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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Pods vs washing powder

92 replies

octopuseyes · 03/10/2021 19:54

I’ve been washing towels/ bedclothes at 60 degrees with powder and vinegar to rinse
And all other clothes sorted by colour and washed at 40 degrees in powder. . I’ve been really happy with the results ( clean fresh smelling laundry) However in a bid to ‘move with the times’ and lower electricity bills I’ve started using pods on a 20/30 degree wash. So far I’m not impressed. The pods seem highly perfumed and I’m worried that they’re not really cleaning much, just masking any smells?? Am I making savings or better to stick with the ( cheaper) powder and pay more for the electricity. Ariel tell me that they’ve discontinued their powder permanently so I’m going to have to find something else anyway…. Any thoughts or experiences welcome!!

OP posts:
MiddlesexGirl · 03/10/2021 20:55

I'm finding Ariel powders more difficult to get hold of too. Used to get a nice big 65 wash box. Now 40 seems the biggest.
Reluctant to change brands as one of my DC seems allergic to everything else we've tried.

HalzTangz · 03/10/2021 21:40

@octopuseyes

I’ve been washing towels/ bedclothes at 60 degrees with powder and vinegar to rinse And all other clothes sorted by colour and washed at 40 degrees in powder. . I’ve been really happy with the results ( clean fresh smelling laundry) However in a bid to ‘move with the times’ and lower electricity bills I’ve started using pods on a 20/30 degree wash. So far I’m not impressed. The pods seem highly perfumed and I’m worried that they’re not really cleaning much, just masking any smells?? Am I making savings or better to stick with the ( cheaper) powder and pay more for the electricity. Ariel tell me that they’ve discontinued their powder permanently so I’m going to have to find something else anyway…. Any thoughts or experiences welcome!!
I use an eco egg on a eco wash (I do add conditioner and vinegar to every Los, not just towels).

My clothes always come out smelling and looking clean

Theoldwoman · 04/10/2021 04:56

@Chicchicchicchiclana

I wash everything at 40 or 60 with powder. I don't believe for one minute that a 30 degree wash gets out stains or armpit smells. And when the cardboard box is empty at least you know it will break diwn in landfill unlike the plastic box or bottle that pods and liquids come in.
I wash everything on cold and line dry, with the exception of towels and sheets which are done on 60 deg.

No stains here (and a DD who works in kitchens and DH a miner) and no underarm smells.

RedRiverShore · 04/10/2021 05:24

Powder is well known to be better for cleaning but unfortunately that also means colours fading and is no good for quick washes. Can you get Persil powder OP as I find that very similar to Ariel and usually just get the one on offer of those two. I use powder if I have a very grubby wash.

CherryMaple · 04/10/2021 05:55

I find that pods don’t dissolve well at lower temperatures.

Like PPs, I would really recommend Aldi powder. I go there to buy it specially. It has won a Good Housekeeping award and cleans better than the expensive powder I was buying before.

Izzy24 · 04/10/2021 06:06

I’ve just started using Smol pods, previously used Ecover liquid. Smol seems just as good and no large containers for landfill, comes in cardboard boxes. Wash everything on a quick cool wash except towels and bedding.

Londonnight · 04/10/2021 06:23

I've been using an Eco Egg for about a year now, really happy with the wash at different temperatures. I use a conditioner as well.

crapbuttrue · 04/10/2021 06:29

@octopuseyes

Yes. I suspect the powder is just better. Probs I find s that it doesn’t dissolve as well on quick cool washes- unless I flush it down with hot water… I don’t want that highly perfumed blast of the pods. Just clean clothes.
I always put powder directly in the drum. I use a concentrated powder (even less waste & lower transport costs) and I put it directly in the drum (actually says to do so on the pack) and it says not to wash at less that 40 degrees.
CovidCorvid · 04/10/2021 06:32

I’m also finding powder hard to get hold of, Persil as well. Much prefer it over pods.

Lanique · 04/10/2021 06:55

I always used to use pods but switched to powder about fifteen years ago and haven't looked back. It's so much better for cleaning. I'd hate for it to be discontinued.

Izzy24 · 04/10/2021 07:22

@octopuseyes
No smell from Smol (!)

Oblomov21 · 04/10/2021 07:27

Is now the time to tell you that I've been using 4 different washing products for ages? Blush

I put a surf capsule in with the washing. I use a tiny amount of (surf, or whatever I've got) powder, and also a tiny dribble of surf liquid. Then a pour a small amount of comfort deluxe conditioner in box 2.

I wash everything together, all white school shirts in with school trousers and my pants, boxers, football kits, at 40 degrees.

Towels and bedding at 60.

Doubt any of this is on the recommended list! Grin

Original poster
octopuseyes · 04/10/2021 07:33

[quote Izzy24]@octopuseyes
No smell from Smol (!)[/quote]
Lots of people have mentioned this. Does it work effectively at low temps too?

OP posts:
Laney39 · 04/10/2021 07:35

@octopuseyes supervalu still sell Ariel powder, did you try there?

AlphabetAerobics · 04/10/2021 07:37

@Mrbob

Powder is better and cheaper. Pods were a pretty gimmick that turned out to not be as good. Plus they smell unbelievably strong
Indeed! That and shower gel - all very emperor’s new clothes!

See also shite kitchen/bathroom cleaners which just sort of wash over the dirt.

Gimme a proper abrasive jif lemon powder any day. Grin

AlphabetAerobics · 04/10/2021 07:39

I’ve tried smol (use their dishwasher tabs) and I really wasn’t impressed. Sure it comes in a nice cardboard box, but it’s still a crappy pod and I didn’t feel my washing smelled clean. I don’t like overly perfumed washing (don’t use fab con) - but nothing beats the smell of daz powder.

Spiindoctor · 04/10/2021 07:39

I imagine a pod is designed for a full load in a hard water area (or they risk people complaining that they don't work) so for me that is much more detergent than I need. I don't want to risk detergent being left on fabric nor do I want to waste detergent. So it's powder for me, mostly just washing my stuff so it's easy to clean it with a small amount of powder.

Lucked · 04/10/2021 07:42

Amazon sell Ariel, I order the massive boxes, I uses the normal rather than the colour version but have no problems with colour fading.

Original poster
octopuseyes · 04/10/2021 07:56

[quote Laney39]@octopuseyes supervalu still sell Ariel powder, did you try there?[/quote]
Yeah- I think I’ll have to stock up!! Can still get the stuff fr whites it’s the colour powder that’s like hens teeth.
Ariel customer care suggested I use daz but again they seem to have changed that to something that does colours and whites and it just doesn’t smell the same 😞 why can’t they just leave a good thing be?
Also agree with post about soap vs shower gel and various bathroom cleaners… most effective by far is bleach and vim for cleaning and Palmolive or cussons soap for the shower🥰

OP posts:
Stringbeing · 04/10/2021 08:04

I always use colour powder and find it hard to find too. I don't think Daz is as good.

Some supermarkets do own brand colour powder which is better than Daz (usually a teeny tiny box though).

Here I can get it in Tesco, M&S or Waitrose, but often there is just a gap on the shelves.

SirChenjins · 04/10/2021 08:04

Palmolive or cussons soap for the shower

YY to soap for the shower Smile. Cussons Imperial Leather is the smell of my childhood and I still use it now - Amazon also sell their antiperspirant in bulk so I use that - it's a lovely, fresh, non-flowery scent.

dgirluk · 04/10/2021 08:13

I've started using laundry sheets; basically look a bit like a sheet of translucent paper, which you put in the drum. I guess they're dehydrated washing detergent. I've used them on 30, 40 and 60 degree washes and they're working fine - the only time they don't work is a short 20 minute wash, they don't seem to dissolve in time.

No nasty smells, and more friendly for the planet I believe, as there's no plastic and they take up no space for shipping etc.

SirChenjins · 04/10/2021 08:31

What laundry sheets do you use? They one's I've seen seem very expensive compared to powder.

gogohm · 04/10/2021 08:42

I've always found powder gets gunky on the washing machine but do sometimes by tabs (solid) for whites at 60. Rest of washing is capsules at 40

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 04/10/2021 08:43

I switched to powder from pods years ago because I read it's better for your machine.
I like being able to choose how much I use
Also had small kids at the time and there were lots of horror stories about toddlers getting hold of the pods.
I have a big box of white powder and a big box of coloured and it lasts for ages.
I do wash nearly everything at 40 though. I haven't quite been able to believe that lower temps will be hygienic but maybe I should give it a try.
We have a lot of sweaty gym and sports kit in this house.

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