Even experienced housewives run their eyes at the counter with detergents. There are powders expensive and cheaper. Is the first better? There are children. There are phosphate-free. What lies behind the shining whiteness promised in advertising? Even those laundry detergents, whose reviews are very positive, may not cope with stains from juices, wine, herbs. Properly selected modern detergents can cope with stains on clothes without harming the health and ecology of the planet and without causing allergies.
Reviews of the most common powders
Judging by the reviews, “Ariel” was and remains the undisputed leader. It is he who cleans stubborn stains, perfectly whitens and smells good. The Ariel Liquid Laundry Detergent has also been proven to be excellent. But these funds are one of the most expensive on the market. The popular Tide powder practically does not lag behind when it comes to colored things, but at the same time there are a lot of complaints about the large amount of optical brightener that makes white blue. In addition, when handwashing, blue blotches can leave small spots on white. With all its positive qualities, many people don’t like “E” because of its specific smell. A real discovery for some was the Sarma powder. It is one of the most inexpensive, but copes with pollution perfectly.
The principle of operation of washing powder
All salt is in the so-called surfactants found in good detergents, such as Ariel. The molecule consists of a hydrophilic part, which interacts with water, and a hydrophobic part, which does not interact with it. But the latter perfectly reacts with the substance of which the stain consists. So, the hydrophobic part “catches” dirt molecules, and with the help of the hydrophilic component, the pollution is washed out of the tissue.
The composition of the washing powder
Good detergents should not contain chlorine-based bleach. It may be unsafe for health. The oxygen-containing bleach shows itself perfectly. But the effect is achieved at high temperatures, at least 80 degrees, so bleaching activators for low temperatures were introduced into the composition. Also, powders use optical brightener, then the fabric does not become yellowish or gray, but snow-white. Expensive laundry detergents, reviews of which say that they are able to make linen dazzlingly white, really cope even with complex stains at a temperature of only 40 degrees. Judging by the reviews, it’s best to bleach expensive products such as Ariel or Tide. In addition, they include those same surfactants. And the more expensive the powder, the more of them. For each type of pollution - their own. Judging by the reviews, they significantly improve the result of washing substances that soften the water. If the water is already non-rigid, then, according to the hostesses, there is no point in overpaying.
Types of washing powders
Laundry detergents are divided into the following groups:
- universal washing powders that cope with most contaminants at temperatures from 40 to 60 degrees;
- powders for delicate washing of woolen things, clothes made of thin fabrics;
- soaking powders for heavy soiling;
- fabric softeners that facilitate subsequent ironing.
Depending on the purpose, the composition of the washing powder is also different. So, for example, for washing children's things you need a special tool.
Baby washing powders
For delicate baby skin, formulations containing high concentration surfactants may be unsafe. That is why special children's washing powders were developed. The requirements for detergents for washing children's things should be as follows:
- the product should dissolve in water in a matter of seconds;
- easy to rinse with water;
- have as few fragrances as possible;
- do not have bleaches in the composition;
- to be without enzymes.
When purchasing baby powder, it is advisable to pay attention to the inscriptions on the package. There should be a note that the powder is intended for washing children's things from the first days of life. If there is a small child in the house, then it is advisable to wash adult clothes with baby powder, as the baby's skin also comes into contact with it. But about many children's powders, the reviews are extremely negative. They do not wash well, especially stains from juices. They cope well only with clothes for babies, where, in fact, there is nothing to wash so far, provided that the child is in a waterproof diaper.
Innovative product - phosphate-free powder
Many families have already concluded that the best detergent is phosphate-free. Phosphate-free products are very popular all over the world. Today, care for one’s own health and the environment is in fashion. In addition, such a powder perfectly copes with its direct task: it perfectly removes stains even in cool water and rinses well. But this is by no means an expensive washing powder. Reviews of them say that these funds perfectly remove stains, do not cause irritation on delicate children's skin and do not have a pungent odor. Manufacturers claim that phosphate-free compounds are completely decomposed in the drain, which makes them completely harmless to the environment.
Powders without phosphates do not cause allergies, perfectly disinfect clothes, suitable for washing children's clothes, including for newborns.
Thus, a number of advantages of precisely phosphate-free powders can be distinguished:
- cope with spots well even at low temperatures;
- completely rinsed out;
- have no expiration date restrictions;
- do not smell;
- do not injure the skin of the hands;
- soften hard water, thus preventing the formation of scale;
- a couple of teaspoons of powder is enough per kilogram of laundry.
Liquid Laundry Detergents
Gels or shampoos for washing are popularly called "liquid washing powder." The advantages of using such tools are as follows:
- they do not enter the respiratory tract, so their use does not harm health;
- they do not have a pungent odor and in most cases are hypoallergenic;
- they are more economical due to the exact dosage;
- they are more convenient to store;
- they are preferable for delicate washing.
Laundry detergent "automatic machine"
The difference between powders for automatic washing machines and compositions for hand washing - in the ability to form foam. When hand-washing, a large amount of foam facilitates the task, it “pushes” dirt. In an automatic machine, abundant foam can, on the contrary, impede the washing process, since the laundry is washed off due to fairly strong impacts on the drum walls. In addition, foam may leak through the pads, which could damage the washing machine. Laundry detergents, reviews of which can be heard in large numbers from hostesses, it is especially important to carefully select for front-loading machines. It is they, judging by the comments of women, most often fail when using powder for hand washing.
South Korean Laundry Detergents
Especially “advanced” housewives prefer to use Korean washing powders. The reviews speak of an unusually economical consumption of powder and a very moderate foam, but at the same time they write in the reviews that it shows itself well when hand-washed. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, washing powders made in South Korea do not contain phosphates, phosphonates and zeolites. These substances are traditionally used in the manufacture of washing powders, because thanks to them, the product really copes better with pollution. And only recently began to talk about the toxicity of these chemical compounds and the harm that they can do to human health. Phosphates can cause allergies, reduce immunity, and can cause anemia. Harmful substances can penetrate into the bloodstream not only through the respiratory tract, but also through the skin. And phosphonates and zeolites are generally prohibited in many countries.
But one should not think that Korean powders freed from toxic substances do a poor job of contaminants. They contain natural lipases, proteases, enzymes, so they can cope even with the most difficult spots. The best reviews are about Drum, Oats, Tech powders. According to the housewives, the only drawback of these products is that they are not suitable for wool and silk.
Most Korean powders are more expensive than others. But these are concentrated products, which makes their use even more economical than the use of products of other brands.
A solution of Korean powders, falling into wastewater, does not harm the ecosystem. Using environmentally friendly means, it is possible to prevent the death of fish, phyto- and zooplankton and other animals. In addition, phosphates cause increased reproduction of algae, which interfere with the operation of treatment facilities. Poorly treated water then falls into our own water supply.
Thus, Korean powders perfectly perform their direct function - remove even the most difficult spots, save the family budget, lowering energy costs, as washing clothes in cool water helps to maintain health. And all this for the same money as the usual brands of washing powders. Let us leave our children a cleaner planet Korean washing powders. Satisfied hostesses leave reviews of them in large numbers. They talk about a pleasant, but not chemical smell of linen, gentle washing of even very capricious fabrics. In addition, according to reviews, after washing with Korean powder, clothes are not electrified at all.