What’s the Best Laundry Detergent for Your Washing Machine?
When selecting a laundry detergent, other factors besides cleaning power may need to be considered.
There are almost too many varieties of laundry detergent out there to count. Trying to choose one can be overwhelming after all, every one promises to be the best! Considering the difficulty of comparing actual cleaning power, brand loyalty, price, and even fragrance preference all become powerful influences in the decision. But have you considered your washing machine’s needs, your children’s safety, or your water quality? These too are important factors to consider when choosing a detergent.
Washing Machine Type
If you have a front-loading washing machine, you absolutely must use a high-efficiency laundry detergent. Standard laundry detergents create too many suds. Not only will this excess of suds keep your clothes from getting clean, but it can also interfere with the sensors that control the water level in the unit. Your washing machine may become damaged as a result of using the wrong detergent and you would end up needing washing machine repair.
Child Safety
Consumer Reports recently issued a warning to parents who use those convenient little pre-measured detergent packets than can be just tossed into the wash. These bright little packets look dangerously like candies and contain highly-concentrated detergent that is toxic when ingested. Since detergent packets went mainstream in 2012, poison control centers across the country have logged over 20,000 calls from parents of children who have tried to eat them. If this isn’t enough reason to avoid detergent packets, you should also know that these detergents performed poorly in Consumer Reports’ tests.
Water Hardness
Calcium and magnesium can build up and obstruct your washing machine's inner workings in hard water. The improper laundry detergent can exacerbate this issue. Powdered detergents are especially prone to binding with hard water mineral ions and settling to the bottom of the washer, where they generate a sludge that might clog your machine. Remember that detergent doesn't clean your clothes when this happens. Hard water requires up to 30% more powdered detergent than normal water to clean garments. Excess detergent might also build up residue on the machine's interior surfaces, causing odours. Liquid detergents, on the other hand, work well in all water conditions but are less effective than powders.
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