MelaPower 9x vs Tide Original: laundry detergent compared

MelaPower 9x and Tide Original Liquid each wash 96 loads, but MelaPower does it from a 32 oz bottle and Tide from a 138 oz jug, so the MelaPower bottle is less than a quarter the size. Per load, MelaPower costs about 20 cents at the member price and about 29 cents regular, against about 24 cents for Tide.

What MelaPower and Tide have in common

Each brand sells a detergent sized to wash 96 loads, and each says its formula works in cold water. With the load count the same, the choice comes down to bottle size, price per load and how you like to buy.

MelaPower and Tide, side by side

MelaPower's size and load count come from Melaleuca's product page. Tide's 96-load, 138 oz size comes from Tide's own product page.

Why the MelaPower bottle is so much smaller

The dose explains most of the size gap. Melaleuca says "just one pump or 10 mL (that's 2 teaspoons!!) is all you need to clean a full load," and that one 32 oz bottle covers 96 loads. The formula is concentrated, so less liquid goes into each load and the dose is easy to measure.

Tide Original Liquid comes in a 96-load, 138 oz size, and its product page points shoppers to the dosage instructions on the package. P&G also calls the detergent easy to measure and pour.

At home, a smaller bottle takes less room on the laundry shelf and is lighter to carry in from the car. A big jug is more to lift and store, but it is a familiar shape you can pour from. Which suits you depends on your space and how you like to measure.

What each load costs

A 32 oz bottle and a 138 oz jug can't be compared by sticker price, so divide by loads. MelaPower's HE Scent Free variant lists at $28.00 for 96 loads, about 29 cents per load ($28.00 ÷ 96 ≈ $0.29). At the preferred member price of $19.49, it is about 20 cents per load ($19.49 ÷ 96 ≈ $0.20).

Tide Original, at $22.99, comes to about 24 cents per load ($22.99 ÷ 96 ≈ $0.24). That makes the member price about 15% less than Tide ($19.49 vs. $22.99), while the regular price of $28.00 is roughly 5 cents more per load. Store prices change from week to week, so check your own shelf tag too.

Forbes ranked Melaleuca No. 2 on its 2026 America's Best Brands for Value list, based on about 4.7 million consumer ratings gathered with HundredX. The ranking covers the company as a whole, including its brands and products, rather than this one detergent.

What's in each detergent, in each brand's words

Melaleuca's laundry guide describes MelaPower as a super-concentrated, biodegradable formula built on what the company calls a proprietary blend of three natural enzymes. The guide says it is "extremely effective in cold water." Melaleuca positions MelaPower as an alternative to Tide, Gain and other detergents, and its EcoSense laundry line also includes a stain treatment, softeners and a whitener.

P&G describes Original Liquid as having "6X Boosted Clean" with tough stain removal and grease-fighting power, and says it is "designed to work even in cold water." It also cites a 2025 BrandSpark survey naming Tide America's most trusted laundry detergent brand.

If you run most of your loads cold, both brands say their detergent is made for it. These are the companies' own descriptions, so the surest test is a bottle on your own laundry.

Where you can buy each one

Buying MelaPower starts with a Melaleuca membership. You set up an account, order from the catalog, and the bottle arrives at your door. The $19.49 preferred member price applies within that membership.

Tide Original is sold at major retail stores, so you can pick it up on a regular shopping trip at that day's store price. A membership suits households that like a standing order and want detergent delivered before they run out. Store shopping suits people who prefer to buy when they run low and skip an account.

Which detergent fits your household?

Tide Original suits shoppers who want a familiar product with a long track record and a recognizable scent. It is in stores whenever the jug runs empty, with no membership or delivery window to plan around.

MelaPower 9x suits households that like a small bottle doing the work of a large jug, a two-teaspoon dose, and delivery as part of a routine. At member pricing it costs about 20 cents a load, and members can add it to an order they are already placing.

If you are still deciding, start with what matters most to you: cost per load (MelaPower is cheaper at the member price), shelf space, or how often you want to shop.

Questions about MelaPower and Tide

How many loads does a bottle of MelaPower 9x wash?

Melaleuca says one 32 oz bottle washes 96 loads. The dose is 10 mL per load.

How do I figure out Tide's price per load?

Divide the shelf price by the load count on the jug. Tide Original at $22.99 works out to about 24 cents a load, compared with about 20 cents for MelaPower at the member price and 29 cents at the regular price.

Do both detergents work in cold water?

Each brand says so. Melaleuca describes MelaPower as extremely effective in cold water, and Tide says Original Liquid is designed to work even in cold water.

Sources

• MelaPower 9x Detergent, Melaleuca
• Tide Original Liquid Laundry Detergent, Tide
• Laundry Product Guide, Melaleuca
• Forbes Best Brands for Value: Melaleuca Ranks No. 2, Melaleuca Newsroom