The times when housewives had a limited choice of laundry products are long gone. Classic soaps and powders are now being offered a new alternative - gels, which have gradually begun to displace traditional types of household chemicals from the market. The liquid consistency, ease of dosage and use of the gels were appreciated by the consumer and contributed to their wide distribution.
However, many still prefer washing powders, not trusting fashion trends. Let's try to figure out what is better: gel or laundry detergent? To do this, we will consider the features, advantages and weaknesses of each of the funds.
With all its advantages and positive characteristics, the gel cannot completely replace the powder. There are situations when you need to use traditional detergent in powder form.
Benefits of washing gel
Why are liquid laundry detergents attractive and why do more than 40% of Europeans prefer gels? This type of household chemicals has significant advantages that should be taken into account when choosing.
- Convenient storage, accurate dosing, savings in use.
Gels are available in containers that do not take up much space, or capsules. It is much easier and more economical to pour a measuring cup of liquid into the drum than to pour powder “by eye.” After opening the package, the gel will not crumble or turn into lumps like powder. - Fast solubility.
The consistency of the gel is a solution, and, unlike powder, it does not have particles that get stuck between the fibers of the fabric during washing. It dissolves instantly, leaving no white streaks in the wash after use. - Effective removal of stains of organic origin.
Achieved through the enzymes included in the product. - Minimal risk for allergy sufferers.
The gel does not contain dust, therefore it does not cause irritation to the mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory tract; the product is not used for hand washing. In addition, it washes well, which reduces the risk of an allergic reaction to washed items. - Delicate, gentle effect on fabrics.
The gel gently cleans things without causing deformation or structural changes in textiles. Ideal for washing items made of delicate fabrics - wool, silk. - Environmental Safety.
The chemical composition of the gels does not contain phosphates, which are harmful to the environment. - Thanks to the liquid formula, the gels can better combine emollients, balms, and herbal extracts that are beneficial for the skin.
Important!
Using gel instead of washing powder eliminates the need to use fabric softener and other things, and this is an additional saving.
Disadvantages of the gel
However, there are a few negative points to consider when using laundry gel. Firstly
, the absence of phosphates reduces the cleaning ability of the gel, the active substances act only in warm water - 30-40⁰C.
At temperatures above 60⁰C, things will wash much worse. Secondly
, it is better to use gel products in a washing machine: the operation of the drum ensures a high-quality result.
When washing by hand, the cleaning effect will be low. Thirdly
, the gel may not be able to cope with old stubborn stains, but washing powder will solve the problem.
Comparative characteristics
Comparative characteristics of liquid and bulk detergents are presented in the table:
| Criteria for comparison | Powder | Gel |
| Release form | Loose powdery product | Liquid concentrate |
| Features of the composition | Anionic surfactants predominate (the harshest) | Co-surfactants prevail: nonionic and cationic (have a mild cleaning effect) |
| Washing temperature | Up to 90 degrees | Not higher than 60 degrees (preferably 30-40) |
| Washing type | Manual and machine | Machine |
| Features of application | For removing difficult stains, for soaking | For everyday washing |
| Rinsing | Additional rinse cycle required | Rinses well |
| For what type of fabrics | Not suitable for all delicate fabrics | Can be used to care for delicate fabrics |
| Disinfection ability | High | Low |
| Health safety | Less secure | More secure |
| Price | Different price categories, there are cheap products | Average price category and above |
Benefits of laundry detergent
Laundry detergent, a more common and traditional laundry detergent, has its own benefits.
- Versatility of use.
These products are available for various modes: hand washing, activator-type machines and automatic ones. The powder washes all types of textiles. - Efficiency.
Washing powders, due to their composition, are able to cope with stubborn stains and old dirt. - Wide temperature range.
The powder “works” successfully and shows good results in the temperature range from 20 to 90⁰C. Ideal for high-quality washing of cotton and linen items in hot water. - Suitable for soaking.
Some of the contaminants are removed at this stage. - The shelf life of powdered laundry detergents is usually longer than liquid detergents.
- Affordable price range
compared to gel products.
The washing ability of powder compared to gel is much higher, but the result is achieved through the use of surfactants that are harmful to the environment and health. When choosing a product, set your priorities.
Disadvantages of powder
Despite the obvious advantages, compared to other types of laundry detergents, powder has several serious disadvantages.
- Inconvenient storage and use.
Powder packaging takes up a lot of space. In addition, it is easy to spill it or make a mistake with the dosage. - The powder can become damp and clump
, making it more difficult to wash out of the machine. - Health hazard.
Powder dust entering the air can provoke an allergic reaction in the respiratory tract and eyes. Left on the fabric, particles of the product can lead to skin allergies. - Rinse quality.
Powder takes longer to dissolve and remove, and undissolved particles can leave streaks on items. - Aggressiveness.
Substances contained in powders can destroy artificial synthetic dyes used for fabrics. When using to wash delicate items, use conditioner.
The aggressive effect of the powder can play a positive role where other means cannot cope: it perfectly washes work clothes with oil and grease stains.
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How to choose what to wash with?
In some cases, preference is given to gel, in others – to powder. This depends on many factors, namely:
- what kind of washing is to be done - hand or machine;
- what items will be washed – delicate or thick fabrics;
- what is the washing temperature and type of dirt;
- how much money a person has and more.
If you set your priorities correctly, you will be able to significantly improve the quality of your laundry.
Regular powder is preferred in the following cases:
It is used when washing in hot water (up to 90 degrees) is necessary. Cotton and linen are not afraid of such temperatures.- Worn and washed clothes with stubborn stains (from blood, wine, juices, etc.) are also washed with powder.
- Hand wash required.
- Things need to be disinfected and rid of persistent odors.
When you need to make your choice in favor of the liquid form:
- The liquid composition is ideal for caring for delicate fabrics: wool, silk, synthetics, mixed materials.
- This is a daily wash, the items are not very dirty.
- A person suffers from allergies or asthma.
- The wash cycle will be short and there is no time for additional rinsing.
Hand washing using gel is not recommended, as its use is not as effective. The formula is better activated precisely in the conditions of a washing machine (so-called mechanical activation occurs). Manual processing will not achieve this result.
What is best for children's clothes?
To wash delicate products, which include children's clothes, you need to choose household chemicals with the safest composition for health. On the one hand, gels are environmentally friendly, have a gentle effect on fabric, and therefore are more suitable for washing children's clothes. On the other hand, there are often severe stains on children’s clothes that a liquid product cannot deal with: only a powder can deal with them. What should I do?
When washing delicate and not too soiled children's clothes, you can use gels. If you need to remove stubborn stains, you need to turn to washing powder, checking its composition on the packaging.
Attention!
To wash children's clothes, special powders are used that are safe for health and do not cause allergies. The packaging of such products must indicate the purpose (for children's things) and the age of the child from which the powder can be used on his clothes.
Dosage of liquid detergent
When calculating the required dose of the drug, take into account:
- amount of laundry
- pollution level
- preliminary preparation.
First of all, focus on the dosage offered by the gel manufacturer. The universal instructions are as follows: on average, one and a half caps of product are required for a full load; for pre-washed items one cap will be enough; Lightly soiled items can also be washed with a dose of one full cap.
Which is more profitable?
Washing powder, on the one hand, is more profitable, since its price is much lower than gel detergent. However, can we say that it is more economical? The fact is that more powder is consumed for washing, and besides, it simply crumbles from an open package. Therefore, there is no need to talk about big benefits. Thus, you need to choose a detergent based primarily on the question of expediency of use. It is best to have both gel and washing powder in your arsenal.
Reviews
On the Internet you can find many reviews about the use of powder and gels.
Many housewives prefer liquid detergents , as they consider them more convenient to use. They are satisfied that they are rinsed well and there are no white stains left after them.
Other consumers do not notice the difference between gels and powders. Therefore, they use those compounds that are cheaper. The advantages of the powder include its high efficiency in the fight against old stains.
You will find reviews on the use of gels and powders here and here.
So which is better to choose?
Let's summarize: the table shows the main qualities of gels and powders.
| Index | Washing powder | Gel |
| Compound | A large number of synthetic surfactants, phosphates | Less amount of surfactants, enzymes |
| Structure | Granular | Homogeneous, liquid, the product easily penetrates into the fabric |
| Temperature and washing mode | Wide range - from 20 to 90⁰C, machine and hand wash | Active at t 30-40⁰C, machine washable |
| Effect on textiles | Aggressive, may change fabric color | Soft, gentle |
| Cleansing power | Intensive | Lightweight |
| Application | All types of fabrics, removal of complex stains | Daily wash, delicate fabrics |
| Features of use | May leave streaks, requires vigorous rinsing | Cleans well |
| Bactericidal, disinfectant properties | High | Weak |
| Health safety | Low | High |
So, having analyzed all the features, positive and negative aspects of washing powder and gels, we came to the question: what is better to choose for washing? Gels choose:
- for everyday washing, if you need to refresh the item or remove easily removable dirt;
- machine washable only;
- if there is a danger of allergies;
- for delicate fabrics: silk, wool, satin, lace, tulle, children's items;
- for washing expensive items, outerwear, so that there are no streaks.
Washing powder is used:
- if you need to remove complex (blood, chocolate, wine, juices, etc.) and old contaminants;
- when there is no allergy to detergents;
- if necessary, disinfect the item, remove the smell (for washing shoes, heavily soiled clothes);
- for washing clothes at high temperatures, cotton, linen fabrics;
- for hand washing.
Attention!
Gels are not used for hand washing, since only automatic mode is needed to activate biologically active substances that dissolve dirt.
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TOP 10 best liquid powders
We recommend studying the best liquid products for comfortable and quick washing.
Persil
Persil Color liquid laundry detergent is designed specifically for colored laundry. Persil gel has a highly concentrated composition with a Deep Clean Technology formula containing 13 active ingredients.
The product penetrates deeply into the fibers of the fabric and washes even the most difficult stains, even without special soaking. Among other things, Persil keeps colors rich and bright and prevents dye transfer. Clothes do not fade or fade after washing for a long time.
Tide
Tide washing gel is a universal detergent that can be used to care for the clothes of all family members. The components included in its composition cope with complex stains, maintain brightness and color saturation, and prevent fabrics from becoming gray or yellow.
Ariel
This is a professional laundry detergent whose special formula provides first-class results: excellent stain removal, deep cleansing, radiant whiteness, delightful freshness and low-temperature performance.
Highly effective ingredients perfectly remove even the most stubborn stains. Contains a formula that preserves color and keeps your items looking new longer. Perfume fragrance gives linen a light, fresh aroma.
Weasel
This gel is designed to care for your brightly colored clothes and maintain their original beauty, wash after wash. The special Fibrex-tech formula of this liquid product not only gently removes dirt, but also takes excellent care of clothes in two key areas: color saturation and fabric strength.
Weasel copes with all types of stains from food and drinks, traces of children's creativity and any street dirt. The product also maintains the shape of the fabric, maintaining the elasticity of the fibers, and also provides a fabric restoration effect and helps maintain strength.
Savex
The enhanced enzyme formula of the new line of Savex laundry detergent facilitates the process of removing contaminants, even of a specific nature. Cellulase added to the formula takes care of fabrics and colors of clothing, increasing their service life.
The product has the most persistent and vibrant aroma. SAVEX gives a long-lasting feeling of freshness with perfumed capsules and makes laundry innovation accessible to everyone.
ORO
Concentrated universal gel ORO for colored fabrics is suitable for washing at any temperature, for machine and hand washing. Prevents the formation of scale in the washing machine. A wonderful floral aroma invigorates and gives things the freshness and spice of meadow herbs.
Faberlic
The advantage and uniqueness of this product is the combination of excellent washing quality and stain removal characteristic of a first-class washing powder, with excellent dissolution and gentle care for fabric fibers, and the advantages of washing gel.
Its modern formula contains synergistically balanced patented additives and the latest bioenzyme complex, together providing the highest level of purity with minimal consumption.
Synergetic
The complex composition of this product takes care of all fabrics with a simple and even delicate nature: wash cotton, synthetics, wool and mixed materials without worrying about their durability.
Anti-resorbents preserve the original appearance of products, and the slightly alkaline environment provides an optimal balance of cleaning properties and hypoallergenicity. The product has a delicate and delicate lily of the valley aroma thanks to the composition of essential oils - they give the gel a pleasant smell and have a slight antibacterial effect.
Eared nanny
The gel for treating children's clothes from various stains and dirt does not contain fragrances or dyes, therefore it is completely harmless to the baby. The product is effective in combating the most severe stains and also combats unpleasant odors. The gel easily dissolves in water and rinses well from clothes. It can be used for hand and machine washing.
Review of the best gel manufacturers
The main criteria when choosing gels are their effectiveness, health safety and cost. According to user surveys, the most popular liquid products from the following manufacturers:
- Henkel
(Germany). Manufacturer: Persil Gel, Perwoll Gel, Rex Power Color, Losk. The products remove dirt well, protect color, smooth fabric, and have a pleasant smell. Disadvantages - they are used up quickly and are expensive (price - 3-5 euros / l). - Procter & Gamble
(USA). Products – Ariel Gel, Tide. Economical packaging, affordable price, high efficiency - copes well with difficult stains. Disadvantages: a large number of chemical additives that can cause allergies and a strong odor. Price 3-4 euros/liter. - NCT (New Chemical Technologies)
(Russia). The product is Wellery washing gel. Gentle on textiles, color protection, practical packaging, pleasant light aroma and economical consumption. Health safety due to the use of natural biodegradable components. Disadvantages - the price is higher than that of other domestic manufacturers - from 150 rubles. for 1 l. - Unilever
(Netherlands). Product – OMO Gel. Anti-allergenic, easily washed off gel, protects fabric from color fading, pleasant unobtrusive aroma. Based on inorganic compounds, can be used for hand washing. Disadvantages - high price (1 liter 3.5 - 4.5 euros). - Nevskaya cosmetics
(Russia). The product is “Eared Nanny” gel for washing children’s clothes. The hypoallergenic product is suitable for children from the first days of life, has bactericidal and disinfectant properties. Low price. Disadvantages - it is not suitable for all children, sometimes there are allergic reactions.
When choosing a detergent, you can give preference to universal products suitable for various types of textiles. For allergy sufferers, gels for children's clothes are ideal; they are safe for health and remove stains well.
Capsules
For many Russian housewives, capsules are still a new product.
Reference! They are miniature boxes that contain a special gel. During the washing process, the protective layer dissolves, and the contents are poured out and dirt is removed.
There are many types of capsules.
The following advantages of this product can be highlighted:
- The product is already dosed, so you don’t have to measure anything.
- Compact sizes. Sold in small plastic containers that do not take up much space.
- The capsules already contain air conditioning, which is an additional saving of money.
- Gentle effect on fiber structure and fabric coloring.
- They dissolve even at low temperatures, which does not affect the washing result.
- Significant savings in water and energy, as the gel is easily washed out of clothes.
A significant disadvantage is that when washing even a small amount of laundry, it will not be possible to divide the capsule into parts. Therefore, they are not suitable for hand washing. In addition, the strong and long-lasting smell of the product causes allergies in some people.
The product has bright color and attracts children. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the capsules away from small children, because when opening the capsule, severe irritation may occur.
Attention! The average market price for capsules is much higher than for other drugs.
Composition of washing powders and gels
The main functions of both products - gel and powder - are the same, but the composition has significant differences. It is difficult for a simple buyer to understand without the appropriate knowledge. Let's look at the main components of the products.
- The main components of powders are surfactants, which remove contaminants. Gels include much less surfactants than washing powders (about 15-30% anionic and nonionic). This explains the rapid leaching of the product from the surface of things and the absence of white stripes.
- Gels contain enzymes and enzymes - active substances that eliminate organic pollutants. Most powders do not contain enzymes.
- Phosphates, which are unsafe for health and are responsible for softening water and dissolving contaminants, are included in washing powders and are not found in gels.
- Laundry gels contain titanium dioxide, which makes it possible to perfectly cope with stains on light-colored fabrics. After rinsing, this component settles on the surface, creating the effect of dazzling whiteness,
- Flavors, fragrances, and additives are contained in both products. However, the liquid consistency of the gel makes it possible to add plant extracts, emollients that protect the skin.
The optimal combination of active substances at which the detergent is considered safe is up to 5% surfactants and 10% phosphates. Phosphate-free powders have appeared on the modern household chemicals market, but their cost is still too high.
General properties
Powder and gel are products designed to achieve a single goal: removing dirt from things, which is their main similarity. The basis of the washing formula is represented by synthetic surfactants, but their percentages are different.
Both gels and powders use aromatic additives, substances to protect against color fading, and whitening components.
Both powders and gels are available for washing colored and white items. You can find cheap and expensive cleaning compounds on sale.
Which is better: gel or capsules for washing?
Capsules are the same washing gel dosed into silicone soluble sachets. Sometimes they include air conditioning. One sachet is designed for a full wash cycle and will do an excellent job of removing dirt. The composition of the liquid gel in the packaging and capsules is almost identical. What are the benefits of capsules? Precise ready dosage, comfortable use. There are also disadvantages: you cannot divide the capsule if you need to wash a few things; colorful sachets may interest young children; gel capsules are much more expensive. What is better to choose – gel or capsules? Choose based on considerations of convenience and safety for the child.
Thus, washing powder and liquid gels have their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The ideal option is to have both means in your arsenal so that you can use either one depending on the task at hand and the type of textile.
History of liquid laundry detergents
Despite the fact that the first washing gels appeared back in the 50s of the 20th century, they gained popularity relatively recently.
This is due to objective factors such as cost reduction and hypoallergenicity. Same with subjective ones. Modern people perceive liquid laundry detergents as more effective and premium, due to the high prices in the past.
They have primarily gained popularity in the US, which even in 2022 accounted for a quarter of the $27 billion a year in global laundry gel sales.
In most developed countries, in recent years there has been an increase in sales of washing gels and a corresponding decrease in purchases of washing powders.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, forecasts for future sales growth have become even more optimistic.
By what principle to choose
When choosing this product, most people evaluate the profitability of the purchase according to the following criteria:
- Material side;
- Efficiency;
- Interaction with the washing machine (should not have a negative impact on its mechanisms);
- Pleasant smell or lack thereof;
- Safety, hypoallergenicity of the product (this is especially concerning for those who have small children);
- Beautiful packaging;
- Personal choice (some people are used to using washing powders and are not able to take something new, while others liked the product in the form of a gel).
Compositions of substances
If we talk about detergents, they are all practically the same from each other. Many have a standard composition, taken as a basis for the development of other specialized, narrowly focused actions. As usual, they contain:
- Bleaches;
- Washing components;
- Moisture retention particles;
- Defoamers;
- Fragrances.
But sometimes dry powders are replaced with rinse aids and liquid analogues, which do not spoil the clothes for which delicate washing is intended. If you compare the compositions, you can compare them like this:
| Photo | Gels | Powders |
| They have a homogeneous structure, which is determined by the presence of surface active substances. | They have strong active substances such as surfactants. They are anionic and nonionic. |
| They have a soft structure and easily penetrate thick layers of clothing. They wash out easily and dissolve in the same way, but warm water is needed for complete breakdown. | Powders are suitable for washing in cold water, machine and manual mode. If we talk about the composition, it is homogeneous in the absence of active colored substances. |
| Gels can be used to wash the same material every day. They do not destroy the surface so much and do not make it hard and dense. | Powders are more intense, and even at 20 degrees of water they can make a soft towel dense and hard. Sometimes balms and laundry conditioners are added instead. |
| Gels are suitable for washing any fabrics that can be washed in a gentle cycle. These are wool, linen and silk. | Powders are used for all types of fabric, from nylon to thick denim. At the same time, a temperature of 90 degrees will not affect the active components in any way. |
| Gels have fewer anionic surfactants, which indicates suitable use for children's clothing. Cationic and nonionic particles are good at destroying natural contaminant environments. | Powders can destroy synthetic and artificial dyes and thick layers of dirt. Thanks to synthetic surfactants, the powders take on cleansing quickly and better. |
As you can see, all detergents have their pros and cons. It is not without reason that capsules placed inside clothing were invented to provide a strong effect of gels. But powders are still applicable in washing - they penetrate fabrics and structures faster and remove complex stains better.
