Laundry gel or powder

[lahdeedah2019]

I used to use laundry powder all the time and fabric softener . Then I switched to laundry 2 in 1 gel and also use fabric softener at the same time (I'm aware it's not necessary ) I just like to . I was just wondering what actually is better for washing clothes with gel or powder ? I find with gel the clothes don't always come out smelling nice , not horrible just don't smell of anything but when I used powder sometimes there would be powder residue when I'd take the clothes out the washing machine

Powder as it’s miles cheaper. And supposedly better for the machine as well.

I do take a few capsules on holiday (if we’re going somewhere that has a machine) as it’s preferable lugging a bag of white powder through customs.

Powder every time. I work in the white goods industry powder gets clothes cleaner and is better for the washing machine.

I use method liquid, but have kept an old persil cap and put it straight in the drum. It stops the drawer going gunky.

Every now and then I run a 90 degree wash with vinegar, never had a problem with smells!

I get powder cuz no plastic.

Powder, although Ariel have just stopped doing their colour one. Any suggestions for an equivalent?

Powder. It gets greasy stains out better nd is much better for the machine.

I usually get the biggest box of Daz I can. The 80 wash boxes are usually £8 or £9.

I use powder (Aerial or Persil bio), half the recommended dose and probably about a quarter to a third of the recommended dose of fabric conditioner. My whites are definitely much brighter with powder than gels or tablets.
I've been doing this for years now 🙂

I alternate with Sainsbury's (or whatever is on offer) liquid capsules for colours and then Tesco own brand powder tablets for lights and whites, both bio. Stops the machine getting gross- apparently the trend for people using lower wash temperatures means the liquidtabs don't break down properly and cause build up. Happened to my sister and it was grim!

As an aside, does anyone know why so few places do the bio powder tablets now? I see plenty of the big boxes of loose powder but I like the convenience of the tablets. My local big Sainsbury's has stopped stocking the powder tablets altogether, and Tesco only does their own brand. Seems weird given so many here seem to still use them!

Powder. I used liquid and gels for a while and had 3 washing machines in that time. Always eventually ended up with the clothes having a sour damp smell to them. Have been using powder for the last 5 years and never had that problem again

I used to work for one of the two big manufacturers of washing powders, liquids etc, but not in that division, and many years ago. People who did work for that part were excited about liquids because they could sell water and no bleach meant the ingredients were cheaper than powders. Liquids are cheaper to make because there is no drying stage. They loved tablets too because it forced people to use more powder.

@Drogosnextwife I am so glad you've just mentioned that damp smell I've been smelling that when I put the clothes on the maiden to dry . Although I obviously new it was the clothes I couldn't work out why they were smelling like that ! Now I no ... liquid !

Powder here too. I just throw a kettle full of boiling water down the drawer occasionally to rinse it through. Never used fabric conditioner in years.

This is a really good thread on this same topic I developed laundry detergents AMA www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

Interesting thread, I've used fairy non bio gel straight in the machine for several years now as I used to find powder and softener clogged the drawer up and didn't do a good job, but now I think I'll go back to powder and put it directly in the machine! Will still have to be non bio tho as we are a sensitive skin bunch!

I use powder. I put it in the drawer but once a week or so I pull the drawer out and give it a good clean so never had a problem with clogging.

I buy the huge boxes of surf (I think, pink box one) from farmfoods 2 for £20 and they last us (family of 6, loads of washing) ages.

Powder, although Ariel have just stopped doing their colour one. Any suggestions for an equivalent?

@Sweetpotatoaddict IIRC the expert on the AMA thread recommended bio powder for whites/light colours and bio gel for darks/bright colours (because the gel doesn't contain bleach) if you are open to using a gel.

Powder here too - I also add soda crystals. I tend to use vinegar instead of fabric conditioner, I was amazed at how soft things were when I first switched to vinegar.

@FuzzyPixel

Doesn’t vinegar make the clothes stink?

@user1498572889 no, not at all. I was a bit worried about a smell at first, but I was relieved when I found that the clothes didn't smell!

To add fragrance to our washing, I either use fragranced ironing water or wool drying balls with a few drops of essential oils.

I buy the lidl formil bio powder too, it works really well and isn't very strongly scented - my clothes just smell fresh and clean rather than tropical lily and mango or whatever!
Personally I don't like the way fabric softener makes my clothes feel and smell so I don't use it.

Has to be powder for me, clothes are cleaner and smell nice, i use Bold or Ariel what ever one is the cheapest

I use fairy gel, the one where you put the thing in the machine. I love it. I used to use the liquid capsules but sometimes the machine isn't full, so with gel I can use as much or as little as I need, depending on how much there is. Never used powder, I hate it.

Aldi bio powder tablets for me, use about half the recommended dose. Clothes always clean and fresh. The stock in store is often low so I half expect they'll discontinue them any time. I hope not.
I always put them in the draw but might try direct in the drum after hearing so many of you do this.

Persil non bio powder for me. I get the 130 wash box from costco, use less than they say and one box lasts me about 7-8 months. I use fabric conditioner but half what they say and again it lasts forever!