Traditional washing powders are in many ways inferior to the new generation of household chemicals - liquid laundry detergents dissolve faster in water, are easier to rinse out of fabric fibers, and fight various types of contaminants much more effectively. Among the huge range of products presented on supermarket shelves, consumers certainly pay attention to the bright bottles from the German company Henkel - Persil washing gel is invariably in great demand and always meets customer expectations.
Compound
The main component of all types of gels are surfactants (surfactants), usually of the anionic type, which effectively remove various contaminants by reacting with them on the surface of the fabric. Additionally, the composition contains:
- bleaches: oxygen, optical;
- enzymes responsible for removing organic stains at low temperatures (up to 40°C);
- phosphonates and zeolites, responsible for water softening and the effectiveness of surfactants;
- fragrances, preservatives;
- defoamers;
- substances that prevent the formation of scale on washing machine parts.
Washing gels contain fewer harmful substances and, accordingly, are much less likely to provoke allergic reactions. The composition also depends on the purpose of the product, for example, in liquid powder for baby clothes, the content of aggressive anionic surfactants and fragrances is reduced.
Ariel
One of the most popular manufacturers is Ariel. Ariel takes first place on the sales chart. The capsules contain a rinse aid, a water softener, and a stain remover, so to speak, 3 in 1.
The manufacturer offers the consumer several types of capsules:
- Green and purple colors, which are intended for washing light-colored items, as well as restoring fabric shades;
- For bed linen with Lenore.
Consumer reviews indicate that using Ariel laundry capsules is the best option if you need to achieve high-quality stain removal and make the ironing process easier. As consumers note, many people like the aroma of things after washing this particular product.
Features of application
To use the liquid gel correctly, you must read the instructions on the package. There, the manufacturer indicates where and how much to pour the product, and for what fabrics it is suitable.
Gels have their own characteristics:
- Liquid products work more gently, so they do not always effectively remove strong and old stains. But they are indispensable for quick, refreshing washes.
- They give things a light, unobtrusive aroma.
- Gels contain a lower percentage of surfactants, so they are less aggressive. But for this reason, hand washing does not always give the expected result.
- The cap on the bottle is also a measuring cup. This greatly simplifies the dosing of the gel and also eliminates its contact with the skin of the hands.
- Convenient storage.
Reviews
Those who have used Persil washing gel are for the most part satisfied with the result, and often purchase a larger volume at a favorable price during promotions.
A wide range of Persil products in liquid form allows you to choose a product with the characteristics required, including aroma.
Reviews about Professional Universal can be read here, about Premium - here, here and here. You will find reviews about Premium Color here, about Business Line - here and here.
Reviews about Sensitive can be found on this and this review site, as well as here, about the product marked Color - here and here, here and here, about Expert - at this and this link.
Advantages and disadvantages
Liquid gel, compared to dry washing powder, has its positive and negative sides.
Positive:
- works well in cold/warm water;
- quickly dissolves without residue;
- contains a small amount of phosphates (phosphonates);
- universal: suitable for manual and automatic washing;
- does not cause destruction of textile fibers;
- is used sparingly;
- has a dispenser cap;
- does not cause allergies, because does not create a dust suspension in the air;
- rinses completely without streaks;
- safer for the environment;
- preserves washing machine parts;
- does not clog drains.
But gels also have their drawbacks:
- higher price;
- They do not remove stubborn stains well; pre-treatment is required.
Liquid powders provide effective care for clothes of both adults and children.
Top 3 alternatives
Gel forms of detergents are gaining increasing popularity among consumers . In addition to Henkel, liquid powders are produced by most well-known manufacturers: Tide, Ariel, Top House and other companies.
Tide
Manufacturer Tide Gel combines the optimal ratio of quality and cost of goods in their products. A plastic container with a capacity of 975 ml costs about 220 rubles in the retail network.
Top House Color Ultra
Concentrated washing gel is an economical product. Despite the high cost, it allows you to use less product per wash. Price 1.5 l. high concentration gel costs from 700 rubles, and this volume is enough for 42 washes.
Effective even in water at a temperature of +20°C . The use of the gel is suitable for washing colored clothes, since the components of the product prevent mixing and transfer of dyes.
Ariel
Ariel washing gels are presented in a large assortment. Among them are for sensitive skin, with various scents, professional ones, etc. Prices start from 280 rubles.
Where does it go in the washing machine?
Detergents - liquid or bulk - are usually placed inside the tray of the automatic machine. It may consist of 3 or 4 compartments.
The gel must be poured into the main wash compartment. It is located on the left side of the air conditioner loading tray (it is most often central).
The gel can be loaded directly into the drum. To do this, you can pour it into a measuring cup, placing the latter under your laundry. You can also simply pour the product into the drum and then start the selected cycle.
If there is no difference, then why pay more?
All gels coped with the test for removing dirty stains at approximately the same level: the difference between the leader and the outsider was only 4 points out of 100.
BiMax washes better than other test participants , but with a difference of one point it is immediately followed by four samples - Ariel, Amway, Losk and "Eared Nanny" . Persil and Tide shared fourth place BioMio and Synergetic took fifth place
Meine Liebe closes the ranking . It is also the least cost effective.
Gel or powder - which is better for washing?
Dosage
The volume of liquid powder is determined by the degree of contamination of things and the water hardness indicators. The manufacturer indicates the recommendations on the label.
Advice! To achieve optimal results, it is advisable to adjust the dose experimentally for each type of thing. Lack or excess of gel can cause unsatisfactory results.
Standard consumption:
- for 5 kg of washing – 2 caps;
- more than 5 kg of things - 3-4 caps.
The manufacturer may give other recommendations, which should be followed.
Manufacturer
The Persil brand belongs to the German company Henkel.
The history of washing powder began back in 1907, when German chemists managed to combine 2 components: silicate and sodium perborate. When water is heated, the substance releases oxygen bubbles into the water, which help bleach the fabric. This allowed housewives to stop rubbing things and using chlorine.
Two basic components formed the basis for the name of the powder: perborate - PER and silicate - SIL. Since then, the formula has been improved many times, 2 more release forms and new scents have appeared. In Russia, the production of Persil using German technology began in 2000.
Review of popular tools
Manufacturers offer a huge number of liquid washing gels. They differ not only in composition, but also in purpose.
Ariel
Ariel is one of the most famous gels for white/colored items. Activates when water heats up to 30°C and remains effective even at a maximum of 95°C. Copes with all kinds of stains without requiring pre-washing and providing the most gentle care for the fabric.
The cap is used not only as a lid. It is at the same time a dispenser, if you need to pour the gel into the compartment, and a container, if you need to put the product in the drum. Its ribbed surface is used for pre-treatment of contaminants.
Advice! If you pre-treat the stain with a concentrated gel, it will be removed immediately during the first wash.
Advantages:
- high efficiency;
- complete removal of all types of stains when washing without washing;
- universal cap;
- economical consumption;
- efficiency in water 30-90°C;
- gentle effect on fabric.
Flaws:
- Ariel liquid powder has a too active fragrance, which makes things smell strong after washing;
- the presence of aggressive surfactants can cause the development of an allergic response in the body.
Tide
Liquid Tide is a popular representative of concentrated washing gels from a French manufacturer. The product perfectly removes any stains without requiring washing or boiling.
Advice! If it is necessary to remove a complex old stain, then it is pre-treated with undiluted gel to improve the result.
Advantages:
- high efficiency;
- environmental friendliness;
- complete rinsing without streaks;
- maintaining the integrity of fabric fibers.
What came of it? Test results
Price per wash Rating in points
Name |
BiMax | 75 | 350 | 15 | 71 |
Ariel | 65 | 350 | 17 | 70 |
30 | 1300 | 39 | 70 | |
Losk | 65 | 400 | 13 | 70 |
68 | 450 | 15 | 70 | |
Persil | 65 | 550 | 27 | 69 |
Tide | 65 | 350 | 18 | 69 |
BioMio | 60 | 450 | 18 | 68 |
Synergetic | 30 | 300 | 12 | 68 |
Meine Liebe | 120 | 350 | 52 | 67 |
Where to buy, what is the price?
You can purchase Persil Duo-caps at any large household chemical store. They are packaged in small plastic containers of 14, 21 and 28 pieces.
The cost depends on the specific place of sale, as well as on the type of detergent. Approximate prices:
- Color 21 pieces – 550 rubles.
- Freshness from Vernel 21 pieces – 600 rubles.
- Lavender 14 pieces – 320 rubles.
Since the cost of capsules is high, some retail outlets offer to purchase the product individually. If you wish, you can order it online.
In order not to overpay for household chemicals, it is recommended to make purchases in large markets. Chain stores often offer to buy goods with an impressive discount, which can be up to 50%.
For large families, it is beneficial to purchase a large package of capsules, since a unit of goods in this case will cost less.
Criteria for choosing a washing gel
- Manufacturer . Choose trusted brands that you often hear about and can find reviews on the Internet. So, all the gels that were listed in our rating are of high quality and safe. These manufacturers can be confidently trusted.
- Package . Check the integrity and tightness of the gel bottle, the protection against the first opening cannot be broken. The label must be of high quality and well printed in order to clearly and in detail study the information from the manufacturer. If all these requirements are not met, then most likely the product has lost its properties or is defective.
- Compound . The product cannot contain phosphates and aggressive surfactants. It is also advisable to avoid synthetic fragrances. All these substances can provoke allergies and skin irritation. Give preference to products made from natural extracts and essential oils. Pay attention to the presence of emollients, polymers and enzymes. They keep things looking neat for as long as possible and effectively remove dirt.
- Purpose . The range of washing gels is famous for its wide variety. On the shelves you can find universal products for white, black, colored and children's clothes. Think about which one you need at the moment. Of course, buying a universal product is the most rational and expedient solution.
- Price . The middle price segment, as a rule, shows excellent results in washing clothes. Remember that a high price is not always an excuse for better quality. As a rule, the manufacturer simply takes money from consumers for its “name.” Too low a price indicates a fake and low quality product.
History of appearance
When purchasing Persil powder in a store, not many people realize that the history of the brand goes back more than 100 years. For the first time, a detergent with this name hit the shelves in 1908: in the summer, an advertisement appeared in a local newspaper that described the advantages of a new laundry detergent.
At that time, Henkel washing powder was truly unique. This composition contained two active ingredients: silicate and perbortate. If you boil things in them, they bleach perfectly thanks to the air bubbles that are intensely released during boiling.
This treatment was much gentler, unlike the use of chlorine. At the same time, no pungent odor was released during washing.
But, most importantly, the new Persil washing powder washed on its own, and housewives got rid of the need to scrub heavily soiled clothes by hand for a long time
Persil appeared in stores in cardboard boxes wrapped in beautiful paper packaging. The boxes were filled with detergent by hand.
15 years after the start of sales, a girl in white appeared on packages of washing powder; she was the advertising face of the product for several decades. In the 70s, a bright element was added to the cardboard box - a red ribbon.
After this, Persil had many more achievements. The powder manufacturer responded quickly to changing consumer demands, always offering new products. Thus, in 1958, the first cleaning product containing surfactant anions was published. They made it possible to wash clothes efficiently.
In the 60s, washing powder appeared for use in washing machines, which had low foam formation, and in the 80s, substances were added to the composition of the powder detergent to protect the washing machine tank from corrosive processes.
In connection with the active propaganda of environmentalists, phosphate-free formulations and quickly dissolving surfactants have been released. Further achievements included liquid products, tablets for automatic machines, powders for consumers who had hypersensitivity to chemicals.
Range
The Persil product range is varied. There are 3 types of detergents on sale:
- powders;
- gels;
- capsules.
Each release form has its own advantages and features of use, which you need to know about before making a choice.
Powder form
The powder is based on surfactants, which are present in all formulations. The formula also necessarily includes enzymes, phosphonates, bleaches and flavors. In the Persil Premium series, you can find a stain remover in the list of components.
The line is represented by the following varieties:
- Lavender.
- Freshness from Vernel.
- Spring freshness.
- Persil Color and Color freshness from Vernel.
- Premium.
- Sensitive.
On each package you can find the inscription Persil Deep Clean. It indicates that the powder formula has been improved and contains a combination of 13 enzymes. Detergents penetrate deep into fabric fibers and help remove stubborn stains.
Gel
The advantage of the liquid form is its rapid dissolution in water, so the gel not only washes well, but also rinses quickly. It is convenient to dispense the composition using a cap.
Detailed instructions for use are available on all detergent packages. The concentrate is poured into plastic bottles of various sizes.
The assortment is represented by the following items:
- Freshness from Vernel.
- Lavender.
- Сolor.
- Sensitive.
- Spring freshness.
- Premium and Premium Color.
The gel can be used to wash things in a machine and by hand.
Capsules
Capsules are machine washable only. The liquid detergent is enclosed in a transparent water-soluble shell. The volume of each capsule is designed for 4-5 kg of dirty laundry. You can purchase the product individually or in packaging (plastic containers).
The assortment is represented by the following items:
- Vernel.
- Lavender.
- Color.
- Premium Color.
1 capsule is required for 1 wash. Even if the washing machine load is incomplete, the entire capsule is used without violating its integrity.