Washers & Dryers Discussions

Powder detergent allows for just about anything to be added to the detergent and remain stable as a powder. However, liquid detergents require special ingredients to keep all the ingredients evenly mixed in a homogeneous liquid.

The ingredients that keep the liquid ingredients stable contribute to the detergent being viscous and sticky. This thickening quality makes the detergent much more likely to leave residues behind after each load.

These residues contain enzymes, which will eventually die and become food for bacteria and mildew. The more residue, the more food, the more bacteria/mildew, the more likely your washer will smell...well...not-so-fresh.

Powder detergents dissolve without thickening effects, and without stickiness, so they rinse cleaner from the washtub, reducing the likelihood of mildew.

It doesn't hurt that powders tend to be cheaper per load as well. :)

Perfect. Now it makes sense to me.

Id always heard liquid was best for your machine and powders would clog it up .

I guess thats backwards.

I am comsidering buying a new front loading HE washer. I use cold water for almost everything.  Will the powder still disolve in cold water?  I have had problems with that in the past.

What kind of water you have is the determining factor. If you live in an area with hard water with high mineral content powder will cause the formation of lime in the washer. this stuff builds up in the machine and will cause all kinds of problems, Liquid detergent uses citrate builders in the formula and doesn't react with the minerals in the water. the washers that are having smell problems are front loaders. if you get a top loader you won't have smell problems. A GE Harmony washer has a 4.0 capacity equalling most front loaders.                          In a Dishwasher you should use a good powder in the box. the only reason manufacturer's are trying different soaps are for longer shelf life. there is no advantage to the consumer to buy anything but powder. if you get one of those new Dishwashers that have a reservoir that can hold a bottle of gel and dispenses it automatically you need to be very careful what the soap is based on. some soap is enzyme based and some has a bleach base. if you mix the different soaps in the reservoirs the bleach will kill the enzymes and the reservoirs will set up like concrete, and you will have an expensive repair on your hands.

Another advantage to powder: enzymes and bleach can co-exist in powder.