunker via Yahoo (CR syndication): Consumer Reports Names The Top Liquid Laundry Detergent For Stubborn Stains (Hunker via Yahoo), read November 8, 2026. Quote: “ranking it fifth among the 49 liquid detergents tested”

The paper trail

Every product on this page was looked up in the EPA Safer Choice list, CPSC recalls, California Prop 65 notices and EWG’s database. We read each maker’s full ingredient label and worked out what a load or an ounce really costs. Every fact links to where it came from. How we snoop.