If you want to your clothing, bedding, and towels to last you are going to want wash and dry them with care. Laundry detergent is used to remove stains, dirt, bacteria, odor, and more from your clothing and bedding. Laundry detergent comes in different forms including liquid, pods, powdered and concentrated formulas. There are many different laundry products available each with their own promises. Finding the right laundry detergent to meet your needs can help you to save money and time. Keep reading to learn how to find the right laundry detergent for you.
Types of Laundry Detergent
High Efficiency and Traditional Detergents
The type of laundry detergent that you decide to use will be based on your own personal criteria. You will want to check if you have a high efficiency washer (HE) because it will require a specific detergent intended for that type of washer. If you do use a traditional detergent in a HE washer you will end up with excess suds and your load will not be completely rinsed of detergent.
Detergent Formulas
You will also want to decide what type of laundry formula you want to use. You may decide to use laundry detergent pods for convenience, but keep in mind that you will likely be paying more for them. You may want to use powder detergent because it is often the least expensive, or you may opt to use liquid detergents for easy pouring. Whatever formula of detergent you decide to use make sure that you read out the amount required for each load. Often people use far too much detergent (especially if you are using a concentrated liquid formula) which wastes product and can leave detergent residue on your load of laundry.
Specialty Laundry Detergents
Many laundry detergents are created to tackle certain laundry issues including stains and odor. Some of the most popular specialty laundry detergents include cold-water use, stain-remover, whitening, gentle, and color-safe. You may want to invest in a few different types of detergent so that you have the right one on hand for specific loads including whites and heavily-stained items.
Scented Laundry Detergents
Many laundry detergents will try to entice you with different scents including Country Meadow, Lavender, Fresh Rain, Tropical Rainforest, Dragon Fruit, Island Fresh, Icy Fresh, and much more. If you are someone with sensitive skin you may want to stick to a gentle laundry detergent formula that is free from heavy fragrances and chemicals.
Laundry Detergent Coupons
Laundry detergent is a routine expense that you can easily save on. Many stores will have promotions and coupons available for laundry detergent so that you will try out new brands, formulas, and scents. If you are not devoted to a certain brand or type of detergent this is a perfect time to try out something new. If you find coupons for your favorite laundry detergent you should stock up so that you will be prepared for your future laundry needs.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
If you are someone who wants to avoid harsh chemicals you can always make your own gentle laundry detergent formula at home. There are many different powder and liquid laundry detergent recipes that you can find online. You can always customize these detergents by adding in your own ingredients, just check that they are safe to use and will not conflict with any of the other ingredients.
What You Will Need:
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 bar soap (grated)
- 3 gallons water
- 5-gallon bottle or bucket
- ½ cup borax
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
All you have to do is grate a bar of soap of your choosing (look for gentle soaps like Dove) and then boil four cups of water in a saucepan. Slowly mix in the grated bar soap into the saucepan and stir. Pour the soap water into a bucket and add the borax, washing soda, and add 3 more gallons of water. Mix thoroughly and your detergent will be ready to use.
The type of laundry detergent that you end up choosing is completely dependent on your needs. Don’t get caught up in all the marketing jargon, bright colors, and fragrances found in the laundry aisle. Instead look for a laundry detergent that will clean your laundry effectively for a good price.
