How many detergents do I really need? Your regular all-in-one detergent will clean your clothes — but specialty detergents keep those clothes in better shape for longer. Do you really need a detergent for every color and fabric in your wardrobe? Some specialty detergents are worth adding to your laundry-room shelf. Here's why:

WOOL/CASHMERE DETERGENT: When it comes to your cashmere, skip the dry cleaner! Hand-washing wool and cashmere delicates maintains the soft feel of your sweaters. Dry-cleaning chemicals, on the other hand, break down the yarn in wool and cashmere and strip the fabric of its natural oils (plus, the process is pricier than hand-washing!). Try The Laundress Wool & Cashmere shampoo — the formula is more like a hair shampoo than a laundry detergent, which means it effectively targets sweat and preserves the yarn.

DELICATES DETERGENT: Enzymes can damage fine silks or wool — so these enzyme-free detergents are safe for your delicates but ineffective at removing stains (if you spill something on your silk blouse, take it to the dry cleaner).

BABY DETERGENT: Scientists have developed enzymes that attack and dissolve protein-based stains (like milk and formula) — you'll find this formulation in newer baby detergents, like Mrs. Meyer's and The Laundress baby detergents.

DARK-WASH DETERGENT: New color-guard enzymes keep white fuzz, or lint (which is created when clothes rub against each other in the washer), from collecting on your clothes and making them look sort of gray. Tip: To keep denim extra dark (and still soft), add fabric softener to the wash and then line-dry.

WHITES DETERGENT: These contain a small amount of chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, or bleach alternative (like optical brighteners that give fabrics a bluish tint so they appear whiter).

HIGH-EFFICIENCY DETERGENT: These detergents are low sudsing for front-loading machines (which use less water), because excess suds can redeposit dirt and oil onto clothes. Plus, suds can build up in your washer and lead to unpleasant odors.

Why not make one superpower do-it-all detergent? "You can't add all of these special enzymes into one detergent. It's like the two-in-one shampoos — when you try to pack too many things in one bottle, the effectiveness suffers," says Pam Helms, vice president of research and development for the Caldrea company (makers of premium laundry detergents).