You can spend a lot of money on detergents. Many different specialist detergents are now on the market. But do you really need so many different detergents?
Whether the “basic” universal detergent is sufficient depends primarily on the laundry to be washed. If it is mostly light-colored clothing made of durable material (e.g. cotton), a universal detergent is completely sufficient. The laundry will be clean and retain its shape and color.
When is a universal detergent not sufficient?
If you have clothing made of wool or silk to wash, you should use a delicate or wool detergent.
How much universal detergent is required?
The amount of universal detergent depends on various factors: wash temperature, degree of soiling, laundry load and water hardness. To use the correct amount, you should definitely read the dosing recommendation on the manufacturer’s packaging.
Delicate detergent
Although delicate detergent is essential for certain garments, it is not found in every household. But when should delicate detergent be used?
Why should delicate detergent be used?
Delicate detergent is particularly suitable for lower temperatures and very sensitive fabrics. It contains no brighteners or bleaches and therefore cleans especially gently. It also produces a particularly fine foam during the wash cycle, which additionally protects the fabric of the clothing during washing.
Which laundry should you wash with delicate detergent?
As the name suggests, you should primarily wash fine garments—blouses, shirts, lingerie or items with lace—with delicate detergent. These garments could suffer in a normal wash with universal detergent, losing their shape or even becoming damaged.
Where is the delicate detergent poured?
You dose the delicate detergent into the same compartment where the universal detergent is normally poured. Better still: also check what the manufacturer recommends. The symbol II always indicates the chamber for the main wash cycle and the chamber with the symbol I is for pre-wash. So if you want to wash your laundry with a delicate detergent—without pre-wash—you fill chamber II.
Liquid detergent
Some users swear by liquid detergent, others condemn it. But what is the basis for the different claims?
The advantages of liquid detergent
When using liquid detergents there are generally no white detergent residues on clothing. It is gentle on colored textiles and is also easy to dose.
The disadvantages of liquid detergent
Compared with washing powder, liquid detergent is generally not as concentrated (except, of course, for liquid detergent concentrates). This can mean that you need to pre-treat stains additionally, because they do not come out as well as when washing with washing powder concentrates.
Wool detergent
Wool detergent is usually treated rather as an afterthought. Yet it serves an important purpose: when used correctly it prevents your beloved wool sweater from distorting or otherwise coming out of the washing machine damaged.
What exactly is wool detergent?
Wool detergent differs in many respects from standard all-purpose detergents. It contains, for example, no optical brighteners or bleaching agents and ensures that a pH-neutral wash solution is created. Furthermore it forms an especially fine foam during washing. This foam protects your wool garments from severe wear.
When should you use wool detergent?
You should always reach for wool detergent when you want to wash woollen items. The size of the load does not matter. A small wool sock benefits from wool detergent just as much as a large wool blanket. Please pay attention to the manufacturer’s washing instructions for your textile.
Where is the wool detergent added?
Wool detergent goes into the same compartment as all-purpose detergent: the compartment marked II. Please note: compartment I is used for prewash.
Ecological detergents – the environmentally friendly alternative
Not only water and electricity consumption are often a problem with washing machines. Above all, it is also the detergent that ends up in the environment. Therefore it is recommended that you also consider the ecological aspects when washing. Therefore opt for ecological detergents.
What are ecological detergents?
When buying detergents always pay attention to the ingredients. Ecological detergents usually contain fewer optical brighteners and fragrances than normal detergents. They are mostly produced from renewable raw materials. Also pay attention to the biodegradability of the product. Ecological detergents are generally certified by various institutes, e.g. NCP (Nature Care Product), CSE (Certified Sustainable Economics) or the Vegan Society.
Manufacturers of ecological detergents:
Washing with soapnut shells
Washing with soapnut shells is becoming increasingly popular. Soapnut shells contain wash-active substances that can be used in a variety of ways. You can wash your laundry with them, prepare a soapnut solution and use it for personal care, or use it for cleaning around the house. When buying, you should pay attention to the organic quality of the soapnut shells. You can also find organic soapnut shells in our shop.