Which washing powder is better – how to choose

The frequency of washing is not as important as the right powder, which will wash well, do not harm the washing machine and safely perform its functions. To determine which washing powder is better, you need to know the criteria for choosing a good powder and the requirements for its composition.

Our rating of laundry detergents, compiled on the basis of customer reviews and the opinions of independent experts, will help you make a choice.

How to choose a washing powder: what to look for

Before choosing a remedy, familiarize yourself with the factors that may affect its quality, safety and effectiveness:

• composition of the product;
• price;
• hypoallergenicity;
• focus on a particular type of washing (for example, manual or machine);
• compliance with the type of washing machine (for CMA or semi-automatic);
• effectiveness in stain removal.

Choosing the right detergent for washing machines is complicated due to four negative factors:

1. Wide range of products on the shelves.
2. Frequent fakes of famous brands.
3. Constant change in the composition – usually the buyer does not notice this.
4. Features of using the tool.

Before buying an automatic powder, you need to choose it, focusing on functional qualities. According to the groups of pollution, all means can be divided into three groups:

• Normal: for light to moderately soiled items.
• With special additives: used for washing clothes with difficult stains and for bleaching.
• Universal tool: can be used for heterogeneous spots of different types.

Approaching the counter, carefully study the composition of the powder – is it worth risking health for the sake of too snow-white or pleasantly smelling laundry. We will talk about the dangers of the components below.

Rating of the best washing powders

Despite the compositions and possible harm, the powders are actively bought up by the inhabitants of the Russian Federation, so there is a demand for them. We studied reviews and expert reviews and made a rating of the best remedies – both conventional and least harmful. So, study our TOP to choose the best powder.

Sarma active

Suitable for most fabrics. Pros:

• Disinfectant effect without the participation of chlorine substances.
• Can be used for colored and white fabrics.
• Economical.
• Acceptable price.
• There are various packaging options.
• Tackles tough stains.

There are also disadvantages:

• “Old” stains may not be washed off at low temperature washing conditions.
• If the cycle is short, for example, “Quick 30”, then the powder is difficult to wash out of the laundry.
• Aggressive substances in the composition.

Ariel “Mountain Spring”

“Ariel” took second place in the ranking due to the quality removal of all types of stains from various fabrics. Excellent performance when washing cotton, but also copes with other materials with a bang.

Pros:

• Will cope with stains of grass, wine, juice.
• Effective on low temperature wash cycles.
• Light pleasant smell.
• Economical in consumption.

Cons:

• The price is above average.
• May cause allergic rashes.
• Cannot be used for washing children’s clothes and delicate fabrics.

As a result, “Ariel Mountain Spring” removes almost all household stains, but you should not use it on fast wash cycles.

Frosch Color

German quality from a well-known brand – Frosch Color powder with aloe vera extract. It is an excellent alternative to dangerous chemical mixtures.

Benefits of the tool:

• Not allergenic.
• High concentration of active substances, therefore it is spent sparingly.
• Not tested on animals.
• There is no characteristic smell of “chemistry”.
• Works at low temperatures.
• Doesn’t make things dull.

There are also disadvantages:

• Does not always cope with old stains.
• Packed quite impractical – in cardboard.
• High price.

This product is recommended for health conscious families. At the same time, it demonstrates excellent washing quality indicators. Suitable for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin.

Eared nanny

One of the most controversial means in the section of household chemicals for children. Consumer reactions and reviews about it are different.

So, the pros:

• Removes stains of organic and inorganic origin.
• Effective at low temperatures.
• Reasonable cost.
• It is packaged in different ways: from 400-gram boxes to 9-kg packages.
• Almost does not smell.

Cons:

• The composition does not meet the requirements for baby powders, a lot of toxins.
• Allergic rashes happen.

Apart from the minuses, it provides the quality of washing. But for children’s things it is better not to use.

Bimax 100 spots

Manufacturers insist that the tool is able to remove stains without much difficulty.

Among the pluses are:

• Compatible with all fabrics except delicates.
• Effective against most types of stains: fats, juices, coffee and wine, grass, dirt.
• Economical.
• Convenient packaging: there is a fastener and a measuring box in large packs (from 3000 g).
• Availability, low price.

Cons:

• Poorly soluble in low temperature wash cycles.
• It does not always wash out, especially in “fast” modes.

They are not used by the hostesses on a daily basis, but only for “severe cases”: washing work clothes and difficult stains.

Which powder works best

Not always a good quality powder is successfully erased. Therefore, for clarity, it is worthwhile to conduct a comparative description of the most popular means. See table below.

Ariel and Losk showed the best performance in terms of efficiency. The rest of the powders did not justify themselves. Judging by customer ratings, ARIEL washes better.

Which powder is the most harmless

Whether it is worth shopping, ignoring various BIO novelties, is up to you. We will only talk about the dangers of the most aggressive chemical additives in modern detergents:

• phosphates. Manufacturers add them to the composition of the product to soften the water to improve the quality of washing. The harm of phosphates lies in the fact that they increase the toxicity of A-surfactants, cause allergic reactions, dissolve for a long time and are difficult to wash out of the fabric fibers (to completely wash out the phosphates, you need at least 10 rinse cycles!). Getting on the skin and in the human body, phosphates reduce the protective properties of the skin and can even negatively affect the blood and immune system. Phosphates harm the environment: in reservoirs they provoke the growth of blue-green algae, and they disrupt the ecology of the reservoir as a whole. If phosphates get into water or food, it can be dangerous to health: they can affect pregnancy, the appearance of tumors in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce a person’s life expectancy.
• Phosphonates. Lightweight alternative to phosphates. They also soften water. Not as harmful as previous substances. Their decomposition is difficult, but they are better washed out.
• Zeolites. Replace both of these products, softening the water. Not as harmful, but they do not dissolve in water and leave stains, and the fabric will be hard to the touch. It is better to choose powders with silicates and carbonates.
• PAV. Surfactants, getting into the human body, accumulate in cell membranes. If their concentration exceeds a certain level, it can disrupt the biochemical processes in the cell and even destroy it. Simply put, the consequences can be a decrease in immunity, allergies, damage to organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys, and lungs.

Important! Today, surfactants began to be replaced by “surfactants”. But, so that they do not cause harm, their concentration in the product should not exceed 7%.

• Optical brighteners. They do not bleach anything – this is an illusion. It’s simple: particles of the product settle on the fabric, and under the action of UV rays, a whiteness effect is created. It is almost impossible to rinse them out. Negatively affect the condition of the skin.
• Chlorine. It can cause vascular and heart disease, atherosclerosis, anemia, high blood pressure, allergies. This component can destroy proteins in the body, interfere with normal hair growth, damage the skin, and increase the risk of tumors.

Now let’s define the most harmless powder on the Russian market. So that you have an objective opinion, we will present you the TOP of the most environmentally friendly products.

Ecover concentrate

The hazardous components include anionic surfactants from 5 to 30% and zeolites.

Baby Speci

Dangerous and harmful substances are present in it in large quantities: from 15 to 30% zeolites, from 5 to 15% anionic surfactants, optical brightener.

Nordland “Eco”

The composition of the product is identical to the previous version, but the concentration of optical brightener is slightly higher – about 5%.

Frosch concentrated

Frosch has already appeared in the previous rating, but it also made it to this top, because among its components from harmful substances, only zeolites in a concentration of 15 to 30%.

Our mother

The experts did not find aggressive “chemistry” in the composition of this product.

Children’s powder-concentrate “Burti”

Its composition was not without hazards: there are from 15 to 30% zeolites, as well as from 5 to 15% anionic tensides.

Alive – concentrate for washing white and colored fabrics

Anionic surfactants in this powder are found in amounts from 5 to 15%.

Persil – powder-automatic machine “Kolor”

Phosphonates, anionic surfactants and an optical brightener have been found.

Amway SA8 concentrate

It contains phosphonates and optical brighteners.

Garden

Absolutely harmless powder from natural ingredients and soda.

Nanny

“Chemistry” is present in the composition, but there are no potentially dangerous compounds.

Chu Chu Baby Pigeon

Another harmless Asian-made powder.

Based on the list, you can choose the safest and most environmentally friendly option.

Important! Not always the smell is a sign of “chemistry”. Often, manufacturers use natural flavors such as essential oils and extracts. If the powder smells like lemon, it does not mean that it is harmful to health.

If you care about your health, you can make the detergent yourself – you will find recipes in the article “How to make laundry detergent at home.”

Which powder is best for white laundry

When choosing a bleaching powder, focus on oxygen rather than optical brighteners in the composition.

Today there are a lot of powders for white laundry, and we will list them in descending order of effectiveness (tested on washing a white tablecloth with stains of various origins):

1. Mara.
2. Ariel
3. Dalli.
4. E Active Plus White.
5. Tide.
6. Iceberg automatic.

Important! If you have not decided which is better – powder or washing gel, then the consistency does not affect the quality of washing and bleaching. But the liquid agent dissolves faster in water and is better washed out. But the manufacturers of washing machines complain about liquid products, as they settle on the working elements of the CMA.

We told you almost everything about powders: now you know how to choose the best and safest remedy.