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michael

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Hi... following having my neighbours in, a young couple, the girl, spotted my big box of Persil and commented "how retro..i didn't think anyone used powder anymore". well, it got me thinking...I posted this on facebook and asked my friends what they use...I had 64 replies...51 use powder only..saying its more economical, cleans better...having kids you need it.. and vanish.11 only use liquid, because it doesn't clog up the machine or have been told its better for the machine and two use both...powder for whites and liquid for coloureds.
some stated pods, others small and mighty and Persil powder was mentioned by brand 6 times.Almat was mentioned twice..apparently its liquid is very good..only one person mentioned Ariel, and that was pods. I am still happy with the new surf black as long as you pre treat stains, but for everything else, will stick to Persil powder
 
I've personally never found a liquid that cleans anywhere near as well as a powder, though I do think having a liquid about the place comes in handy. The only thing I use liquid on is delicates, jeans and if I'm washing something new for the first time. Everything else gets the bio powder treatment.
 
Generally,powders have more cleaning powder.They contain oxygen bleach,something that is not contained in most liquids.Liquids on the other side contain more surfactants and they give better results on oily stains.So I use bio powder on whites and light coloreds and liquid only on darks,jeans and delicates.I usually use the temperature rule:
Liquid at 30 ºC
Powder at 40 ºC and above
 
Use...

Pretty much all formats - powder, liquid, pods. Not overly keen on the gels from P&G, will use them, but prefer the others.
 
I use both...

... powders and liquids.

But when washing Whites I use strictly and only powder.

So liquids are used for colored laundry.
 
Liquids

I have used both Persil S&M Bio & Colours liquids for years, no problem with either of them - I live in a soft water area so I generally only use 35ml even for a full load - I use no additives at all, not even fabric softener.

Mind you my Miele is cold fill only so I have the benefit of heating the water (60C for whites) to the target temperature.
 
I use

bleach for whites, since we only have white-ish kitchen cloths and towels, and a few for the gym, and some white T shirts. It also sanitizes the washer.
Who looks closely at my white socks?
I haven't used powder in many years, but if they still made Oxydol? I used to buy Mega brand powder in a big blue 5 Lb. plastic bucket from Meijer's.
I don't know what Persil powder smells like, but I like the liquid scent.
You could always tell when someone used too much powdered laundry detergent. It was caked up on their washers upper tub ring.
 
No liquids for me, my machine and my clothes. I don't spend my money for 50-85% water. Only use powders for whites, colours and delicates including wool.
In fact the liquids are the ones to clog the machine. Because of the high water content and because customers want thick, colourful and smelly liquids, they contain thickeners - ingredients that make the liquids look "concentrated", and they form slimy film on the machine parts - perfect substratum for bacteria and mildew growth.

And the softeners are the worst. Not only you pay for mainly water, but they contain cationic surfactants, oils, fats, silicones and the cheapest possible perfumes. They are not rinsed, so all this stays on the machine, the clothes and on people's skin. Disgusting!
 
"You could always tell when someone used too much powdered laundry detergent. It was caked up on their washers upper tub ring."

Well, with US powders, which have very high zeolite content, and insufficient rinsing, this is absolutely possible. Rinse, rinse, rinse.
 
Most of my stains

are oil based, and therefore, I use liquids. Plus, in the winter here, the tap cold is very cold, and there's no question about dissolving with liquids. I have been using hot water for more loads, but there are loads which require more freshening than deep cleaning, and I usually use cold for them.

I use American Persil, original scent, and like it very much. The cleaning is excellent, and I love the Original scent. I had been using Tide liquid.

Since it's just me, I can get away with using a top of the line detergent. Rosa del Gata does her own laundry, as cats do!

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Just powders for me!

Other than Wisk in the can, I can't think of one liquid that is "period correct" with the vast majority of my machines.

My favorite has to be the Viva (with phosphates of course)!
 
Mrs. Bucket approved commercial for Ariel liquid!

She's washing Hugo's best polo shirt in lukewarm water with a plastic ball!

Girls these char agencies send one!



Sheridan should have married an English lass:



Don't worry, I can boil it later...


Clearly Ariel liquid saw what was coming down the road!
 
Wasn't there

a product once called Rinso?
I've paid close attention to Hyacinth's phone conversations with Sheridan. Somehow, I got the idea she'd have approved of any Lasse he chose to marry. Any Lasse at all for that matter.
I think Sheridan spent some time on RRSVP cruises.
 
I think Sheridan spent some time on RRSVP cruises.

Ha!

Although never confirmed in the entire show. It was indeed inferred that Sheridan would indeed partake in an RSVP cruise.
 
I, too, see more liquids nowadays... easier to measure and use and (ACHOO!) have in the air than powders... but what I use comes in these huge "pump" bottles, that are hard to eliminate the last of... I flush out the containers, with the water coming in the machine, but the lid-opening is too small for those huge bottles to fit under... so powder is easier to get rid of the last of; maybe I'll consider going back to, some day...

-- Dave
 
 
Liquids are less nice for measuring IMO.  Goopy and drippy, measuring cap/device must be rinsed into the machine to effectively get the full dosage.  Powders, pour-and-go.
 
Well, here is what I am currently washing with & with a more visual description of the jugs, that have little dispensers on the lids:

 

(The Apple Mango Tango got used up, due to its popularity & versatility...) Like I said, I may go back to powdered detergent, but my huge crop of it got all caked & dried up, then given to my dad (you'd think I had a soap opera there) while I believe liquid, if you use it in its timely manner has a better shelf life, save for it getting a bit gummy at the bottom & in its cap...

 

 

-- Dave

daveamkrayoguy-2016101508483700136_1.jpg
 
liquid vs powder shelf life

I emailed P&G not so long back, and asked them the shelf life of all their laundry products. It was of course for the UK brands, but can't see US brands being that diffenent.

Powders - 12 months
Liquids - 18 months
Gels - 18 months
Pods - 15 months: except 1 brand (enzyme free baby detergent) which is 12 months
Unstoppables - 18 months

They did say, that after this time they may not smell/look quite as they should, but are safe to use up to 3 years.

You'd think with powder being dry, these would have a longer shelf life, but as you say, they can cake up - becoming almost unusable. I am really careful with how many products I stock now, as the amount I have trashed/given away over the years is eye watering.
 
Powders get caked when exposed to humidity.If you store them in a high humidity area,you should keep them in air-tight containers or nylon bags.Otherwise avoid buying large quantities at once.Buy small boxes that don't have to be stored for a very long time.
 
What P&G told you about the powders is not true. The shelf life of a powder detergent when stored in a dry place can be as much as 3 years (sometimes even more - up to 5 years) and after that you can use it safely as a detergent without bleaching system and enzymes.
The shelf life of the liquids is 1.5 years. Softeners - about a year.
 
Powders,

I have used Powders that have been numerous years old, with no problem.

Forgot about their softeners - they said their shelf life is 12 months.

Biggest surprise was Comfort (Unilever) fabric softener, the shelf life for that is 3 months (apparently) - it's printed on the bottle.
 
Another reason I avoid liquids, they're absolutely jam packed full of chemical preservatives like formaldahyde that don't biodegrade, end up back in the water cycle and have a damaging and lasting impact on aquatic life.

Liquids and softeners, being water-based, will go stagnant quickly if a whole heap of preservatives aren't added.

Powder being dry doesn't have the same problem, therefore doesn't have as many preservatives and doesn't carry the "harmful to aquatic life" warning.
 
For most washing I use Sears Ultra Plus with Oxyclean, boosted about 1/3 bw with STPP. This in my Neptune or Miele front loaders.

 

For bath towels, washable woolens, delicates, throw rugs, etc., a liquid. Lately Clorox Green Works liquid. For hand wash only woolens, Woolite for darks.

 

In my experience, liquids leave a softer finish but do not clean deep embedded dirt as well as a good powder. Powders can leave a harsher result but for most purposes that goes away after tumble drying.

 

All synthetic fabrics may wash better with a liquid. If heavily stained or with embedded dirt, though, a powder may be needed.
 
AquaCycle,

powders do not contain preservatives - they are dry, they have very small residual moisture, so they don't need preservatives.

Formaldehyde precursors are not used in household chemistry any-more.

In liquids, the biocide preservatives (sold under the brand name Kathon) are allergens and are used in concentrations between 15 and 60-70 ррm. This is 0,007%. In comparison, perfumes are used in concentrations 0,5-2% - this is 300 time more. Accepting that 30% of the ingredients of the perfume compositions are proven allergens, this means 100 times more allergens from perfume composition then from preservatives.
Powder detergent are dry and cannot contain as much perfumes as the liquids.

Liquids are not good. Softeners are even worse.
 
Dixan

Formaldehyde releasers are still used in some detergent, softener and washing up,liquids. Even Ecover uses one in their delicates laundry liquid. Here a list of that products ingredients:-

5-15%: Anionic Surfactants, <5%: Non-Ionic Surfactants, Soap, Perfume (Limonene), Preservative (2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol), Others: Water, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid

Formaldehyde releasers are also used in personal care products. Johnson & Johnson are probably the most high profile case of this.

http://diply.com/and/article/cancer-causing-baby-products-formaldehyde
 

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