You can find answers to the most common questions about Tide capsules for washing in the article. We will talk about what they are, what is included in their composition, what types of capsules there are, how to choose and use them correctly.
What are they, photo
Tide capsules are a kind of mini container that contains a high concentration of gel-shaped detergent. Upon contact with water, the shell completely dissolves and the contents flow out.
The product has a dosage required for one wash . Products are manufactured under the Procter&Gamble brand.
The Tide line of detergents is represented not only by capsules. Under this brand you can find washing powders and concentrated gels. They differ not only in the form of release, but also in the method of dosing.
All necessary information is presented on the packaging of the detergent. Powders and gels can be universal (suitable for machine and hand washing) or targeted (only for manual or only for automatic washing). Capsules are used for machine wash only.
Pros and cons of the product
Ariel[/anchor] gel capsules are an innovative product designed for washing in automatic machines.
Gel pads have a number of advantages:
washing efficiency;- absence of whitish stains on things after treatment;
- ease of use;
- possibility of use even at low temperatures;
- since the product is placed directly into the drum, there is no loss of the drug when passing from a separate compartment on the machine;
- safety;
- pleasant aroma of clothes after washing;
- compact storage.
A feature of modern Ariel capsules is the multi-chamber organization of each pad. When washing, their contents are released at a certain stage of processing by dissolving the shell.
The gel that is inside is easily distributed in water, starting to act immediately after release. And it is also easy to rinse, which makes this product stand out compared to powders.
There are also some nuances to using . These include the following points:
- when wet (for example, if you handle the pads with wet hands), the shell dissolves and the contents may spill;
- the original design of the product and the external attractiveness of the pads require that the detergent be kept away from children, who may find it interesting and even like candy;
- Packaging the product in capsules does not make it possible to use less product, since the capsule is indivisible.
The disadvantages include the rather high cost of the product - it is much higher than that of the powder.
Kinds
The following types of Tide capsules can be found on sale:
Tide Pods with Lenor scent .
The package may include 15 or 23 pcs. You can wash them even in cool water, starting from 30 degrees. The product effectively deals with stubborn stains, refreshes things, gives them a pleasant aroma, and helps preserve color.- "Alpine freshness" . On sale you can find packaging with 12, 15, 23 and 30 pieces. They are used for washing white and colored items. The minimum water temperature is 30 degrees.
- For colored laundry Tide Color . The package can contain 12, 15, 23 and 30 pieces. Tide color is suitable for washing colored items. The composition is designed in such a way as to prevent pigment from being washed out of the fabric fibers.
The weight of each unit is 24.8 g. This is enough to wash a full drum of dirty laundry (about 5 kg).
Features of choice
The capsules meet all safety requirements and do not contain phosphates. Tide Pods with Lenor scent and Alpine Fresh capsules can be used to wash any clothes, as they are universal. Their main difference is aroma .
Due to the presence of optical brightener in the composition, light-colored fabrics do not turn gray or yellow.
To care for colored items, there is a specialized product - Tide Color. It is used to preserve the original brightness of the fabric. Thanks to the special composition, the pigment will not be washed out of the fibers.
Despite the differences in names, all capsules do an excellent job of removing stubborn stains.
Tide or Ariel - which is better?
Both brands belong to the world-famous company Procter & Gamble (USA), which produces dozens of detergents and household chemicals. Let's compare two popular products based on key criteria.
Compound
First, let's compare the composition:
- "Ariel." Contains components that are activated even in cool water. Penetrating deep into the fibers, they remove dirt and smooth fabrics without deforming them. The composition contains substances that prevent scale deposits. Ariel Ingredients:
- Surfactant Active substances that cleanse fabrics. % content varies. Excess surfactants are harmful to humans.
- Electrolytes and phosphates. Strengthen the effect of active substances. Phosphates also destroy calcium and make water softer.
- Enzymes. Remove stains of fatty or protein origin.
- Bleaches. Hot water produces oxidizing agents that attack contaminants.
- Aromatic additives. They contain substances that give the powder a pleasant aroma and granules that protect it from fading.
- "Tide." Consists of components that are gentle on tissue. There are also components that prevent scale formation. Tide Ingredients:
- Enzymes. Effectively removes dirt.
- APAV. The content of anionic surfactants is slightly high.
- Zeolites. Sorbents used for cleaning fabrics. Less dangerous than phosphates.
- Fragrances. Gives the powder a pleasant smell.
Conclusion:
- Ariel is an aggressive powder and is not suitable for washing children's clothes, especially newborns. People suffering from allergic diseases should also avoid it.
- Tide does not contain phosphates, so it is less harmful to the body. Instead of phosphates, Tide contains zeolites.
- Ariel is not suitable for wool and silk, but Tide is.
"Ariel" requires special storage conditions - water vapor and the sun can affect its composition.
What do they have in common?
Both powders are in the same price category, belong to the same manufacturer and have much in common:
- Similar compositions. They contain the same components, only the quantity differs. The only difference is phosphates. It is because of their absence that Tide is considered more harmless.
- Both powders are perfectly soluble in water - almost 90%.
- They cope well with any dirt.
- Relatively safe. But it is better not to use Ariel for washing children's clothes.
- Both brands have a gel-like form. For washing delicate items, it is recommended to use gels and capsules.
- Repeated use of both products does not affect the brightness of the colors in any way - the fabrics do not fade or fade.
- The laundry is quite soft after washing, with a pleasant aroma.
- Even with active exposure to contamination, there is no damage to the fibers or destruction of their structure.
- The cost of powders is quite high; they are much more expensive than domestic brands. It is profitable to buy a large package or purchase these detergents on sale.
Which detergent is better - Tide or Ariel?
To answer this question, a test wash is carried out. Test conditions:
- Six white terry kitchen towels were taken.
- There are stains from coffee, tomato, wine and vegetables.
Washing conditions in an automatic washing machine (CMA):
- Cycle duration is 15 minutes. The water is cold.
- A full cycle lasts 1.5 hours. The water is hot - about 95 degrees.
Test results:
- Ariel. After express washing, almost all stains, except wine stains, disappeared. The coffee stains have lightened. After washing in hot water, the towels were completely washed.
- Tide. After the first wash, the result is similar to Ariel. After a full cycle, the towels became snow-white.
Conclusion: both powders have the same cleaning abilities, they coped with the task perfectly.
How to use: instructions for use
Using Tide pods is easy . Unlike powder or gel, a person does not have to calculate the dose of detergent.
How to use them and how much should I put in the machine? The formula is simple: “1 wash = 1 capsule.”
Universal instructions for use:
- Place the capsule in the drum of the washing machine.
- Place dirty laundry sorted by color on top of it.
- Select the appropriate washing mode and start the cycle.
No additional rinsing is required. The detergent rinses out quickly without leaving white residue or stains on things.
The gel, located inside a water-soluble shell, is equally gentle on all types of fabric. Therefore, there is no need to purchase any separate detergents to wash delicate items.
The shell is not opened; it should dissolve on its own upon contact with water . Violation of the integrity of the film is dangerous, since it contains a high concentration of detergents. If they come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes, they can cause a chemical burn.
Surfactants and other active components begin to work at 30 degrees and above. Therefore, Tide can be used for washing delicate fabrics. The gel foams well, copes with complex stains and is easy to rinse.
Tide pods are placed on the bottom of the drum first. Only after this is the laundry loaded into the washing machine.
If you violate the sequence of actions, the capsule will fall under the rubber band surrounding the centrifuge. There it will not be able to completely dissolve, which will negatively affect the quality of the wash.
Criterias of choice
It is not enough to know how to use laundry capsules; it is important to know how to choose them. There are many products on the market from different brands. To purchase the highest quality product, it is recommended to pay attention to some criteria:
- Manufacturer or brand . The best capsules are usually the ones that everyone knows about. Many people choose those companies whose products they have used before, it could be washing powder or gel.
- Smell . Many models have a pronounced aroma. If you don’t like strong-smelling laundry, it’s better to avoid them. For children's clothes, capsules with a hypoallergenic effect are required.
- Compound . There are many different components in one small pad. In some additions in the form of a stain remover, color preservation, etc. The quality of washing directly depends on what is in the composition. For dirty items, it is recommended to take products with stain removers.
- Quantity . In one box there are from 12 to 45, and in some even more. Accordingly, the cost is different. If you want to save money, you can calculate in advance how much each wash will cost, divide the amount by the number of capsules and make a choice.
By focusing on simple factors, you will be able to purchase a suitable product for the whole family.
Laundry capsules are an excellent product that can cope with the most severe stains without harming the fabric. Most of them contain components to improve the properties of water. This not only simplifies the process of cleaning things, but also allows you to take care of the quality of the washing machine.
What is the price, where to buy?
You can buy Tide pods in stores that have a department with household chemicals . This is a fairly popular product, so finding it will not be difficult. You can also order detergent from any online market.
How much do the capsules cost? The cost depends on the specific point of sale, as well as on the number of pieces in the package.
Approximate prices:
- Tide Color, 15 pieces - 350 rubles, 30 pieces - 600 rubles;
- “Alpine freshness” 15 pieces – 350 rubles;
- with Lenor scent 15 pieces - 420 rubles.
The larger the packaging, the higher the price, but if you calculate it per unit of product, you can notice significant savings.
How to use, where to put, how much do you need for one wash?
Ariel capsules are intended for machine washing only. The capsules are the same size and are designed for one wash each. All pads have individual packaging, which is opened only before being placed in the drum.
How to use capsules? The method of using the drug is very simple:
- Remove the capsule from its individual packaging and immediately place it in the drum of the machine.
- Place the items to be washed on top of the pad in the drum.
- Set the processing mode and, if necessary, adjust the settings.
- Start the wash cycle.
One capsule is designed to wash from 4 to 6 kg of clothes. If the machine is large and more than 6 kg of laundry is loaded, then 2 pieces are placed in the drum at once.
If the drum is not fully loaded, 1 pad with gel content is used . If things have already been put in the drum, but you forgot to put the capsule in right away, it’s okay; in extreme cases, you can put it in last.
Silk and wool cannot be washed using capsules; they require specially designed detergents.
Top 3 laundry detergents from other manufacturers
In addition to Tide capsules, similar detergents from other manufacturers are available for sale:
Persil
The products are manufactured by the German company Henkel. This is a highly effective detergent that copes well with complex stains. The formula contains several active components:
- concentrated washing gel,
- bleach,
- stain remover
- enzymes.
On sale you can find products for white and colored items, as well as universal capsules that are suitable for caring for all types of fabrics. For a package of 14 pieces you will need to pay about 370 rubles. The weight of one capsule is 25 g.
Losk
The composition includes 6 active substances, each of which fights different types of pollution . There are capsules for washing colored and white items on sale. Products are manufactured under the Henkel brand. The cost of a package with 21 capsules is 380 rubles.
Ariel
They are produced by the same company as Tide (Procter&Gamble). The range is represented by 4 types of capsules: Color, Touch of Lenor Fresh, Mountain Spring, Shea Butter. There are no fundamental differences in detergents.
All capsules wash equally well; the formula is based on 3 active ingredients, which is why all packages have the inscription “3 in 1” . The cost of a box with 12 capsules is 250 rubles.
Ingredients: secrets of effective washing with capsules
The capsule is only a form. Convenient, beautiful, and performs additional functions such as reducing the loss of laundry detergent to zero, etc. The quality of washing depends not on the shape, but on the formula of the product. The composition of the capsules includes:
- highly concentrated washing gel;
- enzymes - chemicals that “fight” protein-based contaminants;
- surfactants (it is the presence of this component that guarantees the excellent ability of the product to remove dirt from fabric during washing);
- air conditioner;
- fluorescent bleach for colored laundry;
- phosphonates;
- flavoring
The last component is a kind of “trick” of Tide capsules - what sets them apart from their analogues. The smell of freshly washed laundry with Tide capsules may seem too intense, but after just half an hour of drying in the open air, the laundry acquires an unusually delicate, lasting and fresh aroma.
Reviews
You can find many reviews about Tide pods. This indicates that the product is in demand. Most people appreciate the cleaning capabilities of this innovative formula.
Capsules cope well with various types of dirt, leaving things smelling good. Users like the unusual shape of the capsules.
The main disadvantage, according to people, is their high cost . Some are irritated by their pungent odor, which takes a long time to disappear from the laundry. Reviews can be found here and here.
There are housewives for whom the capsule shell does not dissolve completely. It gets under the rubber band of the drum and has to be removed manually. Most often this happens due to a violation of the sequence of actions when the capsule is placed in the drum on top of things. Reviews can be read here.
You will find a lot of important and useful information about laundry capsules in this section.
Best lists
But these are not all the best capsules. We have highlighted several chic products that are in great demand among customers:
- Affordable price – Lavel Power gel capsules.
- Hypoallergenic – Corat Color.
- For colored laundry – Persil Duo-caps.
We will talk about them in more detail below.
Affordable price – Lavel Power gel capsules
If you are buying concentrated capsules for the first time, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, pay attention to Lavel Power gel capsules. Safe composition that does not include phosphates; pleasant aroma without fragrances; Convenient use and gentle stain removal. You get all this for just 250 rubles! There are, of course, some drawbacks - the capsules do not completely dissolve during the washing process, but only if you wash for less than 40 minutes.
Price: from 219 to 250 rub.
laundry capsules Lavel Power gel capsules
Hypoallergenic – Corat Color
Corat Color is not the only hypoallergenic product in the presented rating. But it certainly deserves a mention. After all, the unique formula of the composition will not only carefully remove old stains, making clothes fresh and soft, but will also carefully treat the internal parts of the washing machine. Korat Color does not cause allergies and does not contain chlorine, alcohol and phosphates. Not recommended for use when washing delicate fabrics.
Price: from 300 to 350 rub.
Corat Color washing capsules
For colored laundry – Persil Duo-caps
Bring back the brightness of old items with Persil Duo-caps. One capsule is enough to wash up to 5 kilograms of clothes. The transparent capsule shell dissolves within 1 minute, leaving no traces on clothing. The product is very popular among buyers, because the capsules boast quite economical consumption, a pleasant aroma, low cost and safe composition. The product is easy to find on sale.
Cost: from 312 to 340 rubles.
laundry capsules Persil Duo-caps
Biocapsules with enzymes
The main difference between this type of encapsulated gel is that it contains enzymes that remove protein and fat stains in water at a temperature of 30 to 50 ° C (vegetables, fruits, other foods, grass).
Even after a large number of washes, the fabric will not deteriorate and will not lose its attractive appearance. But biocapsules are not suitable for children's underwear, since the concentrate can cause irritation and allergies.
Important: do not confuse tablets and capsules, as they act differently and consist of different substances.
Cons, according to consumers
All innovative products are criticized in one way or another by customers and competitors. Tide capsules are no exception, which is why it has several serious shortcomings. The main one is the impossibility of dividing the capsule into several parts. Many people start the machine with an incomplete drum, and using a whole “ball” is unprofitable. If you regularly wash a small amount of items, the product will be used up very quickly.
Other shortcomings are also noted.
- High price. Laundry capsules are more expensive than regular powders and gels. But in many ways the costs are justified.
- Strong smell. Many people are confused by the fact that after washing the laundry smells too strongly of the fragrance added to the capsule. But here everything is too individual: you can choose a more neutral scent or not use it when cleaning things close to your face (pillowcases, diapers, towels).
- Danger for children. Externally, capsule balls resemble a bath bomb or a teething toy. All this attracts the child and can cause poisoning. But here everything depends on the parents, since household chemicals must be stored in an inaccessible place.
Tide helium capsules must be stored out of the reach of children.
Among the disadvantages, many include the fact that regularly using capsules is unjustified. Household fabrics do not require such serious and gentle cleaning, so the bulk of the formula is wasted. In this case, it is better to find a compromise: keep both powder and helium balloons at home. Then work clothes and technical rags can be washed with cheap products, while delicate fabrics and lace underwear can be washed with expensive products.
Alternative options
In addition to Ariel, other well-known manufacturers also produce capsules. Among them are such market leaders as:
- Persil;
- Tide;
- Lock.
Persil
Persil gel pads are designed for white and colored laundry. Each block consists of several chambers. Capsules are sold packaged in plastic containers. The process of using them is similar to Ariel.
Tide
Several types of capsules are produced under the Tide TM. The concentrated formula allows you to organize the washing process as efficiently as possible , and with convenience for the consumer.
Lock
Manufacturer of Lock capsules – Hungary. Several chambers of the detergent are combined into one unit. The active components, as in the case of pads from other manufacturers, are released gradually when necessary during washing.
