What are the differences between liquid detergents and powder detergents?

When doing laundry, we often ask ourselves the question: should we use liquid detergent or powder detergent? What is the difference between these two types of products? What are their advantages and disadvantages? Here are some answers to help you choose.

The composition of liquid and powder detergents

The main difference between liquid and powder detergents is their composition. In fact, washing powder contains whitening agents, which help eliminate stains and prevent graying or yellowing of white linen. Liquid laundry detergent, on the other hand, does not contain bleaching agents, but is more concentrated in surfactants, which are washing agents that remove stains from laundry and increase its wetting capacity.

The performance of liquid and powder detergents

The performance of liquid and powder detergents depends on several factors, such as washing temperature, type of laundry, type of soil and dosage.

Wash temperature

Powder detergent is more suitable for washing at high temperatures (60°C or more), because it dissolves better in hot water and acts more effectively on stains. Liquid detergent is more suitable for washes at low temperatures (40°C or lower), because it dissolves better in cold water and avoids leaving residue on the laundry.

The type of linen

Powder detergent is more suitable for white laundry, because it contains whitening agents that preserve the brightness of white. It is also more suitable for cotton linen, which is more resistant and which better withstands washing at high temperatures. Liquid detergent is best suited for colored laundry, as it does not contain bleaching agents that could dull the colors. It is also more suitable for delicate laundry, such as silk, wool or synthetics, which require washing at low temperatures.

The type of dirt

Powder detergent is best for greasy or colored stains, such as sauce, wine or blood stains, because it contains bleaching agents that remove dyes and oxidizable soils. Liquid detergent is best for light or organic soils, such as sweat, dirt or grass stains, because it contains more surfactants that loosen stains.

The dosage

The dosage of liquid and powder detergents varies depending on the hardness of the water, the degree of soiling of the laundry and the capacity of the machine. In general, powder detergent requires a larger dosage than liquid detergent because it is less concentrated. You must therefore follow the recommendations on the packaging, or better, under-dose slightly to avoid overdosing, which can be harmful to the laundry, the machine and the environment.

The advantages and disadvantages of liquid and powder detergents

Liquid and powder detergents each have advantages and disadvantages, which must be known and taken into account to make the right choice.

The advantages of washing powder

• It is more economical, because it requires a lower dosage than liquid detergent.
• It is more environmentally friendly because it contains less water and less packaging than liquid detergent.
• It is more effective because it contains whitening agents that remove stains and preserve white.

The disadvantages of washing powder

• It is more aggressive because it contains bleaching agents which can damage or discolor colored or delicate laundry.
• It is more difficult to dissolve, as it can leave residue on the laundry or in the machine, especially if washing is done at low temperatures or with hard water.
• It is more irritating because it can cause skin or respiratory reactions in certain sensitive people.

The benefits of liquid laundry detergent

• It is gentler because it does not contain bleaching agents that can damage or discolor colored or delicate laundry.
• It is easier to dissolve, because it does not leave residue on the laundry or in the machine, even if washing is done at low temperatures or with hard water.
• It is more versatile because it can be used for all types of laundry and soiling.

The disadvantages of liquid detergent

• It is more expensive because it requires a higher dosage than washing powder.
• It is less environmentally friendly because it contains more water and more packaging than washing powder.
• It is less effective because it does not contain bleaching agents that remove stains and preserve white.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no ideal detergent, but rather a detergent adapted to each situation. The choice between liquid or powder detergent will depend on the washing temperature, the type of laundry, the type of soiling and the dosage. You must therefore choose the detergent that best suits your needs, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of each product. You can also alternate between the two types of detergent, depending on the circumstances, to benefit from the benefits of each.

If you want to know more about detergents, you can consult these articles: Liquid detergent or powder detergent - The debate rages - News - UFC-Que Choisir and Liquid or powder detergent: which to choose? | SANYTOL .