Laundry detergent can do the best job in the world getting clothes clean, but if the clothes don’t smell clean in the end, then it’s all for nothing. Just about everyone enjoys putting on clothes that make them feel clean and fresh, so it should be no surprise that people are always on the lookout for the next great smelling laundry product to make their clothes smell as clean as they are.
Finding a laundry detergent that gives your clothing that fresh, clean scent isn’t always easy. Although a lot of detergents claim to have the best scent, the truth of the matter is that most of them don’t. That’s why we decided to dig down into the topic and find the best smelling laundry detergents that can currently be bought and put them in a convenient list.
The 10 Best Smelling Laundry Detergents
#10 Seventh Generation Geranium Blossom & Vanilla
This powerful detergent from Seventh Generation not only gives clothes a nice clean scent, but it does it without using synthetic fragrances. In fact, it doesn’t use any artificial ingredients and is a USDA Certified Biobased Product. That means it doesn’t have any artificial fragrances, dyes, or artificial brighteners. It also means that it’s free of all of the synthetic cleaners that ordinary laundry detergents usually contain, using instead a triple enzyme formula to cut through tough stains. And best of all, it has a geranium blossom and vanilla scent that a lot of people are going to love smelling.
#9 Tyler Glamorous Diva Laundry Detergent
If we did a survey asking consumers if they had heard of a particular laundry detergent, Tyler Fine Detergent would probably fall to the bottom of the list. That’s because it’s not as commonly available as some commercial detergents. However, we feel that if people could smell this detergent, then it would be one of the biggest brands on the market. That’s because it has a divine scent. It’s a blend of lily-of-the-valley, citrus, and rose. It’s the kind of scent that a person could wrap around themselves and breathe all day long. And it’s contained in a detergent that does a great job of cleaning fine fabrics.
#8 Snuggle Lavender Joy Scent Pacs
Okay, we have to admit that this product from Snuggle isn’t actually a laundry detergent but is instead a concentrated scent pack. And that’s why it isn’t further up on our list. However, we do feel that it’s a product that every consumer should try out, at least once, to see if they like it. That’s because it adds a scent to the clothing that detergents have problems supplying. A scent that’s soft and smells like calming lavender. It’s also a product that’s easy to use, and all a person has to do is to toss one of these packs into their washer. And since it’s safe for all different types of washers, include HE washers, just about anyone can use it to make their clothes smell great.
#7 Method Concentrated Lavender Cedar Detergent
This product from Method may seem like just another lavender scented laundry detergent, but it’s a bit different than most other brands. That’s because it’s floral lavender scent is mixed with the clean scent of cedar. This creates a fragrance that not only smells clean but is also pretty unique. This product just doesn’t smell great, however. It also does a pretty good job of cleaning clothes and is an ultra-concentrated detergent that does the job. And because it’s concentrated, users only have to use a quarter of what they would ordinarily add to their washer. It’s an economical way to get clothes clean and have them smelling fresh.
#6 Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Laundry Detergent
Lavender has been the go-to scent for many laundry detergents nowadays for a very good reason–because it’s a great smelling floral scent. And probably no detergent does a better job of infusing their laundry products with this scent than Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent. They have created a soft floral scent that will make clothes smelling fresh and clean all day long, but do it without being overpowering. It’s also a detergent that does a great job of getting clothes nice and clean. This product is also concentrated, so one bottle can easily tackle up to 64 loads of laundry, so it not only smells great but is economical as well.
#5 Persil Pro-Clean Intense Fresh Liquid Detergent
Persil Pro-Clean Intense Fresh is a liquid laundry detergent that not only has a scent that will stay with clothing for days, but it’s one that also has the power to get those same clothes very clean. It’s a formula that uses powerful enzyme stain fighters to power away dirt and grime from clothing, all while it leaves a nice fresh scent. This detergent is also formulated with anti-graying ingredients that help to whiten and brighten clothing. It’s a formula that’s safe for all machine types, include HE machines, and is powerful enough to even work during cold water cycles.
#4 Tide Pods 3-In-1 HE Turbo Detergent Pacs
Designed specifically for HE washing machines, these turbo packs are easy to use and are merely tossed into the washer before the start of the cycle. Each pod is formulated with up to 90% active ingredients, so the consumer isn’t paying for extra water like they do when they buy liquid detergents. Because it’s mainly active ingredients, it’s also capable of delivering up to ten times the cleaning power of standard liquid detergents. Probably the best thing about this product, however, is that it has a Spring Meadow scent that leaves clothes smelling good all day long.
#3 Gain Flings! Original Detergent Pacs
Not only is this product in a form that’s easy to use, but it’s also in one that provides great results. These Gain detergent packs are designed for both regular and HE washers and to dissolve during both hot or cold water washes. Each pod is concentrated, so they provide twice the cleaning power over other liquid laundry detergents. And because each of them is infused with Gain’s special scent, they’ll provide up to 6-weeks of freshness from the time they’re washed to their worn. That makes them one of the best smelling laundry detergent products that can currently be obtained nowadays.
#2 Arm & Hammer Liquid HE Clean Burst
This powerful detergent is designed for both HE and standard washing machines and it has a nice vibrant scent that people are going to love. This product just doesn’t smell good, however. It also provides the user with the cleaning power they expect out of liquid detergent. This product is made with special enzymes that release dirt from fabric fibers and rinses it away permanently, so it doesn’t redeposit on the clothing. It’s also a low-sudsing formula that rinses cleaner than most of the other liquid detergents currently being sold. Clothes will not only smell cleaner, but they’ll actually be cleaner.
#1 Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Crisp Linen Scent
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is a product that’s added to a washer’s rinse cycle and is designed to kill bacteria effectively, even during cold water cycles. It can kill up to 99.9% of all bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus Aureus, and it can do it without using any bleach whatsoever. That means that it’s an effective solution for not just white fabrics, but also color fabrics as well. It’s a formula designed for both HE and standard washing machines, it is gentle enough to be used on children’s clothing, and it has a Crisp Linen scent that people are going to love.
More products picked by Amazon also worth checking out:
A Guide To Better Smelling Laundry
Once you have secured the best smelling laundry detergent that you can find, it’s now time to turn your attention to using it in such a way as to guarantee that you get good results. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to use their laundry detergents properly, which results in clothes that have grayed out, are less than bright, or don’t smell as good as they should. That’s why we’ve written this guide that will help everyone achieve the cleanest and freshest smelling clothing that they can achieve.
Use The Proper Amount Of Detergent
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when doing laundry is not using the correct amount of detergent. Using too little detergent won’t provide enough cleaning particles to remove dirt from clothing. However, using too little isn’t the only problem people have when doing laundry. Using too much detergent can be just as detrimental as not using enough. Using too much detergent when washing clothes can also have a detrimental effect on the cleanliness level and freshness of the laundry after it’s been washed. That’s because if too much detergent is used, then there won’t be enough room in the water for dirt particles to come out of the clothing’s fibers. The dirt particles will instead reattach to the clothing fibers, which will result in clothes that aren’t as clean as they should be.
The main reason why people use too little or too much detergent is that they have problems identifying just how large a load of laundry is. That’s why we’ve decided to list a little chart that will detail how large a load is by determining how much it fills up the washer’s basket. By looking at the following chart, people can get a quick idea of how big their load of laundry is and how much detergent they need to add.
Small Load: Washer is 25% to 33% full
Medium Load: Washer is 33% to %50 full.
Large Load: Washer is over 50% full.
Don’t Overstuff The Washer
Another thing that should be avoided at all costs is putting too much laundry in the washer at one time. Yes, we understand that it’s a lot easier to do one gigantic load of laundry and get it done and over with than it is to do two smaller loads. However, there’s just not enough room between the water particles and the detergent for dirt to be pulled from the clothing. Therefore, it’s better to take the extra time and do smaller loads, especially if you want better-smelling laundry.
Wash Your Clothes More Often
A lot of people have clothes that don’t smell as good as they should because they’re not washing them frequently enough. It doesn’t matter what type of laundry detergent you use if you don’t keep up on your washing. Below are some suggestions for how often certain articles of clothing should be worn before needing to be washed.
- T-shirts, Tights, Underwear & Tanks Tops: Wash after each use.
- Jeans, Pants, Shorts & Pajamas: Can be worn up to three times before being washed.
- Bras: Wash after wearing one or two times.
Don’t Leave Clothing In The Washer
Once a laundry cycle has completed, it’s important to remove the laundry from the washer and into the dryer as soon as possible. That’s because leftover bacteria from previous loads can begin reproducing in your moist clothing and before long, the entire load can smell sour. As a general rule, it’s okay to leave finished laundry in the washer for up to an hour, but any longer than that can result in the laundry smelling less than fresh.
Clean Your Washer On A Regular Basis
Another thing that people can do to ensure that they’re laundry is as fresh as it should be is to clean out the washer regularly. Think about it for a second. Every day, you’re throwing dirty clothes in your washer, and that can result in bacteria building up in it. To avoid this bacteria from turning your clothing sour, it’s important to clean out the washer regularly, about every 3 to 6 months is usually enough to keep the washer clean.
Cleaning the washer is easy to do. A person can either buy a commercial washing machine cleaner, or they can make their own cleaning solution. All they have to do is run an empty load on the hot setting with 2 to 4 cups of white vinegar. When that load is finished, run another load on hot using one cup of baking soda. And that’s all there is to it. Now the machine is ready for another 3-6 months of washing before it needs to be cleaned again.
