When choosing a laundry detergent, it’s important to select a product that will provide you with the best value for money, and the best care for your clothes. However, we don’t often consider the environmental impact of our washing, and how we can potentially mitigate the harm caused by our cleaning routines.
You might ask yourself: which laundry detergent is best for the environment? On the market today are traditional powders, laundry liquids and even pods filled with detergent, leaving you with plenty of choice. We’re here to provide you with all the information you need to decide which detergent will have the lowest impact on the environment, leaving you with clean, fresh clothes – and no eco-guilt.
Powder detergent
Pros
Washing powder is the most traditional of the three. It has a longer shelf life than liquids, and you can buy it in large volumes to cut down on excess packaging. Powder is much less messy than its liquid counterpart, and you can customise the amount of powder based on how big the load is, meaning you will waste much less. Laundry powder works particularly well on heavily soiled clothes, too, meaning if you have children, work in a job which gets your clothes dirty, or just have a penchant for gardening, this might be the best way to remove any stubborn stains from your clothing. Powder detergent is also lightweight compared to liquid detergents.
Cons
It’s possible when measuring the amount of powder you need for your load to use too much. Using too much powder detergent can result in a white, filmy residue left on clothes, which might require an extra rinse. Some powder detergents will also require a higher water temperature to dissolve properly, which is less than ideal if you are trying to cut down on electric. It also needs to be kept dry in order to be usable, and is much messier than pre-measured laundry pods.
Liquid detergent
Pros
Liquid detergent, because it is already in liquid form, dissolves very easily in both cold and warm water. You can also use liquid detergent as a spot treatment for stains prior to washing, and the cap allows you to measure the liquid easily so you can customise your dose based on the load. Liquid detergent can also be used to hand-wash garments, and works particularly well on oil and grease stains.
Cons
Liquids require water to be created, so you are basically purchasing a product that your washing machine can make for you when you use a powder. Liquid detergent also comes in plastic bottles, which are difficult to recycle, and can be very messy to pour which can encourage waste. It also pours very quickly, upping the chances of over-dosing detergent, and is often heavy and cumbersome.
Laundry pods
Pros
The biggest pro of laundry pods is their convenience. You don’t need to measure out any detergent, as the pods come with a pre-measured amount inside. They don’t create any mess, and are considerably easier to use than both powder and liquid detergents. Additionally, they contain concentrated detergents, meaning there is less water used in their creation, and they retain their effectiveness despite their small size.
Cons
Pods, whilst incredibly convenient and easy to use, are the most expensive laundry detergent option, and they come in a lot of plastic packaging whether this be containers or large zip-lock bags. They contain far too much detergent for smaller loads, leaving you with a lot of wastage, and they also can’t be used to pre-treat clothes, meaning any more stubborn stains might not come out in the wash.
So, which is which is more eco friendly, washing powder or liquid?
The most eco-friendly laundry detergent is laundry powder. It is the most effective, and the most zero-waste option – particularly as you can dose the powder based on the size of your washing load. If you want to be even more eco-conscious, why not opt for an eco friendly laundry powder? This will enable you to see all the benefits of a powder detergent whilst adding extra environmentally friendly benefits. Our laundry powder is biodegradable and non-toxic, and will not pollute waterways when drained from your machine.
Additionally, if you find your clothes often have stubborn stains that you wish to pre-treat, consider our kitchen bar. This is a multi-function bar that can be used as dish soap, surface cleaner, and to treat laundry stains before you put them in the washing machine. It’s also made from natural substances, and comes in recyclable cardboard packaging.
