Customer Reviews
Product Testing
Team Experience
Laundry day can either present a relaxing afternoon, or the most dreaded chore of the week. Some find the act of washing and folding clothes cathartic, and some dread it. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, you still want your clothes to come out as clean and fresh as possible–without fading.
Getting your laundry clean and maintaining color comes down to the proper detergent. You need a detergent that is gentle on colors, but tough on stains and bacteria. That’s where two fierce competitors come in today.
Today we are going to be examining two of the most powerful detergents on the market, one more famous than the other. Our team at Cleaning King will walk you through the head-to-head matchup between Tide and Purex. We will weigh what we like about each product, what we don’t like, what you should consider, and what we believe is the best choice.
So, without further delay, let’s dive in!
Tide
Tide is, without a doubt, America’s favorite laundry detergent. It is the #1 selling detergent on Amazon, and continues to outsell competition in brick-and-mortar locations as well. This distinction is one that Tide has been in near sole possession of for the past 68 years.
Tide has become such a household name that its smell is almost instantly recognized by virtually anyone old enough to do laundry. Tide offers a wide range of products from liquid detergents, to powdered detergents and of course the ever convenient Tide Pods.
Tide works by using compounds such as Sodium citrate which act as water softeners to help loosen the dirt, gunk and stains from the fabric. It also comes packed with a long list of enzymes that make it effective against protein based stains such as blood, sweat, etc,.
The main benefit of Tide is the fact that it works beautifully right out of the container. There’s no need for boosters or additional detergents to make it clean and remove stains. However, it has been known to be a bit harsh on sensitive skin. This makes Tide a no-go for those who are prone to rashes or allergic reactions from harsh detergent residue.
For those who don’t need to worry about that, though, Tide is an excellent choice. It’s impossible to deny the convenience and versatility that Tide offers. Coming in at an incredibly competitive price point, Tide is one of the best values for your money on the market.
Purex is a far less known product on the market these days. Despite hitting the detergent market in 1922, it is much less of a household name against the likes of Tide. However, it is still an excellent detergent despite the lack of fame.
Purex destroys stains in a very similar way to Tide. This is by using a formula that contains sulfate-free surfactants. Surfactants are molecules that can help penetrate surface tension on water and soak up oil and acids from underneath it. This allows the detergent to lift stains more easily.
One downside to Purex is it’s distinct lack of added enzymes when compared to Tide. This means that it isn’t as tough on harsh stains (like blood and grass), as Tide will be. However, a booster such as Borax will help to remedy this quite a bit.
Purex is a great option for those looking for a detergent that is competitively priced, but also very gentle on the skin. It contains very soft compounds that are less prone to cause irritation when compared to Tide. The cleaning power isn’t as great, but the gentle skin safety is a massive bonus for some.
There are two major things you want to consider when purchasing a laundry detergent: Cleaning power, and skin sensitivity. You want a detergent that is tough on your stains but not on your skin.
The main factor behind cleaning power is a detergent’s ability to penetrate water and absorb/lift away stains. This is done by softening the water through the addition of natural water softeners, as well as adding in stain cutting compounds that oxygenate the molecules of the stain and cause them to detach.
You want a detergent that contains water softeners such as sodium citrate (Borax is also a great water softener). However, you want to ensure that the detergent is free of as many synthetic ingredients as possible.
Things like fragrances, dyes, and other harsh chemicals can cause irritation which is known as Contact Dermatitis. This can be extremely painful as well as unsightly. You should aim for detergents that can effectively soften the water without using a laundry list (pun intended) of synthetic and harsh ingredients.
In this regard, Tide is far better at removing stains and softening water. It penetrates the water’s surface tension far easier than Purex does. However, Tide also contains a lot of fragrances and synthetic dyes that can make it a skin irritant–that is unless you buy fragrance and color free Tide.
At Cleaning King we take our jobs very seriously. We believe in pitting the best of the best against each other so that you don’t have to. We aim to find the best products for cleaning your home and possessions. So, in the case of Tide versus purex, who wins?
Well, in our opinion Tide is the superior detergent simply because of versatility, enzymatic cleaning power, and reasonable price tag. It is by far the better value when you weigh all of the pros and cons.
However, we also understand that some readers are not going to be able to use Tide products due to skin sensitivity issues. For that we want to assure you that Purex is still an excellent detergent choice.
No matter what, you are going to get a deep clean that leaves your clothes feeling fresh and smelling even fresher! Just remember that with Purex you may need to pair it with a Borax boost to tackle more stubborn stains.
Tide has maintained, and in many cases exceeded all safety standards applicable to them as a cleaning product supplier. That being said, it has been known to cause irritation and allergic reactions from time to time. When in doubt, simply purchase an organic Tide product that is made without synthetic additives
Purex does not contain the added enzymes used to remove tough protein based stains. This makes it a bit less effective against such stains when compared to competing products. However, that can be fixed with a booster.
Purex laundry detergent does not contain bleach, and it will not cause your clothes to fade or disintegrate.
Tide is pretty well known for its ability to preserve color and help to strengthen clothing for longer lifespans. That’s not to say that it can’t cause damage if used improperly. However, when used as advised on proper temperatures your clothes and fabrics will be more than safe!
Purex is without a doubt a great product for cleaning laundry. It may not pack as much of a punch as its competition in some areas, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless or weak. Purex can perform very admirably against all the major detergent brands–especially with a booster such as Borax.
Tide can be purchased virtually anywhere you can find laundry supplies. It can be found online, in stores, you name it! Tide is perhaps the world’s easiest laundry detergent to locate.
Because Purex is generally very gentle on skin, it is excellent for babies which have more sensitive skin than adults naturally. However, Purex does offer a special formula of their detergent that is specifically designed for babies as well.