What Are The Different Types Of Laundry Detergents?

For millennia humans have been sweating, toiling and braving the odds to survive. All this hard work means a lot of grit and a lot of dirt. One can only imagine the kind of world we’d be living in had it not been for the discovery of the art of laundry and the invention of the laundry detergent. Ever since the first set of reusable clothes was made, the first laundry detergent has been in existence. And just as clothing has evolved, so have laundry detergents.

The earliest laundry detergents came in soap form and even after all this time, they are still in use despite a steep drop in popularity. As a matter of fact, soap is probably the least used form of laundry detergent, especially with the advent of powders, liquids and the more recent laundry pods, which often compete in a ‘wash-off’ of sorts to give us the cleanest wash. And it is not just the quality of each brand that is the determining factor, but also the brands’ advertising efforts.

How does a Laundry Detergent Work?

To understand more about laundry detergent, we must first understand what dirt is. Dirt comes in many forms, as the ads suggest. They are all solid or solidified particles classified as various types of soil. So, the primary function of a laundry detergent would be to remove the foreign solid particles or soil without destroying the integrity of the fabric. Retaining the colour of the material is also a major factor when it comes to the effectiveness of a detergent. The best way to accomplish this as our ancestors centuries ago realized was by using chemicals. So, it is the chemical composition of the detergent that determines how effective it will be at removing dirt without affecting the fabric or its colouring.

Types of Laundry Detergents

Just as there are many different types of fabrics and clothes today, there are many types of stains with varying degrees of grit. So the competition has always been related to finding the right formula that deals with ‘even the toughest of stains’ and at the same time preserves the fabric and its colour. Success in this industry has also been determined by the availability and demand of laundry detergents. There are many varieties of laundry detergents out there with even more prototypes that are always being tested, but the most popular ones can be categorized into the following.

Laundry Soaps

Soaps were the earliest weapons in the war against dirt. Back when all the washing was done by hand, soaps produced the best results. Despite all the different types of soaps that are available today, very less has changed on the hand-washing front. We still need to get deep into the fabric to get the best results. That is not such a bad thing, considering that soaps are one of the most effective ways of manually removing grease stains that just won’t come off after a hundred washes even today. However, over the decades, there has been a steep decline in the usage of soaps as alternative laundry solutions have proven far more effective. Furthermore, soaps’ incompatibility with washing machines makes them disadvantageous.

Detergent Powder for Hand Wash

Washing powder, which is commonly referred to as detergent powder, is one of the most commonly used forms of laundry detergent. One of the biggest selling points of detergent powders can be explained if we go back to the 1930s when the global recession was at its peak. Since then, powders have been the go-to solution for doing laundry without burning a hole in your pocket. Even today, washing powder is the cheapest option per load among all detergents. Once washing machines started becoming common, the demand for powders started growing and their washing capability improved. Powders are often preferred due to the distinction that they produce a lot of suds. For hand wash, this is desirable as it reduces the effort you have to put through to get a decent wash. Additionally, since there is a lot of rinsing and squeezing, having more lather works out quite well with a hand-wash.

“Matic” Detergent Powder

Modern-day fully automatic machines use less water. Washing powders that are meant for such machines, therefore, produce fewer suds. Such a wash would be ideal for treating outdoor stains and dirt. Machine powders are quite effective at washing whites as they also have the ability to remove ground-in dirt. The downside with machine washing powders is that they are not effective in semi-automatic machines and for hand washes due to their more water, more lather working principle.

Liquid Detergent

Since their introduction in the 1950s, liquid detergents have become the most popular form of laundry detergent. When used in the right concentration, liquid detergents can become effective stain removers. Furthermore, the use of liquid detergents in washing machines has become quite popular today to such an extent that most washing machines recommend them. Liquid detergents produce fewer suds than all other forms of detergent and therefore are ideal for front-loading washing machines. As an added bonus, liquid detergents also give the clothes a sweet long lasting fragrance which no other form of detergent is capable of. You can have a look at IFB’s liquid detergent.

High-Efficiency Detergent

Different brands of detergent today often have products bearing the tag, h.e. This signifies that the detergent is a high-efficiency detergent. These detergents are meant explicitly for modern-day automatic front load and top load washing machines that use less water. Considering how modern machines only use a fraction of the water that older more conventional machines used, regular detergents cannot provide a proper wash as they do not have the necessary composition to remove dirt and grease.

Detergent Pods

This is a new innovation in laundry. Detergent pods are small packets that are used for a single wash. These pods are usually a mixture of detergent, softening agents and other ingredients offering a comprehensive wash. The name pod was introduced and is trademarked by Tide, who perfected this form of laundry solution. Detergent pods are particularly useful for people who use public Laundromats even though it is the most expensive form of laundry detergent. Detergent pods are completely soluble, including the packet in which the detergent is encased, making them quite eco-friendly. You can buy the famous IFB pods for easy dosage.

Tips to remember while using detergents

Using detergent that produces a lot of suds in a high-efficiency washer can leave a lot of residual foam on the clothes. This causes the growth of mould and odour in the machine. It could also interfere with the washing mechanism.

More suds doesn’t translate to a better wash as far as machines are concerned.

Using liquid detergents in higher concentration is a good alternative to scrubbing to get tough stains off. Scrubbing can damage the fabric and even cause the colour to fade.

Using too much detergent can create too many suds causing the soil to get trapped and stain the clothes. So, try using less detergent each time you wash, especially while using front load machines.

Store your detergents properly. While detergents are not perishable like food, they do tend to form lumps and clumps, which could clog your machines. Liquid detergents, especially when not stored properly or used past expiry, can cause problems in the machine.

Conclusion

There are many different kinds of fabrics and even more kinds of stains and dirt. So, be sure to choose your laundry detergent carefully after considering what each option could do to your clothes. For a softer fabric, a gentle hand wash with a mild detergent or even soap could work. For stains, pre-treating with detergent and then washing produces excellent results. Get to know your detergent and its effects well before using it.

