You’ve probably wondered this before: which laundry detergent actually cleans best?

Liquid, sheets, or capsules - every option claims to be the most effective. But when it comes to real, everyday stains, the differences are bigger than you might think.

So we put them to the test.

Using 20 of the most common household stains, from oil and makeup to food and dirt, we compared how each format actually performs in a real wash.

The results were clear.

Some detergents left clothes looking clean… but weren’t. Others struggled with tougher stains altogether. And one format consistently outperformed the rest.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what we found so you can choose the right detergent for how you actually do your laundry.

Why Do Laundry Formats Perform Differently?

Each format delivers cleaning power in a fundamentally different way:

1. Capsules (Best overall performance)

Capsules are pre-measured and highly concentrated, which means:

• Optimal dosing every time
• Stronger stain-targeting ingredients
• Better performance on heavy and oily stains

Where they shine:

• Oil-based stains (makeup, food grease, sebum)
• Complex stains (baby food, chocolate, tomato)
• Deep-set dirt

In our testing, capsules significantly outperformed other formats on highly discriminative stains like sebum and pigment, where precision chemistry matters most.

2. Liquid (Balanced but diluted)

Liquid detergents are versatile and familiar, but:

• Often more diluted than capsules
• Easy to underdose or overdose
• Performance varies depending on how much you use

Where they perform well:

• General everyday laundry
• Some food and beverage stains

However, in our testing, liquids sat ~10 percentage points behind capsules overall, particularly struggling on tougher, oily stains.

3. Laundry Sheets (Convenient, but lighter cleaning power)

Sheets are designed for convenience and sustainability, but:

• Contain less active cleaning ingredients
• Dissolve quickly but don’t always penetrate deep stains

Where they work best:

• Lightly soiled clothes
• Quick washes
• Everyday refreshes

In our testing detergent sheets sat low on performance for protein-based stains (milk, blood) and much lower on oil-heavy stains.

Importantly, MNML Laundry Sheets were able to deliver over 24% better stain removal compared to the leading Australian detergent sheet competitor.

So Which Format Should You Choose?

Instead of “one size fits all,” we believe in a smart laundry system.

Choose Capsules if:

• You want the strongest cleaning performance
• You deal with kids, sports clothes, or food/oil stains
• You don’t want to think about dosing (easy and convenient)

Choose Sheets if:

• You prioritise convenience and sustainability
• Your laundry is lightly soiled
• You want to do smaller loads