2026 Winner: Guests on Earth Laundry Detergent
A little goes a long way with this ultra-concentrated detergent that delivers impressive cleaning power in just two pumps from stylish, refillable bottle! Plus, a refreshingly open ingredient story that impressed our experts.
Guests on Earth Laundry Detergent, 2026 Best of the Year Award Winner, Courtesy of Guests on Earth
Guests on Earth packs a lot of cleaning power into a surprisingly small dose. Its biobased-formula combines fermentation-derived glycolipids, other cleaning agents and six enzymes that target different kinds of stains. And in real-world laundry loads, our testers found it cleaned as well as their usual detergent, sometimes better. Several even noticed that their clothes looked brighter and fresher.
There’s a lot to like beyond what happens inside the washing machine. The ultra-concentrated formula comes in a sleek, sage-green aluminum bottle with a pump that takes the guesswork — and messy measuring cup — out of dosing, while refills let you keep using the original bottle. Guests on Earth is female-founded and a Certified B Corporation, which means it complies with B Corp standards for social and environmental performance, among other things. Plus, to the delight of our own Chief Science and Standards Officer, it's unusually transparent about what goes into its detergent, listing every ingredient right on the bottle. At about $45 for 750 mL at the time of our evaluation, it’s a premium product. But with just two pumps needed for a standard load, one bottle can last for up to 75 loads.
Standout Features: Why It Won
A little goes a long way. Two pumps are all you need for a standard load, yet testers found the concentrated formula handled everyday laundry impressively well. One even used it to rewash a load of whites that had sat wet for more than 24 hours and reported that the musty smell disappeared.
Modern cleaning chemistry. The biobased formula uses fermentation-derived glycolipid surfactants, six enzymes that target different types of stains, and a plant-derived polymer designed to help keep loosened dirt from settling back onto fabric.
No cap. No measuring cup. No glugging. The pump makes dosing quick and precise: two pumps for a standard load and you’re done. Testers particularly liked how easy and mess-free it was to use.
A bottle you don’t have to hide. The compact sage-green aluminum bottle looks so good, you’ll want to leave it out. And rather than tossing it when it’s empty, simply re-order, refill, and keep going.
Transparency you can see. Every ingredient is listed directly on the bottle, with an online glossary explaining what each one does — an unusual level of transparency in the laundry category. One of our experts called it “exceptional.”
Third-party credentials galore. The detergent is 63% USDA Certified Biobased, while Guests on Earth is a Certified B Corp, Leaping Bunny certified, and a member of 1% for the Planet.
Guests on Earth Laundry Detergent
View on AmazonHow We Tested
Guests on Earth Laundry Detergent was evaluated by 12 judges and consumer testers, including experts in personal care chemistry, packaging and sustainability. Guests on Earth shipped the Green Hinoki scent directly to each participant, as coordinated by Best of the Year.
Testing took place in August. Participants used the detergent according to its directions for several loads of laundry, washing garments ranging from physicians’ white coats to jeans and gym clothes. They assessed cleaning performance, ease of use, scent, how garments felt after washing, overall quality and likelihood of recommending the product.
Expert judges also considered the detergent’s formulation, packaging, sustainability attributes and the support for its performance claims. Best of the Year analysts used the detergent in their own laundry and reviewed the completed scorecards and written feedback. They also reviewed confidential performance data provided by the brand under a nondisclosure agreement, including comparisons to a leading conventional detergent and a “clean” detergent, before reaching a decision.
What Experts and Consumer Testers Said
Reviewers kept coming back to how little detergent they needed. After washing several loads, one consumer tester said, “This is so concentrated, it cleans really well, and the clothes seem brighter.” She also loved the subtle fragrance, despite usually avoiding scented detergents, and found that the pump made measuring easy and mess-free.
“This is so concentrated, it cleans really well, and the clothes seem brighter.” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester
The detergent handled some memorable laundry jobs, too. One tester said a small amount cleaned a badly soiled white coat well. Another had left a load of whites in the washer for more than a day, long enough for them to smell musty. “I rewashed them with this detergent and all of that musty smell was removed,” she said.
“I rewashed them with this detergent and all of that musty smell was removed.” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester
Our judges appreciated the formula as well as its performance. One said, “It worked super well at cleaning my clothes with very little amount of product,” and liked its enzymes and biosurfactants. Another found its cleaning and whitening comparable to the eco detergent she regularly uses. She also called the ingredient transparency “exceptional for this category”: Every ingredient is listed directly on the bottle.
The design made an impression of its own. One judge praised the reusable metal bottle’s sleek shape and soft sage-green finish, calling it “something you would be happy to have out on your washing machine.” Reviewers generally liked the precise pump, though a couple encountered leaks or drips, including one during shipping.
“Something you would be happy to have out on your washing machine.” -Best of the Year Judge & Product Innovation Expert
Results depended on the laundry at hand. While one tester had success with that soiled white coat, another reviewer found the detergent better on everyday laundry than on a few heavily stained items. Green Hinoki’s scent was subtle enough to win over a tester who normally dislikes fragranced detergent, but others wished more of it lingered on their clean clothes. An unscented version is available, too.
The brand also shared independently conducted comparative stain-removal testing with our analysts. We appreciated the chance to examine it alongside the hands-on feedback. The results lent further support to the cleaning performance our reviewers experienced at the recommended small dose, while showing that results vary by stain.
Best of the Year Bottom Line
Guests on Earth gives the humble laundry detergent a luxe makeover, with cleaning performance to match. Just two pumps cleaned everyday loads well, and several reviewers noticed brighter clothes. The precise pump makes dosing easy, the sage-green aluminum bottle is worth keeping and refilling, and Green Hinoki’s subtle fragrance even won over a tester who usually avoids scented detergent. At about $45 for up to 75 standard loads, it’s a premium buy. The ratings and raves from our testers impressed us, and the brand’s willingness to share independent comparative stain-removal data with our team helped seal its Best of the Year win.
Guests on Earth Laundry Detergent
View on Guests on EarthWhy Trust Us?
The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.
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