Rating of washing powders 2022: review (TOP 12) of the best products

12.12.201919.02.2021 Maria Ivanova 3 comments

With the advent of washing machines, washing has become much easier and more enjoyable, but without high-quality washing powder it will be ineffective. The rating of washing powders, compiled based on reviews from users and experts, will help you choose the best product in terms of price, quality and efficiency.

Have you ever wondered how safe the washing powder you use is? Almost 70% of Russians believe that since a product is sold in stores, it means it is allowed for sale. Is it true? Is there a universal powder that can remove all stains? And if not, which powder cleans better? Which laundry detergent, according to Roskachestvo, is the safest and most effective? How to choose the right washing powder? Let's figure it out together.

Washing powder - what is it and what is it eaten with?

The first attempts to make the life of laundresses easier with the help of chemistry were made at the end of the nineteenth century.
German chemist Fritz Henkel created a powder based on sodium silicate, which quickly gained popularity among housewives. In 1876, the Henkel company was founded, which has now grown into a world-famous concern for the production of cleaning products and detergents.

Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, the family company improved the formula and began producing Persil bleaching powder, which allows you to wash clothes to unprecedented whiteness without much effort. Thanks to this product, the company became a leader in the European and US markets.

The world's first synthetic laundry detergent was released by the well-known company Procter & Gamble. This happened back in 1933 in the USA. Unfortunately, it could only effectively remove fresh stains, so it began to be advertised as a safe detergent for washing baby clothes and diapers.

In Russia, the first synthetic powder appeared in the mid-fifties and was called “Novost”. It was produced by the Kazan chemical plant. Need I say that the product was in great demand and broke all sales records?

For a very long time, the technology of washing powders remained virtually unchanged, but in the last twenty years there has been a real breakthrough - washing has become much easier and more efficient.

Modern washing powders belong to powdered household chemicals, have a complex composition, can cope with complex stains, whiten laundry, refresh it and give it a pleasant aroma.

Which brand of laundry detergent should you buy?

In this TOP, the first place can deservedly be given to the company GrabGreen, which is quite well-known in its niche. Other manufacturers are less popular, but they also create natural, safe and effective products for the care of linen and clothing.

Meet today's leaders:

GrabGreen - today this is the clear winner of our TOP; from this brand it offers 3 cleaning products for clothes. It produces exclusively organic products, the use of which does not harm the health of adults and children. The company pays special attention to the delicate care of completely different fabrics. It has options for both automatic and manual washing.
Method is an American manufacturer of household chemicals, headquartered in San Francisco. In his line he has products for washing dishes, laundry, and cleaning the house. It offers large volumes at relatively reasonable prices, while the composition of the products is safe for health.
Nellie's All-Natural - manufacturer produces liquid and powder detergents for washing children's and adult clothes. They do not spoil fabrics, fight stains well and cope with their duties in both cold and hot water.
Charlie's Soap - here the range is not limited to only products for house cleaning and clothing care, although this is its basis of production. It is represented by bleaches, softeners, stain removers, and powders. Many of them combine all this and are universal, which makes them even more in demand on the market. The company's focus is on both adults and children, including allergy sufferers, who need natural household chemicals without harmful fragrances and dyes.

Types of washing powders

Unfortunately, a universal washing powder has not yet been invented, so you have to carefully read the description on the package and choose the best option for yourself.

By type of wash

Washing powders can be for hand washing or used for automatic washing machines.
In the latter case, on the packaging you will definitely see the corresponding inscription “Automatic” and an image of a washing machine. Externally, these powders are no different, but if you use hand washing powder in a machine, you will get increased foaming, which can damage the main electronic components.

Powder for hand washing has a more gentle composition and is whipped into a thick foam, which protects the skin from aggressive components.

“Automatic” has a highly concentrated formula and copes well with stains when washed in machines. But it practically does not form foam.

By release form

Laundry detergents can be in powder, liquid or tablet form.

Everyone is familiar with powders - this is the most popular and cheapest remedy. Almost all automatic machines are designed for powder. Unfortunately, it dissolves slowly in water and is difficult to rinse out. And if the quality is below average, it can generate dust and cause allergies.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/washing-powder-detergent-1500058/

For allergy sufferers, it is recommended to use the liquid form. This way, when you add the product to the washing machine, you will not inhale dust and a pungent odor. The gel dissolves much faster, has a more concentrated formula, rinses well, behaves well in cold water, and is more gentle on fabric fibers. When washing jackets and synthetic items, it does not leave streaks or white spots, which is often the problem with powder.

Biopowders, which are environmentally friendly, are mainly sold in the form of tablets. They are rarely found on the shelves of our stores and are more expensive.

By purpose

Depending on the degree of contamination, types of fabric and washing methods, powders are divided into two large groups.

Special ones are designed for washing items made of delicate fabrics - silk, wool, lace, cashmere and others. In combination with low temperatures (up to 30 ° C), such powders effectively remove dirt and do not damage the structure of the fibers.
Universal is a powder that can be used both in a washing machine and for hand washing. It removes all light stains at any temperature, and the temperature does not matter whether it is 20 ° C or 90 ° C. However, you don’t need to blindly believe advertising. In fact, there are no powders that can deal with all stains; each brand deals with stains differently and to the best of its ability.

There is no such powder that would remove absolutely all stains. This can be explained simply - different composition. Protein stains are terribly “afraid” of enzymes, and the water temperature should not exceed 40 ° C, otherwise milk, egg whites or blood will coagulate, and it will become much more difficult to wash them off. Acid-containing bleach can help remove coffee, juice, or grass stains. In this case, it is recommended to set the temperature to 60 °C.

By the color of things

Powder for whites usually contains optical, chemical or oxygen-containing bleach.

Chemical implies the presence of chlorine. White things are bleached, but colored ones in this case can become discolored, develop unsightly spots, and become duller.

Optical brightener contains fluorescent particles that settle on the fabric and create the appearance of a whiter, brighter color.

Oxygen-containing is made on the basis of sodium percarbonate - a compound of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. It copes well with stains of natural origin - grass juice, vegetables and fruits, coffee and tea, fatty foods and others.

Powders for colored laundry labeled “Color” do not contain any bleaches, so nothing can affect the color. The composition contains substances that perform protective functions in relation to dyes - the paint does not wash out or fade, and retains its brightness and saturation even after repeated washings.

The best powders for hand washing

Washing products in the basin have a gentle composition, protect the skin, and should not cause irritation. They rinse well and form abundant foam, which makes them unsuitable for use in an automatic machine. Excess foam can escape through leaks in the hatch and connecting elements. This often leads to equipment breakdown.

Most housewives prefer the following brands: Sarma, Ariel, Pemos.

Sarma

The manufacturer produces washing powders for white and colored clothes in packages of 400 and 800 grams. There are also large plastic bags with a volume of 2.4 kg or more.

The main advantages of the powder:

lack of chlorine in the composition;
good solubility in water, no lumps;
It removes difficult stains better than other powders: marks and stains of various origins, gray and yellow deposits;
antibacterial, disinfectant effect, removal of dust and linen mites;
pleasant mild smell;
low cost.

The main disadvantage is the presence of unnatural ingredients.

Ariel DeLuxe

The manufacturer produces hand washing products with different fragrances: “Mountain Spring”, “Delicate Peony”, “White Rose”. The powder is packaged in boxes of 450 g. There are also Ariel DeLuxe plastic bags of 900 g.

Main advantages:

removing stains even at low water temperatures;
unobtrusive aroma;
good dissolution and rinsing.

Flaws:

contains harmful chemicals;
dries out the skin of your hands.

Pemos Authority

Pemos Authority is a washing powder packaged in a 350 g box. There are also 2.4 kg bags.

Advantages noted by buyers:

the ability to use the product for natural and artificial fabrics of any shade;
removing difficult stains from grease, coffee, tea, fruit, berries, chocolate, ink, cosmetics, etc.;
economical consumption;
low cost;

Minuses:

It is not recommended to wash delicate materials;
capable of corroding skin;
contains a large number of surfactants.

The most popular brands and manufacturers

The most famous brands and companies producing washing powders look like this.

BioMio. The domestic manufacturer has been known on the Russian market for six years. Produces hypoallergenic products, combining a safe composition with washing efficiency.
Frosch. A German brand with a memorable logo – a green frog, which symbolizes an environmentally friendly product. Most of the ingredients in the composition are of natural origin.
Meine Liebe. A German brand that specializes in safe cleaning and washing household products. Does not contain phosphates, chlorine and other aggressive components.
Persil. The first ever active washing powder. The brand belongs to the German concern Henkel and tries to produce only premium washing powders.
Procter & Gamble Company. An American company known throughout the world. Owns the trademarks "Tide" and "Ariel".
"Nevskaya cosmetics" Known for its brands “Ushasty Nyan” and Sarma.

What should be the composition and effect of a good product?

The composition is the key to a favorable wash. The main elements of a powder detergent product are surfactants. There is also the abbreviation surfactant.

They have cleaning and antistatic functions.
Reduces electrical charge.
Soften the water.

Surfactants also have disadvantages. The packaging shows 5% surfactant in the composition (optimal proportion). The component in large quantities is harmful to the health of the consumer and his pets. The powder contains phosphoric acid salts (phosphates), not exceeding the normal limit of 12%. The loose powder contains polymers, bleaches and bioadditives.

The detergent should remove stains of any complexity, soften water, be easy to rinse and not leave marks or streaks, provided that it is added in sufficient quantity.

Rating of washing powders - review of popular products

We present to your attention the TOP 12 most popular washing powders of this year.

12th place. Myth Fresh color (automatic)

The 3-in-1 detergent ensures laundry is clean and fresh, and is also used very economically. The packaging is enough for two or three full washes.

The composition contains enzymes that can effectively remove stains from tea, coffee, grass, ketchup, chocolate and other protein-based stains. The content of anionic surfactants is 15%, nonionic surfactants – 5%. There are no phosphate compounds.

The powder can be used for machine washing of both cotton and synthetic fabrics, regardless of color. Thanks to special substances, colored items retain their brightness and richness of shades, and the black color is protected from washing out the coloring pigment.

The average cost is 60 rubles per 400 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

nice smell;
does not leave streaks;
does not cause irritation or allergies;
washes well;
retains color;
affordable price;
does not leave stains on black.

Flaws:

too strong odor;
does not cope with all stains;
economy is invisible.

Myth Fresh color (automatic)

11th place. Bimax 100 spots (automatic)

A universal product intended not only for machine washing, but also for hand washing. Recommended for synthetics and cotton in white or light shades. Contains bleaching agents and enzymes that remove protein stains. No phosphates. Foam formation is average.

Although the powder is effective on a wide variety of stains, it should not be used on wool and silk items.

The average cost is 95 rubles per 400 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

it really can handle a large number of stains;
pleasant, unobtrusive smell;
effective even in cold water;
high quality, clean.

Flaws:

price;
does not completely dissolve in the machine;
divorces remain;
It doesn't remove all stains.

Bimax 100 spots (automatic)

10th place. Attack Multi-Action

Japanese concentrated washing powder “5 in 1”. Effectively removes stains, maintains the brightness of shades, destroys bacteria, softens fibers, and eliminates unpleasant odors.

A very economical product - one package weighing 0.9 kg replaces 3.5 kg of regular powder and is designed for 23 full washes.

Does not contain phosphates, the concentration of anionic surfactants is 15%. Suitable for both white and colored clothes made of cotton, linen and synthetics. Thanks to enzymes and a gentle stain remover, it removes fresh and old biological stains, as well as fats and grime.

The optimal washing temperature is 30...40 °C.

The average cost is 530 rubles per 900 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

refreshes colors;
really economical consumption, there is a measuring spoon;
practically odorless;
does not cause allergies or rashes in the child;
purity and brightness of colored things;
white becomes white again;
lasts a long time, washes everything well.

Flaws:

expensive;
doesn’t always wash everything;
difficult to find on sale.

Attack Multi-Action

9th place. Persil Color Fresh from Vernel

Thanks to the strong formula with an active stain remover, you can remove even difficult stains that begin to dissolve at the very beginning of the wash. And special color-protecting substances allow you to maintain the brightness of the shades even after repeated washing.

The highlight of the powder is the “pearls from Vernel”, which remain on the fibers after washing and give a fresh aroma every time you touch the clothes.

The powder is universal, it can be used in machine and hand washing for all types of fabrics, except the most delicate ones. There are no phosphates in the composition, but there are enzymes, stain remover and conditioner.

The average cost is 105 rubles per 450 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

excellent quality, especially if the powder is original (from Europe);
does not cause sneezing or rashes;
it smells fresh and pleasant, but unobtrusive;
washes perfectly even without soaking;
better than "Tyda", but worse than "Ariel".

Flaws:

does not erase difficult stains;
if it is made in Russia, then the composition leaves much to be desired;
expensive, but worth it.

Persil Color Fresh from Vernel

8th place. Losk Mountain Lake (automatic)

This powder is intended for white and light-colored linen made of synthetics, cotton and other fabrics, except wool and silk. Thanks to bleach and enzymes, the product copes with even difficult stains, providing clothes with an incredibly fresh, frosty aroma of a mountain lake after washing.

Oxygen-containing and optical substances are used as bleaching agents. And to remove stains, the formula uses six different highly effective enzymes, thanks to which the powder removes greasy stains on collars and cuffs, stains from fatty foods, starch, sauces, herbal juice, and ice cream.

After washing, things do not turn gray or yellow, and do not form “pellets”.

The average cost is 85 rubles per 450 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

economically and efficiently;
washes quite well;
smells unobtrusively;
does not “eat away” the color;
things don't look washed out.

Flaws:

washability is so-so;
fragrance is not for everyone;
if your skin is sensitive, it is better not to wash it with your hands;
Difficult stains need to be rubbed additionally by hand.

Losk Mountain Lake (automatic)

7th place. BabyLine Children's based on natural soap

Do you have a child and do laundry often? A 0.9 kg package of powder is enough for two dozen washes when the washing machine is fully loaded. The product is intended for colored and white laundry, suitable for all types of fabrics, it can also be used for hand washing.

The composition contains soap made from natural ingredients, which does not cause allergies, washes well and perfectly washes all types of children's “surprises” and dirt.

The powder is concentrated and lasts a long time. Does not contain fragrance, stains are removed using an oxygen-containing stain remover, which is absolutely safe for health.

The powder also “takes care” of the heating elements of the washing machine, since it contains substances that prevent the formation of scale.

The average cost is 300 rubles per 900 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

practically odorless;
good composition;
does not cause irritation;
good washability;
oxygen bleach included;
can be used from the birth of the child.

Flaws:

does not cope with old stains;
if the clothes have been left for a day, they will no longer wash them;
the same 15% surfactants;
the same composition as regular powders, except that soap has been added.

BabyLine Children's based on natural soap

6th place. Stork Stork magic whirlwind

Phosphate-free washing powder that can be used from the first days of a baby’s life. Thanks to its environmentally friendly and safe composition, this product will also appeal to adults with sensitive skin.

The powder is universal, suitable for hand and machine wash. Contains bleach and plant enzymes. APAS only 5%. It rinses well and helps remove stains of various types.

The structure of the cleaning product is small granules that do not form dust. The composition contains ionized silver, which has an antibacterial effect.

The average cost is 54 rubles per 400 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

washes well and has no smell;
does not cause allergies or skin rashes;
from the first days of life;
the composition is pleasing;
no phosphates, harmful additives or fragrances;
safe.

Flaws:

wasteful consumption;
not all stains can be applied to it.

Stork Stork magic whirlwind

5th place. Meine Liebe Universal

Environmentally friendly concentrated powder for colored and white items from a German manufacturer. It does not contain phosphates and chlorine; in principle, it has virtually no harmful substances in its composition. APAS is only 5%.

Thanks to active plant enzymes, it removes biological contaminants quite effectively. After washing, it has no harmful effect on the environment and quickly decomposes.

It washes delicately, carefully, but quite effectively. Very economical - consumption is three times less than that of conventional powder. Maintains color saturation and does not spoil the structure of the fibers.

The average cost is 360 rubles per 1 kg.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

washes perfectly at high temperatures;
moderate odor;
economical, profitable;
good composition;
ensures softness of things;
Just perfect for everyday washing.

Flaws:

no measuring spoon;
the packaging is ill-conceived;
the price is higher than we would like.

Meine Liebe Universal

4th place. Tide Color (automatic)

The powder, widely advertised on the domestic market, fully lives up to its advertising promises. Designed for washing colored linen and clothes in automated machines.

Excellent for removing stains and fresh dirt. Preserves the color of the fabric and protects against pigment leaching. Does not contain phosphates. APAS – 5%.

The average cost is 95 rubles per 450 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

washes well;
has a pleasant smell;
high quality and efficient;
Can remove almost all stains.

Flaws:

need rinse aid;
For difficult and old stains, soaking is necessary.

Tide Color (automatic)

3rd place. Ariel Mountain spring (automatic)

This brand is known all over the world and is popular and trusted by many housewives. The powder is universal, it can be used not only for washing in a machine, but also by hand.

Thanks to bleaches and enzymes, it can quickly remove almost all stains, including old ones. Freshly washed laundry retains a pleasant aroma of freshness for a long time.

The composition contains substances that protect the heating elements of the machine from limescale.

Does not contain phosphates. APAS – 15%.

The average cost is 125 rubles per 450 g.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

perfectly removes stains;
whitens whites;
removes light stains in one wash without additional effort;
pleasant aroma;
quality at an elite level.

Flaws:

foams a lot;
for the best effect you still have to soak the laundry;
expensive.

Ariel Mountain spring (automatic)

2nd place. BioMio BIO-COLOR with cotton extract

Concentrated eco-friendly washing powder with plant substances. Designed for washing children's clothes. Contains cotton extract. It is odorless and does not cause allergies. The packaging is enough for 30 full washing machine loads. Can also be washed by hand.

Completely rinsed out. It can be used not only for children, but also for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin. Does not contain phosphates. APAS – 5%.

The average cost is 380 rubles per 1.5 kg.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

the effective result is obvious;
economical;
safe;
has no smell;
rinses well;
environmentally friendly, biodegradable.

Flaws:

difficult to find on sale;
when washing by hand it is too soapy, you need to rinse well;
price.

BioMio BIO-COLOR with cotton extract

1st place. Burti Hygiene Plus

The leader of our rating is a universal phosphate-free washing powder from a German manufacturer, which is focused on producing safe laundry detergents.

This powder effectively destroys 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and fungi. Ideal for washing in homes where there are pets, seriously ill people, and small children.

Thanks to bleaching agents, white things become truly snow-white, and enzymes remove stains of various origins, while colored fabrics do not lose their color.

The price is high, but the product is used quite economically - the package is enough for 18 machine washes.

The average cost is 550 rubles per 1.1 kg.

What are users saying?

Advantages:

does not leave streaks;
unobtrusive light aroma;
disinfects;
does not irritate the skin, does not cause allergies;
suitable for washing children's clothes;
copes with difficult stains.

Flaws:

price;
You can't buy it everywhere.

Burti Hygiene Plus

The best stain removers

If even a very high-quality powder cannot cope with old stains, leave the solution to this problem to a stain remover. The formulas of such products have a high concentration of enzymes, alcohol and oxygen elements, thanks to which they can easily cope even with traces of dried blood, resins, oils, decorative cosmetics and more.

Today, stain removers are available in the form of powders, gels, sprays and sticks. They can be applied to clothes before cleaning, used for soaking and together with regular powder when washing.

Sonett Stain Removal Spray

★★★★★

editorial assessment

100%

buyers recommend this product

The German Sonett Stain spray will give a second life to your favorite things that had to be discarded due to heavy contamination. The liquid concentrate is sold in compact packaging with a fine spray for local treatment of contaminants. The product is applied to a dry stain and left for 10 minutes, and then cleaned by machine or hand washing.

The composition of the stain remover includes plant surfactants, alcohol, quillaya extract, as well as sage and lavender esters. The gentle formula perfectly dissolves any dirt, while being completely safe for colored and delicate fabrics. The eco-formula is confirmed by numerous certificates, so you can safely use it even for washing children's clothes.

Advantages:

Quickly deals with any stains;
Convenient format;
Safe composition;
Suitable for delicate and colored fabrics;
Economical.

Flaws:

The price is higher than analogues.

Sonett stain remover spray is perfect for removing heavy stains on underwear, silk blouses and other items that require careful handling.

Mary Premium Stain remover for baby clothes

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

93%

buyers recommend this product

A gentle stain remover in gel form will remove dirt from children's underwear without harming the baby. The hypoallergenic formula does not contain phosphates, chlorine and SLS, while it effectively dissolves even old stains without deforming the fabric.

The liquid transparent concentrate is applied to the stains and foams, after which it must be left for 20 minutes. Then only normal hand or machine washing is required.

The stain remover gel is sold in 1 liter plastic bottles at a very attractive price. Its only drawback is the smell of acetone, however, it does not remain on clothes.

Advantages:

Safe composition;
Effective in removing difficult stains;
Hypoallergenic formula;
It can be rinsed out of fabrics without any problems;
Low cost.

Flaws:

Specific smell.

Mary stain remover will be appreciated by caring parents on a limited budget who choose quality products for washing children's clothes.

U Detachant Oxygen stain remover

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

98%

buyers recommend this product

Bleach-stain remover from a French manufacturer is designed to remove stubborn stains on light, colored and dark fabrics. The concentrate in powder form with an unobtrusive aroma is mixed with your regular cleanser and is suitable for all types of washing. For convenient dosage of the product, a measuring spoon is provided, which will be enough for a machine with a load of up to 5 kilograms.

This stain remover formula contains oxygen agents that effectively dissolve organic and inorganic stains. The U Detachant stain remover is suitable for frequent use on any synthetic and natural materials and will definitely not ruin things.

Advantages:

Safe formula;
Versatile;
Availability of measuring spoon included;
Suitable for any fabrics;
Effective.

Flaws:

May be difficult to find on sale.

Looking for a universal family wash stain remover that can be used without pre-soaking? Pay attention to the formula from U Detachant.

What to look for when choosing a powder (automatic machine)

How to choose the best washing powder? To do this, it is enough to focus on the following indicators.

Compound

Currently, there are many horror stories, myths and horror stories about the harmful composition of washing powders. Here are the main ones.

Most of the powders sold on our market are based on sodium tripolyphosphate. After every wash, and we wash almost every day, this substance, along with the water, enters water bodies and causes rapid algal blooms and the development of plankton. Thanks to this “feeding”, rivers bloom, water becomes unfit for drinking, the amount of oxygen in it decreases and all living things die.
Phosphorus compounds, which are also often used to make all kinds of detergents, negatively affect human health. Through contact with the skin, harmful substances enter the bloodstream, disrupting the functioning of internal organs, exacerbating diseases and contributing to the emergence of new ones.
Surfactants (surfactants) – their content in powders is approximately 15-20%. They can cause dangerous allergic reactions, damage the brain, liver, kidneys, disrupt metabolism, and promote infertility. That is why in Western European countries the use of surfactants in washing powders is limited to 2%.
In Europe, they wash with powders not based on phosphates, but with the use of a biologically inert, environmentally friendly substance - zeolite. The cost of such washing powders increases by 20%. In Russia, almost all powders are produced with phosphates, because people bought them and will continue to buy them - why change anything?

Let's try to dispel exaggerations and myths. General Director of the Research Center for Household Chemicals, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Honorary Chemist of Russia Vyacheslav Filippenkov claims that phosphates are absolutely harmless to the human body. Sodium/potassium tripolyphosphate is added in the production of premium quality raw smoked sausage and other products, that is, it is used for food. Phosphate compounds do not harm the environment because they are used as fertilizers. Bans on phosphates in Europe are due to marketing policy; this is beneficial to the manufacturers of household chemicals themselves.

Children's powders differ from regular ones not so much in composition as in the absence of certain additives. In order for a universal powder, especially one intended for colored linen or “2 in 1”, to fulfill its declared properties, the composition includes special additives that must remain on the fabric after washing. For delicate children's skin, these additives can be harmful, so they are excluded from the composition, but the product itself is practically no different from the “adult” one.

If mothers are too suspicious and are afraid of harming their baby with “dangerous chemicals”, then she will have to either hand wash all things with baby or brown laundry soap, or thoroughly rinse things in “ten” waters, dry them outside for good airing and iron them with two iron sides.

The powders may contain the following components.

Surfactants that help dissolve stains and dirt.
Phosphates that reduce water hardness and enhance stain dissolution. Thanks to phosphate compounds, the fabric becomes softer, which is especially important for children's clothing and linen.
Zeolites that bind hard water salts. To some extent they can replace phosphates, but for this it is necessary to introduce additional polymers into the composition.
Enzymes are dietary supplements that help remove protein stains. They also protect against the occurrence of “pillings”. By the way, powders with enzymes have an adverse effect on natural fabrics that have a protein nature - cotton, linen, wool, silk.
Substances that have a cellulose base - they create a protective “film” that does not allow dirt particles to “stick” to the fabric again during washing.
Optical effect brighteners. Special fluorescent substances settle in tiny particles onto the fibers of the fabric, thereby creating the effect of whiteness.

Powders that do not contain aggressive chemical compounds have not performed well. Soap, soda, citric acid are not able to cope with stains properly.

You should not consider each chemical compound separately from the others - in any case, it will turn out to be harmful. Only in conjunction with others and with proper concentration can any conclusions be drawn.

Purpose and temperature conditions

Depending on the type of fabric and dirt, washing powders are divided into the following types.

Universal. Suitable for all fabrics except silk and wool. Can be used for manual or automatic washing and does not depend on temperature conditions. They easily remove fresh stains, but cannot cope with complex stains. The greatest effect is achieved at a temperature of 40...60 °C.
Special. Designed for delicate washing of silk and wool fabrics. May contain additives that soften the fibers and protect them from damage. As a rule, they contain an antistatic agent. Heavy soiling cannot be handled when washing in a machine, since the optimal temperature is 30 °C.
For washing black fabrics. The composition includes a dye fixative that protects against fading and washing out. The black color remains as deep as a brand new item. Most often it comes in liquid form, which does not leave white streaks.
For washing curtains. They have a softening and anti-crease effect, which makes curtains much easier to iron.
Biopowders. Effectively remove protein stains. The optimal temperature is 40...50 °C.

Features of stains on clothes

As already noted, there are no universal powders that could cope with contaminants of different origins and complexity. Some brands are better at removing grease stains, while others are better at removing protein stains.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/detergent-spoon-white-wash-water-460472/

It is better to find out which washing powder is best for removing certain stains directly from reviews of real users or by reading the results of testing powders from Roskachestvo.

Our usual washing powders easily remove fresh dirt, but only a good stain remover can deal with complex old stains.

Other options

Some washing powders have additional capabilities due to various additives.

Bleach helps produce snow-white laundry. This is especially true for white bedding.
Fragrances give freshly washed items a fresh aroma, which immediately brings to mind the idea of cleanliness. But if you are sensitive to odors, then it is better to purchase a powder with an unobtrusive aroma or no fragrance at all.
The antistatic agent prevents synthetics, knitwear or wool from becoming electrified and “electric shocking”.
Anti-crease protection makes ironing much easier.
Rinse aids remove residual aggressive substances from the surface of the fabric, promoting fiber restoration. Gives a pleasant aroma and softness.
Water softeners protect the heating units of the washing machine from scale formation.

The best fabric softeners

Conditioners have a softening and antistatic effect, so they are indispensable at the final stage of washing terry towels, bedding, underwear, children's clothing and thin synthetic fabrics. Their formulas contain special polymers that preserve the brightness of fabrics, provide a dirt-repellent effect and significantly simplify the ironing process. In addition, most air conditioners have pleasant perfumed or natural fragrances that remain as an unobtrusive veil on clean linen.

KAO Humming Fine Concentrated fabric softener

★★★★★

editorial assessment

100%

buyers recommend this product

Does your laundry acquire a musty aroma after drying? The Japanese rinse aid will quickly correct the situation, at the same time giving extraordinary softness to even hard cotton products.

The product in a 570 ml plastic bottle has a liquid gel texture and a luxurious jasmine aroma. Polymers, aromatic oils and bactericidal components in its composition effectively eliminate unpleasant odors, prevent the formation of wrinkles on clothes and eliminate microbes formed when drying clothes in an unventilated room.

KAO Humming Fine is used at the final stage of hand or machine washing. Add it at the rate of 7 ml per 1 kg of laundry. Regular use of the concentrate will preserve the density and saturation of fabric fibers, and will not cause unpleasant reactions in allergy sufferers.

Advantages:

Pleasant aroma of jasmine;
Safe composition;
Minimum consumption;
Bactericidal effect;
Softens laundry;
Gives an antistatic effect.

Flaws:

The price is high.

KAO conditioner will be appreciated by lovers of perfumed floral fragrances, whose wardrobe is dominated by linen, thin synthetic and silk clothing.

Chicco Sensitive Concentrated Softener

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

95%

buyers recommend this product

Safe conditioner for baby clothes from the Spanish company Chicco has a subtle vanilla aroma that unobtrusively remains on fabrics. The liquid concentrate is sold in a plastic yellow bottle with a volume of 750 ml. The composition is suitable for machine and hand washing. It is used economically: for a machine with a loading of 5 kg it will be enough for 30 or more uses.

Due to the absence of chlorine, phosphates and aggressive chemical fragrances, the conditioner can be used to rinse diapers and children's underwear. It effectively softens hard natural fabrics, eliminates static from synthetic materials, facilitates ironing and provides a bactericidal effect.

Advantages:

Pleasant vanilla aroma;
Safe composition;
Can be used from the first days of a child’s life;
Softening and bactericidal effect;
Economical and relatively inexpensive.

Flaws:

Not suitable for children with a hypersensitive sense of smell.

Chicco conditioner is suitable for rinsing any children's laundry. Adults with allergies, as well as fans of vanilla aroma, will appreciate it.

What Roskachestvo says about washing powders on our market

Roskoshestvo has conducted extensive research on which washing powder is the best and most harmless. Several dozen brands of various powders were tested according to 30 quality and safety criteria.

The main conclusions are as follows.

A universal powder was never found that could cope with all the proposed stains and not affect the quality of the fabric.
Two brands were chosen in the “Best automatic washing powder” category – “Aist” and Burti COLOR. The worst were the Bashkir “Zifa” and the environmentally friendly Garden Eco and Molecola. The latter are absolutely safe for both humans and the environment, but do not cope well with stains.
All tested powders were found to be harmless to health. If you avoid direct contact with the skin (wash your hands with powder or wash it by hand), and use them only in washing machines, then they will not cause harm.
The dust content in the powders turned out to be no more than one percent, with the permissible norm being 3%.
After three rinsing cycles, a small amount of surfactant remains on the items (within normal limits).
They did an excellent job with greasy stains - “Stork”, “Biolan”, “Kapel”, “Ordinary Powder”, Bio Mio, Burti COLOR, Ecover, Free time, Frosch, Reflect and Sarma. The worst results were shown by Econel, Meine Liebe, Luch Avtomat and Garden eco.
For protein stains, it is better to purchase - “Stork”, “Biolan”, “Myth”, “Ordinary Powder”, “Pemos”, “Recipes for Cleanliness”, “Chaika”, Ariel, Bimax, BioMio, Burti COLOR, Cj Lion Beat Drum , Deni, Dosia, Ecover, Free time, Frosch, Losk color, Meine Liebe, Persil, Reflect, Sarma, Sorti and Tide.
The leaders in the “Effect of Powder on Fabric” category were “Ordinary Powder”, Deni, Losk color and Tide. After repeated washings, the items retained their strength and color as much as possible.
The optimal amount of foam is produced by Molecola, Garden eco and Frosch.
Of the 22 children's powders, “Eared Nanny” turned out to be the best. They do not contain fragrances, but simply smell fresh - “Aistenok”, “Mara”, “Umka”, “Chaika”, Babyline, BabySpeci, Frosch, Garden, Sodasan and Tobbi Kids.

About products

As part of a rolling study by Roskachestvo in 2022, powders for washing colored laundry were studied according to 30 parameters of quality and safety.
The rating included products from 31 popular brands among Russians. In 2020, seven products in the rating were re-examined. Most of the products are produced in the Russian Federation (22 brands). In addition, powders from three brands from Germany and one brand each from Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, the USA and South Korea were tested. The cost of products ranged from 29.99 to 1600 rubles. per unit of product (the study presents products in packages from 350 g to 4 kg). According to the results of laboratory tests, the powder of all brands studied was found to be of high quality and safe. No products with violations were found.

Washing powders “Aist” and Burti COLOR meet both the requirements of current quality and safety standards and the advanced requirements of the Roskachestvo standard. “Stork”, as a domestic product, can qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

Russian quality system standard

The standard of the Russian quality system for washing powders for colored fabrics, which includes mandatory legal requirements, also establishes advanced requirements for the quality of the powder. According to them, washing powders should not foam too much, generate a lot of dust and leave hardness salts on the heating elements of the washing machine. They must also flawlessly remove protein (blood) and pigment-oil (grease, sweat) stains. Items washed at least 25 times with high-quality powder are not supposed to turn grey, yellow, or lose strength; There should be no pellets on them.

The requirements of the Roskachestvo standard are voluntary and are not mandatory for the manufacturer. If the product meets all the requirements of the Roskachestvo standard, the manufacturer receives the right to apply for product labeling with the Russian Quality Mark.

Useful tips

Always sort your laundry by color and fabric type. Remember that cotton and delicate items are washed on different programs, and whites and colors are not mixed to avoid the appearance of multi-colored stains.
Use the “right powder” for each type of laundry.
Pay attention to the tags on the clothes, which indicate information at what temperature and machine mode they can be washed.
To remove aggressive chemical components from items as completely as possible, do not neglect additional rinsing.
Conventional washing powders can only cope with light stains. Difficult stains will have to be washed using stain removers - just pour it on the stain before washing and leave for a few minutes.
If the laundry has been waiting for a long time to be washed, then it is better to soak it first. After soaking, even difficult stains can be washed off the first time. In order not to bother with basins, you can run the first wash in economy mode, and then turn on a longer and more effective program.

How did we create the rating?

And now more about how we tested washing powders.

Cleaning ability. We stained identical samples of white 100% cotton fabric with 5 types of stains: red wine, ketchup, women's lipstick, grass and grease. In order for the stains to have time to penetrate into the material, we left the samples for 24 hours and only then washed them in the washing machine at 30 degrees in the “Cotton” mode for 2 hours. We rated the washed samples on a 5-point scale, where: 5 points – the stains completely disappeared from the fabric; 4 points – the spots became barely noticeable; 3 points – the stains are clearly visible on the fabric, but have significantly faded and decreased in size; 2 points – the spots have faded and have not decreased significantly; 1 point – the spots have hardly changed in size and color. Let us immediately note that the ideal result could not be achieved with any powder.

Safety. Since we cannot obtain laboratory data on the toxicity index of all washing powders, as well as data on the ability of a-surfactants in powders of different brands to be washed out of fabrics, we decided to determine the safety of the products based on their compositions. The assessment methodology is as follows: we assigned a conditional hazard index to each harmful substance that can be used in washing powders, then calculated the sum of the indices for each powder and converted the results into a 5-point system. Of course, this method of assessing the safety of products is not the most accurate, but it is enough to determine the “lesser evil” and powders that you should stay away from.

Here is a list of undesirable components indicating conditional hazard indexes:

Anionic surfactants (A-surfactants, A-tensides) – 0.3
Phosphonates and phosphorites (less “evil” phosphate substitutes) – 0.2
Optical brightener – 0.2
Fragrances – 0.2
Zeolites – 0.1

Notes: Some powders contain a-surfactants and phosphonates in minimal quantities, that is, less than 5%!, and this is already good. Therefore, in such cases, we decided to reduce the harmfulness indicators by 0.1. One more clarification: Myth washing powder contains only two components from our list, but there are others, namely benzyl acetate and linonene. We assigned a harmfulness index of 0.1 to each of them.

Now about translating the results of calculating harmfulness indices into a 5-point system:

5 points = sum of the harmfulness index 0.5;
4 points = 0.6;
3 points = 0.7;
2 points = 0.8;
1 point = 0.9-1.

Read more about why these ingredients in washing powders are so bad in the next chapter.

Consumer rating. We analyzed reviews from users of the sites Otzovik.ru and irecommend.ru and assessed the reputation of washing powders on a 5-point scale, where: 5 points - mostly positive reviews, 4 points - mostly good ratings, 3 points - satisfactory ratings, 2 points - mostly bad reviews reviews, 1 point – mostly sharply negative user reviews.