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

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

The innovative liquid development is gradually gaining its army of fans, but traditional powder is not losing its position. 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 characteristics

Skeptics believe that washing gel is just another marketing ploy by household chemical manufacturers, designed to increase their sales. Whether this is so will be revealed by the comparative characteristics of the two types of drugs:

• Both the powder and the gel are ready-to-use products that do not need to be pre-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 when using water heated to high temperatures (up to 90ºC).Substances that make up liquids are destroyed at such rates, so it is recommended to dilute the gel with warm water, the temperature of which does not exceed 30-40ºC.
• The components that make up the gels require special activation, which is only possible when using a washing machine. The powder does not require such stimulation, so it works better during hand washing.
• The undoubted advantage of gels is the convenience of dosage. While powders have to be poured “by eye” or using measuring spoons, which are 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. Liquids 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 bottle cap can simply be screwed on tightly. The powder constantly tries to spill out of the box or become damp.
• Granules of the bulk 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 things after washing. Liquid products are washed out much better, so products do not require additional rinsing.
• The usual powder is a rather aggressive agent; its regular use negatively affects the condition of the fabric and leads to gradual wear and tear of things. Gel compositions act softly and accurately, preserving the texture of the fibers. After using them, clothing items do not take on a washed-out appearance and look like new.
• According to scientists, liquid products contain much less substances that negatively affect the environment. For this reason, there is active promotion of the use of gel products.
• Considering the fact that the gel gives 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 range expanded, the impressive difference in price has smoothed out and ceased to play a decisive role.

Advice: Before making a choice in favor of a specific product, you must carefully read the composition of the product and become familiar with its properties. Today, you can increasingly find powders whose descriptions are more reminiscent of gels and vice versa. There is a high risk of purchasing a drug that does not meet the stated requirements and obtaining an effect that is not the one expected.

We choose based on the composition of household chemicals

Despite the same purpose of 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 the powder. For this reason, after washing, liquid products are washed out faster than bulk products and do not leave any traces, but a significant part of the detergent composition is spent on softening the aqueous environment. The remaining components are not as active, so the result from using gels is not as obvious as from using powders.
2. The gels contain active enzymes that help remove protein organic contaminants. Powders cannot boast of such properties (unless they are specialized).It is important to remember that enzymes only act during delicate washing; at high temperatures (above 60ºC) they are destroyed.
3. It is rare to find a gel that contains phosphates, but the powder works precisely thanks to these components. Chemical compounds significantly increase the cleaning abilities of surfactants, and therefore help remove even the most stubborn stains. If you need to determine which product removes dirt better during the washing process, the answer is clear - washing powder. On the other hand, the harm of phosphates has long been proven, and if there is an opportunity to avoid their effects, you need to take advantage of it.
4. Many gels intended for treating white items contain titanium dioxide and its analogues. Unique components are not completely washed out after washing and settle on the surface of the fabric in minute quantities. They reflect light, creating the effect of the highest possible whiteness up to a blue tint.
5. It is customary to actively add aromatic additives to all modern household chemicals, but here too the gel has an advantage over the powder. Its liquid formula allows you to better combine plant extracts, balms, softening salts, and disinfectants that are beneficial for fabric and skin.

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

When should I use gel and when should I use powder?

If we summarize all the listed factors and features, then we can easily understand in which case you need to use powder for washing, and when you can get by with gel:

• For daily or very frequent machine washing of clothing and household items, a gel product is ideal. If you need to process the product by hand, you can only use a traditional bulk product.
• It is best to entrust the processing of delicate fabrics to gel. It will gently cleanse dirt, 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 obtain optimal results.
• A safe and soft gel will become an indispensable tool for restoring children's things. But you need to remember that only high-quality powder can handle heavy stains.
• The gel product is an indispensable product for asthmatics and people whose bodies are prone to violent reactions to the effects of various chemicals.

It turns out that it is recommended to have both washing powders and their liquid analogues in the household. Proper combination and alternation of formulations will allow you to achieve maximum results with minimal risks.