The 6 Best Laundry Detergents for Odors in Clothes, Towels, and More

In our opinion, the best laundry detergent for odor removal in a liquid is Tide Plus Febreze Fresh Sport Odor Defense Liquid Laundry Detergent. Not only is this detergent able to remove week-old odors, but it also helps keep athleticwear fresher for up to three times longer than standard laundry detergent. This detergent uses a specially-designed scent-renewal technology that keeps releasing fresh smells as you move, so fabrics keep smelling great even when you're sweating hard. Tide Plus Febreze Fresh Sport Odor Defense Liquid Laundry Detergent can be used in all types of washing machines and also whitens and brightens your clothing and fabrics.

Hammer Plus OxiClean With Odor Blasters Laundry Detergent is our top pick for best laundry detergent pod for odors. Each pod contains five different elements that eliminate tough smells and stains, whiten whites, brighten colors, and provide a scent boost. This allows this detergent to remove some of the harshest odors from fabrics, including musty towels, body odors, and pet smells. No measuring is required as each pod is pre-measured for each laundry load. The Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean With Odor Blasters Laundry Detergent formula is made with 100-percent renewable electricity and the pouch that the pods come in is recyclable with TerraCycle.

Environmentally-conscious homeowners who need assistance removing harsh odors from their laundry will love Biokleen Natural Sport Concentrated Laundry Detergent. This plant-based detergent uses special enzymes to target and break down odors caused by sweat and leaves a fresh lavender eucalyptus scent in its place. The eco-friendly laundry detergent also effectively removes stains from dirt and grass and contains no artificial colors or fragrances. Biokleen Natural Sport Concentrated Laundry Detergent uses biodegradable ingredients and is designed in an eco-friendly bottle and offers three times the concentration as standard detergents, so you don't need to use as much.

Activewear fabric is designed differently than normal T-shirt fabric as it's a technical fabric created to be both breathable and sweat-wicking. HEX Performance Laundry Detergent is designed specifically for cleaning the tight-knit, synthetic fabrics used in activewear. This laundry detergent penetrates these fabrics to remove odors and stains that traditional detergents may have trouble reaching. Additionally, the detergent helps ensure your activewear stays comfortable and works the way you need it to. HEX Performance Laundry Detergent is biodegradable and contains no dyes, phosphates, or parabens.

As any pet owner knows, dogs and cats bring their own harsh odors that can be hard to remove from household fabrics. Defunkify Powder Laundry Detergent is powerful enough to crush any odors from fabrics, including pet vomit and urine smells. This powder laundry detergent for odors uses specialized enzymes to break down and remove bad fragrances from deep down between the fibers of clothing and fabrics. Defunkify Powder Laundry Detergent's ingredients are all approved by the EPA Safer Choice Program and contain no dyes, fragrances, or fillers, so you can rest easy when using the product on your pet beds and blankets.

Sensitive skin needs a gentle laundry detergent that will cause no irritation. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and certified 100-percent SkinSAFE — a program developed in partnership with the Mayo Clinic. While this detergent is kind on skin, it's the direct opposite on severe odors, dirt, and stains. This detergent even contains special agents that trap soil in the water so they rinse away and do not redeposit on the rest of the laundry load. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear contains no dyes, perfumes, or preservatives, and works in all washing machines at all temperatures.

If you really love your current laundry detergent and just need some extra help fighting odors, a laundry booster might be your best bet. Tide Odor Rescue In-Wash Laundry Booster Pacs, which work like a laundry detergent pod, can be added to a laundry load alongside any detergent to help get rid of bad smells from clothing and other fabrics. The laundry booster gets deep down to the fiber level to remove odors and stains, and its special odor-defense technology breaks down layers of body soil and residue that can cause body odors to come back over time. Tide Odor Rescue In-Wash Laundry Booster Pacs can be used in conjunction with either powder or liquid laundry detergents, and can be used in both regular and HE (high-efficiency) washing machines.