Forget popping a supermarket detergent capsule in with your wash. Laundry is the latest mundane chore to be ‘elevated’ by an army of ‘cleanfluencers’ and turned into a lifestyle trend – we’ve officially entered the era of glam washing.
Some of these internet stars say doing the wash can be a form of ‘self care’ – a highlight of their week, helped along by expensive products and a truly spiffing laundry room, of course.
As for detergent, it doesn’t just clean any more. From supermarket stalwarts such as Surf and Dylon to new independent brands, now your laundry soap can (allegedly) boost 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 clever new detergents brighten your day as well as your whites?
SMELL LIKE CHANEL
Tallow+Ash 700ml shampoo and conditioner sets (from £12.99), or try a Discovery Samples, pack of six scents, (£10, tallow-ash.com)
WHAT IS IT: This range of laundry ‘shampoos’ and conditioners smell like designer fragrances, including Bleu de Chanel and Thierry Mugler Alien. Suitable for sensitive skin and all fabrics.
TEST: With four kids and a golf-addicted husband, washing is a daily task in my household.
I washed six loads in two days because I was enjoying the different smells in the sampler pack so much. They really are very like the originals – although the Bleu de Chanel-inspired Odyssey sadly didn’t leave much of a lasting scent on clothes.
Aurora (based on Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb) did: I kept happily sniffing my trackie bottoms for days afterwards.
RATING: 5/5
Tallow+Ash 700ml shampoo and conditioner sets (from £12.99), or try a Discovery Samples, pack of six scents, (£10, tallow-ash.com)
RELAX AND SLEEP BETTER
The Lab Co Relaxing Laundry Strips Multi-pack, 64 loads, (£22, thelabco.com)
WHAT: These cotton and jasmine-scented Relaxing Laundry Strips resemble tissues, except they’re slightly waxy on one side.
Each is impregnated with ‘relaxing’ scent and cleaning chemicals – you just toss half a strip (or a whole one for heavily soiled loads) in the drum with your clothes.
I also tried the brand’s lavender and chamomile Sleep liquid detergent, intended for use with bedding.
TEST: Without the hassle of spillages or measuring set amounts, these strips radically simplify washing. And the fragrance is gorgeous.
They are a bit pricey, though, and the smell doesn’t last long on clothes. And, sadly, the Sleep detergent was not powerful enough to combat my perimenopausal insomnia.
RATING: 4/5
DOSES OF DOPAMINE
Surf Tropical Lily Liquid Laundry Detergent, 24 washes, 648 ml (£3.50, tesco.com)
WHAT: Surf’s new ‘joy infused’ range is scented with essential oils, designed to make you happy – and lasts for 12 hours of wear. Comes in liquid or capsule form, but is not suitable for silk or wool.
TEST: My sister-in-law’s puppy used his dog bed as a toilet, so I washed it using the tropical-scented liquid. The resulting fragrance was powerful: it wafted through my house and stayed on the dog’s bedding for two days (at least).
This easily doubles as a home fragrance, and smells wonderful. I’d say it’s pretty joyful. One word of caution though: the capsule version left sticky residue on my child’s hoodie.
RATING: 3/5
Your laundry soap can (allegedly) boost your mood, reverse damage to your clothes, or even make you smell like Chanel (pictured)
STOP JUMPERS PILLING
Dylon Renew Colour Detergent, 1.5litres, (£7, amazon.co.uk)
WHAT: This hi-tech detergent claims to improve the quality of clothes in three ways: reviving faded colours, removing bobbles and banishing smells. It also has enzymes for powerful cleaning.
It works best on cotton and viscose, and is designed for cold cycles. But you should only use it occasionally on wool or silk.
TEST: I was initially sceptical – how can a detergent unmix muddy, faded colours? But I had plenty of tired children’s clothes to experiment on. So I used a 110ml capful on a quick 30-degree cycle.
In the wash was a multi-coloured, recycled polyester raincoat worn by four kids over more than a decade. I was astonished to see the colours come out looking dramatically brighter. It also removed blood stains.
A polyester Zara skirt came out practically starched and ironed, looking perkier than when I’d initially bought it.
RATING: 4.5/5
