Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent

Known for its powerful signature fragrance and lower cost per load, Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent was among the top detergents we tested when it came to overall cleaning power. Our hands-on parent testers found the scent pleasant, but strong. Testers who typically use natural laundry detergent still enjoyed the smell of Gain and appreciated how effective it was on stains, and they said they would recommend it to other parents.

To really put Gain to the test, we pitted the detergent against common stains—everything from grass to spaghetti sauce. Stains were applied to pre-washed white 100-percent cotton onesies and then left to sit overnight, and we also applied fresh stains to another set of onesies right before throwing them all in a cold water wash. Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent completely removed grape juice, baby formula, washable marker and sweet potato puree. Grass stains were nearly gone after one wash, while mud, spaghetti sauce and coffee stains were faded but still quite visible. Parent testers noted that Gain did a good job removing breastmilk, spit-up, urine and poop.

With clear instructions on the back of the bottle and a cap that was simple to read, our parent testers said that it was easy to use the right amount of detergent per load. In our lab testing, we found that the Gain bottle was less likely to become messy with detergent drips than many of the other products we tested.

Final word

Testers agreed that Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent is a high-quality product, cleaning clothes well, keeping them bright, and leaving a fresh scent that lingered even a few days after being stashed in the dresser—Gain's claim to fame. Of all the detergents that we tested, Gain was amongst the top performers. And in the mid-range for cost per load, it's a bit easier on your wallet than comparable detergents.