2025
9
UK Laundry Detergents, Fabric Conditioners and Fabric Care Market Report 2025
2025-11-24T14:02:08+00:00
REPAD523CC8_0E41_4951_AC8E_017C80EC171D
2195
188878
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Report
en_GB
Short and cold wash cycles have become deeply ingrained in consumer laundry habits, making performance under these conditions an expectation rather than a bonus. As a result, product development must…
UK
Laundry and Fabric Care
simple

UK Laundry Detergents, Fabric Conditioners and Fabric Care Market Report 2025

"A growing desire for clothing longevity will define laundry behaviours, and probiotics are set to shape innovation in the fabric care market."

Luke Santos, Household Care Analyst

Luke Santos, Household Care Analyst

UK Laundry Care Products Market – Trends and Insights

  • Short and cold wash cycles have become deeply ingrained in consumer laundry habits, making performance under these conditions an expectation rather than a bonus. As a result, product development must now focus on identifying and meeting additional consumer needs in laundry and fabric care.
  • Powder detergents are seeing a resurgence in popularity among younger consumers, driven by their cost-saving benefits. This interest could expand further if affordability becomes a greater priority for a broader audience.
  • Fragrance remains a significant driver in the fabric care category, offering substantial potential for innovation. Understanding preferred scents and consumer expectations from fragrances is key. Addressing common frustrations with scent performance will not only appeal to a wide audience, but also increase the likelihood of repeat purchases.
  • Emerging no-wash trends, which reduce laundry frequency, may challenge the laundry detergent market. However, they open up opportunities in the fabric freshener category, catering to consumers looking to maintain their clothes between washes.

Key Topics Covered in the Report

  • Mintel’s predictions for value sales growth in the fabric care category
  • Use of laundry and fabric care products
  • Laundry frequency, frustrations and behaviours
  • Scent preferences in the fabric care category
  • New product development trends in the fabric care category
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • The outlook for laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and fabric care
    • Opportunities
    • Aromatherapy benefits hold potential in fabric care
    • Support consumers on their slow fashion journey
    • Revitalise private-label fabric care with detergent powder innovation
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • A decline in financial wellbeing could impact spending
    • Graph 1: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-25
    • Energy prices will impact cycle use, and therefore product expectations
    • With bigger machines come bigger laundry loads
    • Slow fashion trends present opportunities in the category
    • Wellbeing benefits can influence the category
    • Inflation and NPD drive consistent growth in the laundry and fabric care category
    • Specialist products are contributing to growth
    • Market size and forecast for laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and fabric care
    • Graph 2: market size and forecast for laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and fabric care, 2019-30
    • Fabric care growth powered by laundry reduction trends
    • Wonder Wash propels Persil’s market share
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Laundry frequency and product usage
    • Family life drives laundry frequency
    • Graph 3: laundry frequency (daily), by age of children in household, 2025
    • Cater to parents’ laundry behaviours
    • Powdered detergents gain popularity
    • Graph 4: usage of laundry detergent powder, by age, 2025
    • Lean into affordability and eco-friendliness to improve appeal
    • Frustrations faced when washing and caring for clothes
    • Fading frustrations
    • Dylon’s detergents renew clothing fibres
    • Offer convenient solutions to creasing
    • Address scent related pain points
    • Scent note preferences
    • Scent is pivotal in fabric care
    • Take a scientific approach to fragrance innovation
    • Fragrance habits reveal opportunities for hybrid laundry solutions
    • Create excitement with a more-bespoke feel
    • How laundry behaviours are evolving
    • Meet younger generations’ skin sensitivity needs
    • Graph 5: formulation-based laundry behaviours, 2025
    • Explore more niche elements of gentle formulations
    • Consumers are opting for shorter cycles
    • A new spin on laundry cycles
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Multifunctional detergents drive NPD growth
    • Short-wash detergents are evolving
    • smol pushes alternative narrative for shorter cycles
    • Brands are tailoring laundry products to skin sensitivities
    • Graph 6: fabric care launches carrying select skin related claims, 2020-25
    • Probiotics hold potential
    • Innovation opportunities for fabric refreshers
    • Explore the taste for gourmand scents
    • Explore alternative fragrance trends to differentiate
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast – at constant and current prices
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
    • Market segmentation
    • Market share – laundry detergents
    • Market share – fabric conditioners and fabric care
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • UK generation groups
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Abbreviations

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