8 Ways Liquid Laundry Detergent Saves Money, Cuts Waste, and Cleans Better

With so many options on the market today, liquid detergent no longer appears to reign as leader of the laundry room. Pods, powders, and sheets all share the stage, but which type of detergent is best? Each has its pros and cons, of course, and you probably have your reasons for choosing to use one over the other. However, if you’ve shied away from using liquid laundry detergent in lieu of newer options, you might want to reconsider.

We spoke to a laundry expert about the benefits of using liquid detergent, and the list is longer than we expected. Discover how using liquid can be the key to keeping your clothes and linens in better condition, saving money, and generating less waste.

Why Is Liquid Laundry Detergent Superior?

“It’s not that one form of detergent is the best; ingredients matter too,” says Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry, Clorox’s in-house scientist and cleaning expert. “It’s good to check ingredient lists and ensure whatever form you prefer has the ingredients needed for good performance.” With that in mind, Gagliardi helps explain why liquid has an advantage over alternative detergent formulas.

Depending on your washing machine, geographic location, type of stains you often tackle, and numerous other factors, you—and your favorite items—could benefit considerably by choosing liquid laundry detergent.

1. Doubles as Stain Pre-Treatment

Sure, you can purchase a separate stain remover product (and you would have to if using pods or sheets) or make a paste with a mix of water and powder detergent (and a mess in the process). A more straightforward solution is to use a bit of your regular liquid detergent already sitting on a shelf at home.

“Yes, liquid laundry detergent can double as a ready-to-use pre-treatment product for stains," Gagliardi says. “Use the cap to apply a little liquid directly to the stain, rub in, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how much contact time is recommended for undiluted product to stand on the fabric.” The liquid will penetrate deep into the fibers, allowing the stain to come out more easily during the wash cycle.

2. Better at Breaking Down Grease and Oil

Dropping oily or greasy food onto our clothes can be a panic-inducing experience. Unless it’s treated immediately, the stain will follow you around forever. Once you successfully pre-treat the stain according to the fabric, wash it in liquid laundry detergent. A liquid formula can emulsify grease and oil more effectively than, say, a powder, giving your garment the best chance of having a second life.

3. Can Reduce Hard Water Deposits

Gagliardi advises considering your home’s water quality when deciding which type of laundry detergent to use. “People with hard water (who don’t have a water softening system to remove the minerals from the water) may prefer liquids to help limit precipitates from building up on the fabric,” she says.

4. Leaves Behind Less Residue

Even if hard water isn’t an issue in your home, liquid detergents are less likely to leave residue on clothes and linens than other formulas. It’s possible that pods and sheets might not fully dissolve in the washer, resulting in stubborn detergent stains on fabrics. Powder detergent can remain clumpy throughout the load and leave behind dusty residue once the cycle ends. Of course, using an excess of any detergent, including liquid, will do this, so be sure you’re using the correct amount in each load of laundry.

5. Allows for Dosage Adjustments

Speaking of which, liquid detergent makes it much easier to adjust the amount required for each load. You can do the same with powder, but adjusting for laundry pods or sheets is much more complicated since they contain fixed amounts. One pod or sheet might not be enough for a heavily soiled load, whereas two might be too much.

6. Dissolves Better in Water

While liquid dissolves well in hot and cold water, it’s especially beneficial for cold-water wash cycles. Cold water makes it harder for other formulations, particularly powder, to distribute evenly and dissolve. Gagliardi adds, “People in colder climates may be washing in much colder temperatures in the winter, so liquids could be a good choice to disperse more easily into the water during the wash cycle.”

It is also essential to know if you have an energy-efficient appliance. “High-efficiency clothes washer models don’t submerge the laundry in the wash solution the entire cycle," Gagliardi says. Therefore, you’ll want to use a detergent that dissolves as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

7. Better for Items Requiring Special Care

Whether you need a specialized detergent for your sensitive skin, your baby’s clothes, delicate wool items, or to sanitize sweaty workout clothes, you’ll find the most comprehensive array of options in liquid form.

8. Produces Less Packaging Waste

This is particularly evident when comparing the use of liquid detergent to that of laundry pods, as each is individually packaged. While most liquid detergent containers are made of plastic, they are also recyclable in most municipalities. “I can’t speak for all the laundry products out there, but Clorox has made huge progress towards greater sustainability by reducing the amount of plastic used in our bottles, which are made of fully recyclable #2 HDPE plastic,” Gagliardi says. “Some ways we’ve done this include concentrating formulas and redesigning packaging,” she adds. “This gives people who prefer liquid products some great options."

Alternatively, you could find a local refilling station and reuse your plastic jug—or, better yet, a glass jar—for years to come.

Are There Downsides to Using Liquid Detergent?

Depending on the brand and type of detergent you use, liquid detergent can be more expensive per load than powder. You also have to be careful where you store liquid laundry detergent, as heat and humidity will cause it to degrade more quickly than it should. Gagliardi also uses a personal example to call attention to a potential problem between liquid detergent and specific washing machines: “The washers in my kids’ college dorm were front loaders that did not have any kind of dispenser tray, so they used pods for their laundry," she says.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. As Gagliardi puts it, “How well any product performs depends on many factors. The many choices make it easy to pick the right form for you.”