When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more. Rich Handel, CR’s laundry expert ...

You probably expect detergent to make clothes softer and fresher, not stiff, dull, or musty. Small mistakes—too much soap, the wrong formula for colours or delicates, or neglected machine parts—often ...