this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2025
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Laundry detergent as powder is better than liquid (lemmy.wtf)
submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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TL,DR: powder laundry detergent is better than the liquid one.

When it comes to choosing laundry detergent, I used to default to liquid detergent because powder would often clump together. However, I recently learned that liquid detergent has a bigger environmental impact - it contains microplastic particles that are hard to remove in wastewater treatment plants, and it's also less efficient at cleaning. Plus, liquid detergent usually comes in plastic bottles, whereas powder detergent is often packaged in plastic film or even cardboard. So, I switched back to powder detergent. To avoid clumping issues in my humid laundry room, I found a simple solution: I use an old fork to break up the powder before use. It's a small effort, and I'm happy to be reducing my pollution footprint a bit. Video source (in German, maybe this weekend I'll look for better sources and add an infografic): https://youtu.be/HgIe4oxe2eI

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

I get powders for the washing machine as well as the dishwasher.
Shipping water around is dumb when the same product exists in concentrated form.
Doubly so when said machine is already designed to add its own water anyway.
Bonus point, the dishwasher acutely has some soap during the prewash, which can't the case when using a pod.

If it leaves soap residue, use less, mine needs about 1 table spoon, but the built-in compartment could probably hold 2-3 times that.
That probably depends on your water hardness.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

But which one tastes better?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Ah yes, the age old question of pod or powd.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

We ~~get~~ got our powdered detergent from a company in Canada called Oak & Willow and it comes in a glass half gallon jar. I believe they are going to start shipping in brown paper bag and you transfer to the jar to reduce waste even further.

We are now looking for another option stateside because of tariffs.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I use a liquid because I wash exclusively at 30C, and it's my understanding that powders don't diffuse into the water well at such low temperatures. Can you elaborate on the cleaning efficiency and microplastics? Mine comes in a cardboard carton the way milk does, so I wonder whether it would carry the same issue. (I don't think it would be legal to tell us to sort it as paper if it has a secret plastic lining.)

I do use powder for my dishes though, so I can share a tip. Get a large plastic or metal box with a decent lid so you can pour the powder in and keep it nice and dry so it doesn't clump. It makes it very comfortable to be able to scoop from such a large surface area rather than using the spout on the box.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

That's a good tip for dishwasher. I'm worried I'm gonna smash my detergent box open drying to break up the clumps sometimes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

In the linked video they claim the powder washes better (in addition to the environmental benefits) even at 30°. Also the cardboard boxes for milk DO have a plastic lining, but it's not secret. Otherwise the liquid would destroy the cardboard. But this is OK I think, it gets collected and partially recycled. The "bad" microplastics are inside the liquid detergent itself, to ensure that soap and water remain well uniformly mixed.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

how does it compare to liquid at 60f (15.5C)?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I've used powdered laundry detergent exclusively for almost a decade. We definitely had the dissolving problem at first. We'd get undissolved soap on our clothes.

Our solution was to leave a bare spot with no clothes on the drum when loading, then put the powder in a little pile right there on the bottom. Then start the washer on full hot, and let it fill for 20 or 30 seconds, rinsing the powder down into the lower drum with hot water. Then flip the water temp back over to cool and walk away. The soap dissolves nicely that way. No more issues

Also we were using too much at first, it really doesn't take a whole quarter cup of powder per load like the box says. We get away with a tablespoon or two, depending on soil level.

Hope that helps!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

You could always turn the powder back into liquid before use.

Just mix the appropriate amount of powder with half a cup of warm water, then put it in where you'd normally put your liquid detergent. Get the best of both worlds. Unless there's something I'm missing here?

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

You can make your own powdered detergent with some borax, washing soda, and a bar of fels naphtha soap.

But I still prefer the sheets of detergent I get because they pack really small and are as easy to use as those gel pods.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also very recently switched to sheets from another Lemmy comment last week.

Only done one round of laundry this past weekend, but seems as effective as the pods I was using before.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I just switched to sheets recently as well, while moving away from American products to Canadian. I've only done one load, too, but it seems to work fine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I used to do borax, washing soda, and zote. I went back to liquid detergent because it seemed like all of my clothes were kind of dingy. The reason I seem to remember is something about enzymes.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod 3 points 1 week ago

Enzymes help but a lot of detergents also have a UV dye that makes clothes look whiter.

This is really handy for Halloween decorations because you can make your bathroom look like a murder scene with a blacklight

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Very true, but both have many pros and cons. You'll find most people use both. Often liquid ones without bleaching or UV agents for dark or colored pieces and powder with bleaching agent for stuff that can get really dirty or is okay with losing color.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Don't forget laundry detergent sheets, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/laundry-detergents/g41423872/best-laundry-detergent-sheets/

[–] iarigby 1 points 1 week ago

does nobody here use detergent sheets? I love them