Why use a liquid or Gel detergent?

[dirtybuck]

Yogi:

Don't forget "the little blue jug"...Dynamo. If I remember, it made it's debut before Era. Aad then, the powder in a bottle...Fresh Start.

 

[MrX]

There's one simple explanation for liquids being pushed - they're much cheaper to manufacture.
The process is just far less complex than creating powder detergents.
Liquids - add all liquid ingredients and stir.
Powders - complex process to get them blended, complex packaging process etc etc

This is why they're pushing liquids, not because they necessarily clean any better.

Cheap powders do cause problems with stiff laundry. However, top of the line stuff and even store own-brands certainly here in Ireland anyway, provide excellent results and very soft clothes.

The top of the line powders here have very complex enzymes, often better than the liquids. I get the impression the fancy enzymes are only in the US liquids.

However, I generally find that powders tend to shift more stains than any liquid I have ever tried.

There is also a preference for powders here because that's what washing machines are designed to dose. I always find liquids messy i.e. having to put them into the drawer at just the right time or, throwing them into the drum. It also means you can't delay-start the machine to take advantage of cheap electricity or use pre-wash as the detergent is already in contact with the clothes. Where as with a powder, the machine's in control of dispensing.

Liquids also aren't always foamy. For example, Persil Small and Mighty seems to be very low foaming compared to P&G liquids like Ariel.

The previous Unilever Persil Liquigel was so foamy it was almost ridiculous! It was nearly like at top-loader formula.

I found Ariel Excel Gel ridiculously harsh on fabrics. My t-shirts and other items were developing holes! I have never had that happen before so I switched back to old fashioned persil!

 

[iheartmaytag]

This may have been mentioned, but I didn't see it.

I was reading an article the other day about keeping your septic system healthy.  It said that if you have a septic tank you should use liquid detergents.  It didn't say as to why, but I made the assumption it had to do with the solids in the powder.

 

 

[dirtybuck]

Harley:

We lived in a residential area when I was a kid back in the '60's. I remember more than once my dad having to call Roto-Rooter (or similar generic company) to come and unclog the line that led to the washer drain.

Before the call was made, either my brother, my sister or I would have to monitor the drain and lift the lid to stop the water from overflowing. The water would go down slowly, and the procedure would be repeated until enough of the water was out and the cycle could continue without any worry (just to mention, our washer was a '67 Frigiaire, model WCD).

On the second go around with this problem, the guy who came out to do the work told my dad the culprit was the constant use of high suds detergents (Tide, Cheer, Oxydol, etc.). It was suggested we switch to a low sudser.

My dad would alternate brands and even use liquid detergents (the only ones available then were Wisk and All). The problem after that seemed to disappear.

I still wonder if somehow high levels of phosphates may have led to the problem?

 

[3beltwesty]

In the deep South here where the humidity is high, powdered soaps tend to cakes and harden into big lumps. Many boxed products are not lines like a box of crackers is; thus powdered products often have a lessor shelf life in a store or worse when at home and opened. A open box of powdered dishwater detergent under a damp sink really needs a mortar and pestle to return it to powder; same goes with laundry powders. Thus if one here for the dishwasher that rarely gets used; we used liquid Cascade for over a decade; to avoid the caking problem.

 

[launderess]

Use Of Liquid Detergents & "Gunk* or "Bacteria"

In the wash and or machine.

There is a reason why oxygen bleach comes in liquid form by several makers. Unless there is a reason against it's usage (non-colourfast, darks, etc), add it and that along with warm to hot water washing helps deal with germs and odors in clothing.

You can also add one to two tablespoons of pure sodium percarbonate when using liquid detergents. Though it is alkaline, it isn't nearly as bad as washing soda and the small amount won't interfere (much if at all), with the pH levels in wash from the more neutral liquid detergents.

Sodium percarbonate has the additonal benefit of working even in "cold" water, something even pure hydrogen peroxide cannot totally lay claim.