Liquids or powders- Which is better for your machine, and which offers the best cleaning?

[norgechef]

What is your choice of laundry detergent, and why? (excluding brands)

I personally like to alternate. I find powders often clean better than liquids, but that could be different depending on the stains in the clothing I suppose.

I am finding it increasingly hard to find powder detergent at all, with most stores only carrying one or two different brands, sometimes none at all. I feel like they may be on the verge of extinction. I think a lot of people in their 20's and 30's, even 40's, believe powders to be obsolete, messy, and too old school compared to all the different varieties of liquids and pods/pacs on the market today. People often look at me strangely when they see me using powder or say things like ''I didn't even know people still used powder!'' as if I'm 80-90 years old when I'm only in my 20's..LOL

I know liquids and pods/pacs are better for rinsing out in cold water, which is why I use mostly liquids in the summer months when ground water is warm enough to activate the detergents. I think that's a big issue for others as well. With so many people using solely cold water these days, people don't want white residue on their colored fabrics. That's a common complaint. I see some powdered detergents that are formulated for cold water, but who knows whether they actually dissolve well or not.

Powder is also not a very good option for HE machines, as stated in reviews, and by personal experience. I find powders to work better in a traditional top loader because they produce more suds. Which is another issue with some liquid detergents. I find myself using a full cap and a half, sometimes even two cap fulls for some large loads if I am using liquids in my top loader. So it seems more efficient (and also less wasteful) to use powder especially in top loaders.

One thing I know nothing about, is whether liquids or powders are better for your machine. Mainly on the tub components (seals/bearings/spider arm, etc). I would assume liquids leave behind less residue but have never really looked into it. One would think powders could lead to more corrosion over time. Is one easier on your machine than the other?

 

[appnut]

I use ONLY powders in my Whirlpool front loader. I think they clean better. NO issues with dissolving. But then I don't believe in washing in cold water.

 

[lordkenmore]

I think at heart I'm a powder detergent user. Maybe I'm a traditionalist. Maybe it's because it was good enough for my mother's Kenmore, and so it's good enough for the, ah, lesser washers I've used in recent history (currently a BOL WP DD).

 

That said...the last few years, I've mostly used liquids. (In the most recent history, it's been entirely liquids.) Liquids are easier to find, and it's easier to get what I'm looking for, and at a better price. For example, I usually buy unscented (particularly in summer, when I dry outside, and want the outdoor scent on some things, like sheets). I can often buy a jug of something acceptable on sale for $3 if the timing is right, vs. $15 for a box of unscented Tide (which isn't even carried by all stores, and never seems to go on sale at any store where I shop).

 

Every now and then, I get an urge to get powder detergent...at least for occasional use. A few months back, I had a local store's digital coupon that would have worked for the smallest box of regular Tide...but never followed through. I can't remember why. Probably felt too poor to even pay the $5.

 

[lordkenmore]

A couple of more thoughts...

 

First, I just remembered one thing I like about powders vs. liquids: with a scented detergent, liquids seem to be far more likely to be obnoxious (either too strong, or just plain awful smelling).

 

Secondly, while I prefer powder detergents, I have had experiences with bad powder detergents that would have been outclassed by any good liquid. So (to state the obvious) it's not just Product Type A vs B...there is also a question of how good an example the product is.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>NorgeChef:  Powder is also not a very good option for HE machines, as stated in reviews, and by personal experience. I find powders to work better in a traditional top loader because they produce more suds.</blockquote> I find that liquids don't suds-up any less than powders if they (liquids) are overdosed.  Avoiding overdosing liquids (on small/light loads) seems more tricky than powders.

I recently tried Cheer powder and it's very low-sudsing, works excellent on that point in my AquaSmart and Neptune TL.  Didn't get to try it in my Calypso before it was taken out-of-service for the AquaSmart.

 

[frigilux]

I use both to excellent results all 'round.

Rosalie's Zero Suds (powder): For loads of bath linens
Perwoll Intensive Black/Renew Advanced (liquid): Loads of blacks
Persil ProClean 2 in 1 (liquid): Everything else

Found the reformulated Tide Ultra Stain Release (liquid; top-rated by CR) in the HyVee grocery store I shop at and picked up a bottle. Although still formulated specifically for HE machines, I'm hoping it produces better results in my decidedly non-HE Speed Queen top-loader than did the old formula, which worked wonders in a Maytag front-loader, but faltered in the SQ.

After filling with proper hot or warm water, I nearly always switch to the Normal Eco cycle which provides a series of spray rinses. Tide, with its quickly vanishing suds, is custom made for such rinsing conditions. Let's hope it cleans well, too. Will find out this weekend.[this post was last edited: 11/30/2018-00:41]

 

[mrsalvo]

I can't complain too much about Tide With Bleach powder and hot water in the t/l SQ, have never washed in cold water so I don't know if it would dissolve. A couple of years ago I used Fab powder that I bought in a secondary grocery store, and though it gave good results in hot water, same with warm as long as it wasn't a tepid warm. The lower the temperature of the water the more it caked, even going through a rinse cycle, a lot of white residue, undissolved, on the clothes at the end of the cycle. In my mind, I've equated cool wash, powders, equals a mess.
In south central Texas there is no shortage of Mexican powder detergents, Roma, Ariel, etc. I thought that maybe there is more "fillers" in cheaper powders that might not be there in liquids. The Mexican detergent that I did try had a clay consistency feel to it, and felt uneasy about that with the septic / gray water system we have. The cleaning was okay but sure didn't equal the top shelf brands.
I liked Cheer powder too in cleaning, but too much suds caused too many rinses. I used the amount they recommended. My experience with Cheer was opposite of Glen's.
Have felt that liquids rinse out better too.
Also some speciality detergents, like Woolite, are not available in powder.
I don't use the pods, as I don't think there's enough kick to them for a traditional t/l, esp on a full load with 20+ gallons of water. If I had an HE machine, I'd be more prone to try them.

Overall, I've made peace with liquids, and that's pretty much what I'm sticking to for now. I've found that our grocer, HEB, has a very good in house brand, Bravo, that's fairly low sudsing, very reasonably priced, and the cleaning is equal to Tide (or better)....and it smells good too. Also with liquids, I can pretreat a nasty stain without a hassle.
This has been my experience. I'm old and change comes slowly!!!! Hate to admit that, but it's true. Lol.

Barry

 

[appnut]

Barry, apparently Cheer has been reformulated.

 

[kate1]

I vastly prefer powdered detergent. I mostly just find it easier to work with. It’s lighter to carry and easier to clean up if there’s a spill. I feel like it might clean my laundry better, that’s maybe a little subjective but things tend to be less likely to smell like kid funk after being washed if I’ve used powder. It definitely worked better on cloth diapers back when I still had little ones in diapers. I didn’t get ammonia residue using powder but after a few washes with liquid detergent (both regular Tide) they would start reeking of ammonia. All I’ve ever owned are standard, non-HE top loaders though.

 

[mrsalvo]

Bob, Cheer really did need to be reformulated, have never ran so many rinse cycles in my life, I got tired of it. Water rates went up in our area and can tell the difference in our water bills if I have to run multiple rinses.
I really want to try Roselies Zero Suds. May order that for my Christmas present!

Barry

 

[DADoES]

 
Cheer had zero suds on a reasonably large load in my AquaSmart dosed at 5 tablespoons (or maybe it was 7) plus 2 tbsp STPP.  I measured the dosage lines on the included cup against tablespoons.  IIRC, it was 5, 7, and 10.  Don't recall exactly, majority of the Cheer went to my mother along with the written dosage note.

 

[norgechef]

I haven't used Cheer (liquid or powder) in years

I had no idea they even still made it. I have not seen it anywhere in Canada for quite some time now. I remember seeing some last time I was in the US, probably 2 or 3 years ago, but don't remember seeing any here since ~2010.

My personal choice of powder is usually the no brand kind as it as cheap and cleans almost as effectively as higher priced powders. I find Sunlight (which would be Sun in the US) to be way too low sudsing. Kudos to the people who don't need to see suds in order to feel they are getting a clean wash, but I don't personally believe its possible to get a deep clean without some sudsy water. Not excessive suds enough to cause suds lock or rinse issues, but not non existent.

I like Tide Professional powder with oxy bleach if I'm buying name brand. I buy it online from Wal-Mart and just pick it up at my local store. It is rather expensive but it is meant for commercial use in hotels, salons, restaurants, etc. where most of the stuff being washed is white. It works well for colors too, but it is really good for whites. The scent is also quite subtle. I simply cannot stand the scent of any new Tide powder, but also don't need scent free detergent which is one of the only other options for Tide powder here.

In reply to appnut- What kind of Whirlpool front loader do you have? I have a Kenmore HE5T (same as older Whirlpool Duet) and it always seems to leave white residue on my colors when I use powder even with warm water. I know the water levels in mine are a little lower than models made before 2007. It could also be that I am using too much. It is very easy to over do it with the detergent in that washer.

 

[DADoES]

 
Was at the parents' on Sunday.  The dosage line equivalents in tablespoons on the note I affixed to the Cheer powder container:  5 (medium load), 7 (large load), and 12 (full-size load, HE-machine).

 

[perc-o-prince]

I prefer powder mainly because they're harder to overdose; liquid is so concentrated! However, now that my stash of Sears Free and Clear powder is gone, I've resorted to All Free and Clear liquid. I get the 31 load bottle for $3-5 depending on a sale vs. regular price, and it lasts me maybe double that number of loads in my Miele. I use about a teaspoon for a small-to-medium regularly-soiled load.

If I can find a good free and clear powder again, I'll switch back. But as others have said, powders are getting more and more scarce!

Chuck

 

[petek]

Persil Pro Clean 2 in 1 is what I use for everything except bed sheets and pillow cases upon which I use unscented Tide.

I guess I started using the Persil Pro Clean 2 in 1 because at the time it was the highest rated detergent in Consumer Reports.. It works well for me,, I only use perhaps a few tablespoons worth in the front load WP.

 

[norgechef]

Thanks guys!

Thank you DADoES- I will be more careful with my dosing of powder when using HE washers. Would 12 TBSP be about the size of the scoop that comes with the powder? My current brand is non-he, which is okay because I'm not using it in the HE5T, but it does not come with a scoop. It simply says to use 1/2 a cup for a medium load and 3/4 for a large load. Most of my loads are XL so I use 1 cup.

petek-I can not say anything about Persil as I have never used it. I just don't like the scents they offer. I have heard about its superior cleaning ability though. At one point I think consumer reports rated liquid Persil better than liquid Tide. Tide ''Ultra stain release'' was a step down from the Persil. Don't know if its still rated #1 or not.

 

[gusherb]

I prefer powder myself. The current iteration of Tide powders are quite light scented after clothes come out of the dryer. I remember the old original from the 00’s was quite strong after clothes came out of the dryer. The current “old original” (mountain spring) isn’t very strong scented either.

I use liquid too and am indifferent to it. Pods however seem like a ripoff and one pod is not enough for a top loader IME.

 

[askolover]

Bold or Ariel Mexican powder for whites, Tide with Febreze Botanical Rain scent pods for colors.  I use Persil pods if I'm just washing my scrubs because Tony hates it.