Bargain Detergents Are No Bargain

So much for those dollar brands. While the recession may have consumers trading down, they may want to smarten up. Consumer Reports’ latest tests of laundry detergents revealed that using top-rated detergents like Tide 2X Ultra for Cold Water in cold water cycles, can save people up to $140 a year. At 19 cents anaverage load, it costs roughly $80 a year less than the priciest detergents, and using cold water can trim another $60 in energy costs.

Tide’s 2X Ultra for Cold Water, a CR Best Buy, vanquished grass, wine, and other tough stains almost as well as its top-scoring brandmate, Tide 2X Ultra with Color Clean Bleach Alternative, which costs 32 cents a load, among conventional detergents. CR’s new tougher tests of more than 40 laundry detergents also reveal that you’ll save as more brands price low-sudsing, high-efficiency detergents designed for front-loading and high-efficiency top-loading washers comparably with those for top loaders. But the tests of almost 1,600 stained cotton swatches show that several detergents struck out at cleaning including Xtra New 2X Concentrated Lasting ScentSations Spring Sun Shine, lowest-rated among conventional detergents; and Purex Ultra Concentrate HE After The Rain, lowest-rated among high-efficiency detergents.