The 15 black and delicate detergents tested aim to wash colored and dark fabrics particularly gently. The Stiftung Warentest study shows: All liquid detergents are gentle on clothes – but only a few are powerful against dirt and stains. When it comes to testing environmental properties, all is not well either. Many products fail because they contain large amounts of preservatives that are dangerous to water.
Our comparison helps protect the environment – and your wallet. Four detergents are good. At the other end of the scale there are nine defectives. The worst and best mild detergents include expensive and cheap products.
Why the Mild Detergent Test is Worth It for You
Test results
Stiftung Warentest tested 15 liquid detergents, five black and ten mild detergents. Four are good, others are worse – nine are even poor. Products from Burti, Coral and Dalli were tested, as well as own brands from Aldi, dm and Rossmann. Prices range from 10 to 25 cents per wash.
The best neutral detergent for you
You can filter products by different test results. Stiftung Warentest examined how well detergents remove dirt and stains, whether they are gentle on water as well as paints and textiles, and how easy they are to dose. Our neutral detergent test provides the answers – and chooses a test winner.
Buying advice
What washes colored items best and gently at the same time? Are mild detergents automatically suitable for wool? Is a good colored detergent enough for black clothes? Stiftung Warentest provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of different detergents. So that not only thin and dark fabrics stay beautiful for a long time, but also white and wool ones.
Magazine article in PDF
After activation, you will also receive the article on black and neutral detergents from the 7/24 test.
All test results for mild detergents
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A comparison of several mild detergents do not wash cleanly
Fine, black detergents do not contain bleach to keep colors looking beautiful for a long time. The agents also aim to prevent discoloration and protect the fibers. Two are also suitable for wool and silk. Color retention and textile protection largely worked in the test. However, there were big differences in the most important test point, the washing effect. The test winner washes well. However, many products had difficulty removing dirt. A black detergent is defective because it distributes dirt instead of removing and rinsing it.
Tip: You can see which ones before you even unlock them Tested black and mild detergents are and how much they cost. If you click on the product image, you will also find out how much a wash cycle costs and how efficient the packaging is.
Critical preservative endangers bodies of water
The mild detergents in the test are all liquids; there are no mild powder detergents. Liquid detergents are usually preserved to protect them from germs. To achieve this, manufacturers often use combinations of different preservatives. Many products tested contain sodium pyrithione in large quantities. We have not yet seen increased use of this problematic preservative in our detergent tests.
“We see the use of sodium pyrithione in a critical way. The substance is not removed by sewage treatment plants. It is highly toxic to aquatic organisms.”
Dr. Sara Wagner-Leifhelm, Test Project Manager
Not only sodium pyrithione but also many other preservatives are being critically discussed. You can read why this happens after enabling the test report.
Tip: Are you looking for a versatile detergent for your colorful clothes instead of a good detergent for delicates? Then you will be in our Color detergent test found. You can find reliable washing machines with our Washing machine test.
This is how Stiftung Warentest tests mild detergents
To compare the quality of the 15 delicate detergents, we washed about a ton of dirty laundry and more than 1,800 cloths with 25 different types of stains like grass, jelly and lipstick. We tested how well detergents remove dirt and stains, preserve colors, protect textiles and prevent discoloration. In total, this resulted in over 610 loads of laundry we did for this test.
We also determined how many individual ingredients in mild detergents endanger aquatic organisms in rivers and lakes in the test. We classify eight products as defective in this regard due to a critical preservative. Additionally, three products contained microplastics.
Tip: We answer the most frequently asked questions about washing machines and detergents in our Special laundry. We will explain in this article what home remedies can do against gray haze Special White Linen. And it shows how stains can be removed with products available on the market. Stain Remover Test.