Forget about putting a detergent capsule from the supermarket along with your washed clothes. Laundry is the latest mundane task that an army of “cleanfluencers” have “elevated” into a lifestyle trend: we’ve officially entered the era of glamorous laundry.
Some of these internet stars say doing laundry can be a form of ‘self-care’ – the highlight of your week, helped by expensive products and a truly stylish laundry room, of course.
As for detergent, it no longer just cleans. From supermarket stalwarts like Surf and Dylon to new independent brands, now your laundry soap can (supposedly) improve your mood, reverse damage to your clothes or even make you smell like Chanel.
For those of us who dread doing laundry, could one of these smart new detergents brighten your day in addition to your whites?
SMELLS LIKE CHANEL
Tallow+Ash Shampoo and Conditioner Sets 700ml (from £12.99), or try Discovery Samples, Scent Six Pack (£10, tallow-ash.com)
WHAT IS IT: This range of laundry ‘shampoos’ and conditioners smells like designer fragrances including Bleu de Chanel and Thierry Mugler Alien. Suitable for sensitive skin and all fabrics.
PROOF: With four children and a golf-addicted husband, laundry is a daily chore in my house.
I washed six loads in two days because I really enjoyed the different smells in the sample pack. They really look very similar to the originals, although unfortunately Odyssey, inspired by Bleu de Chanel, did not leave a lasting scent on the clothes.
Aurora (based on Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf) did it: I continued to happily sniff my sweatpants for days afterward.
RATING: 5/5
Tallow+Ash Shampoo and Conditioner Sets 700ml (from £12.99), or try Discovery Samples, Scent Six Pack (£10, tallow-ash.com)
RELAX AND SLEEP BETTER
The Lab Co Laundry Soothing Strips Multipack, 64 Loads (£22, thelabco.com)
THAT: These cotton and jasmine-scented soothing laundry strips look like tissues, except they have a slightly waxy side.
Each is infused with a “relaxing” scent and cleaning chemicals; Simply toss half a strip (or a whole one for very dirty loads) into the drum with the clothes.
I also tried the brand’s Lavender and Chamomile Sleep Liquid Detergent, designed for use with linens.
PROOF: Without the hassle of spills or measuring specific quantities, these strips radically simplify washing. And the fragrance is beautiful.
However, they are a bit expensive and the smell doesn’t last long on clothes. And unfortunately, the Sleep detergent wasn’t powerful enough to combat my perimenopausal insomnia.
RATING: 4/5
DOPAMINE DOSE
Surf Tropical Lily Liquid Laundry Detergent, 24 Doses, 648ml (£3.50, tesco.com)
THAT: Surf’s new ‘joy infused’ range is scented with essential oils, designed to make you happy and lasts 12 hours. It comes in liquid or capsule form, but is not suitable for silk or wool.
PROOF: My sister-in-law’s puppy used her dog bed as a toilet, so I washed it with the tropical-scented liquid. The resulting fragrance was powerful: it wafted through my house and lingered on the dog’s bedding for two days (at least).
This easily works as a home fragrance and smells wonderful. I’d say it’s pretty cheerful. A word of warning, though: the capsule version left a sticky residue on my son’s hoodie.
RATING: 3/5
Your laundry soap can (supposedly) improve your mood, reverse damage to your clothes, or even make you smell like Chanel (pictured)
LET THE JUMPERS GET
Dylon Renew Color Detergent, 1.5 litres, (£7, amazon.es)
THAT: This high-tech detergent aims to improve the quality of clothes in three ways: it revives faded colors, eliminates pilling, and eliminates odors. It also has enzymes for powerful cleaning.
It works best with cotton and viscose and is designed for cold cycles. But you should only use it occasionally on wool or silk.
PROOF: At first I was skeptical: how can a detergent dissolve cloudy, faded colors? But I had a lot of worn-out children’s clothes to experiment with. So I used a 110ml cap on a quick 30 degree cycle.
In the wash was a multicolored recycled polyester raincoat worn by four children for more than a decade. I was surprised to see that the colors came out dramatically brighter. It also removed blood stains.
A polyester skirt from Zara came out practically starched and pressed, looking perkier than when I initially bought it.
RATING: 4.5/5