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The Best High-Efficiency Laundry Detergent | 2023

Last updated on February 24, 2023

We looked at the top 13 High Efficiency Laundry Detergents and dug through the reviews from 19 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best High Efficiency Laundry Detergents.

Best High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

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Our Picks For The Top High Efficiency Laundry Detergents

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Top Pick

Persil ProClean Long Lasting Freshness High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

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Persil

ProClean Long Lasting Freshness High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Overall Take

Biggest ValueWith just one bottle of this high-efficiency laundry detergent, you'll be able to tackle 110 loads of laundry.

Experts Included
DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  We Also Like

Arm & Hammer Concentrated High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Arm & Hammer

Concentrated High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Overall Take

Naturally FreshTry this detergent with baking soda for an all-natural clean.

Experts Included
DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus BestReviews (Products), USA Today. Along with user reviews from Amazon, Walmart and Target.
Pros
" Leaves clothes powerfully clean and naturally fresh. Lower sudsing formula rinses cleaner."
Cons
"Smell maybe unpleasant."
  Runner Up

Woolite Protect & Renew High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Woolite

Protect & Renew High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Overall Take

Pleasant ScentThis high-efficiency laundry detergent will leave your clothes smelling like a moonlight breeze.

Experts Included
DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  Strong Contender

Gain Phosphate Free High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Gain

Phosphate Free High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Overall Take

Bulk PickStock up with this two-pack of great-smelling detergent.

Experts Included
DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus Product Review. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Enjoy 6 weeks of freshness from wash until wear. Works in all washing machines even in cold water"
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
20

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the high efficiency laundry detergents available to purchase.
13

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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19

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Product Review, BestReviews, Mom Curls, Home Reviewster, Best Reviews Ninja.

115,438

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 13 High Efficiency Laundry Detergents and also dug through the reviews from 19 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best High Efficiency Laundry Detergents.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

Persil ProClean Long Lasting Freshness High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

User Summarized Score

9.6
3,711 user reviews

Our Take

Visible and invisible dirt and grime are no match for this high-efficiency laundry detergent. It's formulated with powerful stain-fighting ingredients, so you won't even need to purchase a separate stain stick. Of course, the long-lasting fresh scent is also a nice feature, allowing you to smell the clean, not just see it.


The Best Bang For Your Buck

Arm & Hammer Concentrated High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

Our Expert Score

8.0
2 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.5
13,891 user reviews

Our Take

This high-efficiency laundry detergent boasts a powerful clean and a natural fresh scent, thanks to its inclusion of baking soda. Its low-sudsing formula rinses cleaner, and it is effective in both regular and high efficiency machines.

What other experts liked

Leaves clothes powerfully clean and naturally fresh. Lower sudsing formula rinses cleaner.
- BestReviews (Products)
Affordable and removes normal stains.
- USA Today

What other experts didn't like

Smell maybe unpleasant.
- USA Today

Our High Efficiency Laundry Detergent Findings


Persil ProClean Long Lasting Freshness High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

What We Liked: Visible and invisible dirt and grime are no match for this high-efficiency laundry detergent. It’s formulated with powerful stain-fighting ingredients, so you won’t even need to purchase a separate stain stick. Of course, the long-lasting fresh scent is also a nice feature, allowing you to smell the clean, not just see it.


Woolite Protect & Renew High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

What We Liked: Specifically formulated for dark clothing items, this high-efficiency laundry detergent does an excellent job of preventing fading, so your favorite sweater continues to look like new. The detergent is also designed to smooth out clothing fibers, removing piling and fuzz before the cycle ends. It’s even a safe choice when washing more delicate garments.


Arm & Hammer Concentrated High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

What We Liked: This high-efficiency laundry detergent boasts a powerful clean and a natural fresh scent, thanks to its inclusion of baking soda. Its low-sudsing formula rinses cleaner, and it is effective in both regular and high efficiency machines.


Gain Phosphate Free High Efficiency Laundry Detergent

What We Liked: This two-pack of high-efficiency laundry detergent works in all washing machines and boasts a clean, fresh scent. Enjoy up to six weeks of freshness, thanks to the included AromaBoost, as well as amazing dirt removal properties.


WBM Care Infant High Efficiency Laundry Detergent, 2-Pack

What We Liked: This high-efficiency laundry detergent is specially formulated to laundry your infant’s clothing and bedding. It’s free of fragrances and other toxic chemicals that can be harmful to sensitive skin. In fact, the formula is all-natural and made from plant-based ingredients. It leaves clothes and bedding feeling super soft to the touch.

Our High Efficiency Laundry Detergent Buying Guide

High-efficiency laundry detergent is specifically formulated for washing machines that are also designated as high efficiency. These machines use less water than traditional units, so high-efficiency laundry detergent is designed to create fewer suds and to disperse quickly. This way, it can offer the best possible clean, despite smaller amounts of water.

In most cases, you can determine whether a laundry detergent is designated as high efficiency by looking for the “HE” logo on the product’s package. Usually, these letters are surrounded by a stylized circle.

While it might be tempting to use whatever detergent you have on hand, you shouldn’t use regular varieties in your high-efficiency washing machine. These other detergents produce too many suds for the lower water levels in your machine, which could leave your clothes less clean, result in a longer wash cycle for machines with a rinse sensor. It could even cause the machine to overflow.

That said, it is completely acceptable to use high-efficiency laundry detergent in a regular washing machine. You will need to use more detergent than you would in a high-efficiency washer, since a traditional washing machine uses more water. Follow the instructions on the package to learn more about proper detergent quantities.

When shopping for a high-efficiency laundry detergent, you’ll be able to choose from HE versions of your favorite detergents, as well as many all-natural and fragrance-free varieties. Whether you want a fully biodegradable detergent or one without any added scents, there is a perfect option for you.

Best of all, many high-efficiency detergents come in multipacks, offering you the convenience of getting more detergent at a time, and often at bulk cost savings. Be sure to calculate the unit price per load when ordering your laundry supplies.

You may find that the detergent you’re considering costs more per load than a comparable brand, even though it costs less per package. Similarly, verify that a multipack is less expensive per load than a single unit of the detergent. While it might seem that buying in bulk should save you money, this isn’t always the case.

DWYM Fun Fact

How exactly does high efficiency laundry detergent work?

It all starts with suds. Suds, or bubbles, work hard to break apart dirt and stains on your clothing and linens.

Have you ever wondered why the dirt and stains don’t just fall back onto your clothes, re-soiling them during the laundering process?

You can thank your detergent for this, too.

Detergent actually suspends the soil, dyes and other unwanted substances in the water during your washer’s cleaning cycle. This prevents them from getting back onto your clothes.

When the water drains out of your washing machine and is carried away through your septic or sewer system as what is called gray water, the dirt and stains go with it.

The High Efficiency Laundry Detergent Tips and Advice

  • When you are using high-efficiency detergent in a traditional washer, plan to use 1/4 cup for a normal-sized load of laundry.
  • If you are using high-efficiency detergent in a newer HE washing machine, you will only need about 2 tablespoons to get an adequate clean.
  • High-efficiency detergents come in a variety of concentration amounts, noted on the product’s packaging as “2X,” “4X,” “8X,” etc. Always check manufacturer instructions before adding detergent to your washer to be sure you understand what the product’s concentration means.
  • Avoid mixing liquid and powder detergents in your washer. If you choose to use both types, don’t do so in the same load of laundry. Wipe out the remnants of one sort of detergent before using another.
  • Consider the use of a washing machine cleaner periodically to rid it of molds and mildew. Particularly with a high-efficiency washer that is front-loading, smells can build up over time. Leave the washer door open a bit after each load to encourage proper drying and limit smells.
  • Read product labels before purchasing a high-efficiency laundry detergent. Not all contain the same ingredients. Consider an all-natural or “free and clear” variety of detergent, especially if you have sensitive skin or have small children at home.
  • If you don’t have a high-efficiency washing machine, you can price compare to determine whether a regular or HE detergent is the best choice for you. In some instances, the high-efficiency option may still come with cost savings.