What is better to use powder or gel for washing clothes?

If a few years ago, housewives, starting a wash, chose between one type of powder and laundry soap, today the range of profile products has expanded significantly. Now, a washing gel has appeared on the household chemicals market, which means it has become even more difficult to determine what will serve better at home.

Innovative liquid development is gradually gaining its army of fans, but traditional powder does not give up. In order to understand which product will perform better in a particular case, you need to compare their characteristics, compositions, physical and chemical properties, price, and the availability of additional options.

Powder or gel - comparative

Skeptics believe that washing gel is just another marketing ploy of household chemical manufacturers, designed to increase their sales. Is this so, will allow us to understand the comparative characteristics of two types of drugs:

• Both powder and gel are ready-to-use products that do not need to be diluted, mixed or activated with auxiliary reagents. The use of both products does not cause any difficulties.
• The maximum efficiency that the powder can provide during washing is achieved by using water heated to high temperatures (up to 90 ° C). Substances that make up liquids are destroyed at such rates, therefore it is recommended to dilute the gel with warm water, the temperature of which does not exceed 30-40 ° C.
• The components that make up the gels need special activation, which is possible only when using a washing machine. The powder does not require such stimulation, therefore, it manifests itself better during hand washing.
• The undoubted advantage of the gels is the ease of dosage. While powders have to be poured “by eye” or used for this measuring spoons, usually not included with the product, the gel can be measured with a cap.
• When working with washing powders, many housewives experience discomfort, because the composition is very dusty, irritating the mucous membranes. Fluids in the form of a gel do not create uncomfortable conditions and very rarely provoke allergic reactions.
• It is much more convenient to store the gel, because the lid of the bottle can simply be tightened tightly. Powder constantly strives to get enough sleep out of the box or damp.
• Granules of a granular substance can dissolve for a very long time even in hot water, so this composition is washed out rather reluctantly, often leaving specific stains on clothes after washing. Liquid products are washed much better, so products do not require additional rinsing.
• Habitual powder is a rather aggressive means, its regular use negatively affects the condition of the tissue and leads to the gradual wear of things. Gel formulations act gently and accurately, preserving the texture of the fibers. After their use, garments do not acquire a washed out look and look like new.
• According to scientists, liquid products contain much less substances that negatively affect the state of the environment. For this reason, there is an active promotion of the use of gel products.
• Given the fact that the gel gives the maximum effect at low temperatures, and the powder at high temperatures, energy savings in the first case are obvious.

Since liquid products began to sell better and their assortment expanded, the impressive difference in price has flattened out and ceased to play a decisive role.

Tip: Before making a choice in favor of a specific tool, you must carefully read the composition of the product and familiarize yourself with its properties. Today, more and more often you can find powders that are more like gels and vice versa. There is a high risk of acquiring a drug that does not meet the stated requirements and receiving the wrong effect for which the calculation was made.

We choose, based on the composition of household chemicals

Despite the identical purpose of the cleaning products, their composition is noticeably different. To understand which product will serve better, you need to remember that:

1. The gel contains much less surfactants than powder. For this reason, after washing, liquid products are washed out faster than bulk ones, do not leave any traces, but a significant part of the detergent composition is spent on softening the aquatic environment. The remaining components are not so active, so the result from the use of gels is not as obvious as from the use of powders.
2. Gels contain active enzymes that help remove organic protein contaminants. Powders cannot boast of such properties (only if they are not specialized). It is important to remember that enzymes act only in the process of delicate washing, at high temperatures (above 60 ° C) they are destroyed.
3. It is rare to find a gel that contains phosphates, but the powder acts precisely thanks to these components. Chemical compounds at times increase the cleaning ability of surfactants, therefore, contribute to the removal of even the most persistent stains. If you need to establish which product removes dirt better during washing, the answer is unequivocal - washing powder. On the other hand, the harm of phosphates has long been proven, and if it is possible to avoid their effects, you need to use it.
4. Many gels designed to process white things contain titanium dioxide and its analogues. The unique components are not completely washed out after washing and are deposited on the surface of the fabric in scanty amounts. They reflect light, creating the effect of the greatest possible whiteness up to a blue tint.
5. It is customary to actively add aromatic additives to all modern household chemicals, but even here the gel has an advantage over powder. Its liquid formula allows you to better combine plant extracts that are beneficial for tissue and skin, balms, emollients, and disinfectants.

It is difficult for a person who does not have a chemical education to independently establish the strengths and weaknesses of each product from the field of household chemicals. Therefore, when choosing the right product, you can be guided by at least the specifics of the products, their strengths and weaknesses.

In which case to use gel, and in which powder?

If you summarize all of the above factors and features, then you can easily understand in which case you need to use powder for washing, and when you can do with gel:

• A gel product is ideal for daily or very frequent machine-washable items of clothing and household items. If you need to process the product with your hands, then you can use only a traditional bulk product.
• The processing of delicate fabrics is best entrusted to the gel. It will gently cleanse impurities by acting in cool water, restore the color and texture of the fibers, and in some cases even return the product to its original size. The powder is indispensable for processing items made of cotton and linen, which must be washed in hot water to get the best result.
• Safe and soft gel will become an indispensable tool for the restoration of children's things. But you need to remember that only high-quality powder will cope with severe pollution.
• A gel remedy is an indispensable product for asthmatics and people whose body is prone to a violent reaction to the effects of various chemicals.

It turns out that it is recommended to have both laundry detergents and their liquid counterparts in the household. The correct combination and alternation of compounds will achieve maximum results with minimal risks.