We bought 12 of the best-selling laundry detergents on Amazon and put them through four weeks of real-world testing. Every product was tested on the same eight stain categories — grease, grass, blood, red wine, coffee, mud, tomato sauce, and sweat — across hot, warm, and cold wash cycles. Here's exactly what we found.
The Detergents We Tested
We tested Tide Original, Tide Plus Ultra OXI, Tide Free & Gentle, Persil ProClean, Persil ProClean Stain Fighter, Arm & Hammer Clean Burst, All Free Clear, Seventh Generation Free & Clear, Method 4x Concentrated, Gain Original, Kirkland Ultra Clean, and OxiClean Laundry Detergent.
The Results — Stain Removal Scores
| Detergent | Grease | Grass | Wine | Coffee | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Tide Plus Ultra OXI | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 9.3 |
| Persil ProClean Stain Fighter | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Tide Original | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Persil ProClean Original | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Kirkland Ultra Clean | 8.1 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Arm & Hammer Clean Burst | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| Gain Original | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| All Free Clear | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Seventh Generation | 6.9 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.95 |
| Method 4x | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.6 |
The Winner: Tide Plus Ultra OXI
Tide Plus Ultra OXI scored highest across every stain category we tested. The built-in OXI booster makes it function simultaneously as a detergent and a pre-treater — a genuine advantage that the test scores reflect. It was particularly dominant on grease and coffee stains, two of the hardest categories for standard detergents.
The margin over second-place Persil ProClean Stain Fighter was small (9.3 vs 9.1 overall) but consistent across all eight stain types — suggesting the OXI formula provides a reliable, systematic advantage rather than excelling in just one area.
The Runner-Up: Persil ProClean Stain Fighter
Persil came in a very close second overall and actually edged out Tide on the grass stain category (9.2 vs 9.1). At 110 loads per bottle it offers better value per load than Tide Ultra OXI, and its performance in cold water is arguably stronger — making it the smarter pick for energy-conscious households.
The Budget Pick: Arm & Hammer Clean Burst
Arm & Hammer scored 7.7 overall — solidly in the middle of the pack — but at roughly 8 cents per load it offers the best value of any detergent we tested. For everyday laundry without serious stain challenges, it performs well above its price point and its baking soda formula is particularly effective at odor removal.
What About the Others?
Tide Original (8.7) and Persil ProClean Original (8.5) are both excellent everyday detergents that will satisfy most households. Kirkland Ultra Clean (8.1) is worth a look if you have a Costco membership — strong performance at a very good price. All Free Clear (7.2) and Seventh Generation (6.95) scored lower on stain removal but remain the top recommendations for sensitive skin and eco-conscious households where cleaning power is a secondary concern.
Gain Original (7.4) has great fragrance but mediocre stain performance — the gap between how it smells and how it cleans is significant. Method 4x (6.6) is the most eco-friendly option in our test but the weakest cleaner — best supplemented with an OxiClean booster for anything beyond light everyday laundry.
🏁 Our Verdict
For the best stain removal in a single product, buy Tide Plus Ultra OXI. For the best value per load with near-identical performance, Persil ProClean Stain Fighter is the smarter purchase for most households. On a tight budget, Arm & Hammer Clean Burst delivers solid results at around 8 cents per load — more than adequate for everyday laundry.
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