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Type of detergent
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We test a range of liquid, powder and capsule laundry detergents as well as laundry detergent sheets.
- Liquid
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Washing machine type
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Whether we tested the detergent in a top loader or front loader washing machine. If the detergent claims to be suitable for both, we test in both. You'll find the scores under the requisite machine type.
- Front loader
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Recommended
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We recommend liquid and powder laundry detergents in front loaders with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 80%, while liquid and powder 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. Capsule laundry detergents must have a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 70% in either front or top loader machines to be recommended.
- No
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Best buy
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These are detergents that don't necessarily do well enough to be recommended, but are still great value for money. For front loaders, a laundry detergent must have a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 70% and cost under 30 cents per wash. For top loaders, a laundry detergent must have a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 60% overall and cost under 30 cents per wash.
- No
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CHOICE Expert Rating
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This overall dirt removal score is made up of general detergency (35%), perspiration stains (20%), grass/mud stains (15%), olive oil stains (6%), make-up stains (4%), mineral oil stains (4%), chocolate ice cream stains (4%), baby food stains (4%), aged blood stains (4%) and tomato stains (4%). All products are tested in cold water (20°C).
- 69%
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General detergency score
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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 8% or more in general detergency and soil removal are visible to the human eye.
- 69%
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Perspiration stains score
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A measure of how well a detergent removes perspiration stains from your clothes. Differences of 8% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 73%
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Grass/mud stains score
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Differences of 1% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 70%
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Olive oil stains score
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Differences of 8% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 65%
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Tomato stains score
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Differences of 4% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 75%
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Make-up stains score
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A visible difference to dirt removal from the fluid make-up swatch is hard to pick due to uneven soil removal.
- 70%
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Chocolate ice cream stains score
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Differences of 1% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 87%
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Baby food stains score
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Differences of less than 1% are visible to the human eye.
- 79%
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Mineral oil stains score
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Differences of 10% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 50%
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Blood stains score
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Differences of 7% or more are visible to the human eye.
- 39%