Many people are as loyal to their laundry detergent as they are to their favorite soft drink. Some just buy what their mother used and others buy what’s on sale. With so many choices on the market, you’re sure to find one a laundry detergent that you like and meets your laundry cleaning needs.

Liquid or Powdered or Single Dose Pack?

General purpose detergents are available in liquid, powdered or single dose form.

All forms of laundry detergent will clean clothes well. However, liquid detergents are very effective on greasy, oily stains and can be easily used as a pretreater.

Powdered detergents are usually less expensive to use per load. They are effective on clay and ground-in dirt. Powdered detergents can be problematic if you have extremely cold water or only use cold water for washing because they may not dissolve completely. Always add powdered detergent to the washer drum before clothes and water are added. If you experience problems with residue, mix the detergent with a quart of hot water and add that directly to the washer drum before doing a load of laundry.

Single dose packs are the most convenient and simple to use. But they are the most expensive to use per load and may take two packs to handle really dirty clothes. Single dose packs are pre-measured for an average soil and size load. If you do large loads of laundry or heavily soiled laundry, you may need to use two.They can also be problematic for households with small children and vulnerable adults because they are often mistaken for candy and can cause poisoning.

Learn to use them correctly and safely. Take a look at your family’s needs and that will help you make a decision and using single dose products.

Liquids, powders and single packs can be used in all water temperatures. Both liquid and powder types are available in concentrated or ultra forms. Be sure to read the labels to ensure that you are using the correct amount.

Combination Products

A combination detergent does two jobs. Examples include a detergent plus fabric softener or color-safe bleach or bleach alternative. Some of these features enhance a detergent’s performance. Others may be unnecessary and add only additional cost to each load.

Specialty Detergents

Detergents that are designed for hand washing or machine washing delicate items are less harsh than regular detergents. Made for light soil and delicate fabrics, they are a good choice in the right situation.

Fragrance and dye free detergents are best for baby’s laundry and those with allergies or sensitive skin. Scented detergents smell great but may compete with your cologne or perfume – Apple Mango and Chanel No. 5 don’t always go together!

Does Price Equal Quality?

Price isn't always the best indicator of detergent quality. The key is looking at the list of ingredients. The more active ingredients like surfactants that lift soil away from fabric and suspend it in the water and enzymes that remove stains, the better the detergent. And, those ingredients raise the price of the product.

You'll find three tiers of detergent pricing in most retail outlets - expensive (Tide, Wisk, Persil), mid-level (Purex, Gain, Arm & Hammer, all) and discount (low end store brands, Xtra).

Consumer Reports Magazine and other testing institutions have consistently shown and listed Tide, Wisk and Persil as the best cleaning detergents on the market. However, many of the mid-level products work very well on light and medium soil. Much of laundry success is in using the right water temperatures, pre-treating stains and not overloading the washer. Only you can determine the best detergent choice for your family's laundry.

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