Best Washing Powders (UK)

When it comes to everyday life, especially everyday family life, hygiene is vital. Cleanliness is next to godliness after all!

You can purchase the most all-singing, all-dancing washing machine in the world, but if you don’t choose the right washing powder to go in it, you’re wasting your cash.

For that reason, you need to know which the best washing powders on the market are, and which suit your budget the most.

Luckily for you, we are going to review a few of the best and most popular washing powders on the market in the UK. Read on to find out which one is best for you and your needs.

 

 

How to Choose Washing Powder

Now you know all about the major brand and supermarket brand washing powders on the market, you might have a few questions which have been thrown up by some of the words we have used. For instance, what is the difference between biological and non-biological?

Bio vs non-bio washing powder

Basically, biological (bio) washing powders contain enzymes which are great for stain removal. Non-biological (non-bio) do not contain these enzymes, so whilst they are better for the skin, e.g. sensitivities, they aren’t as effective at removing stains.

This is something you need to weigh up and consider. It depends on your family and yourself, and whether you have any severe skin sensitivities, or if you are particularly prone to irritation. If you are, it’s best to go with a non-bio option. See the best washing powders for sensitive skin here.

If however, you don’t have any such issues, then a biological wash powder is always going to be a higher performance beast for you, and one which you can use on lower temperatures, which cuts down on the chances of shrinkage or damage as well as cutting down on your household bills.

 

Specialist washing powders

In addition to the basic bio and non-bio options, there are also specific washing powders for coloured items, e.g. to protect the shade and specific powders for sensitive fabrics such as wool or silk.

 

Pack size

A regular washing powder pack is around the 2.4 kg size, which should last for anything from 22 to 40 washes maximum. You can purchase economy packs, which are larger and cost a little more, but if you have a large family, this could save you money in the long-run.

 

Washing powder vs liquids and gels

Aside from washing powders, there are liquids and gels, as well as capsules to choose from, but this totally depends on your washing machine and your personal preference as to whether you use them.

Capsules are great for speed and ease as there is no mess or measuring involved. You just pop your capsule/tablet into the drum with your laundry and start the cycle as you normally would.

When using liquids or gels, you have to measure out the correct dosage for your wash load, which could result in spillage or even overdosing your laundry with detergent.

 

How Much Washing Powder to Use

Most of us use our washing machines several times a week or more, but how many of us are confident that we’re using the correct amount of washing powder each time we do our laundry?

If there’s not enough powder then the clothes won’t be cleaned well enough and won’t smell as fresh. But using too much powder can cause problems too, such as powdery residue and suds left on clothes, or garments left feeling too stiff.

Too much powder can also block the filter on the washing machine and increase wear and tear on your appliance.

Trying to work out exactly the right amount of powder to use might seem confusing, but if we follow some basic advice we can get it right each time and get the best possible cleaning results.

Don’t guess the amount of powder!

Many of us are in a hurry these days and might try to estimate the amount of powder detergent we need in each wash, but ignoring the guidelines on the washing powder packaging is a big mistake.  It’s almost impossible to judge how much powder you’ve added just by sight!

Most manufacturers offer free dosing devices for powder or washing liquid, so it’s worth sending off for one and using it each time you do use your washing machine.

Some brands, such as Persil, include a dosing device in each pack. Ask your friends or family if they have any spares knocking around that you could have.

Check the instructions for the dosing device, as some simply measure the amount of detergent, which you then need to add into your machine dispenser drawer, and others can be added directly inside the washing machine drum.

If you really struggle to find time to measure your detergent, you could always consider buying washing powder tablets or pods.

 

How many clothes are you washing and how dirty are they?

It makes sense that dirtier clothes will need more detergent, to remove the extra dirt and stains.

According to Persil, a standard load of laundry needs around 110 ml of powdered detergent, but heavily soiled clothes may need an extra 100-210 ml.

For any brand of detergent, a good guideline when washing heavily stained clothes is to fill the dosing device to the next line up from usual.

You should also consider the amount of clothes you’re washing in each load. Manufacturers might refer to a normal or large load in their dosing instructions.

An average-sized or normal load weighs around seven pounds and will fill three-quarters of an average-sized washing machine drum. If you’re adding more clothes than this, you may need a little extra detergent.

As a general rule, if you can’t fit your hand vertically between the top of the drum and the laundry, your machine is overloaded.

This can result in the clothes soaking up all the water, preventing the detergent from dissolving properly.

It’s also worth remembering that if you’re doing a half-load of laundry, you need to use half the amount of powder than normal.

Even if your laundry is dirtier than usual or you’re doing a larger wash, don’t get tempted to add too much powder. It’s better to pre-soak dirty items than to use too much detergent in the main wash.

 

Water hardness

The UK is mostly made up of limestone and chalk which causes hard water, and around 60% of homes in England and Wales have a hard water supply.

Washing powder doesn’t work as effectively in hard water areas because less lather is produced to clean the clothes properly.

It’s a good idea to check the water hardness level for your area by looking online (see this map) or contacting your water provider, then follow the correct measurement guidelines on the detergent packaging.

It’s likely you’ll need to use a bit of extra washing powder to get your clothes clean if you live in a hard water area, and slightly less in soft water areas.

 

Is Washing Liquid Better than Powder?

There’s never been a bigger choice of laundry detergents on the market than there is now, and the main decision for many of us is whether to use washing powder or liquid.

Washing powder was first produced over 60 years ago, so it’s a traditional and well-tested product. Liquid detergents have become widely available in recent years, and there are many varieties to choose from, but are they an improvement on traditional powder?

We discuss the pros and cons of both types of detergents below.

Washing powder – Pros and cons

 

Laundry liquid – Pros and cons

As discussed, there are pros and cons to both washing powder and washing liquids.

Powder detergent is definitely the best option for value and stain removal, but liquids can be kinder to delicate clothes and appliances.

For these reasons, some people choose to keep both washing powder and washing detergent in their homes, to suit different laundry requirements.

 

Conclusion

If we had to pick just one washing powder to recommend to most people, it would be Daz Regular Washing Powder. It offers good value for money, has a pleasant scent and is very effective at removing dirt and stains.

However, it’s not ideal if you have sensitive skin or eczema. See our guide to the best washing powders from sensitive skin if you find most washing powders irritate your skin.