How to use the right laundry detergent
Do you find doing the laundry a real headache? Can you wash whites with pale colours? Cold water or hot water? Powdered, liquid or pod? Do you have to pre-treat stains or not? If you don’t know your laundry basics for each type of detergent, you will not fully benefit from their cleaning power. Here are some useful tips!
Nowadays, there are many different products on the market. Did you know that the ideal detergent is based on the type of clothing you have to clean—but rather the type of dirt and stains you need to remove. Before choosing your laundry detergent, it is important that you keep in mind these two principles:
- Never mix whites with colours, even if the colours are very pale. This will cause your whites to become dingy.
- Try to use cold water as much as possible to keep colours bright.
How to choose the right laundry detergent
Before choosing a laundry detergent, check the label to determine if the product is suitable for washing machines. Always use the right dosage; check the cap or dispenser based on how much wash you have.
Products work differently and can adapt based on the type of cleaning you need. Here are the three main types of laundry detergents: powders, liquids and pods, like Tide Pods. In the past, there was just powdered laundry detergent available. This type of detergent is perfect for major outdoor stains, like dirt and clay. It deeply cleans the material to remove any stubborn stains. Even in cold water, powdered detergent works well on whites and keeps colours bright.
Liquid detergent become very popular when it first hit the market. It dissolves quickly and works wonders on grease stains, like oil and makeup. To pre-treat a garment before washing, pour the liquid right on the stain, rub it in, and let soak before putting it in the washing machine. Liquid detergents must be more precisely measured to control the amount of liquid you need, depending on the size of your wash.
Pre-treating stains
Oftentimes, it is recommended to pre-treat clothes or soak them for stains that simply won’t go away. If a product stains a lot, it will deeply penetrate the fabric. A normal wash cycle alone will not be able to remove the stain.
Makeup, grease, red wine, you name it. Dirty clothing, sheets and towels can be pre-treated or soaked to remove these unsightly stains. For example, when trying to get rid of red wine stains, it is recommended that you soak your fabrics in powdered laundry detergent after having rubbed them with a Tide to Go Stain Remover Pen. For mascara, add liquid detergent to the stain, rub and let soak before putting your garment in the washing machine. Check out this handy stain guide, created by Tide, to learn how to remove different types of stains.
Tide Pods
One of the most recent innovations from Procter & Gamble are laundry pacs, also known as Tide Pods. They have been on the market for a few years now. What is so special about them? They are easy to use and can be used particularly for coloured loads as they don’t contain any oxygen bleach.
Tide Pods offer a 3-1 solution, which includes a detergent, stain remover and brightener in one convenient pac. These small pods are very easy to use: the doses are already pre-measured for a standard laundry load. Say goodbye to spills, splatters and messes!
Tide Pods dissolve regardless of the water temperature. All you have to do is place the pac(s) at the back or bottom of the machine drum—not the dispenser drawer. For a huge load, you can use two pacs. Tide Pods work great in high-efficiency (HE) and standard washers, whether they are top-loading or front-loading.
What’s more, Tide Pods are offered in three different fragrances: Spring Meadows, Ocean Mix and Original. For people with sensitive skin, Tide Pods Free & Gentle contain no added fragrances, dyes or harsh chemicals. To remove both visible and invisible dirt from your garments, you can use Tide Power Pods; these heavy-duty pacs feature 10 concentrated cleaning actives to truly get to the bottom of dirt.
No matter what washing challenges you have, Tide’s powdered, liquid and pac laundry detergents will help keep your clothes clean and fresh!