Most guys aren’t exactly fanatical about their laundry, but those of us who care about clothes know that finding the best men’s laundry detergent really does matter.
Even with the proliferation of affordable men’s stores and brands, clothes can be costly, and putting in a little extra care can help extend the lifespan of a piece by months or even years, which can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.
In this post I’ll round up seven of the best laundry detergents for men and explain what makes each one so effective.
Look Sharp, Smell Good:
7 of the Best Laundry Detergents for Men
Overall Best Mens Laundry Detergent ↓
Hero Clean Laundry Detergent
One of the highest-rated detergents on Amazon, Hero Clean is also arguably the manliest of all the men’s laundry detergents on this list.
Designed to get even the sweatiest/stinkiest of clothes looking clean and smelling fresh, it uses a patented formula that consists of six enzymes that help remove stains, brighten colors and protect fabric.
It’s designed to work especially well with sweat-wicking clothes (i.e. gym clothes and workout gear), and help bring your hardest-working clothes back to a state (and stench) of respectability.
Frey
Frey is a luxury laundry detergent brand (yep – there are luxury laundry detergent brands now) that prides itself on using better ingredients than most off-the-shelf detergents, resulting in a better scent for your clothes and a better impact on the environment.
Their prices are higher than most of the laundry detergents you’re used to, but it won’t cost you anything to try it out for yourself and decide if it’s worth it:
They offer a free “laundry care” package that includes a bottle of detergent, a bottle of fabric softener and a pack of 40 dryer sheets.
Plus, before they sent you the full pack, they’ll send you three small packets of different detergents, so you can select your favorite scent before ordering your full (and again, free) package. All you have to do is pay a buck for shipping.
Persil Pro Clean
Sometimes you just need a good, all-purpose laundry detergent that will do what detergent should:
Reduce or remove stains, combat odors, whiten whites, and most importantly, clean your damn clothes.
Persil Pro checks all the boxes and has a perfect five-star rating on Amazon after nearly 2,000 reviews. As reliable and effective laundry detergents go, it’s pretty much the gold standard.
The Good Home (Pure Grass) Natural Liquid Laundry
If you’re looking for a natural laundry detergent that’s 100% safe, look no further.
Good Home’s Pure Grass is is over 96% plant- and mineral-based, and completely free of sulfate, phthalate and silicones, meaning it won’t leave any coating on your clothes, the way some of the other (and let’s just be honest, cheaper) brands do.
Sulfate is also one of the key culprits that causes color to fade, so Pure Grass should help your clothes maintain their color longer.
HEX Performance Laundry Packs
Another brand that’s specially formulated to help you clean up your athletic clothes, HEX is designed to not only protect against stains and odors, but also the type of damage that commonly befalls activewear, like pilling and loss of wickability.
HEX has 4.5 stars on Amazon after a healthy 268 reviews, and has been featured everywhere from Runner’s World and Men’s Health to The Washington Post and Forbes, among others.
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Laundry Booster
Fresh Wave is arguably the hardest-working of all the mens laundry detergents on this list.
It uses natural plant extracts to eliminating mildew and other odors, making it especially good for your dirtiest and/or hardest working clothes, and can also be used on non-clothing items like fitness mats, carpets, counters and even walls.
Distinctive
A detergent that’s marketed solely toward men, Distinctive is designed to help you (and more specifically, your clothes) smell great, no cologne or body spray needed.
Distinctive is imbued with a scent that combines sandalwood and amber, two ingredients commonly found in men’s colognes (and thus associated with handsomeness).
If a scented detergent sounds like a less-than-excellent idea to you, you’re not alone. But with 98 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon, it seems like Distinctive delivers.
Here’s a five-star review from someone named Roger, which was pretty typical of the reviews I read:
I was extremely wary of this detergent, because I’m very weird about soap smells-even for a guy. But I took the plunge to get it, and absolutely am happy with this stuff! Its very non-obtrusive, esp if you don’t pour too much in your washer load, and run the wash through the dryer. Very pleasant smell, and now don’t have to be embarrassed by my weird feminine smelling detergent that would spoil my clothes.
You Know How to Clean Your Clothes
Now Learn How to Wear Rock ‘Em with Style
Taking proper care of your clothes is one of the most handsome habits a guy can have.
And with this list of the best mens laundry detergent at your disposal, you’ll be able to help your clothes look better and last longer—to say nothing of the gains you’ll make in the odor department!
But if knowing how to care for your clothes is important, knowing how to wear them is absolutely essential.
Not all clothes are created equal, and even the most well cared for pieces won’t help you look your best if you don’t know how to nail the vital details that add up to make a big impact on your overall appearance.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find out which stylish specifics will help you put your best face forward.
Enter your email address below and I’ll send you a checklist outlining the Nine Details You Need to Nail in oder to look handsome, polished and put together.
Don’t Let the Other Guys Out-Dress You
Find out how to look sharp and stand out.
Enter your email address below to discover the Nine Details You Need to Nail.
I will never send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
More Resources ↓
More Men’s Style Advice from Irreverent Gent:
- How to Shop for Men’s Clothes
- How to Dress Better for Guys
- Thursday Boots Review
- The 9 Best Boot Styles for Men
- The Best Smelling Laundry Detergent
- The 7 Best Natural Laundry Detergents
Banner image: Rodnae Productions via Unsplash (Thanks guys!)
