How to use laundry capsules - detailed instructions for use

Long gone are the days when washing powder, replacing the usual soap, was something incredible. Modern manufacturers of laundry detergents today can offer much more effective and interesting offers. Thus, Tide laundry capsules are still gaining popularity, but are already used by hundreds of thousands of housewives around the world. These “tablets” are much more convenient to use and also more profitable. Let’s figure out what options the market can offer and what their features are.

Principle of action, composition, method of application

Laundry capsules are detergent sealed in a water-soluble mini container. Depending on the purpose of such a pad and the manufacturer, the composition of different tablets may vary slightly.

Most often, capsule soap consists of the following ingredients:

laundry detergent (concentrated gel);
stain removers;
bleaches;
surfactants;
fragrances that give a fresh aroma;
enzymes that eat away dirt;
water softening phosphonates;
air conditioner.

The chemicals begin to work when the polymer shell completely dissolves.

The box usually indicates: 2-in-1 or 3-in-1. The two-component capsules contain detergent and stain remover. The third component is conditioner.

Using gel tablets is easy. To do this you need:

Carefully read the instructions for use on the packaging. It should indicate: what items the product is suitable for, dosage (usually 1 tablet per 4 - 5 kg of laundry), recommended washing mode, temperature, precautions.
Remove the capsule from the packaging and place it in the drum of the washing machine (closer to the far wall).
Load prepared, sorted items.
Select the desired mode.
Start the wash.

What are they made of?

A washing capsule is a kind of container that contains washing gel. The capsule shell completely dissolves during washing, and its insides flow out. Tide capsules, like all others, have a fairly similar composition:

Gel for the main wash of strong concentration;
Powder or gel stain remover;
Surfactant additive;
Enzymes;
Flavor;
Air conditioner;
Optical brightener;
Phosphonates.

Directions for use and precautions

When using a capsule product, the following recommendations must be followed:

Set the temperature to at least 30 degrees: only warm water helps dissolve the film.
Place the product in the drum. In the washing compartment, the pad shell will remain intact, the gel will not have access to dirty clothes.
Do not try to burst the capsule yourself.
Do not combine the use of the gel tablet with powders, soaps, stain removers and other household chemicals.
For complex stains or a large mass of items (more than 5 kg), you can use 2 capsules at once.
Do not handle the pad with wet hands to avoid destruction of the shell.
Do not soak laundry using the capsule.
Store gel tablets in a cool, dry place with the packaging tightly closed.

Is it possible to wash in a basin?

The product is machine washable only. Aggressive ingredients can cause allergic reactions and irritation upon contact with the skin and respiratory tract. Hand washing using encapsulated products is strictly prohibited.

If you need to remove stubborn dirt, then it is permissible to soak the item in a basin, in a powder solution with a stain remover, then rinse, load it into the machine, and wash using a capsule.

How to remove traces of detergent

The film does not completely dissolve in 2 cases:

if there is not enough laundry loaded into the machine;
if the temperature was lower than recommended in the instructions.

The way out of the situation is to rinse things in warm water manually or run the rinse mode in the washing machine. The remaining stain can be removed with alcohol. The product is applied, left for 15 minutes, then washed off with warm water. The treatment with alcohol may have to be repeated 2-3 times until the contamination disappears.

Sidebar: Differences between capsules and laundry tablets

Powder tablets are compressed washing powder. Unlike gel capsules, one tablet can be divided into 2 halves if there is not a lot of laundry. In the machine, the product is loaded into a drum or powder compartment. Some tablets are allowed to be used when washing by hand.

Simple rules of use

To achieve the desired result after washing, you must follow all the manufacturer's recommendations. Instructions for using capsules are included on the packaging. There are a few things to keep in mind when using such detergents:

The product is placed directly into the drum before loading laundry. The shell will immediately dissolve as soon as water enters the container.
Only one capsule is required per wash cycle.
The shell must not be pierced, torn, or opened. All these manipulations will ruin the product.
When using capsules, it is not recommended to completely load the drum. There should be a distance of at least 10 centimeters between the clothes and the top wall. Otherwise, the detergent will not be able to distribute evenly throughout the container. The result is poor quality washing.
Take the capsule only with dry hands.

Types of laundry capsules

Manufacturers produce different types of gel pads:

Universal . They are suitable for any fabrics of all shades.
For white and light-colored laundry. The gel tablet contains bleach, which allows you to thoroughly wash bed linen and light-colored clothes. The product is suitable only for natural fabrics; they are prohibited from washing items made from synthetic, wool, or silk fabrics.
For colored clothes. The ingredients work even at low temperatures and gently remove stains. The item retains its brightness and does not fade.
For underwear and delicate fabrics. The product is suitable for cotton and linen products, and takes good care of items made of silk and suede.
For children's things . Hypoallergenic tablets contain no harmful or aggressive substances, fragrances or fragrances.
Biocapsules with enzymes. They perform well when removing complex stains (wine, juices, fruits, vegetables, blood, grass, paints, felt-tip pens, etc.)

Review of manufacturers

Housewives have a choice; capsules from several global brands are on sale. They differ in design, aroma, and composition.

Ariel Active Gel

The products of this company are popular among Russian housewives. You can purchase gel tablets for colored and white laundry. The gel has stain remover properties, which greatly increases the efficiency of washing.

Persil Duo-Caps

The product preserves the color of linen, restores cleanliness, and is suitable for products made from any fabric. The capsules are filled with gel and stain remover; there is no fabric softener. To remove stubborn stains, it is recommended to place 2 capsules in the drum.

Tide Alpine freshness

Tide capsules are used to wash white and colored laundry. They do not leave streaks and retain color. Washed items have a strong smell, so they should not be dried in an unventilated area. To remove the strong aroma, run an additional rinse mode.

Losk Duo-Caps Color

After washing, things are soft, fresh, smell nice, but not all stains come off. The washing concentrate contains enzymes and a stain remover, suitable for washing white and colored laundry made from natural fabrics and synthetics.

Domol Gel Caps Universal

The capsules are packaged in a bag, which is not very convenient. They wash all types of dirt well and refresh the color of the fabric.

Perlux baby

The hypoallergenic detergent washes children's clothes delicately and does not leave a strong odor.

"Gloss"

The inexpensive product copes well with simple stains and removes old stains satisfactorily.

Benefits of capsules

Unlike washing powder, capsules have the following advantages:

Easy to use.
Pre-measured precise dosage, more economical consumption.
Multifunctionality. The capsule is designed to remove dirt, whiten, and remove stains. Contains air conditioning.
Effective fight against stubborn dirt. There is no need to pre-soak the laundry.
The product is universal: suitable for washing both natural and synthetic products of different shades.
Preservation of the original color and structure of the fabric even with frequent washing.
The gel tablet is completely dissolved in water, washed out of the fibers, and does not stick to the walls and elements of the washing machine.
Compact, easy to store. The plastic container with capsules closes tightly, preventing moisture, and does not take up much space.
No contact with skin or respiratory tract, thanks to the hermetically sealed shell. The risk of burns and allergies is minimal.

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.

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.

Disadvantages of capsules

The main disadvantages of gel tablets:

They cannot be divided into parts. When you need to wash one or two items, the capsule is not suitable.
Prohibition on hand washing.
Higher cost than other chemicals.
After washing, things can retain a persistent, pungent odor for a long time.
With a short machine program and low temperature, the shell may not dissolve completely, and soap marks and stains may remain on the clothing.
The bright packaging is attractive to children, and the capsules look like candy. Therefore, you have to keep the box with pillows in a safe place, inaccessible to children.

When comparing washing powders, gels, tablets and capsules, many housewives put capsules in first place. Gel pads have a number of advantages over other household chemicals. They cope better with dirt, are versatile, economical, compact and easy to use.

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.

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.

Allergies - what to do?

The development of an allergy to Tide cannot be ruled out. It can occur at any age and at any time. The most commonly recorded skin reactions are:

Instructions for use of liquid washing powder

itching,
redness,
rash,
hives.

Possible involvement of the respiratory system in the pathological process (cough, runny nose, bronchial spasm).

Allergies are a reason to avoid detergent. Contact is completely excluded. Linen washed with Tide is re-treated using a different powder.

To quickly eliminate negative symptoms, take anti-allergy drugs (Zodak, Zyrtec, Loratadine) and enterosorbents (Enterosgel, Polysorb, Polyphepan).

Features of choice

When choosing Tide detergent, you need to take into account the type of fabric, the nature of the dirt and the washing method.

Optimal washing quality can only be achieved if the correct detergent has been selected.

Basic recommendations:

Machine washable. You can use any detergent labeled “automat”.
Handwash. Detergents with the appropriate mark are suitable for washing, for example, Tide “Alpine Freshness” Hand wash.
Washing white clothes. Preference should be given to those products that contain whitening components, for example, Tide gel with Lenor “Scandinavian Spring” scent.
Washing colored or dark items. You need to choose detergents marked Color. They do not contain bleach, but contain substances that protect the original color of the fabric.
Washing children's clothes. Choose Tide children's washing powder. This product is hypoallergenic and contains no phosphates or dyes. The powder granules are easy to rinse out. The detergent has a neutral aroma.
Washing delicate fabrics. If careful care of things is required, it is better to use capsules or gel. Their enhanced formula allows you to remove contaminants in cool water. Detergent particles do not linger in the fabric fibers, so you can avoid additional rinsing.
Washing bed linen. To make it soft and pleasantly scented, you can use powder, gel or capsules with conditioner, such as Tide Pods with Lenor scent.

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.

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.