Is washing liquid better than powder?

[Itsworldwar3outthere]

I've just bought liquid Persil for the first time. It's more expensive and requires a smaller quantity in the wash. Am I right in thinking it does a better wash? Is it Superior quality?

Also, I only use half the powder that the box recommends and everything comes out perfectly clean.

Another vote for powder. I tried switching to liquid and my DD (who isn't allergic normally) came out in a rash.

I'm on a septic tank and have never had a problem with washing powder.

No, quite the opposite - the reason there is such a push on liquid detergents (if by any chance you see the ads on tv and notice on the store shelves that there is more space offered to liquids vs powders) is for one reason only - liquids are cheaper to manufacture and are more expensive at sale, thus a bigger profit.

Sorry, just read what Rabbit put, but she/he is right - powders cost more to make, but the cheapest at the store, and perform the best.

makes note to switch to powder when shopping next

Thank you!

I use the liquid! I either use Ariel or Bold... after a wash, I give the seal a clean. I've used the liquids ever since I bought my new washer 3.5 years ago and I've never had an issue. B&M tend to stock the biggest sizes (3 litres)

I'm just trying Method liquid. Not noticed much difference, but it smells nicer and is easier to store.
vintage we put all our pants in the wash together at 60 degrees. I don't wash anything at 30 unless it's really not very dirty.

I never could work out why I get horrible slimy gunk building up in the rubber seal on my machine. Now I know! All these years I've been using liquitabs because they're convenient and fit nicely on the shelf.

Should have listened to my mother. Powder it is...starting with the next big shop.

I use liquid for colours and powder for whites.

And never was at 30. Also never use my machine's eco wash, which is basically 4 hours of every thing sitting in stale cold water and coming out smelling musty.

Powder... and it has to be Persil. Smells amazing and gets whites white.

A 45 wash is on offer in Tesco and Morrisons for £6 so getting stocking up!

I have never used powder

Doesn't it clog in the drawer? Help me o wise ones and i'll try and convert my liquid loving household!

Batbear if the powder is clogging the drawer you might be using a bit too much.
Try reducing what it says on the box and see if that helps.

I worked for a detergent manufacturer around the time they introduced liquids. They were very excited about selling water to customers and saving on bleach. They were worried about the less good cleaning, but thought good marketing could get over that. After all they were already persuading people to use much more powder than was needed. I use less than half the recommended amount of powder. Tablets are another coup for the manufacturers, much more difficult to use less than they want you to. I use Method liquid because it has very little perfume and the bottle is tiny.

Hmm. Feeling maybe I should swap back to powder. But storage space is a problem. In the tiny cupboard next to the washing machine I can store a bottle for whites, one for colours plus when they are running low, new ones to replace them. I couldn't fit 3 or 4 large washing powder boxes in there.
Oh and I wash almost everything on 30 on a long wash (2 1/2 hours). I picked up the tip on MN that it gives the enzymes time to work and I can't tell any difference in the clothes from washing at 40 for 90 min.
But as you'd expect, my washing machine needs regular degunking!

rabbit how do e cover stop their powder clogging the tank, I wonder?

I empty the powder directly into the drum and the put the washing in on top (recommended to me by washing machine repair man).

Sainsbury's own brand big boxes - work perfectly well and amazingly cheap. Look at the price per wash on the shelf tab, you'll be amazed at the price difference between powders, liquids and liquitabs.

Sounds like most people on this thread use powder but just to remind anyone using liqui tabs to really be careful with children - there has been huge rise in the number of children taken to a and e with poisoning after swallowing them as they look and feel so nice and like some kind of sweets

Ok - back to the powder v liquid debate!!

chemenger but thank you. That makes a lot of sense.

I use powder as I used to work in tenancy management and tradesmen were always saying powder is better for the machine. I also now use non-bio (Persil) for everything as DC have eczema and I haven't noticed a difference in the cleanliness of the clothes. Then again I wouldn't be afraid of a hot wash (to put it mildly) and the only thing I even wash at 30 is wool. I always add laundry cleanser or zoflora to a 30 wash too as, as PP said, 30 won't take germs out, it will just spread them around.

Powder is so much cheaper too.

I'm going to try going back to powder...

After going through 2 washing machines in under 3 years, the repair guy told me the reason my machine kept dying was the slimy build up in the pipes from liquid stuff, and to switch to powder as it dissolves completely and leaves no residue behind.

Had the latest machine ages now, 2 or 3 washes every day and still going strong! Stuff definitely smells fresher with powder too

Wow! Thread still going. Great information exchange. Thanks fo that tip bibbitt , I'll try putting the powder directly in my next wash. Disd repair man explain why it's better?

RoseDeGambrinus I decant powder out of the box into waterproof containers like these:

www.amazon.co.uk/Addis-Store-Clear-Litre-Large/dp/B01CK12KP4/ref=pd_bxgy_201_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PRKXADB06J947WXFEG3S&tag=mumsnetforum-21

they're damp-proof, & could be stored elsewhere if no space in your tiny cupboard

I put powder in one of those old liquid detergent dosing balls & put that inside the drum - it all dissolves & washes fine with no residue anywhere (mind you I do always do an extra rinse)

I use any non-bio powder available. I would use bio were it not for DS, who has eczema and every time we use bio it flares up.

specialsubject, I don't know to be honest, just noticed that they carry a suitable for septic tanks label.
The problem with septic tanks is that you can't use any bleach or anti-bac products with them as they kill the good bacteria in the bottom of the tank that breaks down the waste and cause it to over-flow. Maybe Ecover use a more biodegradable bleaching agent?
I've never used it as it's always quite pricey