Walk into any supermarket and you will see a wide variety of detergents. With so many detergent products to choose from, it’s no wonder there is so much confusion about what works and what does not work.
All packaging is made distinctive to create the best impression on the consumer.
Detergents are made with many and unique ingredients. All detergents promise to turn your dirty laundry into complete a newness.
Therefore, choosing the right detergent means knowing what is best for your clothes. This calls for personal preference.
The advertising industry is on the roll when it comes to advertising detergent. There is stiff competition and the detergent companies are always out to outdo each other.
There is a common belief among many people that the difference in the detergents is only in the branding. Sometimes our personal choices have nothing to do with performance. In reality, there is more to consider when purchasing a detergent than the brand.
So how do you identify which detergent is best for you? The right laundry detergent should accomplish the following, whether liquid or powder:
- It should be tough on dirt and stains. It should leave the clothes sparkling clean.
- The detergent should leave your laundry smelling great – a long-lasting scent of freshness
- The clothes should look brighter
- The detergent should not fade or alter the color of your clothes
- Buying the detergent should not leave you broke
- It should be environment-friendly
- And one more thing – it should not cause any bodily itchiness or rash.
Powder Detergent
Powder detergents are less popular compared to liquid soap. In some countries, powder detergents are almost becoming extinct!
With the advent of the portable washing machine and dryer and a rise in standards of living, most people are turning to liquid detergent for their washers. However, powder detergents are still common and used in many homes. They have their advantages:
Pros:
- Powder detergent is less expensive compared to the liquid detergent. The manufacturers use an inexpensive ingredient which nevertheless, is effective on dirt.
- It is known to have a longer shelf life. This means you can buy in bulk.
- It is most effective on stubborn stains and very soiled clothes.
- Powder detergent is good for everyday washing.
- Their cardboard boxes are environmentally friendly.
Cons
- Powdered detergent does not easily dissolve in water. Especially cold water. The best remedy for this is to use warm water and add it to the wash first.
- Using too much and not thoroughly rinsing the clothes will leave soap residue on your clothes.
Liquid Detergent
Liquid detergents continue to be the most popular detergents and most brands are highly rated. Liquid detergent is a commonly used detergent. It is top-rated when it comes to washing machines.
Pros:
- Liquid detergent is good for oily and greasy stains.
- It is easy to pour out since it is fluid. Follow the instructions on the portable washing machine since the uses for each type of machine can vary slightly. For most machines, it is best to pour the detergent into the water, let it dissolve and then add in the laundry. Do don’t pour the liquid into the clothes inside the machine. It might cause bleach marks on the fabric.
- It easily dissolves in water even when the machine is in a cold temperature setting. You will save energy and money by reducing the amount of hot water you use to do laundry. You can use it in cold or hot water. It dissolves easily even in hard water.
- Liquid detergent is great for spot-treating stains directly. When you want to pre-treat a stain, liquid soap is the best. Just pour a little on the stain, leave it for a while, then rinse.
Cons:
- When measuring the laundry soap for use, many people tend to over fill the detergent cup. This is because over time, consumer get tired of checking for the measuring fill lines in the detergent cup. It becomes easy to just fill the cup and pour it into the portable washing machine. This leads to a lot of wastage and detergent costs money.
- The use of too much detergent produces numerous suds. This will make the machine to repeat rinse cycles. You will end up using a lot of water and waste energy. Also, excessive detergent is not good for clothes. It might fade the fabric over time.
- Plastic laundry detergent bottles are mostly not eco-friendly.
Laundry Pods
Laundry pods are the fastest growing sector in the laundry detergent industry.
Pros:
- These are the easiest to use. You avoid the messy measuring of liquid cups or scooping powdered detergents. You simply toss one pod packet into the water and start your washing. It saves you time and effort.
- You will never go wrong with the right amount of detergent when you use a pre-packaged pod. They come in a pre-measured packet. This tends to produce consistent results.
- Pods are convenient to use in high-efficiency washing machines.
- They are stain removers and color brighteners.
Cons:
- The pods are usually brightly colored and kids might confuse them for candy and consume the pods. This is a great risk that you can eliminate by keeping the detergent far from children’s reach. Or by keeping them locked up.
- Laundry pods tend to be more costly than liquid or powder detergents.
- Sometimes Laundry pods may not open and release their detergent.
Final Thoughts
Proper and careful use of laundry detergent will result in cleaner and brighter clothes. It will also safeguard your portable washing machine.
It is also important to know how much detergent you intend to use. Use the right amount of detergent – a little detergent goes a long way.
Detergents tend to be very concentrated. Therefore do your due diligence before pouring out the detergent. Check the recommended amounts on the packaging and follow the instructions.
Consider the following:
- The size of your load.
- How dirty your laundry is.
- The hardness of your water
- Detergents come with various scents. Pick your preference.
That said, find a detergent that contains the right balance of ingredients. Follow the instructions on the packing of the detergent and your portable washing machine.
Remember to also read the how-to-wash-label on your clothes.
In the end, choosing the right detergent will not be the hardest thing to do. With an informed choice, you will always end up with crisp clean clothes that always smell amazing.