Which washing powder washes better?

Every housewife dreams of finding an effective laundry detergent that's both affordable and safe. Clothes won't lose their attractive appearance if washed with a good detergent. But with such a wide variety of household chemicals available, it can be difficult to determine and choose the best automatic washing powder. Let's do some research, see what people have to say, which bulk powders are tested by experts, and what the results of these tests are.

Popular powder manufacturers

It's simply impossible to compare all existing powders. Therefore, we decided to select the most popular manufacturers, whose products are available in almost every store in the country. These powders have the highest sales and are generally mid-priced. Here is a list of these manufacturers:

1. P&G is a well-known American company with manufacturing facilities in more than 40 countries. This brand produces detergents such as Ariel, Myth, and Tide.
2. Henkel is a German manufacturer of liquid, bulk and tablet powders, known for its Persil and Losk brands.Manufacturers claim that the powder removes all stains, even without soaking, thanks to its improved oxygen bleaching formula.
3. Nevskaya Cosmetics is a brand known for such powders as "Ushasty Nyan" and Sarma.

Testing

Researchers at the expert center conducted a test to determine which of the six proposed powders would best cope with stains of various types. The test subjects were 6 white towels, on which stains were applied in the same way: tomato paste, natural coffee, red grape wine, greenery and blood.

Each towel was washed twice in a single automatic washing machine. The first time, a quick wash was run for approximately 30 minutes in cold water. The second wash was at 40°C (104°F) for 1 hour and 5 minutes. The following detergents were used:

• Ariel;
• Losk;
• Dosia;
• Tide;
• Myth;
• Persil Expert.

The washing results showed that no powder washes out stains 100% in the quick wash mode with cold water. Some stains remained, however. Even so, the clear winners were Tide, which dealt with all stains except wine, and Persil, which struggled with blood stains.

In the long wash cycle, these detergents removed absolutely all stains, making them the best of the bunch. Dosia detergent performed the worst, fading the stains on the towel but not completely removing them.

What does the quality of the powder depend on?

The answer to this question lies in the ingredients. The detergent that contains the most active ingredients is the one that washes well. As a rule, expensive powders contain more of them, so you need less of this powder for one wash cycle.

Please note! Expensive detergents are often counterfeited, replacing the active ingredients with large amounts of sodium sulfate, which has no effect on washing. Therefore, there is a high risk of buying a low-quality detergent from a well-known brand.

The main components of most detergents are surfactants, which form a foam that absorbs dirt, and phosphates, which enhance the action of the surfactants by softening water hardness. However, this isn't enough for a high-quality wash. The best stain removal comes from detergents containing enzymes and sodium perborate, which has bleaching properties.

Furthermore, washing powder for an automatic washing machine should contain substances that protect the drum from corrosion, such as silicates, and substances that counteract excessive foaming. A high-quality washing powder should dissolve well in water; this can be checked before adding it to the machine. Another distinctive feature of a high-quality powder is the gluing of its granules at high humidity. If the washing powder crumbles when wet, you should think about replacing it.

Important! Liquid detergents dissolve well, but they are still less effective at removing tough stains because they lack enzymes. Therefore, we won't discuss them here. For the same reason, we won't discuss eco-friendly detergents, as we're more interested in the best-performing detergent, not the safest.

The best powder according to consumer reviews

In our search for the best washing powder for our automatic washing machine, we read numerous user reviews. Based on their opinions, we compiled the following list of good powders.

Sarma Activ is a washing powder suitable for a variety of laundry types: bedding, work clothes, kitchen towels, and more. Despite being chlorine-free, this laundry detergent kills bacteria and removes a variety of stains. Users note its reasonable price and economical use. Furthermore, it can be used on both white and colored laundry. This powder also has its drawbacks, the main one being its low efficiency at low washing temperatures. Some people say that an extra rinse is needed to wash out all the powder.

Ariel "Mountain Spring" is one of the most effective detergents, especially effective at removing tough stains on cotton items. It removes wine, grass, and coffee stains even at low temperatures and has no strong odor. However, many consider this product expensive. Some complain of allergic reactions. Therefore, it is not recommended for everyday laundry or for washing children's items.

Please note! Wash quality depends not only on the detergent's composition but also on the functionality and technical features of the washing machine, as well as the water hardness. That's why one housewife will praise the same detergent, while another will criticize it.

Ushaty Nyan is the most discussed automatic laundry detergent on forums. Some people talk about its advantages, others about its disadvantages. This powder is most often used for washing children's clothes because it is virtually odorless. It removes tough stains, dissolves well in water, and is inexpensive. Those who are against the use of this product do not like the “aggressive” composition, with a high content of phosphates, which should not be present in a children's product. What conclusion to draw, decide for yourself, because overall the powder washes well.

Bimax – this detergent effectively removes tough stains from all fabrics, but it's not recommended for washing wool and silk. It removes stains from grass, chocolate, and grease. Bimax is the most convenient detergent to use, and users appreciate its zip-lock packaging. However, it doesn't dissolve as well as expected, so sometimes an extra rinse cycle is needed.

So what's the bottom line? There's no such thing as a perfect detergent, and no single detergent can handle all stains on all fabrics. That's why women often buy different detergents: one for washing whites, another for hand washing, a third for the washing machine, and even separate ones for wool and silk. Ultimately, finding out which detergent is best is only possible through trial and error. Good luck!

   

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