There are many types of laundry detergent, including powder, liquid, pods, sheets, and even tablets. They all have advantages and disadvantages, so choose wisely. Before you can choose your preferred laundry detergent, let’s discuss what laundry detergent is first. 

What Is Laundry Detergent?

In general, laundry detergent is a form of cleaning agent used to clean dirty clothes.

Powder Detergent Vs. Liquid

There are two main types of laundry detergent: powder and liquid. Powder detergents are made up of tiny particles that dissolve quickly in water. They tend to be more effective at removing stains than liquids, but they leave a white film on fabrics. Liquid detergents are usually made with surfactants, which help remove stains by breaking down fats and oils into smaller molecules. Moreover, they often contain enzymes, which break down protein-based stains.

Which Should I Buy?

Powder detergents are usually better at removing stains than liquid detergents, but they leave a residue behind. Even though liquid detergents are easier to use, they sometimes need multiple cycles to remove stubborn stains.

To find the best detergent for your clothes, consider how much stain removal you need, what type of fabric you’re washing, and whether you have soft or hard water. Choosing detergent should be based on your personal preferences, skin type, the type of washing machine you intend to use, and your budget. 

Laundry Detergent Pods Vs. Tablets

The convenience of laundry detergent pods is the premeasured amount of detergent and their portability. In comparison, laundry tablets dissolve quickly, but they leave a residue and are less effective than other detergents. Browse laundry detergent pods here. If you prefer to browse for laundry tablets and more information, click here.

What Are Laundry Detergent Sheets? 

Laundry detergent sheets are dissolvable and biodegradable resins. These resins can be used to clean dirty clothes without causing any chemical or environmental damage. Simply add the laundry detergent sheet during your wash cycle, as you would a laundry pod. You can browse laundry sheets here. 

Laundry Detergent Substitutes 

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Some people are allergic to laundry detergent, have sensitive skin, or even suffer from eczema. Also, many people search online to find out if laundry detergent can cause hives. Some people use Google to find out if their acne is caused by laundry detergent, believe it or not.

If you are looking for an easy way to clean your clothes naturally, try baking soda instead of powder detergents. Baking soda effectively removes grease and dirt without leaving any residue behind. Additionally, it is inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, a DIY paste made of lemon juice and salt is an excellent way to remove stains. Lemon juice will also brighten up white laundry.

If you want to keep your clothes clean without chemicals, wash them in cold water. Cool water will prevent wrinkles and keep your clothes soft. This also reduces the need for soap, which can harm some fabrics. Water alone does not get rid of dirt and oils. Homelyville.com offers alternatives to laundry detergent. These include:

(1) Shampoo is good for handwashing clothes. However, it is too soapy for your washing machine. Several rinse cycles would be needed to get rid of all the bubbles.

(2) Handwashing laundry with dish soap is another option.

(3) As I mentioned before, baking soda is a great laundry booster or laundry detergent alternative. This is because baking soda eliminates odors and brightens clothes. 

(4) Also, borax is an ideal alternative to detergent because it isn’t just effective for deep cleaning, but softens hard water and gets rid of strong odors.

In addition to eating away stains, vinegar eliminates sour-smelling laundry, brightens clothing, and prevents pet hair from sticking to clothing. 

Can You Mix Bleach & Laundry Detergent?

Thanks to its oxidizing power, bleach kills bacteria and removes stains. Therefore, it is ideal for washing whites. Color-safe bleach can also be used on colored clothes. Some fabrics, however, including wool and silk, may be damaged by bleach.

Some people wonder if you can use bleach with laundry detergent. The answer is yes. When used with detergent, bleach increases the cleaning power of the wash.

To further elaborate about washing loads of white clothes, the following laundry detergents are best for washing whites:

Tide Plus Bleach Powder Laundry Detergent

Tide Plus Bleach Alternative Liquid Laundry Detergent

Tide Brights & Whites Rescue

The Laundress Whites Detergent

Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Power Paks

What Laundry Detergent Smells The Best? 

Most people agree that Tide Original Detergent has the best scent of clean laundry, according to TheSpruce.com.

Furthermore, TheSpruce.com has curated this list of the best-smelling laundry detergents: 

Best Fruity Scent: Method Ginger Mango Laundry Detergent

Best Scent Booster: Downy Unstopables In-Wash Scent Booster

Best Floral Scent: Mrs. Meyer’s Honeysuckle Liquid Laundry Detergent

Best For Activewear: Rockin’ Green Hard Rock Laundry Detergent

Best Laundry Pods: Gain Original Flings Laundry Detergent

Best Laundry Detergent For Babies: Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Detergent

Best Natural Laundry Detergent: Seventh Generation Ultra Concentrated Lavender Laundry Detergent

Does Snuggle Make Laundry Detergent? 

Currently, Snuggle does not manufacture laundry detergent. It does manufacture a range of other products, however. They include liquid fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and scent boosters. These items are helpful in caring for your fabrics, eliminating odors, reducing static, and enhancing the scent of your laundry.

Does Downy Make Laundry Detergent?

Similar to Snuggle, Downy does not currently manufacture laundry detergent. The company does, however, manufacture wrinkle sprays, dryer sheets, liquid conditioners, conditioning beads, scent booster beads, and the Downy Ball. 

Do You Prefer Laundry Detergent That Is Cruelty-Free?

Peta.org lists the best cruelty-free laundry detergents as follows:

(1) Method Laundry Detergent

(2) Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent

(3) Ecover Zero Laundry Detergent

(4) Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap

(5) Eco-me Laundry Detergent

(6) Biokleen Laundry Detergent

(7) Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

(8) Anti-Allergen Laundry Detergent

(9) Forever New Fabric Care Wash

(10) Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent

Which Laundry Detergent Do Hotels Use?

It is common for hotels to use the same laundry detergents that we use in our homes, according to Linenfinder.com. 

Related: 11 Best Laundry Detergents to Buy in 2023, According to Testing

How Much Laundry Detergent To Use Per Load?

According to the NY Times, you only need about two tablespoons of detergent for a 12-pound load.

Is It Better To Put The Laundry Detergent Into The Washing Machine First Or The Clothes? 

Most likely, you will need to add detergent to the compartment specifically for the detergent in front-loading washing machines. In a top-loading washing machine, it is best to fill the washer with water and add detergent as it fills up. The clothes should be added last, as detailed in the article “Are You Using Your Laundry Detergent Correctly?“

Can Laundry Detergent Stain Clothing?

Despite the fact that laundry detergent isn’t designed to stain laundry, you may get laundry detergent spots on your clothes if you use too much. There are various ways to get rid of detergent stains described in the article, “5 Foolproof Ways To Remove Detergent Stains.“

Can You Clean With Laundry Detergent?

You can use laundry detergent for more than just laundry as explained in Erica Young’s article, “7 Uses For Laundry Detergent You Never Thought Of.” You can use laundry detergent to unclog sink drains, make a homemade all-purpose cleaner, remove stains from upholstery and carpet, wash your car, mop your floors, clean oven racks, and pre-treat stains.

Can You Mop Floors With Laundry Detergent?

A laundry detergent’s enzymes work well for breaking up dirt on your floors, as was mentioned previously. To thoroughly clean your floors, add one teaspoon of laundry detergent to one gallon of hot water. Over time, laundry detergent may discolor your floors if used more than a teaspoon. After using the detergent, mop your floors with plain hot water as a final rinse. The O-Cedar RinseClean Mopping System is ideal for this since it does not transfer dirt back onto the floor as you mop. 

Can You Wash Dishes With Laundry Detergent?

There are several chemicals in laundry detergent that are potentially hazardous to your health when consumed. Washing your dishes with laundry detergent may not be a good idea because all those chemicals might not be completely rinsed out. Here’s a laundrydetergentideas.com quote: “Don’t even think about going to the laundry room for detergent. It’s not a good idea to use laundry detergent to wash dishes.”

Which Laundry Detergent Is Best For Cat Urine?

On Petkeen.com, the most effective laundry detergents for cat urine are:

(1) Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Laundry Boost

(2) Skout’s Honor Laundry Booster

(3) Persil ProClean Liquid Laundry Detergent & Odor Fighter

(4) Defunkify Powder Laundry Detergent

(5) Tide Simply Pods Odor Rescue Laundry Detergent

(6) Zero Odor Laundry Odor Eliminator

(7) Febreze Laundry Pet Odor Eliminator

(8) LaundraPet Premium Laundry Detergent

(9) Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters

More Information About Detergent:

Can Laundry Detergent Cause A Rash?

Children and adults both may suffer rashes from laundry soap’s fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and other chemicals. According to Healthline.com, laundry detergents occasionally cause a skin rash known as contact dermatitis. The itching could be widespread or confined to a specific area, like the armpits or groin.

Does Laundry Detergent Kill Mold?

Laundry detergent alone cannot kill mold. You can use laundry detergent in conjunction with vinegar, borax, or bleach to kill mold in your laundry.

Does Laundry Detergent Kill Germs?

Laundry detergent does not kill germs. Your laundry is sanitized with hot water and bleach. If you don’t use hot water or bleach, bacteria remain on your clothes or on the inside of your washing machine.

You can kill the germs in your laundry with products like Lysol Laundry Sanitizer or Clorox Laundry Sanitizer. 

Does Laundry Detergent Expire? 

Yes, laundry detergent expires. Upon opening the cap, laundry detergent will last about 6-12 months. It is still possible to use most laundry detergent past the expiration date, but it will be less effective, clumpy, and will lose its fresh clean scent.

Does Laundry Detergent Freeze? 

If stored below 12 degrees Fahrenheit, liquid laundry detergent can freeze. Once it has frozen, laundry detergent may solidify and become unstable. As a result, it will be less effective. You should store laundry detergent at temperatures of 50 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can Laundry Detergent Activate Slime?

The answer is yes! To activate the slime, add laundry detergent to glue and glitter.

What Laundry Detergent Is Best For Slime?

To activate the slime, Tide Original is the best laundry detergent to use. Baking soda or borax is also an effective slime activator.

Is Laundry Detergent Safe For Dogs?

It is safe to wash your pet’s bedding and plush toys with any mild detergent that is free of fragrances and dyes.

Are There Any Coupons For Laundry Detergent?

You can find coupons for laundry detergent on the following websites:

TheKrazyCouponLady

PrintableCouponsAndDeals

Lozo

PassionForSavings

FreeStuffFinder

CouponMom

What Are The Best Storage Containers And Dispensers For Laundry Detergent? 

There is an endless amount of ways to store laundry detergent, whether liquid, powder, or pods. There are even convenient storage options for fabric softener and dryer sheets as well. Shop for laundry storage containers here:

Wal-Mart

Amazon

Etsy

In Conclusion

People use laundry detergents in a variety of ways, from liquid to powder to pods to tablets. As each type has its own advantages, you must find the one that works the best for you.