9 Largest Laundry Detergent Brands In The World

Consumer Brands

Laundry detergent is a product we use on a regular basis. However, the history of laundry detergent only begins around the time of World War II.

Although soap products were on the market for cleaning bodies and clothing as far back as the Egyptians, soap flakes fell out of use during the World War II era. Laundry detergent was offered as a cheaper, more efficient method to clean clothes.

Laundry detergent is not soap, contrary to popular belief. Detergent is a chemical compound created specifically for cleaning clothing in washing machines because it helps keep the dirt suspended in the water.

Since the washing machine uses water and water pressure to loosen dirt from the clothing, detergent assists the process by breaking down the barriers between water molecules so the water can be more efficient. The detergent is able to keep the dirt separated from the clothes so that it will be washed out once the water is drained out of the machine.

Before the era of laundry detergent and washing machines, standard soap was used to wash clothes. Clothes would be washed by hand with a scrubbing board or washed in the river. In the times of ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, soap was created from animal fat and ashes.

Eventually, the addition of lye became popular. However, with the introduction of washing machines, lye was found to be too harsh.

Today, the laundry detergent market is looking to make some environmental changes, as the history of detergent impacts the modern environment and clean water standards. Many biodegradable and green-friendly products are available and continuously improving in this industry. Below, we list the largest laundry detergent brands.

DETAILED LIST OF THE 9 LARGEST LAUNDRY DETERGENT BRANDS IN THE WORLD

Procter and Gamble. Ohio, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $70.95 billion
Procter Gamble, also known as PG, was founded in 1835 by Willian Procter and James Gamble. The company focuses on personal health and consumer health, as well as personal care and hygiene products, including laundry detergent.

Additionally, before the sale of Pringles to Kellogg’s, the company’s portfolio included food, snacks, and beverages. The company began by creating soap and candles, and between the years of 1858 and 1859, sales reached $1 million.

The company won contracts to supply the Union Army with soap and candles and introduced them to PG products. In the 1880s, PG marketed an inexpensive soap that floated in the water, called Ivory. From there, they grew and expanded significantly.

In 1946, the company introduced Tide laundry detergent. The company is also responsible for the term “soap operas” as they produced and sponsored the first radio serial dramas in the 1930s.

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Henkel. Düsseldorf, Germany

Annual Revenue (2020): $23.30 billion
This German chemical and consumer goods company are active in both the consumer and industrial sector. Founded in 1876, the company is organized into three different divisions, including Laundry Home Care, Beauty Care, and Adhesive Technologies.

Their most famous brands include Loctite, Persil, Fa, Dial, and Purex. The company’s first product was called “Universalwaschmittel,” a universal detergent based on silicate. In 1878, the first German brand-name detergent appeared; Henkel’s Bleich-Soda, an affordable product that came in paper bags.

In 1907, the company launched Persil, the first “self-acting laundry detergent.” Persil is still the largest brand for Henkel’s Laundry Home Care business, generating over 1 billion euros of sales in 2017. Today, Henkel also offers heavy-duty detergents, specialty detergents, as well as laundry additives.

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Amway. Michigan, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $8.4 billion
Short for “American Way,” Amway is an American multi-level marketing company that sells health, beauty, and home care products. The company was founded in 1959 and conducted business through a number of affiliated companies across the world.

Amway’s first laundry detergent SA8 was added to their product line in 1960. In 2007, Amway was awarded by Consumer Reports, listing SA8 with BIoquest as the best-performing laundry detergent. However, the pricing of the product was criticized, which was disputed by Amway.

Due to its structure, Amway has been investigated multiple times in various countries and institutions such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for pyramid scheme practices. However, the company has never been found guilty.

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Church and Dwight. New Jersey, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $3.4 billion
In 1846, Church Dwight was created when two companies created by John Dwight and Austin Church merged. The merger began in 1846 when together they began selling sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, that they refined in John Dwight’s kitchen.

In 1970, the Arm Hammer brand was introduced into the market as the first nationally distributed, phosphate-free detergent called Arm Hammer Powder Laundry Detergent. After findings showed harmful effects from phosphates on the health of freshwater bodies of water, they brought the product from conception to market in less than a year.

In 2001, Church Dwight expanded more broadly into laundry detergent products by acquiring USA detergents, the owner of Xtra Detergent. Some of their other notable brands include Arrid, Nair, Orajel, OxiClean, Pepsodent, Trojan, and Waterpik, among others.

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Fábrica de Jabón la Corona. Morelos, Mexico

Annual Revenue (2020): $187.95 million
Founded in 1920, Fábrica de Jabón is a Mexican company that offers consumer products. The business was founded by Don Esteban Gonzalez and his son Antonio Gonzalez, who remains the CEO as of 1950.

The company offers various products, including edible oils, toilet soap, liquid soap, laundry soap, toothpaste, detergent, fabric softeners, dishwasher products, and cleaners, among other products. As far as laundry detergent goes, the company offers both powder and liquid detergents, all of which are biodegradable.

The company started exporting to other countries in 1986 and hasn’t looked back since. Their products are available in the United States, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
ECOS. Athens, Greece

Annual Revenue (2020): $150 million
Family-owned and operated since 1967, ECOS Laundry Detergent is owned by Earth Friendly Products.

Earth Friendly Products produces over 200 environmentally friendly products, safe for people, pets, and the planet. ECOS cleaners are made with plant-powered ingredients and thoughtfully sources, pH balanced, readily biodegradable, easily recyclable, and never tested on animals.

Over 100 of their products received U.S. EPA Safer Choice certification, and many products are available at major club and grocery retailers across the United States and in over 60 countries. Ecos offers a variety of detergents, boosters, and fabric fresheners. Their laundry detergent comes in liquid form, liquid with enzymes, liquidless, and packs.
Nûby. Louisiana, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $81 million
Nûby, also known as Luv n’ care, is a brand that caters its products to infants and parents. Their offerings are inspired by nature and are intended to make the lives of babies and parents easier and more simple.

The Nûby brand includes feeding, weaning, soothing, play and bath, and nursery products. Their brands are available in over 155 countries across the world. Nûby offers a laundry detergent that is naturally inspired by Citroganix.

This offering is all-natural, environmentally friendly, and used specifically for infants, especially those with sensitive skin. The laundry detergent is safe for use in all regular washing machines, including those that are high efficiency.
Norwex. Texas, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $58 million
Founded only 27 years ago, Norwex was originally founded in Norway. Norwex boasts the “Norwegian experience” and looks to provide safer, healthier, and more sustainable cleaning and personal care products. Norwex began their operations in Norway, then opened locations in North America and Canada in 1999.

Demand has grown, and since then, the company has expanded to fifteen countries across the world. Norwex offers various laundry products, including dryer balls, liquid laundry detergent, powder laundry detergent, stain removers, laundry boosters, mattress cleaners and stain removers.

Norwex products have specific product certifications. Norwex Timeless Natural Hand Cleaner and Norwex Timeless Relaxation Rescue Gel have both been certified by EcoGruppo and NaTrue.
Charlie’s Soap. North Carolina, United States

Annual Revenue (2020): $4 million
Charlie’s Soap products offer all-natural laundry detergents and household cleaners. Their products contain only biodegradable, hypo-allergenic ingredients that are safe for the earth. They do not feature any fragrances and do not leave a residue.

Founded in 1971 by Charlie Sutherland. Sr., Charlie’s Soap was created when his textile mill customers began asking for cleaners for their machines. His son, Charlie Jr., had a background in chemistry and thus, created a cleaner soap that employees who worked at textile factories began sneaking into their homes for personal use.

Eventually, people kept asking for the product by name, which was Charlie’s Soap. Today, Charlie’s Soap offers a variety of products, including laundry detergent, laundry powder, stain-treatment products, and more.

Consumer Brands

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

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