Whats the difference between Biological and non Biological washing powder/liquid?

[TinyGang]

Sorry to be thick..I've never really known!

Aren't there enzymes in biological to "digest" the dirt plus some bleach-based chemicals to brighten the whites.

if you use biological to wash your nappies your dd comes out in the most terrible rash. if you are really dim you do it several times before you realise what the problem is. have avoided biological totally since then.

So that's better then? Gets it all cleaner?

Sorry X posted there! NOT better then if it irritates skin.

i think you've got it there. it can make things brighter/cleaner. but it can irritate sensitive skin.

Lizs has got it- bio is very harsh and really you should only use non-bio for babies.

Hmmm I thought it might be something to do with that. Excema a bit of a problem here - think I'll avoid it then.

There is something interesting about half way down \link{http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/Advice/NappyTip.asp?NappyTipID=10\this page} about non bio/bio

Biologicals use enzymes which help to break down fat based stains. They can triger skin reactions. Dh and the kids are all allergic to them.

Biological washing powders have enzymes in which break down the dirt in a different and more harsh way than in non bio, which has no enzymes. More likely to react to biological because of the enzymes rather than anything else.

i think

I knew you guys'd know. Thanks!

also non biological powders (the brand ones, persil etc) contain optical brighteners (ie BLEACH) to keep white white, where as most of the non biologiacl liquids (ie persil and fairy do not) so therefor you can use the liquid to wash colous without it bleaching the clothes and them turing 'grey' etc

Ive noticed that many of the shops own non bioliquids DO contain 'the optical brightners' nd so arnt as suitable for colours as persil, fairy and ecover liquid.

DH is allergic to biological powders.

I think Which? did a report on washing and Aerial came out as one of the top ones for non-Bios

You either react to the enzymes or you don't. Have always used biological for all of us, including nappies, and none of us are sensitive, so not an issue. If your baby doesn't react to biological powder then feel free to use it on nappies and clothing for them too. It does give a better result more easily, so we're lucky.

I think bio powders are less harsh than non-bio, as the non-bio have to have all sorts of chemicals to digest the stains, a job that is done very effectively by the enzymes in bio.

Obviously, if you are sensitised to enzymes then bio is no good for you, or at least you should give the clothes an extra rinse.

You shouldn't use bio if you want to do a very hot wash.

supposedly you can use biological for sensitive skin as long as you give it an extra rinse

however I have recently bought eco-balls (thanks to mumsnet recommendations) .. and bizarrely they work at least as well as non-biological (which surprised me a lot) .... and they work out cheaper ..eventually (£35 for about 1000 washes) .. and no chemicals at all .. so nothing to harm sensitive skin and no chemicals getting drained away

\link{http://www.shopeco.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=201\eco balls}