The 10 best laundry products: Consumer Reports

Laundry remains one of the most repetitive chores in any household. Better equipment shortens that work, cutting stain treatment, wrinkle removal and wash cycles down to a few quick steps.

Consumer Reports tested detergents, stain removers, steamers and washing machines to identify the gear worth stocking in a laundry room.

Credit: L'Avant

Shoppers with sensitive skin often skip fabric softener, which can also leave a film of residue on clothing over repeated washes. The L'Avant bundle costs $44 and pairs reusable wool dryer balls with a scented laundry oil. A Consumer Reports writer dropped softener from her routine a year ago and settled on this pair as the replacement. A couple of drops on each ball every fifth or sixth load leaves a lighter scent on fabric than softener does.

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CR found this $84.99 Conair the only steamer in its tests that smoothed creased linen. Steam power registered near the top of that same group, and heat-up took 45 seconds, roughly 15 seconds quicker than most rival models. The unit doubles as an iron, and an internal pump keeps steam flowing at any angle. Three attachments for pleats, fine fabrics and brushing are included, and an optional sensor stops the steam when the unit rests on a flat surface.

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Clearing lint before a load reaches the washer saves a trip to the dryer's lint trap later. This $12.99 roller has a surface that wipes clean in a sink, so there are no sticky sheets to buy again. CR staff picked it as a favorite for travel and quick touch-ups because it packs down small. Lint shows plainly on dark clothing, and two quick passes take it off.

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Garments labeled dry-clean only can still be treated at home with this $82 kit from The Laundress. CR trusted it more than the other at-home dry-cleaning options it tried. The kit erased vegetable oil marks from fabric in those tests, while foundation makeup resisted a full cleanup. Owners of delicate pieces get a way to handle spots between professional cleanings.

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Hard water carries calcium and magnesium that settle on fabric and build up inside a washing machine, which makes detergent choice matter more in those homes. Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release costs $12.97 for a concentrated liquid built to lift stains and cut through mineral residue. CR found it performed solidly in hard water without giving up stain removal. Six Tide liquids and pods rated well under those water conditions in CR's evaluations, so shoppers in affected homes can stay within one brand.

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Delayed treatment poses no problem for OxiClean Max Force, which costs $3.99 and can sit on a stain for up to a full week before the garment goes in the wash. Most other removers CR tested carried instructions capping that window at five to 10 minutes. Oil, blood and baby food stains vanished completely from test fabrics in CR's evaluations. Concealer, lipstick and mustard stayed visible after every product CR tried, though colorimeter readings showed the OxiClean spray faded them more than the others did.

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At $925, the LG WM4000HWA front-loader covers cleaning power and running costs at once. CR rated the washer highly on cleaning and on energy and water use. Standard features include a 4.5-cubic-foot drum, a steam cycle for set-in stains, Energy Star certification and WiFi connectivity. LG also scored well in CR's latest member survey, with owners expressing satisfaction and the brand showing strong odds of staying trouble-free over time.

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The $925 LG DLEX4000W runs quietly, unlike dryers that rattle through a full load. CR rated its drying highly and noted strong results for reliability and owner satisfaction. Owners can run the steam option on fine fabrics and skip the iron afterward. Capacity reaches 7.4 cubic feet for bulky bedding, and the cabinet matches the WM4000HWA washer closely enough to stack in a narrow laundry closet.

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Shoppers who want efficiency above all else should look at this $749 top-loader with a 5-cubic-foot steel tub. CR placed it with the better high-efficiency machines in its tests, citing clean wash results, low water and energy use, and steady operation during spin. The same tests found it only moderately gentle on fabrics, which matters for anyone who washes delicates every week. LG's high-efficiency line also scored well on predicted reliability in CR's member survey, pointing to fewer breakdowns within the first five years.