We recommend laundry detergents in front loaders that achieve at least an 80% overall rating, while top loader detergents must get at least 60% to be recommended. Top loaders typically don't wash as well as front loaders, hence the decreased criteria.

This overall dirt removal score is made up of general detergency (35%), natural oils – sebum/perspiration (20%), grass/mud (15%), olive oil (7%), make-up (6%), chocolate ice cream (6%), baby food (5%) and aged blood (6%). All products are tested in cold water (20C).

General detergency is a measure of how well the detergent keeps soils suspended in the wash water and prevents them from being redeposited on your clothes. It's also a measure of how effective enzymes are at removing protein-based stains; and how effectively a detergent removes oil. Differences of eight percent or more in general detergency and soil removal are visible to the human eye.

A measure of how well a detergent removes perspiration stains from your clothes. Differences of eight percentage points or more are visible to the human eye.

Differences of less than one percentage point are visible to the human eye.

Differences of eight percentage points or more are visible to the human eye.

A visible difference to dirt removal from the fluid make-up swatch is hard to pick due to uneven soil removal.

Differences of less than one percentage point are visible to the human eye.

Differences of less than one percentage point are visible to the human eye.

Differences of seven percentage points or more are visible to the human eye.

This is the price we paid for the pack size tested. The cost per wash is based on this price, so if you can find it cheaper, your cost per wash will be cheaper as well.

This is calculated based on the price we paid, the pack size we used, and the dose we measured based on the manufacturers directions, not the claimed number of doses per pack. If you can find a product cheaper in store, or a more economical pack size your cost per wash will reduce accordingly.

We test multiple times a year sometimes, so we include the year tested to find the latest results.

Company that owns the brand name.

Using the pack size tested, and based on the measured dose.

This is the pack size of the products we purchased and tested.

Where the product is made, according to the packaging.

A 'Yes' indicates the product claims to be 'sensitive' on the pack.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. N/A means there is no rating for that company.

A 'Yes' indicates the detergent is claimed to be safe for septic tanks if used as directed. The claim is usually based on the detergent having no chlorine bleach or phosphates. While detergents generally don't have much of an effect on the septic tank's treatment capabilities, a high sodium load can cause problems with the soil over time as it's released into the subsoil trenches.

Phosphates help soften the water and keep extracted dirt in suspension. But high levels of phosphorus can lead to excessive growth of blue-green algae in inland waterways.

Enzymes target protein, starch or biological-based stains such as grass or blood. Different enzymes target different stains. Enzymes are known to cause irritation, so should be avoided by people with sensitive skin.

Optical brighteners coat the fabric with fluorescers that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as blue light, making the clothes look whiter and brighter even though they don't actually remove any dirt. They help minimise greying of whites. Products with brighteners are best avoided by people with sensitive skin.