Touch of Downy Freshness Powder Laundry Detergent
Ariel Powder Laundry Detergent with Touch of Downy Freshness delivers a powerful clean and leaves clothes fresh. It's easy to use and dissolves quickly in your washer.
How scores are calculated
Materials (40%): How plastic-free the product is — raw materials, construction, and coatings.
Packaging (20%): Is the product packaged in plastic? Is it recyclable?
Transparency (20%): Does the brand disclose ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturing?
Durability (20%): How long does it last? Longer-lasting products reduce plastic waste over time.
This is a rating of this specific product only — not the company. Other products from this brand may score differently.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Contains synthetic fragrances, colorants, and other chemicals that can be irritants. The packaging is likely plastic. Consumer Reports rated it as one of the worst powders for overall cleaning, despite being effective on blood stains.
Why We Rated It This Way
Ariel's Touch of Downy Freshness Powder Laundry Detergent is made from Buffer (sodium carbonate; sodium silicate), Cleaning Agents (sodium C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonate; C10-16 Alketh), Cleaning Aids (sodium polyacrylate; cellulose gum), Enzymes (subtilisin; lipase), Process Aids (sodium sulfate and/or sodium chloride; bentonite; zeolite or calcium carbonate), Whitening Agents (disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate; fluorescent brightener 71), Perfume (fragrances), Colorants, Water..
Chemical & Health Analysis
Each chemical of concern is broken down below — what it is, where it comes from in this product, what it does to the body, and who is most at risk.
Various plastic chemicals
Ariel Touch of Downy Freshness Powder Laundry Detergent
Fragrance allergens, skin irritation
All health claims are based on published, peer-reviewed research from the NIH, WHO, IARC, and peer-reviewed journals. This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
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