The 10 Best Laundry Whiteners of 2024

Best Overall

OxiClean White Revive

$9 At Amazon $18 At Home Depot $9 At Walmart

The superior cleaning power of OxiClean White Revive puts it at the very top of our list. It's safe to use on colors and doesn’t include chlorine. And we liked how well it brightened whites and tackled even tough stains, such as yellowing, grass, mud, pasta sauce, mustard, and butter. It worked particularly well as a pre-soak for tough stains. Even adding it to the regular wash brightened whites significantly. We noted that it's important to add the powder to the water, and let it dissolve completely before adding your clothing.

Even though it is chlorine-free, OxiClean has a strong scent. It isn’t unpleasant, but might be overpowering in an enclosed laundry room. If you are able to open a window or run a fan, the scent will dissipate. Using it as a presoak takes up to six hours, which makes it even more important to ensure you have enough fresh air. 

This formula comes in multiple size containers of powder, as well as a liquid solution and pods. You can buy it in bulk, making it one of the most economical as well as the most effective options on our list. The powder is by far the most versatile because you can easily control how much you use and mix it into water for a pre-treat stain remover. While the other methods can be used in the same way, they take a bit more work to use.

_{Form: Powder | Amount: 3 pounds | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best Budget

Clorox Splash-Less Bleach

$18 At Amazon $7 At Home Depot $6 At Walmart

Bleach is one of the most effective whitening and stain removal agents out there. But you have to be careful where it goes, making this splash-less formula a great way to get the power of bleach in an easy to use application. The cap is designed to prevent leaks and the thicker liquid solution results in fewer splash and drips when you pour it. Keep in mind that this is a strong bleach solution, so you shouldn’t use it on colors. It's also a good idea to wear gloves to protect your skin when using it.

We also love that this is economical. It comes in a two bottle set with a total of 110 fluid ounces. Depending on your use, it may be all of the bleach that you need for a year or more. It does take up space and is heavy, however. Just be sure that you really need to buy in bulk. If not, you can get a smaller quantity, which is still budget-friendly.

_{Form: Liquid | Amount: 110 fl.oz. | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: No}

Best Eco-Friendly

Savvy Green Oxygen Brightening Powder

$16 At Amazon

This eco-friendly alternative to harsh laundry whiteners uses oxygen to lift dinginess alongside your normal laundry detergent. It's one of the safest products for the widest use, including in high-efficiency washing machines, for colors and whites, and even around the house as a cleaning paste. It's free of phosphate, chlorine, and fragrances. Eco-conscious customers will also like that the packaging, as well as the included scoop, is recyclable.

You will need quite a bit of this powder to see results. Soaking can make it more effective, although that adds time to your laundry routine. It comes in a 2.5 pound package, but if you are using it often you’ll go through that amount quickly.

_{Form: Powder | Amount: 2.5 pounds | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best Bleach

Amaze! Ultra Concentrated Bleach Tablets

$8 At Amazon

Want to use bleach without the mess? These tablets are concentrated bleach that you throw in with your wash to brighten whites. You can put one or two tablets in with your normal wash routine, depending on the size of the load. While they aren’t safe for colors, you can use it on fabrics that you would use traditional liquid bleach with. They work in high-efficiency machines. Plus, surprise, you can even use them to freshen and clean your toilet or other surfaces.

Just note, you should keep them out of the reach of children and pets because they are concentrated bleach. It might also irritate skin, so be careful when handling them. Fortunately, they won’t spill like liquid bleach, so that's one less thing to worry about.

_{Form: Tablets | Amount: 32 | Scent: Meadow | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: No}

Best without Bleach

Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener

$17 At Home Depot

Nellie’s uses oxygen to boost and brighten whites instead of bleach. This makes it safe for all machines and colors, and it's less harsh on fabrics. Users noted that their clothing, towels, and sheets come out softer after adding Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener to their washing routine. We love that it won’t leave behind a film or smell that can sometimes accompany bleach-based whiteners.

It's a bit pricey, especially considering it only comes with 15 scoops of powder. You can get a bulk size container, which is takes up more space but is more economical if you use it often. Because it is a powder-based formula, it doesn’t take up the space that water-based detergents and whiteners do.

_{Form: Powder | Amount: 0.55 pounds | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best for Stains

All Oxi Laundry Booster Free & Clear

$10 At Amazon View On Safeway.com View On Albertsons.com

All OXO Laundry Booster is an extra that works alongside your favorite laundry detergent to keep your whites bright and clean. It has stain lifters that work on laundry as well as other household surfaces. When you use the booster with detergent, it creates even better stain-fighting power.

We like that this product is free of perfumes and dyes, making it a good option for those with sensitivities. Just know it's a bit more expensive than some liquid options, mostly due to the convenience. They aren’t as pricey as pods, however. Each container can do around 48 loads of laundry.

_{Form: Powder | Amount: 3.25 pounds | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best Bluing

Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing

$7 At Amazon

This solution changes the undertone of your whites, making them appear even brighter and more vibrant. It has been around for 140 years as one of the most economical and effective ways to brighten whites without using bleach. A little bit really does go a long way, with only a few drops needed for a typical load. In fact, too much can stain your fabrics.

You do need to dilute it and not all fabrics react the same way, something that we noted during testing. It's better to start with a very small amount to see how it reacts with your whites. The way it works goes something like this: the formula actually changes the pigment of the fabric by adding blue, which makes it appear brighter and more white. While it can take some trial and error to perfect, this is a good option for those who don’t want to use bleach or other harsh chemicals.

_{Form: Liquid | Amount: 8 fl.oz. | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Not listed | Safe for Colors: Not listed}

Best Liquid

Out Laundry Whitener

$27 At Amazon $6 At Walmart $6 At Lowe's

You can use this liquid laundry whitener as a pretreatment for stains or alongside detergent as a booster in you wash. It's easy to control and use just the amount you want to use, which can save money. It works on yellowing caused by iron and rust, as well as red stains like those from clay and dirt. It is especially recommended for white sports uniforms, such as baseball pants.

It is a strong formula and the manufacturer recommends wearing gloves when you handle it. You should also make sure to provide enough ventilation if you are letting it sit during presoak. It is safe for your washing machine and system, however, even high-efficiency machines and septic systems. It is also good for most colorfast fabrics.

_{Form: Liquid | Amount: 4.75 pounds | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best Pods

OxiClean White Revive Power Paks

$8 At Amazon $8 At Walmart $8 At Target

These pods provide the power of the OxiClean White Revive formula that you can toss into the laundry. This cuts down on potential skin irritation because the solution is kept entirely in the pod and won’t come into contact with anything until after the wash cycle begins. It's safe for colors and both top- and front-load washing machines. Because they are pods, you won’t have to worry about spills or leaks.

These are a bit expensive when you consider that the package only contains 24 pods, but still a good value. The powder or liquid formulas are more economical but not as convenient. You can use it as a presoak stain treatment, although you will need to let the pod dissolve in water first.

_{Form: Pods | Amount: 24 count | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Yes}

Best Powder

Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

$6 At Amazon $6 At Walmart $5 At Lowe's

This simple washing soda generates a lot of cleaning power, whether it’s as a laundry whitener or for other household cleaning. It's made of sodium carbonate and water, but comes in powder form. You can mix it to make a paste or put it in your washing machine alongside your detergent to boost and brighten whites. As a paste, it can be used to treat stains, although it isn’t the most effective option on super stubborn stains. We like that it's super affordable, making it another all-purpose cleaner to add to your cabinets.

It's also good to get rid of odors and can remove tarnish from silver, gold, brass, and copper. If you have delicate fabrics or materials, Arm and Hammer recommends testing an inconspicuous area to make sure that it won’t react negatively. Fortunately, with such a simple formula, it's easy to keep track of what ingredients you should avoid.

_{Form: Powder | Amount: 55 oz. | Scent: Unscented | Safe for High-Efficiency Machines: Yes | Safe for Colors: Varies}