I wonder what kind of detergent everyone uses when washing clothes in a washing machine, and how to use it? What detergent do you think is the best?
In the past, when I washed clothes with a washing machine, there was no measuring spoon for the detergent, so my standard was: wet your hand slightly, rub a little between your thumb and index finger, if it feels slippery, then the concentration of the detergent is enough. But now following the requirements of the washing machine or detergent manufacturers, the amount of detergent does not give me that "slippery" feeling. Can it still clean the clothes properly? I wonder about everyone's experience?
Welcome to share.
E: Europe highly recommends P&G's ARIEL. Today in Munich, I saw Siemens asking ARIEL to produce detergent specifically for their washing machines, branded as SIEMENS ARIEL.
In the UK, OMO also sells well. You shouldn't use too much detergent, otherwise, after washing, the clothes will feel slippery.
T: I currently use Shanghai-produced Kao Cleenex and White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder, both work great. For delicate fabrics, I use Shan brand liquid detergent. In the past, I used a pulsator washing machine and would use more detergent. Now with a Siemens drum washing machine, I reduce the detergent to one-third of what I used before, which still seems excessive. Drum washing machines use very little water, similar to hand-washing, with longer wash times, usually heated to 40℃, at which point the detergent is most active, so the cleaning effect is optimal, even better than using Sanyo ultrasonic XQB60-228S. In the past, I had to spray collar cleaner on shirt collars, but now it's unnecessary. The drum washing machine saves two-thirds on water and detergent, though it uses slightly more electricity, but still quite economical. If you use a time-of-use meter, you can set the timer to wash before 6:00 AM, saving half on electricity costs. It seems drum washing machines are beneficial for the environment and reduce laundry costs.
Y: It seems Kao Cleenex works well. I bought an 800g bag for 8.6 yuan today, with two free bars of soap, quite a good deal. Tried it in the washing machine, and the cleaning effect is excellent.
T: Kao Cleenex powder is indeed good, the main component being anionic surfactant. Near my place, it's priced at 11 yuan for 1200g in large supermarkets. If you have a pulsator washing machine, dissolve Kao Cleenex in warm water first, then soak the clothes for 15~30 minutes, the effect will significantly improve, something I often did in the past. Now with a drum washing machine, this step isn't necessary anymore.
White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder also works well, priced at 6.6 yuan for 800g in Shanghai. It contains low-temperature bio-enzymes, adopts non-ionic surfactants, has no foam, is easy to rinse, and suitable for washing machines, especially drum washing machines. All enzyme-containing detergents enhance stain removal when soaked in warm water.
H: Among the detergents I've used, Diao Pai is the easiest to rinse.
Kao Cleenex really works well, Ariel for drum washing machines is also pretty good.
C: Haha! I just bought Kao Cleenex from the supermarket tonight, 800g for 8.9 yuan, a bit expensive. This is my first time buying Kao Cleenex. Among the detergents I've used before, White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder is the best, followed by OMO (the blue package, the red one is expensive and not good).
T: I use both these detergents now, and they both work well. Kao Cleenex produces more foam, but both have strong stain-removal capabilities. White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder is a bit cheaper. Since it uses non-ionic surfactants, this price isn't high. I heard from a detergent expert that non-ionic surfactants are currently the best, though I can't explain why clearly. Anyway, just a small amount makes the water slippery. Even without foam, it cleans thoroughly. Siemens drum washing machine manuals say it's best to use foam-free detergent, but I use Kao Cleenex, and it works well, just one-third of the amount needed for pulsator washing machines. Using too much not only pollutes the environment but also affects the drum washing machine's cleaning performance.
Y: I checked, Diao Pai also contains anionic and non-ionic surfactants, but its cleaning effect cannot compare with Kao Cleenex. It seems it also depends on the content (concentration) and other components like enzymes (Kao Cleenex contains unique BIOLITE enzymes).
T: The relationship between detergents and cleaning efficiency is significant. The true active substance in detergents is surfactant, whose main function is to reduce water surface tension, making dirt easier to detach from fabrics, disperse, and emulsify. According to national standards, the active substances in detergents must exceed 10%. Most components in detergents are inexpensive additives such as sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium tripolyphosphate, etc., with low surfactant content. So-called ultra-concentrated detergents simply have more active substances. Good detergents, although more expensive, due to their reasonable formula, more active ingredients, strong stain-removal capabilities, and less usage, are actually economical if used reasonably.
T: Diao Pai is also a "brand name," famous indeed, but the quality doesn't live up to expectations. Look at their advertisements everywhere; how much money does that cost? Ultimately, consumers pay for it. So, you can imagine, how many active ingredients could be in their detergent? I recommend White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder as a domestic brand, much better than Diao Pai. I've been using this detergent for many years. Whenever new detergent products come out, I try them. Of course, I don't use non-concentrated detergents because they mostly contain soda ash, which has some stain-removal ability but is too alkaline, damaging fabrics and skin during hand-washing. Products with too many advertisements generally have lower cost-performance ratios. Although good detergents are more expensive, they clean well, require less usage, cause less damage to fabrics, and are less harmful to the skin during hand-washing.
Y: T is truly an expert in detergents!
I calculated this: Kao Cleenex 8.6 yuan for 800g, equivalent to 10.75 yuan per kilogram
Diao Pai 9.2 yuan for 2000g, equivalent to 4.6 yuan per kilogram
In terms of unit price, Kao Cleenex is more than twice the price of Diao Pai, but in terms of usage, Kao Cleenex is less than half of Diao Pai, so the cost per wash using either detergent is about the same. However, please note, Kao Cleenex's cleaning effect might be more than three times that of Diao Pai (just an estimate)! Judging by performance-to-price ratio, Kao Cleenex is much higher, so the truly economical option isn't necessarily the cheapest one!
F: Everyone talks back and forth, but no one says how much detergent is needed for a load of clothes (drum type)? I'm using a Siemens drum washing machine now, putting in two scoops of White Cat. According to what everyone says, isn't that too much?? How much should be appropriate??
T: On supermarket shelves, there are many cheap detergents like Diao Pai and Qiaoshou, costing only a few dozen yuan for extra-large packages. But I never buy such cheap detergents. Generally, elderly people tend to buy such detergents, thinking they're super value-for-money. If you give them concentrated detergents, they won't use them and continue using regular detergents in the same amounts, resulting in waste. When I first bought foam-free detergent, my family complained that it wasn't durable since there were no bubbles after putting in a few scoops. As a result, a whole box of detergent was quickly used up, causing a lot of waste. Traditional thinking suggests that cleaning relies on foam. When I was young, teachers said that soap foam has a large volume with adsorption properties, which can remove dirt from fabrics. Now, it turns out to be completely misleading, but this thought influenced me for almost 20 years. Once, I met a retired engineer from Shanghai Synthetic Detergent Factory (the predecessor of White Cat Group). After talking for two hours, I gained a whole new understanding of detergent principles. Actually, most components in detergents are additives, while the true active ingredients are minimal, generally ranging from 10% to 40%. Cationic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants are more expensive, so they are rarely used in regular detergents. However, they have unique effects and are often combined with anionic surfactants, used only in high-end detergents.
Some fabrics, like wool, shouldn't use alkaline detergents but neutral ones instead. Regular detergents usually contain soda ash, with a high pH that can destroy wool's protein structure.
F: T, please answer my question, how many scoops of White Cat are needed for a drum washing machine load?
T: If using the measuring spoon that comes with White Cat No-Foam Ultra-Concentrated Powder, about half a scoop is sufficient for a drum washing machine. Of course, if the clothes are dirtier or in larger quantities, you can increase the amount accordingly. If there are fewer clothes, you can reduce the amount. Two scoops are definitely too much since this is foam-free detergent, and adding too much won't produce foam, making it easy to add too much. Adding too much doesn't help with cleaning, increases residual detergent after rinsing, and wastes money. I suggest washing at 40℃, where enzyme activity is highest, ensuring the cleanest wash. It doesn't consume much more electricity, and temperatures above 35℃ are unfavorable for mold growth, so heating the water is also more hygienic. Exactly how much to add depends on your own observation. My experience is to appropriately increase the detergent for cotton fabrics and decrease it for synthetic fabrics.
X: Haha, there's a lot to learn about detergents.
I use one scoop for laundry. Too much and it won't rinse clean.
Yesterday, I tried washing kitchen towels covered in grease. Even using boiling water, Diao Pai detergent, and soap alternately, I couldn't get them clean.
T: Currently, all detergents on the market perform poorly against plant oil stains. Once fabric gets plant oil stains, it's best to promptly soak it in a 40℃ enzyme-containing detergent solution, making it easier to clean. Plant oils are unsaturated fatty acid glycerides that oxidize and polymerize in the air, making them harder to clean over time. It's best not to use towels in the kitchen. There's a special non-woven fabric that's easy to clean, requiring only dishwashing liquid. Detergents contain harmful components to humans and aren't suitable for cleaning kitchen items.
E: Why use low-foam?
My drum washing machine requires low-foam detergent. Why is that? What's the difference between low-foam and high-foam?
6: Amway detergent is better, environmentally friendly, and doesn't harm the skin. Although it looks expensive, it's concentrated and has a high cost-performance ratio.
T: Amway, seems famous for its pyramid schemes in the past, with a bad reputation.
S: Amway products are genuine.
Pyramid schemes are just a marketing form, neither inherently good nor bad. It just got distorted in China.
Y II: Agree. Recently, I've used some Amway products, including detergent, TNND, they're really good.
Y II: Ask Brother T, what temperature do you usually choose for programs? Is it the 40℃ mentioned earlier?? Because I saw you write that not even collar cleaner is needed for shirts, which surprises me, surpassing the cleaning power of pulsator washing machines.
Also: This isn't doubt, just seeking advice, don't misunderstand.
D: Ask 6, Y II: If using Amway detergent, how much is needed for a load of clothes? One bottle cap? Confused about laundry!
W: How big is the spoon?! Isn't it more objective to use grams or milliliters?!
6: 18L put 1/2 bottle cap, 25L put 2/3 bottle cap, 35L put 1 bottle cap, 42L put 1.25 bottle caps. My washing machine is Sanyo XQB45-448. Suggestion: Soak clothes in clear water for 10 minutes before washing, then soak in detergent for another 20 minutes before washing.
Y: My actual usage experience: The amount of Kao Cleenex needs to reach twice what is stated on the packaging, i.e., use two large scoops of the measuring spoon at low water level, or one scoop of Sanyo's measuring spoon, for the water to feel sufficiently slippery and achieve good cleaning results. How about everyone else's experience?
T: According to relevant tests, Kao Cleenex has the highest content of active substances on the market, mainly composed of anionic surfactants. There are many types of anionic surfactants, but I estimate it's probably sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, along with other additives like sodium tripolyphosphate and enzymes. Kao Cleenex has a higher content of active ingredients compared to regular detergents, so the amount used can be reduced. However, the problem is that pulsator washing machines use far too much water, even at the lowest water level, it's over 17 liters, usually around 30 liters, so the detergent gets diluted. For example, a small scoop of Kao Cleenex can wash 5~10 pieces of underwear when the water volume is relatively small. But if the water volume is large, to maintain a certain concentration of detergent, the amount of detergent must be increased. After using a drum washing machine, I found that it uses very little water, so the detergent concentration is high, and it can be heated to 40℃, with a longer wash time, resulting in particularly good effects. Usually, about 10 grams is sufficient. Of course, if the clothes are particularly dirty, more should be added. Anionic surfactants lose significant stain-removal capability under the influence of calcium and magnesium ions, so regular detergents include sodium tripolyphosphate additives, aiming to replace calcium and magnesium ions in water, enhancing the detergent's activity in hard water. Therefore, if the water hardness is high, the amount of detergent should be increased. Using too much detergent not only costs more money but also pollutes the environment. To reduce detergent usage, I suggest dissolving the detergent thoroughly in warm water before washing, then soaking dry clothes in the detergent solution. This way, the detergent can penetrate into the fabric fibers. Soak for about 15 minutes, then wash in the washing machine. Although it's a bit more trouble, the washing effect is very ideal. Reducing detergent usage saves money and contributes to environmental protection.
H: T has become a washing machine enthusiast, right?
T: Because our family recently has two washing machines, it's convenient to conduct comparative experiments. On forums, debates about whether drum washing machines or pulsator washing machines are better have always been ongoing. In our family, it's the same, with the pulsator washing machine faction usually winning. Due to wanting to wash wool sweaters in hot weather, we bought a drum washing machine, and its excellent washing performance was beyond my expectations. The two washing machines in our home can represent these two types: Sanyo 228S and Siemens 5200, both currently among the better models on the market. However, in practical usage, except for being slower, the drum washing machine comprehensively outperforms in all other aspects. Even the stubborn opponents of drum washing machines in our family admit that drum washing machines are superior to pulsator washing machines. Therefore, I transferred the Sanyo 228S. Although I liked this pulsator washing machine, I still think there's no need to keep it, even though there's space for two washing machines at home. Although I only used this washing machine for five months, I still consider it one of the best pulsator washing machines, and selling it made me a bit reluctant. Truly, it's not about lasting forever, but cherishing what we once had.