
Liquid vs. Powder Detergent
Both liquid and powder detergents are effective at cleaning your clothes and are safe for use in all temperatures. Long story short, the decision between the two mostly comes down to price and preference. Just keep in mind that price is not always the most significant factor when choosing the best detergent for your laundry. Generally, most of the ingredients in these products are the same, so examine the product labels to determine which one has the best formula breakdown.
Benefits of Liquid Detergent
One of the most notable advantages of liquid detergent is it’s convenient packaging, such as the measuring-cup cap and the comfortable handle. In addition to being easy to store and transport, it also serves as a pre-treatment to tough stains before they hit the washing machine. With this method, you will never be left cleaning undissolved powder from your clothes.
Cons of Liquid Detergent
While most laundry detergents feature the measuring-cup cap, some brands do not make their lines legible. This leaves consumers subject to use detergent in excess, wasting money and leaving unwanted residue on clothing. Convenience also comes at a cost, since plastic detergent bottles play an enormous role in the plastic pollution harming our environment.
Benefits of Powder Detergent
For the most part, powder detergent is more cost-efficient per load than liquid. Additionally, it’s packaging is a more eco-friendly, relatively biodegradable cardboard box. Powder detergent can also be used as a stain treatment, but you will need to mix it with water to create a paste prior to applying to garments.
Cons of Powder Detergent
Today, most powder detergents are safe for use in all standard washing machines, however, until recently many powders contained ingredients that could damage machines. For this reason, you should always check your powder detergent before use. If you are using a powder detergent paste with the wrong proportions to pretreat stains, you may see a powder residue left on your clothes.