Which is better: capsules or washing gel?

Initially, owners of automatic washing machines used traditional laundry detergent and had no trouble. However, over time, specialized laundry gels became available, which penetrate fabrics better, dissolve faster, and are more economical. These days, even liquid detergents are commonplace, as convenient capsules have replaced gels. And while powders are inferior in many ways to newer household cleaning products, choosing just one can be challenging. Let's figure out which is better: gel or capsules.

Gel-like product

Washing gel is a special solution with a high content of surface-active particles. The main difference between gel-based products and powders is that gels are more gentle on tissues. Because of this, liquid detergent can be used for daily washing without worrying about the safety of your clothes.

The gel is suitable for washing at temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius, which is the same as most automatic washing machine cycles. The liquid detergent easily cleans synthetics, wool, delicates, and outerwear. The powder, on the other hand, can be used at temperatures up to 90 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for washing cotton and linen items.

It's also worth noting that the gel contains significantly fewer anionic surfactants, but more cationic and nonionic surfactants. Experts recommend using the liquid detergent for everyday clothing, as it will effectively refresh the garments without exposing them to additional risks from frequent machine washing.

However, gel-based detergents are not suitable for hand washing, as they lack the mechanical activation needed to provide the necessary cleaning effect. In this case, only surfactants and enzymes will be able to clean dirty items, which may not be sufficient.

Encapsulated products

Capsules are even simpler, as they're essentially the same gel, only contained in a special water-soluble shell. You can find encapsulated products at any store, where they're sold in various packages, which, depending on how often you use your "home helper," can last for several months. Besides their distinctive, strong odor, there are the following drawbacks:

• they cannot be used not only for hand washing, but also for soaking things;
• they are more expensive than powder and gel, so it is more profitable to buy other household chemicals;
• the shell may not dissolve at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius;

These are the main disadvantages of encapsulated products that housewives most often point out. The advantages include the following:

• The capsules are very convenient to use, as they do not need to be measured or divided for work cycles – one piece is always enough for one wash;
• the capsule should be placed directly in the drum of the washing machine, where it begins working immediately after the start of the cycle;
• the complex composition of the detergent is able to cope with even the most difficult stains;
• The capsules are easy to store, they do not leak, do not crumble, and do not harden due to high humidity in the room.

Washing machine users often opt for gel detergents because of the high cost of capsules, which can lead to some inconvenience but significant savings. However, in some situations, capsule detergents cannot be replaced, as they contain non-mixable components housed in separate compartments. Mixing occurs in the water, creating a concentrated detergent capable of handling the toughest stains.

If you rarely use high-temperature washing cycles to remove stubborn stains, consider purchasing small capsule packages to avoid wasting money and risking expired household chemicals.

Ultimately, experts recommend keeping several types of household chemicals at home, as there's no definitive answer as to which is better: gel or capsule laundry detergent, as both are needed in different situations. The first will help refresh items in a quick wash cycle, the second will remove ingrained dirt and old stains.

High-quality laundry detergents

We've figured out that it's best to keep two types of detergents at home; all that's left is to choose the right gel and capsules. Let's start with the best gels, which can be found on Yandex.Market.

• The Laska COLOR Restoration Laundry Gel for Colored Clothes in a 4-liter bottle has a top rating of 4.9 stars based on 9,198 user reviews and is currently on sale for $8.89. This popular product lasts for up to 66 washes, effectively removing stains from colored clothing, restoring color vibrancy, preserving fiber strength, and leaving no streaks. Special color-protecting ingredients help maintain colorfastness, and with regular use, it also makes fabrics smoother and prevents pilling. The gel can be used at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius and is also suitable for hand washing. The product has a shelf life of 3 years, so you can buy it in larger bottles without worrying about its safety.
• In second place is Synergetic Universal Laundry Gel in a 5-liter bottle, which has received a 4.8 rating from 9,862 customers and currently sells for $9.12. The manufacturer claims this eco-friendly gel lasts for 165 washes, making it one of the best value options on the market. It has a two-year shelf life, works at temperatures from 20 to 60 degrees Celsius, and is also suitable for hand washing. It can be used for washing children's clothes, dark and colored items, denim, wool, silk, and other delicate fabrics. The gel rinses 100% of the fabric, removes a wide variety of stains, and leaves a delicate floral scent on clothes.
• Rounding out the top is Losk Color Laundry Gel in a 2.6-liter bottle, rated 4.8 stars, based on only 2,757 Yandex.Market users, where the product currently retails for $6.29. The product lasts for 40 washes, has a three-year shelf life, and is ideal for both hand and machine washing. Thanks to its Total 3+1 formula, the gel effectively removes almost all types of stains while gently caring for fabrics. It can be used on cotton, denim, synthetics, colored fabrics, and underwear.

The most cost-effective way to buy household chemicals is in large packages, and keep an eye out for special offers, which are often offered during major Russian holidays – this way you can stock up on supplies for several years in advance.

All three products have excellent reviews from both customers and experts, so you can choose any of the three. Finding good capsules at a reasonable price shouldn't be a problem either, as new washing machine products are released almost every day, becoming increasingly reliable and efficient. Now let's take a look at capsules that are good value for money.

• Ariel's All-in-1 Mountain Spring Pods, a 45-piece pack, topped the list with a high rating of 4.9 stars based on 2,680 customer reviews and retails for $11.79. These pods effectively remove any stains, refresh and protect fabrics, and brighten them, all while maintaining a high level of performance even at temperatures as low as 20 degrees Celsius. They are phosphate- and chlorine-bleach-free, and Ariel's state-of-the-art Purezyme technology removes even invisible stains. The manufacturer also includes a child-safety feature to prevent children from playing with or accidentally eating the pods. The pods have a shelf life of 1.5 years, providing 45 cycles of use.
• Persil Power Caps Color 4-in-1 capsules in a 42-count container have a 4.8 rating from 4,077 users and are currently available for $8.49. These capsules effectively remove any stains, preserve the vibrant colors and freshness of clothes with 13 active ingredients and a Deep Clean formula. The capsules dissolve completely in water heated to 30 degrees Celsius, are phosphate- and chlorine-bleach-free, and have a two-year shelf life. They are suitable for cotton, linen, synthetics, and mixed-fiber fabrics, but are not recommended for wool or silk.
• SYNERGETIC COLOR's biodegradable, concentrated, hypoallergenic laundry capsules, in a 60-count pack, have received a 4.6 rating from just 145 users and retail for $7.04. This is one of the best-value detergents in our selection today, especially since its two-year shelf life ensures all 60 capsules will be used as intended. Using a combination of enzymes and plant-based surfactants, the chemicals quickly penetrate deep into fabrics, removing any stains even in cool water heated to just 25 degrees Celsius. And thanks to their safe formula, these capsules are even suitable for treating baby clothes, as they are free of phosphates, phosphonates, acrylates, harsh surfactants, SLS, and EDTA.

As you can see, finding an affordable yet effective cleaning product is entirely possible if you read customer reviews and take advantage of the numerous promotions. Buying large packs will allow you to use the best products for months.

   

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