Best Liquid Detergents Tested: Ariel Original, Carrefour Expert and Epsil

Laundry day often begins with the same question: will this detergent remove the stains, or will everything need washing again tomorrow? A new French comparison of eight popular liquid detergents offers an unusually clear answer. Rather than judging advertising claims, it rates the products on their ability to tackle 11 genuinely difficult everyday stains.

A laboratory-style test designed around real laundry

Conducted by the French magazine Femme Actuelle, the investigation addressed one straightforward issue: which liquid detergent is most effective on real, stubborn stains when no scrubbing is done in advance?

The eight widely sold liquid detergents were put through washing-machine cycles following each manufacturer’s recommended instructions. Every product was tested on identical fabrics marked with the same demanding set of 11 stains:

• foundation
• lipstick
• ballpoint pen ink
• red berries
• chocolate dessert cream
• coffee
• red wine
• cooking oil
• meat sauce
• tomato concentrate
• soil

The test mimicked a real household wash: no pre-scrubbing at the sink, just detergent straight into the machine.

This method is significant because most people do not have the time to treat every mark before washing. The ranking therefore measures each detergent’s strength in the way it is most commonly used: pour it in, start the machine and hope for the best.

Ariel Original leads on stubborn stains

Once the washing cycles had finished, one product was clearly ahead of the others. Ariel Original took first place, eliminating nearly every stain used in the trial, including difficult marks from tomato, meat sauce and red fruits.

The testers highlighted more than its ability to remove coloured stains: they also noted the brightness of the white fabric after washing. Shirts and cloths emerged crisp and visibly luminous, despite having received no hand treatment beforehand.

Ariel Original excelled on very stubborn stains and delivered a strikingly bright white, even without pre-treatment.

However, this level of performance involves compromises in both cost and long-term colour protection. According to the consumption calculations used in the test, regular use of Ariel Original would amount to around €63.27 per year, making it the priciest detergent in the comparison.

There is also a consideration for households with plenty of coloured garments. Repeated use was found to make colours slightly less vivid over time. Ariel Original is an especially compelling option for badly stained white textiles, but the test indicates that it may not be the most balanced choice for people who mainly wash dark or brightly coloured clothes.

Carrefour Expert and Epsil offer strong value

Two cheaper alternatives followed closely behind Ariel: Carrefour Expert Optimal Clean and Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur both delivered impressive results.

Carrefour Expert Optimal Clean: a dependable budget option

Carrefour’s own-label detergent came second overall, providing a strong standard of cleanliness at a considerably lower cost. A few stains, notably lipstick and ballpoint pen ink, remained more challenging, yet it dealt effectively with most common everyday marks.

Its principal strength is its price. The projected yearly spend is around €22.37, approximately one third of Ariel’s cost. This can make a substantial annual difference for larger households and parents who wash several loads each week.

Carrefour Expert Optimal Clean delivers solid cleaning power for families who prioritise frequent washes without stretching their budget.

Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur: best when stains are pre-treated

Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur finished in third position. It performed especially well when marks were treated quickly beforehand - in other words, when a little liquid detergent was poured or rubbed directly onto the stain before the washing cycle began.

At an estimated annual cost of €21.38, it offers good stain-removal results at a sensible price, as long as users are prepared to spend a few additional seconds before filling the machine. Testers also mentioned its pleasant fresh fragrance, which may suit people who prefer laundry with a noticeable scent.

Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur rewards a tiny pre-treatment step with strong results and a noticeable fresh smell.

Which liquid detergent is right for you?

The findings confirm that there is no single “perfect” detergent for every household. The most suitable option depends on washing habits, the laundry washed most frequently and the amount of time someone wishes to spend dealing with stains.

Profile	Recommended detergent	Main advantage
Households with very stained whites (shirts, tablecloths)	Ariel Original	Excellent stain removal, bright white result
Large families on a tight budget	Carrefour Expert Optimal Clean	Good cleaning at a significantly lower price
Users who pre-treat stains willingly	Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur	Strong performance with pre-treatment, plus fresh fragrance

Put simply, the test suggests three distinct approaches:

• Spend more on Ariel if removing stains from whites is your overriding priority.
• Opt for Carrefour Expert if you do numerous washes and need reasonable results at a low price.
• Select Epsil if you are already happy to pre-treat stains and want to limit expenditure.

What the comparison says about liquid detergents overall

Beyond the top three, the investigation reflects the conclusions of many laboratory comparisons in recent years: powder detergents frequently perform better than liquids on exceptionally tough stains. Even so, shoppers in France and many other countries continue to favour liquids, largely because they are simpler to measure out, dissolve rapidly at low temperatures and are less likely to leave white traces on clothing.

The report also draws attention to a less obvious concern on supermarket shelves: the chemical preservatives used in some liquid formulas. These may include ingredients such as isothiazolinones or phenoxyethanol, both known for their potential to cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.

Liquid detergents can contain preservatives linked with skin reactions, while many powders and capsules avoid these ingredients.

Those with eczema, contact dermatitis or highly reactive skin may wish to examine ingredient lists more closely or choose fragrance-free, hypoallergenic products. Reading labels carefully or opting for powder detergents can lower exposure to some of the more disputed preservatives.

Better laundry decisions at home

To apply these findings in daily life, it is useful to consider practical situations rather than general scores. Picture a household with two sport-playing teenagers and one office-working parent. Mud-covered trainers, white shirts marked with tomato sauce and make-up stains on collars may all regularly end up in the laundry basket.

In this type of household, reserving Ariel Original for heavily stained white laundry while using a less expensive product such as Carrefour Expert for ordinary washes could provide a practical balance between cleanliness and cost. In another home, where a family member has sensitive skin, gentler formulas may take priority, even if this means treating stains beforehand more often.

Pre-treatment need not be difficult. Applying a pea-sized amount of detergent directly to a tomato mark or foundation stain, then leaving it for only a few minutes before washing, can greatly improve the outcome. Epsil Perfect Fraîcheur demonstrates this in the trial: its position improves significantly once this simple action is included.

Key terms and everyday habits that make a difference

Two concepts regularly found on detergent packs and in laboratory tests are worth explaining:

• Optical brighteners: substances that take in UV light and release it as blue light, causing whites to look brighter even when a little stain residue is still present. They enhance the appearance of whiteness, but do not actually “bleach” the fabric.
• Enzymes: biological molecules that break down particular categories of stains, including proteins (blood, milk), fats (oil, sauce) and starches (pasta, rice). Detergents that perform well generally contain a combination of several enzymes.

A few additional habits, alongside choosing the right detergent, can also work in your favour: wash badly stained items promptly rather than leaving them for several days, keep heavily soiled garments separate from lightly worn pieces, and follow the recommended dosage instead of automatically adding extra detergent “just in case”. Whatever product you pick from the shelf, these straightforward steps can help clothing stay in better condition for longer.