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The Soap and Detergent Association lays out the options for getting your clothes clean:
General Purpose Detergents
LiquidsAll-purpose laundry detergents in liquid form are especially effective on food, greasy and oily soils. Since they are liquids, they are good for pretreating spots and stains.
All-purpose laundry detergents in powdered form are ideal for general washday loads. Especially effective on lifting out clay and ground-in dirt, thus ideal for children's play clothes.
Ultra Detergents
Most liquid and powder detergents are now concentrated. They come in much smaller packages — yet offer the same amount of cleaning power as the familiar products in larger packages. You need less ultra detergent than with an unconcentrated product, so follow the label instructions and use the measuring cap or scoop that comes with the product.
Combination Detergents
One detergent that does two jobs. Look for:
- Liquid or powder detergents with built-in fabric softeners
- Powder detergents with color-safe bleach
- Liquid detergents with bleach alternative
Fragrance or Dye-Free Detergents
Many laundry products are now fragrance-free and/or dye-free. Read product labels for specific details.
Light Duty Detergents
Laundry Liquids and PowdersDesigned for hand or machine washing those lightly soiled items and delicate fabrics. Ideal for baby clothes.
Dishwashing Liquids
Designed for washing dishes, but some can be used for handwashing delicate fabrics. Do not use in automatic washers!
On Laundry Detergent: Created on January 6th, 2005. Last Modified on January 21st, 2014
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