In this article we will tell you what soap powder is and what its features are, how to make it yourself, which detergents are the most popular and why.
Features of the product
Before the invention of synthetic laundry detergents, soap was used. Over time, soap mixtures made their way into the household chemicals market, but did not leave it completely.
Soap-based powders are environmentally friendly and are preferred by people who care about their health.
One of the main directions of creating soap powders is the production of children's preparations intended for washing the clothes of the smallest children. They are also suitable for people with sensitive skin and allergies. They are also preferred by those who value the environmental friendliness of the products used.
For washing mixtures, choose natural soap, crushed into fine crumbs.
Additionally, a number of components are added to such powders, which serve to maintain the consistency of the product, prevent it from caking, prevent the formation of lime deposits on the elements of the washing machine, etc. Most often the following are added as additional ingredients:
- soda,
- surfactant,
- natural fragrance and other substances.
At the same time, the percentage of soap included is usually quite high.
The difference between soap powders and synthetic ones is in the composition. In soap soaps there is a predominant presence of natural soap based on natural fatty acids, in synthetic soaps there is a predominant presence of surfactants. Exact information on the composition of the product can be found on the packaging.
Composition and properties of laundry soap
In solid lumps, the bulk of the weight is fatty acids, which have detergent properties. GOST 30266–95 provides for three categories of soap containing fatty acids from the permissible norm of 63.5% to 72. There is a small amount of alkali, 0.2%, so laundry soap does not foam well in hard water. Baking soda contains only 1%. The acidity level varies from pH 11 to pH 12.
Allergy sufferers do not react to laundry soap. In folk medicine, it is used as a healing agent to treat people and animals. Accelerates the healing process of wounds, dries out weeping skin lesions. Relieves swelling, helps in the fight against fungal diseases.
Soap speeds up the healing process of wounds and dries out weeping skin lesions.
How to choose?
The indication “soap powder” on the packaging indicates that the product contains soap. Additionally, all ingredients must be listed.
When making a choice, it is necessary to take into account a number of requirements:
Natural soap and soda should be the main components of the product.- It is possible to include natural components - oils, extracts, etc.
- The powder should not spoil the laundry, cause coughing, or wash out the colors.
- A natural product should cope well with most contaminants and provide a slight disinfectant effect.
- The composition must be hypoallergenic. This should be mentioned on the packaging.
- In eco-friendly natural soap-based products, anionic surfactants are not desirable in the composition.
- The product should not foam too much, as this may indicate additional synthetic components.
- There should be no pronounced aroma from the powder itself or from items after washing. A strong strong odor is a sign of the use of synthetic fragrance.
It is important that the packaging is intact, without damage, and contains all the necessary information about the composition and the manufacturer itself.
Personal experience. The result of the experiment.
Oh, how great! I thought and decided to try it myself. And what? It turns out to be a huge saving and natural, which is important. In general, I bought palm laundry soap. Well, because no animal fats are used, which means no animals were killed. It's important for me. Grated it on a fine grater. You can also use regular food soap, because it’s just soap and it washes off perfectly without a trace under hot running water. As you can see, palm oil is quite soft and rubs like cheese)
I grated 3 pieces and left it to dry in a basin for a couple of days. Then, when this “cheese” became brittle, I crushed it into powder and added a pack of regular baking soda. I mixed everything. The powder is ready))
Now about the test object. This is a work shirt, which means dust, dirt and sweat. The dirtiest parts were the sleeves and collars. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take a “before” photo, but here is the “after” result (pictures are clickable):
Everything washed out perfectly! By the way, not all powders have been washed off before. And the shirt itself became cleaner, lighter. Surely the soda tried))
Result:
- I'm pleased with the result. Natural homemade powder washes very well.
- foam in the automatic machine, so there is no need to worry about it.
- There is no smell.
- to the touch and quite soft , considering that it is thick cotton.
- There is no discomfort when wearing, no allergic reactions.
- The cost is ridiculous: 3 bars of soap for 21 rubles + a pack of soda for 22 rubles = 85 rubles. Lasts for many washes.
Rules of application
The main use of soap powder is hand washing. The product is suitable for soaking and processing by hand . In addition to purchased drugs, you can use soap powder that you prepare yourself.
The product is thoroughly diluted in warm water, and then the items are dipped into the soapy solution. The soap composition is also suitable for quickly washing away dirt directly under the tap. If you don’t have soap powder on hand, you can use bar baby or laundry soap for washing.
Despite the fact that soap shavings do not form a lot of foam, the use of such products in the washing machine is limited. It is not acceptable for handmade soap shavings and does not contain additional components.
Violating this rule can lead to unpleasant consequences , ranging from poor rinsing quality to breakdown of the machine itself.
Store-bought preparations with a soap base can only be used for automatic washing when the manufacturer himself allows it. Some types of soap powders, for example, require prior dilution in water.
And others contain additional components that do not allow soap to be deposited on the machine elements that come into contact with the soap solution.
Benefits of Homemade Powders
- Firstly, this is a significant savings in money, since homemade powders are prepared practically from improvised materials. It is hardly possible to do without powder, since it is often required on the household, which is why its reserves are consumed at a high speed. Expensive powders are not affordable for everyone, and cheap ones have established themselves in the eyes of consumers as low-quality products containing phosphate elements - components that increase the ability of the powder to remove stains.
- Also, this is a product made from natural and practically harmless ingredients. Such ingredients can be found in the kitchen of many housewives.
- Ordinary powder, which can be purchased in stores and supermarkets, is often prepared on the basis of aggressive chemicals (in particular, phosphates), which not only remain on clothing, but are also absorbed into our body through the skin, as well as through the respiratory tract. Thus, these components can cause allergies and a number of unpleasant diseases (for example, kidney disease and liver disease). By using natural powders, you take care of the state of the world around you and the health of your family.
- Homemade laundry products are completely eco-friendly. But this is far from their only useful quality. They are ways to soften the structure of the fabric and also remove stains from it.
- You can be sure that your homemade powder is safe. Also, if you smell your clothes after washing with this product, you will realize that it has no odor. This is relevant for those who suffer from allergies or simply do not like the chemical odors of ordinary powders.
Top 5 best
Many manufacturers of household chemicals have entire lines of products based on natural soap . Among the well-established companies there are many domestic ones.
The world of childhood
Soap powder is made from baby soap. It has a composition that is safe for babies and is approved for use in the care of newborn underwear. The product is hypoallergenic and can be used in the washing machine and when washed by hand.
Features of using the product include the following:
- poor solubility in water (this is due to the fact that the chips are quite large);
- difficult to rinse;
- It doesn’t always cope with serious stains (especially stains that are not typical for babies).
Incomplete dissolution of the soap component can lead to the fact that particles of the product will remain not only on things, but also on the parts of the washing machine that come into contact with the soap solution. Dealing with all the nuances of working with this product is much easier when washing by hand, since a person has the ability to control the quality of dissolution and rinsing of soap shavings.
Price - about 50 rubles . Reviews can be found here and here.
BabyLine
Babyline soap powder is designed for safe use from the very birth of the baby. It is suitable for all types of fabrics and shades of materials, does not contain harmful aggressive impurities.
Economical consumption allows you to make purchases less often . In addition to soap, it contains:
- surfactant,
- anti-scale agents,
- oxygen stain remover and other components.
The powder retains its activity over a wide temperature range, starting from +30ºС.
Price: for a large volume of 2,250 kg (50 washes) starts from 1000 rubles . Reviews can be found here, on this and this review site. Read more about BabyLine washing products in this article.
our mother
Soap powder “Our Mother” is suitable for all types of washing, hypoallergenic, and has a composition that is quite acceptable for caring for children’s clothing.
It contains:
- mixture of sodium salts of fatty acids,
- glycerol,
- sodium palmitate.
A small amount of titanium dioxide is present as a bleaching agent.
But the powder also has one unpleasant feature. This dry product requires preliminary dilution in hot water before using it.
At the same time, it is important that the “Our Mama” powder is properly dissolved, since otherwise it can not only remain on things, but can even clog the washing machine.
Price – from 130 rubles . You will find reviews here and here.
Umka
Umka soap powder is a product of a domestic manufacturer. It contains about 10% natural soap; it also contains non-ionic surfactants, fragrance and other additives. Like many other drugs, Umka may not completely dissolve and may not cope with old stains.
Price: up to 90 rub . Read reviews here, here and here. Read more about Umka detergents in this article.
Chistown Children's
Soap powder TM Chistown is a completely natural laundry detergent. It also contains soda - for high-quality removal of contaminants, and citric acid in a small amount. This addition prevents the accumulation of deposits in the washing machine.
Soap powders can be used to treat allergy sufferers and children, including newborns. These products combine health safety with high washing efficiency and are practically odorless.
Price – about 150 rubles. for 0.6 kg . You will find reviews here, on this and this review site.
Using laundry soap to wash dishes
Many folk recipes for combating stains in kitchen utensils include laundry soap. It is pre-crushed and dissolved in boiling water. Is it possible to wash dishes with laundry soap? The expert's opinion is unequivocal - yes! Soap removes grease in cold water. And if you add soda to it, it softens the water and the effect is enhanced. Soap is quickly washed off, so the dishes are first washed in a basin and then rinsed under running water. If you first remove excess dirt from the dishes with napkins, washing will be simplified. Water consumption will be lower than that of an automatic dishwasher.
Laundry soap is pre-crushed and dissolved in boiling water.
By the way, the attitude of older people towards laundry soap has not changed. Many people wash their body and head with it, not recognizing synthetic PVA.
Self-production
You can make your own soap powder. If the product is intended only for hand washing, then the simplest option is suitable - rubbing bar soap (or baby soap) on a grater.
It is advisable to store the resulting shavings in a dry place to avoid sticking. But this option is not suitable for automatic machine processing. Soap, especially when combined with highly hard water, can form significant deposits on machine parts.
For machine washing you can prepare the following composition:
- Grate 100 grams of soap.
- Pour 1 cup of hot water into a container with soap.
- Put on fire and, stirring, bring the solution to a homogeneous state.
- Pour 200 grams of soda ash into another container and pour in ½ cup of water.
- Dilute.
- Combine both solutions.
- Mix.
- Cool.
- Can be poured into a container convenient for use and storage.
To prevent equipment breakdowns, it is necessary to regularly use cleaning with citric acid or another similar product. If you wash frequently with soap - once a week.
What does laundry soap consist of?
The composition of raw materials used in production is regulated by the standard. These are fats of plant and animal origin that meet technical specifications and standards. Petroleum products permitted by GOST, rosin.
Soap falls into the category of strategically important industrial products. The soap making process is controlled by supervisory authorities.
The composition of raw materials used in production is regulated by the standard.
Recommendations
To ensure that the use of soap powder does not cause disappointment, it is advisable to take into account the following expert advice:
Soap powder is not a panacea; it may not cope with complex old stains.- Poorly rinsed soap can leave stains on things and lead to irritation of the skin and respiratory tract.
- For making soap shavings yourself, laundry soap or baby soap is better - they have a natural composition and do not contain fragrance.
- Soap powder has an expiration date that must be checked before purchasing.
Find all the most useful and interesting things about washing powder in this section of the site.
How to wash children's clothes
Many substances are not washed out of the fabric fibers, and the child can inhale molecules of these chemical compounds.
Many common diseases of our day - allergies, immune disorders - are a consequence of contact with the chemical components of washing powders. Therefore, it is especially important to use safe types of detergents when washing children's clothes.
To wash children's clothes, especially clothes for newborns, you need to choose the safest products. The skin of babies is delicate, its protective barrier has not yet formed. Aggressive substances from conventional washing powders cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.
How to usually wash children's clothes and linen:
- baby soap;
- laundry soap;
- washing powder for children;
- soap powder.
