The modern chemical industry offers several types of laundry detergents: liquid, powder, and briquettes. They vary in cost, dosage, dissolution rate, and other important characteristics. To ensure the best and safest cleaning of textiles, clothing, bedding, or shoes, it's important to select the right detergent for the type and color of the fabric. We'll explain in detail how to do this without damaging your clothes or your washing machine.
Gel-like compositions
First on the list are gels. They come in both bottles and individual laundry sachets containing a concentrated detergent. The main advantage of liquid detergent is that it dissolves completely even in cold water, produces little foam, and is quickly rinsed out of the fibers. Other advantages include gentle cleansing, the absence of harsh abrasives, economical use, and hypoallergenic properties. The gel concentrate also features a triple action, containing both conditioner and softener. This makes it suitable for washing delicate fabrics, down jackets, wool, and children's clothing.
Among the gels, several brands have proven themselves to be excellent.
Synergetic Universal. A hypoallergenic, biodegradable concentrate suitable for machine and hand washing of natural and synthetic fabrics. It is phosphate-free, and the fragrance is based on essential oils.
PERSIL Freshness by Vernel. Contains enzymes, stain removers, and bleaching agents, effectively removes even the most stubborn stains on light and white clothes. Suitable for all fabric types.
Der Waschkonig Universal. This product works at temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius, allowing you to use the gel on fast cycles. Added to any fabric, it smooths fibers, prevents dirt from penetrating deep into the fabric, protects the washing machine from hard water, and leaves a pleasant scent.
Laska Care & Refresh. Recommended for use on the delicate cycle and for synthetic fabrics only. Contains 15% anionic surfactants and 5% nonionic surfactants.
Purox Universal. An environmentally friendly product with a hypoallergenic formula. Suitable for machine and hand washing of all types of white, colored, and black fabrics.
Gel-based detergents dissolve and rinse out faster, so they are recommended for use when washing delicate fabrics.
Gels are more expensive than regular powder mixtures, due to their gentle formula and triple action. In addition to universal products, manufacturers also offer specialized lines: for colored fabrics, black fabrics, delicate fabrics, sportswear, jeans, and down items.
Conventional powdered products
Powdered detergents remain the most popular due to their low cost and availability. However, powdered mixtures take a long time to dissolve, only dissolving in water heated to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). If the dosage is too high or the cycle is too short, they don't rinse out completely and remain in the fibers. This can lead to light stains on clothing, stiffen the fabric, and cause allergic reactions.
Despite their shortcomings, many brands enjoy consumer popularity. Let's look at a few of them.
Burti Color. A laundry detergent featuring a biodegradable, hypoallergenic formula with enzymes. Suitable for cleaning colored cotton and synthetic fabrics in both machine and hand washing.
The Color Expert myth. Thanks to its color protection feature, this detergent cleans while preserving the pigment on fabrics even after multiple washes. It contains enzymes, effective surfactants, and substances that protect the machine from scale and unpleasant odors.
Attack Bio EX. A universal powder detergent concentrate suitable for hand and machine washing white and light-colored synthetics, cotton, and linen. It is phosphate- and chlorine-free and has a light floral scent.
Many powders contain bleaches and stain removers, so they are used only for white and light-colored items.
Aist Oxi Energy. Universal detergent – cleans cotton, linen, synthetic, and blended fabrics in any wash cycle. Whitens at low temperatures and has an antimicrobial effect.
PURE WATER. An eco-friendly concentrate made with only natural ingredients and no artificial bleaches, dyes, or fragrances. It decomposes within 24 hours and is safe for hand and machine washing of colored and white cotton, linen, and synthetic fabrics.
When used correctly, this detergent will effectively remove even the most stubborn stains. The key is to use the right amount, use high-temperature settings, and repeat the rinse cycle.
Briquetted products
There are also modern cleaning products – tablets or capsules. The name speaks for itself: these are individual devices that replace conventional gel or powder mixtures. Generally, all briquetted chemicals are divided into pressed and capsule.
Pressed tablets. The active ingredients are first selected, then combined, and pressed into a tablet, usually round. The consumer then loads one or more sachets into a powder container or directly into the drum. The instructions on the packaging indicate how to add the product.
Capsule. This type offers the consumer a capsule with 2-10 compartments, each containing a detergent with a specific action. For example, one contains a powder tablet, another a conditioner, a third a bleach, a fourth a stain remover, a fifth a fragrance, and a sixth a fabric softener or color-removing agent. Different combinations are available for each type of laundry.
The advantage of tablets is obvious: convenience. With them, you don't need to calculate detergent dosages, measure out detergent, buy additional fabric softener, or rinse. Simply insert one capsule and start washing. Using containers with compartments will also not cause any difficulties, since the device is removed along with the laundry and disposed of in the standard manner.
Some examples of such tools:
Nordland ECO – universal hypoallergenic biodegradable tablets with bleach, enzymes, without phosphates and fragrances;
ECOVER – environmentally friendly pressed tablets for white and fade-resistant laundry, containing enzymes, natural oxygen bleach and plant components;
Tide Pods are versatile 3-in-1 phosphate-free tablets with stain remover and color enhancer;
Ariel PODS 3-in-1 Mountain Spring – capsules that offer triple action due to the combination of detergent, bleach, stain remover, color-trapping agents and fragrance;
One capsule or tablet is enough for one wash cycle.
BabyLine BIO for children's clothes is a capsule-based universal hypoallergenic concentrate suitable for cleaning white and colored laundry made from natural, synthetic, and delicate fabrics;
Nature Clean Laundry Pacs Non-Parfum – capsules in water-soluble packaging with a hypoallergenic and biodegradable composition for all colored clothes.
Each person decides for themselves what to use when washing. The main thing is to look at the ingredients and read the instructions before use.
The modern chemical industry offers several types of laundry detergents: liquid, powder, and briquettes. They vary in cost, dosage, dissolution rate, and other important characteristics. To ensure the best and safest cleaning of textiles, clothing, bedding, or shoes, it's important to select the right detergent for the type and color of the fabric. We'll explain in detail how to do this without damaging your clothes or your washing machine.
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