Fine linen and clothing should be washed with a luxury laundry detergent specially formulated to clean and protect luxury fabric. With best-in-class cleaning power that effectively tackles even the most stubborn stains, these detergents offer superior stain removal without harsh chemicals. Establishing the right laundry routine is essential for preserving your investments. Many of these premium options are fragrance free for sensitive skin yet still provide tough stain fighting capabilities for large loads, making them the best value and best clothes detergent for your most cherished items. This article compares six well-known luxury liquid laundry detergents and evaluates them on price, performance, scent, purity of ingredients, and more.
Inside this Article:
- Choose The Best Detergent for Your Luxury Washables and Fine Fabrics
- Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent, Fragrance-Free
- LeBlanc Linen Wash, Original
- Puracy Laundry Detergent
- Tyler Glamorous Wash Diva
- Woolite Damage Defense
- L'AVANT Collective High Performance Laundry Detergent, Unscented
- Fine Linen and Bath Top Detergent Picks are...
- Best Detergent for Towels
- Best Detergent for Clothing
- Best Detergent For Sheets
- Best Detergent for Sensitive Skin
- Side-by-Side Comparison Chart of the Top Luxury Detergent Brands
- Expert Tips for Caring for Towels and Sheets
- A Word About pH in Detergent and Why It Matters
Choose The Best Detergent for Your Luxury Washables and Fine Fabrics
Luxury towels, bed linen, and clothing are an investment. And when it comes to laundering, they deserve the utmost care. Whether you're washing items from your favorite boutique clothing collection or heirloom linens, the right cleaning agent makes all the difference. At Fine Linen and Bath, we always recommend using a detergent specially formulated for delicate fabric to wash luxury towels, bedding, and table linens. Regular detergent won't fit the bill; these commercial formulations often contain harsh chemicals that will ultimately take a toll on fine fabric. At the same time, many traditional "gentle detergents: deliver subpar cleaning performance.
To keep your textiles looking and feeling beautiful, you need a special type of detergent: one made to clean fine fabrics without causing damage. Understanding proper machine wash instructions is crucial, but selecting the right detergent is equally important. Today we are evaluating a handful of laundry detergents in this category (Note: all of these are liquid laundry detergent products. Liquid detergent is a better choice overall and allows for greater precision and less waste than powder detergent, laundry pods, or laundry sheets). Our team took a look at some of the best-selling brands, evaluated their claims and performance, and weighed in with thoughts and feedback on each.
For consistency, we will focus on each brand's "all-purpose" liquid detergent, which is the most versatile option. We cleaned similar loads of towels and clothing in each brand on a regular wash cycle and followed manufacturer directions for measuring l measuring luxury laundry soap for an average size load.
Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent, Fragrance-Free
The promise: To formulate a detergent with powerful cleaning enzymes that remove dirt and stains while removing dirt and restoring the natural beauty of fine linens and luxury bedding. This all-temperature detergent has a neutral pH to preserve fabric; is fragrance-free; and is biodegradable and septic safe. It has also been tested by a third-party lab (AMA Laboratories) to be hypoallergenic and is pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested for sensitive skin. It contains no harsh chemicals (dyes, sulfates, phosphates, chlorine, bleach, or brighteners) and is certified cruelty free with no animal testing by Leaping Bunny. In 2024, Heritage Park All-Purpose Fragrance-Free Detergent was EWG Verified® as meeting the independent Environmental Working Group's strictest criteria for transparency and health with no ingredients of concern. The plant-based natural ingredients are organic and are listed on the bottle and website, where they are explained in detail.
The Heritage Park website features laundry tips and a blog and highlights several companion products, including:
The performance: This detergent absolutely knocks it out of the "park" when it comes to towels, leaving them clean, soft, and smelling wonderfully fresh (even without any added scent!) Our fussiest family member offered unsolicited praise after their towel was washed without their knowledge in this fabulous detergent, saying, "Whatever detergent you used on the towels makes them way softer and smell much better. Like incomparable." We think it's the proprietary blend of enzymes at work, cleaning the fibers and allowing them to retain their innate softness and absorbency. Heritage Park also works wonderfully for pretreating stains (even tough stains come out thanks to the enzyme formula). The bottle yields between 16 (regular machine) and 21 loads (HE machine) at a cost of of $1.14 to $1.50 each. The easy-pour spout with a "drain-back" design also eliminates mess and waste. Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent comes in a 64 oz. bottle and an eco-friendly 64 oz. refill pack that uses 80 percent less plastic.
Recommended for: Towels, sheets, and clothing that you want cleaned, restored, and freshened up. Great for cool water, warm water, or hot water wash and all laundry needs. This versatile detergent is also available in Shore Breeze, Lavender Mist, and Spring Magnolia scents.
LeBlanc Linen Wash, Original
The promise: Designed for the laundering of luxury and everyday washable and colorfast linens and apparel. LeBlanc Linen Wash is formulated to protect fibers while preserving the original beauty of fine textiles and apparel. It can be used on washable, colorfast, and organic linens as well as all cottons, synthetics, and blends. LeBlanc is made as a cold-water wash (lukewarm for hand wash or pre-treating) and a pleasing delicate fragrance of flower/fruit/herb scent. It is pH neutral, biodegradable, and claims no animal testing (we cannot find outside certification for this claim). and is neutral pH. It's 100% biodegradable with no animal testing and certified under the PETA Beauty Without Bunnies program. Le Blanc has NO cleaning enzymes as well as no bleach, caustics, phosphates, sulfates, or parabens. The ingredients are listed on the website, which also notes that the formula contains organic ingredients; is environmentally safe; and is biodegradable. The website offers laundering tips and showcases a full line of detergent and laundry accessories.
The performance: LeBlanc left our towels soft, though not quite as soft as Heritage Park, with a light pleasant scent. It did well on our laundry, too. The big limitation is that LeBlanc is formulated only for cold water and does NOT contain enzymes; therefore, it's not ideal for heavily soiled towels or laundry that need heavy-duty cleaning. Also, LeBlanc makes multiple formulations, including specialty detergent for towels, lingerie/silk, and general laundry (the original has no enzymes and is cold-water only). That's a LOT of separate detergents to buy! LeBlanc Linen Wash yields 16 loads per bottle for both regular and HE washing machines at a cost of $1.55 per load.
Recommended for: Clothing that can be washed in cold water.
Puracy Laundry Detergent
The promise: Puracy makes some big promises, starting with the idea that you can do 64 loads of wash with one bottle. However, they do send a helpful pump detergent dispenser (something the other brands do not) to measure their “10x concentrated” detergent. This unscented detergent label says it is for “those who care as much about their clothes as the skin underneath it” and is “99.4% natural.” Puracy Free and Clear is hypoallergenic and formulated for allergies/sensitive skin; it is also plant-based, 100% biodegradable, and made without harmful chemicals. It is not tested on animals and has been certified by PETA and possibly Leaping Bunny (was so in the past but not highlighted any longer). The website makes the claim that Puracy is “developed by doctors, trusted by families everywhere” with a citation of from an “independently verified, 3rd party PhD chemist” which feels vague. It contains no parabens, phosphates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, allergens, or dyes. Ingredients, including enzymes are listed on the bottle and on the website (where they are explained according to function). The website offers tips for cleaning, wellness, and healthy living and highlights other Puracy products for the laundry, home, and personal care
The performance: Let's begin with the math. The bottle promises up to 64 loads of wash but that is based on a single pump for hand washing. A large, non-HE load could require four pumps of detergent, which means you’re getting 16 washes out of a bottle. That said, the pump is helpful for measuring and avoiding spills and waste. Puracy left our towels clean and fresh (we needed three pumps even in our HE washing machine) but was not very effective on moderately soiled clothes, which had to be washed a second time. Perhaps Puracy would perform better on clothing if used in combination with an oxygen bleach powder. Puracy gets credit for eco-friendliness and sustainability. Puracy lives its commitment to fighting waste both by producing a highly concentrated formula and selling refill pouches that allow you to reuse the bottle. A large, non-HE load washed in Puracy will cost up to $1.
Recommended for: Individuals with sensitive skin or allergies, babies. Not for heavy-duty cleaning.
Tyler Glamorous Wash Diva
The promise: Made by Tyler Candle Company, Glamorous Wash allows candle fans to enjoy their "favorite scents throughout the day and night." (And how! More on that later). While it is formulated for HE machines, this detergent can be used in regular machines; it promises to "clean effectively yet remain gentle" on delicate fabrics such as "linens, lingerie, and fine fabrics." Instructions say to shake the bottle before using it. It is made without phosphates but otherwise, the ingredients are not listed on the website or the bottle. The website sells many scented products such as sachets and signature scented candles. We tested the DIVA scent, which is a heavy mix of fruits, florals, aromatic chocolate, and amber.
The performance. The towels we washed came out smelling VERY strong but not as clean or fluffy as with other detergents. It almost appeared that the nap was down a bit, With clothing, it's hard to tell how clean the items are because the scent is, frankly, overpowering; we were woken up in the middle of the night by the very strong Diva smell from our recently washed nightgown.
The bottom line: this detergent is NOT for everyone. You really have to be a fan of the smell, and use it judiciously. The bottle suggests the same amount of detergent for every load no matter the size or efficiency of the machine; that means a bottle yields 10 loads at a cost of $3.29/load. We think you can get away with using less than is suggested, particularly if you are just looking to scent your wash.
Recommended for: Super-fans of Tyler Candle Company DIVA scent. Consider using less than suggested, both due to cost and strength of scent.
Woolite Damage Defense
The promise: The name Woolite is a legendary brand that is synonymous with washing delicate items. Damage Defense, formerly labeled "Clean and Care" says it is made to keep the clothes you love looking like new even after 30 washes without causing stretching, shrinking, or fading. It is formulated to smooth fibers; remove pilling and fuzz, and revive color. It can be used in all temperatures and both regular and HE machines.
The ingredients are not listed on the bottle; you have to search the parent company website to find them, and they do include sulfate. The same parent company website also vaguely mentions environmental initiatives but we weren't able to click through for any specifics. However, the product website is robust and includes instructions and helpful guides for decoding fabric symbols. Companion products are Woolite Darks and Woolite Delicates (the traditional formula).
The performance: This detergent performed well at cleaning our towels and clothing. There are some odd instructions for top loaders, which include filling the machine with water, then adding the detergent, then the items to be washed. We realize this is to allow the proper dilution of the detergent, but it's super awkward, particularly if you are working with a top loader that locks. The amount of detergent recommended is the same for both HE and regular machines; each load works out to a cost of between 25 and 30 cents.
Our experience tells us that Damage Defense is likely a highly commercial formulation, which is why we had to dig for ingredients and environmental information. (You will note in the comparison chart below there were many questions left to be answered about this particular detergent).
Recommended for: A very cost-effective way to wash clothing and towels.
L'AVANT Collective High Performance Laundry Detergent, Unscented
The Promise: L'AVANT is a concentrated laundry detergent made with plant-based ingredients. L'AVANT is an all-temperature laundry wash that is certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny. It is also USDA Safer Choice and USDA Certified Biobased. L'AVANT is made without parabens, phosphates, phthalates, chlorine, bleach, dyes, or artificial colors. Similar to Heritage Park, L'AVANT contains five cleaning enzymes which contribute to its efficiency. It is made by L'AVANT Collective, a home cleaning product company.
The Performance: L'AVANT did a wonderful job washing towels and regular laundry, leaving our items clean and fresh. It performed nearly as well as Heritage Park in terms of cleaning and on stain tests we ran. It is similar to Heritage Park in that both detergents are plant-based; contain enzymes; are cruelty free; and are environmentally certified (L'AVANT is USDA Certified Biobased). Like Heritage Park, L'AVANT can be used as a stain remover or for pretreating stains. L'AVANT is also transparent about ingredients. However, Heritage Park has the additional benefit of being independently lab certified hypoallergenic and being pediatrician and dermatologist tested. Heritage Park is also pH-neutral, which is better for fabric and for skin, and biodegradable. We can't find any information about whether L'AVANT is pH neutral and don't see any indication that it has been certified hypoallergenic or physician tested. L'AVANT does offer refills, but only to its fragranced variety. The measuring cap is also quite large, which can lead to using more than needed.
Recommended for: This natural, enzyme-based, all temperature laundry wash is suitable for washable fabrics including clothing, towels, and bed linen made from cotton, synthetics, or blends.
Fine Linen and Bath Top Detergent Picks are...
Best Detergent for Towels
- Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent
- L'AVANT Collective High-Performance Detergent, Unscented
Best Detergent for Clothing
- Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent
- LeBlanc Linen Wash (cold only)
- L'AVANT Collective Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent
Best Detergent For Sheets
- Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent
- LeBlanc Linen Wash (cold only)
Best Detergent for Sensitive Skin
- Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent
- Puracy Laundry Detergent
Side-by-Side Comparison Chart of the Top Luxury Detergent Brands
Click the chart image below to download the PDF. The PDF chart offers a comprehensive comparison of each of the detergents:
Expert tips for Caring for Towels and Sheets
Taking good care of your luxury home linen is an important step in ensuring it will last and stay beautiful. Follow these tips for taking care of your luxury towels and simplifying laundry day:
- Use a laundry detergent specially made for fine linen.
- Wash towels before using. Sort towels before washing by both color and weight. Wash towels separately from clothes and don't overload your machine.
- Follow care instructions. Never use chlorine bleach on towels (if necessary, use color-safe oxygen bleach).
- Avoid fabric softener or any type of dryer sheet which can cause waxy build-up on towels. Dry towels using wool dryer balls instead.
- Hang wet towels to dry to minimize mold and odor.
- Follow these simple steps to restore and refresh bath towels at any time.
And follow these tips for caring for your luxury sheets and bedding:
- Read care guidelines and wash sheets before using. Sort by color and be sure to wash all pieces of a bedding set together to ensure even wear.
- Use a detergent made for fine linen.
- Pre-treat stains prior to washing. Don't pour the detergent directly onto the fabric; instead, add it to the water as the wash tub fills, or dilute detergent with water and then add linens.
- Don't overload the washing machine, as this can cause unnecessary abrasion to the fabric.
- Wash linens on a gentle cycle in warm water, with a cold-water rinse. Never use bleach which can cause fading and yellowing, or fabric softener.
- Line dry or use a warm dryer. Shake out and smooth damp linens before placing them in the dryer. Consider drying fitted sheets and duvet covers separately as they tend to get easily "balled up" and don't dry thoroughly.
- Avoid dryer sheets, which can leave behind build-up and damage fine fabric.
- Use a cool, damp iron if needed.
A Word About pH in Detergent and Why It Matters
At Fine Linen and Bath, we always recommend using a pH-neutral detergent to wash luxury linen. In layman's terms, pH translates to "potential of Hydrogen" (or "power of Hydrogen") with the H denoting the chemical symbol. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with low pH being acidic (for example, lemon juice has a pH of around 2) and high pH being alkaline, or basic (bleach has a pH of 13). Most commercial modern detergents tend to be a bit on the alkaline side, with a pH of between 8 and 10; this is considered "good” for targeting routine dirt and stains, but the pH of these detergents is achieved by using harsh chemicals.
Detergents with a truly neutral pH measure somewhere between 6.8 and 7.2 (the same as pH of skin). A pH-neutral detergent will protect the integrity of fine fabric while not irritating your skin. Consider this: nearly everything you wash (with the exception of, perhaps, a tablecloth) comes in direct contact with your skin. An acidic low pH detergent can irritate your skin, causing irritation, rash, and redness; an alkaline high pH can damage the protective acid mantle on your skin that serves as a barrier to infection. Using a pH-neutral formula is a better choice for your health and wellness as well as the longevity of your luxury linen.
Please visit our blog to learn more about caring for your luxury towels and sheets. Our team is also happy to answer any questions you may have regarding fine fabric care. Drop us an email or give us a call.
