Every year, manufacturers release new and improved laundry detergents. Not long ago, capsule gel appeared on the market, and many housewives began to wonder what is better for washing - powder or capsules. Undoubtedly, both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Make the right choice based on your needs: frequency of washing, degree of soiling of things, availability of a washing machine, etc. To help you decide which is better powder or gel for washing, we conducted a comparative analysis of powder and capsules.
Washing powder
Among the huge number of detergents, the most common is washing powder. Our mothers and grandmothers used it. That is why more than 90% of Russians choose it. Today, the composition of powders is supplemented with fragrance, antisorbents, water softeners, bleaches, enzymes, agents that prevent scale formation, and alkaline additives.
Its indisputable advantages are:
- high efficiency in removing complex and old stains;
- effectiveness when working at high temperatures (90 degrees), which is important when getting rid of dust mites;
- democratic price.
Flaws:
- Contains phosphates that eliminate water hardness. On the one hand, they increase efficiency, on the other hand, they cause irreparable damage to the environment.
Reference! Since 1983, the use of phosphates in the production of powdered products has been prohibited in most European countries. Phosphate-free powders have appeared on the market, which are not inferior in quality to phosphate ones.
- When dispensing powder, small particles enter the respiratory tract. This is harmful to health.
- Solid fractions take a long time to dissolve during washing. They often get stuck in the folds of clothing. A cycle of additional rinses is required to get rid of undissolved particles. This leads to additional waste of water and electricity.
Important! If the laundry is not rinsed well, white streaks will appear on it, and the released chemicals will affect the skin. Long-term exposure will lead to allergies and weakened immunity.
- Powders in soft pouches are difficult to seal tightly once opened. There is a chemical smell in the apartment.
- It is more economical to buy packages weighing from 4 to 12 kg, but they take up a lot of space in bathrooms.
- Cardboard containers quickly absorb moisture, lumps form in the powder and it is difficult to dose it correctly.
Which product is better to choose?
The question of which is better - washing powder or liquid detergent can safely be called rhetorical. It is impossible to give an exact answer to this. Different situations, different lifestyles - all this determines the choice. It is individual for everyone.
If the laundry requires hand washing only, then you should give preference to powders, since gels will not be effective enough. They are adapted to work in a centrifuge, only then their active substances begin to work more actively, completely penetrating deep into things.
Difficult stains, such as wine, coffee, chocolate, and blood stains can only be removed using a dry detergent. It is much more active than liquid and has a more aggressive effect on pollution. It can also be used to wash white items, since almost all of them contain bleaching particles. And thanks to special oxygen components that effectively remove grains of the substance from white fabric, there is no risk of getting unpleasant stains on your favorite white blouse or expensive bed linen.
Important! For people suffering from various allergic reactions, you should choose a powder that contains a minimum of active substances (this is indicated on the packaging) or an option for washing children's clothes. Aggressive surfactants in them are replaced by components of plant origin.
The best option would be to have both types of laundry detergents in stock. Obviously, they are used in different situations. For more complex washing, you should use powder; for washing delicate, thin items, underwear, items made of wool, cashmere, and black fabrics, a special gel is better suited.
Price range varies. If you compare gel and powder of the same brand, the first will cost a little more, but it is consumed more economically. Depending on your financial capabilities, you should opt for more expensive products from well-known brands. They, as a rule, do not skimp on the quality of the product, so as not to lose their multimillion-dollar army of customers, which has been gathering for decades. I would like to note that the brand really stands for quality.
Interesting! Russians who are consumers of this category of goods prefer powdered products. They are preferred by 95% of respondents. In the USA, the situation is diametrically opposite - 75% of buyers choose liquid laundry detergents. Maybe Russians are not used to it yet?
Liquid washing gels
Gels have become commonplace. Replace powder and classic laundry soap. Liquid products with a narrow focus (for delicate fabrics, wool, cashmere, dark-colored clothing, children's and sportswear) are popular among Russian consumers, but universal ones are used less often. In European countries, half of housewives prefer gel-like universal products.
The best qualities of gels are:
- convenient packaging that is easy to store even in a small bathroom;
- safety for the respiratory tract when opening the packaging and dosage of the gel;
- the product does not change consistency during storage;
- does not deform things, acting delicately on the fabric;
- no white spots on clothes after washing;
- the cap closing the container serves as a dispenser, which allows you to save product;
- does not contain phosphates.
A number of significant disadvantages prevent gels from completely replacing dry powder:
- high temperatures lead to destruction of the structure of the product, which reduces the cleaning ability of gels;
- soapy liquids do not cope well with difficult stains (oily stains) and are completely ineffective when working with old stains.
Customer Reviews
The opinions of people posted on the forums were divided. Some people prefer to use one option, others prefer another, while others always have both powder and gel in stock. An example would be the following reviews:
Alena, 32 years old: “I completely switched to gels not too long ago, during pregnancy. Before this I used regular powder, but an allergic reaction began to appear. I decided to try it. I was satisfied; after washing with gel, the laundry becomes pleasant to the body and more comfortable. Does not cause any allergies"
Oksana, 29 years old: “My husband works as a driver at a woodworking plant. Spends time not only driving, but also repairing the car. Therefore, only washing powder helps. Nothing else can deal with stains like these."
Maria, 31 years old: “I try to buy both. In order to wash hard fabrics with heavy stains, as well as for washing bed linen, I use the powder. It turns out more profitable. I wash delicate items with gel, liquid or capsules.”
Capsules
The new product that appeared on the shelves immediately attracted attention. Bright, pleasant-to-touch capsules are packaged in convenient boxes. You can purchase packs of 12 to try. The innovation costs much more than its dry and gel-like colleagues. However, discounts are often offered on products, which makes it possible for customers of any income to try them out.
The capsule is a bag filled with washing gel, which dissolves in water at a temperature of 30 degrees and the contents end up in the drum of the machine. It also contains fragrance, stain removers, conditioner, bleaches, and chemical compounds that improve the quality of washing. The pads are available for white and colored laundry. In terms of its effect on contaminants, the capsule is 2-2.5 times stronger than powder.
Benefits of gel pads:
- convenient dosage (1 capsule = 1 wash);
- does not require pre-soaking;
- compactness;
- buying one product instead of several (when buying a dry product, you need to spend money on purchasing conditioner);
- the ability to wash products made from any type of fabric;
- high-quality washing at low temperatures;
- fast and high-quality rinsing.
Main disadvantages:
- cannot be used for hand washing;
- do not divide into parts, therefore, if you frequently wash small amounts of laundry, using the tablet form will significantly impact your budget;
- after use, laundry acquires a strong smell, which many people do not like;
- Bright pillows attract children's attention. A child may bite through or crush the capsule, which can lead to serious health problems;
- high price for the product.
Tips for use
If the housewife is wondering how to wash with liquid powder, then special attention should be paid to the information provided by the manufacturer on the packaging. The dosage depends on how hard the water is and how dirty the clothes are. On average, one wash should take from 70 to 150 ml of the composition, but in practice less product is spent - 2 tablespoons of concentrate.
If the item is heavily soiled, it is best to pre-soak it and treat the problem area. The indicated dosage is relevant if the water consumption does not exceed 50 liters, and the “automatic” model is designed for 5 kg of laundry. If the machine has more capacity and consumption, then about 4 tablespoons of gel should be added.
You can use liquid laundry detergent without adding special softening conditioners. Gel compositions give amazing softness to linen and a light aroma.
Gel powder can also be used for manual washing without wasting time waiting for it to dissolve. Such preparations dissolve perfectly in both cold and warm water.
What is more profitable and better for effective washing?
Having familiarized ourselves with the advantages and disadvantages of laundry detergents existing today, we can conclude that a universal tool has not yet been created. Gels and capsules are not a marketing ploy, but the desire of manufacturers to make the work of housewives easier and protect the natural environment from pollution. The best way is a combination.
The detergent should also be selected for a specific task. Dry mixtures are needed for everyday items and for washing in small volumes. Gels work well with delicate fabrics. Soft capsules remove stubborn stains.
Reference! When choosing a product, pay attention to allergy sufferers in your family. The use of powder in this case is unacceptable.
Ecopowders
Against the backdrop of new trends and love for everything natural, the household chemicals industry is being rebuilt and offering new options for those who prefer to choose everything with the prefix “eco”. So, today on store shelves there are also special eco-powders, positioned as natural, based on extracts from plants. Such options are usually chosen by people with sensitive skin and allergies. However, it is worth understanding that dermatologists often note that herbal ingredients in cosmetics or household chemicals are not always a panacea, as they can cause even worse allergies.
Before choosing a natural powder, you must carefully study the label. Such a product is often based on soap (most often we are talking about soap shavings that do not contain fragrances and dyes), and there may also be other components that will not irritate the skin. If such a product contains surfactants, they will be herbal. To enhance the cleaning effect, soda is added to such powders. Typically, these options are biodegradable, which causes less harm to the environment. But there is also a nuance - their cost will be higher than that of a conventional product.
In addition, no one has canceled the standard rules that will help reduce the negative effect of any product from the arsenal of household chemicals - protection of the respiratory tract, hands and more thorough rinsing. And, of course, it is extremely important to check expiration dates - natural products have a shorter shelf life.
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The best powders and gels
When purchasing detergent, it is better to give preference to well-known brands.
- Frosh . The composition consists of natural substances that are safe for humans and the environment.
- Persil . Removes stains without pre-soaking.
- Gel Ariel. Adds softness and aroma to washed clothes.
- Tide. Suitable for washing all fabrics using any modes
- SARMA Active. An inexpensive product that removes difficult stains.
- Faberlic . Premium phosphate-free powder for hand and machine wash, hypoallergenic, biodegradable. Copes well with difficult stains.
- Eared nanny . Hypoallergenic series for washing baby clothes from the first days of life.
- Vizir washing gel . Makes laundry soft and has an antistatic effect. Works great on blood, coffee and wine stains
The modern market of synthetic detergents will satisfy the wishes of the most demanding customer, facilitate the washing process, and save personal time and money. The main thing is to approach the choice carefully and wisely.
Household appliances Washing machine
Soap
One option that many people prefer is soap or soap flakes. Cheap and cheerful. And it will be safer for your health. True, the soap should be without any complicating components, such as fragrances or fragrances. Usually, different types of household products are used for washing. You can buy ready-made shavings, or you can just take a piece and grate yourself to make shavings yourself. Laundry soap contains organic fatty acids of animal origin. Only the concentration of fat content changes - it can be either 40% or 80%. The higher the number, the less the product foams, which means that soap with a high concentration of fats can be used in the machine. However, it is worth understanding that after several washes a greasy coating may form in it.
The advantages of this option include the absence of allergies to it, which means that it can be used to wash even children’s clothes, a high degree of stain removal while maintaining the integrity of the fabric and, of course, high cost savings.
Among the disadvantages of such a product are the ban on washing woolen items and silk, the appearance of sediment when washing in cold water and some preparation for the washing process (meaning manual rubbing on shavings).
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