How to pick the right detergent for your clothes

Sneha Biswas | Mar 24, 2020, 21:07 IST
Choosing the correct detergent to do your laundry should not be a task, but have you ever thought about it? Does it really matter what kind works best for your fabrics? If your answer is yes then you have come to the right place. While the primary task of laundry detergent is to remove dirt and stains from the clothing, there is quite a range of variants available in the market-liquid, powder and bars. It can be confusing. We have jotted down some essential pointers that will help you to determine the right one for you.

The first step to selecting the right kind of detergent for your clothes is to determine what kind of washer you have at home, for instance, a high efficiency washer might only work best with advanced detergents.

On the other hand, liquid detergents can be quite effective to remove stubborn food stains of grease and oil. You can pre-soak your clothes with a mix of water and liquid detergent or spot treat the stains. It is easy to use fluid detergents with cold wash as it mixes better than powdered ones even at lower temperatures.

Powder detergents are the traditional kinds that have existed for a long time. It is practical for everyday wash and effective to remove soil. There are so many kinds of powder, ranging from advanced to mild ones, for every kind of fabric. This works best with lukewarm to mildly warm water.

Detergent bars are probably the oldest of all. It lasts long, however, it is only meant for the traditional way of washing clothes by hands.

Another kind of detergent is the scented ones. This is good to keep odours away. However, if you’re someone who has sensitive skin you might want to not try this. All kinds of fabric softener and dryer sheets come under this category. While using this kind of clothes, one must carefully wash their fabrics to get rid of detergent residue. It is not recommended for washing baby clothes.

What also affects the efficiency of detergent is the amount you are putting. Many people tend to overuse their detergents which can again cause skin problems from the residues. Remember, a little goes a long way!

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