How to Choose The Best Laundry Detergent for You

When it comes to selecting your laundry detergent, you may naturally gravitate towards a particular brand, one that has probably had some very clever marketing campaigns attached to it to make you believe it is superior to the rest. In reality, choosing the best detergent should be less of a choice based on brand familiarity, and more based on your individual wants and needs. It doesn't what type of Nottingham cleaning your are trying work work on. This mini-guide will hep you.

“There is no one size fits all approach to laundry equipment and detergents. It’s important to consider all your options before buying into targeted advertising,” says David Teasdale of Laundry Equipment Direct (http://www.laundryequipment-direct.com/).

To make sure you are getting the most out of your laundry detergent, consider the following options before you buy.

Types

Liquid

This type of detergent has become wildly popular over the years, it costs a little more per wash than other forms but is easy to handle and even easier to store. It can come in a wide range of fragrances and is especially good at removing oil and grease stains as its liquid form penetrates through all fibres of the fabric. It may struggle with tougher stains because, unlike powder, its liquid form doesn’t allow for strong ingredients like bleaching agents.

Powder

Powder detergent is the guaranteed choice if you have tough stains to clean and want to get the most value out of your money. They perform best with stubborn problems as they contain cleaning ingredients such as oxygen bleach. Powders often come with optical brighteners that ensure longevity and the vitality of both white and coloured clothes. If you are worried about powder blocking your detergent drawer, a regular maintenance wash should do the trick. Simply use the powder at a high temperature (60ºC or upwards) and watch the blockage wash away.

Pods or packets

The newest kids on the block, pods or packets are often praised for their simplicity and effortlessness. You won’t have to worry about measuring the amount of detergent or about mixing it with softener as it comes pre-packaged in a small pod. However, this convenience can come at a higher cost and you may find you need a little bit more detergent for larger loads. If you do choose this option, you should make sure to store them well out of the reach of children. The bright colouring and shape could cause your child to dangerously mistake them for lollies or sweets, so make sure they are always stored in a safe place and out of little ones’ reach.

Other things to consider

Type of machine

If you have a front-loading model or a top-loading model, the best option is to stick with your machine’s recommended detergent. Front-loading detergents are specific to the model as these machines use less water, these detergents contain anti-foaming ingredients to ensure suds from developing and not being able to rinse out. The same goes for High Efficiency (HE) models, using much less water than standard washing machines, they require specific HE detergent created specifically for a low suds volume. Too many suds and not enough water might result in detergent traces or remnants on your clothing.

Water temperature

Powder, liquid and pod detergents can be used at all temperature in washes, the only variant is the effectiveness of the detergent itself when removing stains. Naturally, if the temperature is lower so is the effectiveness of the detergent itself.

If you are using pods they may not burst at lower temperatures, therefore if you are planning to use them in a cold wash it’s important to place them in first, underneath your load. Washing in cold water is a great way to be more eco-friendly and it can save you cash at the same time. Do keep in mind that regular cold washes might cause a waxy film to build up in the inside of your washing machine, particularly if fabric softener is used. To avoid this just regularly run a hot cycle without any clothes to keep the machines inside as clean as possible.

Sensitive skin

Many people suffer from sensitive skin and detergents can often cause irritation or allergic reactions. The simplest way to solve this problem is by using hypo-allergenic or non-bio products and avoiding others with certain ingredients. Optical brighteners have chemicals that wash your clothes in fluoresces but don’t actually clean them any more thoroughly, they give the illusion of whiter clothes but can cause irritation to sensitive skin so best to stay away from these. Another common ingredient prone to irritation are enzymes, biological catalysts that rapidly increase the cleaning process, and are known to cause discomfort for those with sensitive skin.

Eco-Friendly

If you’re looking to make an impact on the environment, whether it be large or small, you can begin by following some of these tips.

Cold water washes are an efficient way of saving money and energy all whilst keeping your clothes just as clean. If that’s not enough, look for detergents that contain a low level of phosphorus. Phosphorus is an ingredient used to soften the water but high levels can cause algae to grow in inland waterways such as river or canals. You can also consider the amount of packaging used by each brand, larger packaging will use fewer materials, and be more cost-effective, but don’t forget to recycle them when you’re done.

Scent

Both detergent and softeners come in a wide array of scents and fragrances – they even come unscented. If you want to add that extra smell of comfort to your clothes or sheets find a fragrance you like best. There’s everything from lavender to cotton to tropical, so pick your favourite and give your washing a personal touch. Most brands also carry an unscented range ideal for babies and individuals with sensitive skin.

Supermarkets and advertising may make your detergent decision complicated, but ultimately which type you choose depends on your individual needs and the machine you’re using. Once you have decided what best fits your needs and preferences, choosing the perfect detergent for you will no longer be a challenge.