Powder for washing

An important role in the washing process is played by a quality powder for washing. In the department of household chemicals, this product is full of a huge number of jars, bottles, boxes and sachets, from which the eyes scatter, and advertising is doing its job. Is it worth to believe advertising, information on the packaging or where to get the necessary information, because the manufacturer and the seller will not tell you anything, except that the products produced by the company and sold in the department - the best?

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What is an eraser?

Eraser powder is a mixture of a huge number of chemical components. From the ability of producers to correctly formulate a chemical formula that optimally combines the active substances, the production of a quality detergent depends. Consider the main components that make up the detergents.

Surface-active agents

All detergents include surface-active agents( surfactants).These components play the role of soap and form the basis of the product. The main tasks of surfactants:

1. Wetting contaminated tissue with detergent solution.
2. Weakening of contamination and tissue bonds.
3. The retention of removed particles of dirt in the cleaning solution, and thereby preventing them from reappearing on the fabric.

Phosphates

Any powder for washing includes phosphates. They are designed to eliminate water hardness and enhance the action of surfactants. Phosphates increase the effectiveness of the detergent and, in addition, ensure the softness of the fabric after washing.

Another useful effect of phosphates is the protection of the spiral of the washing machine against scale, for example the "Calgon" agent, which is actively advertised, is the same phosphates.

Thanks to the above functions of phosphate, it can be argued that this component is the most important element of the detergent.

Important! In addition to the advantages, phosphates have one, but a significant disadvantage - getting into natural water bodies, they harm the environment. An alternative to phosphate is zeolites. These components are environmentally friendly, however, water insoluble particles of the element can remain after washing on fabric or clog sewage pipes, settling in them.

Alkaline Compounds

This group of substances enhances the action of the surfactant and helps to increase the pH( the concentration of hydrogen ions) in the detergent solution. This improves the efficiency of fat removal. The simplest and known alkaline components are soda and liquid glass, which is labeled silicate on the product package.

Optical brighteners

Optical bleach creates the illusion of white washed laundry. Particles of bleach are deposited on the fabric during washing. They are luminescent dyes that absorb ultraviolet rays from the incident light spectrum, and re-emit them in the form of blue and blue. This creates a whiteness effect.

Important! While waiting for the crystal clear effect after using a washing powder with the inclusion of optical brighteners, remember, from the pleasing eye of optical illusion, the fabric does not become whiter.

Oxygen-containing bleach

Chemical( oxygen-containing) bleach helps to remove contaminants of vegetable origin, such as: tea, grass, fruit, wine, etc. In addition to stain removal, the oxygen-containing component whitens and refreshes the fabric.

Important! Chemical bleach is effective at temperatures above 60 C, it is from this temperature that active release of oxygen begins.

Powder with oxygen bleach can be used at a lower temperature if the powder contains the activator of the chemical bleach TEDED.

Enzymes

Enzymes or dietary supplements( enzymes) help to remove contaminants of organic origin. Biologically active substances break down both protein and fatty contaminants, and cellulose enzymes refresh color and prevent the appearance of pellets.

Eraser powder, as a rule, includes a combination of all enzymes:

• Alkaline proteases.
• Amylases.
• Lipases.
• Keratinases.
• Cellulose Enzymes.

Important! All the elements that make up the detergent strengthen each other's actions. A remedy with enzymes is a quality and expensive powder for washing. But most of the enzymes are effective at a temperature of 40-60 C and only a few at 80 C. Therefore, use a product with bioadditives at a very high temperature, for example, boiling, is meaningless.

Flavors

Flavors( fragrances) perform 2 functions:

1. Neutralize unpleasant odors that stand out when washing dirty laundry.
2. Gives freshness washed by the laundry.

Important! On the quality of washing, flavors do not affect, and inscriptions such as "with lemon flavor" or "alpine freshness" on the powder package indicate only that the corresponding flavor is present.

Defoamers

Foam stabilizers - defoamers, are part of detergents intended for washing in automatic washing machines. Defoamers prevent the formation of excessive excess foam during washing, and thereby protect the washing machine from breakage.

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Detergent types

In order to ensure the highest possible quality washing of things and make this process economical, easy, it is worth choosing the form of the product.

Powder for washing

The most common detergent is an eraser powder. They are highly effective for washing everyday products and things such as bedding, clothing, etc.

The quality of any wash depends on the correct choice of powder. On the packaging of the product it is written, for what washing it is suitable: manual, in the automatic machine or in the activator type machine.

Important! When choosing a detergent, pay attention to this inscription, because the means for hand washing are well foamed. But the powder for the washing machine contains special defoamers, and you can not use the hand wash for an automatic machine. The machine not only can not wash the stains, but also does not rinse out completely the foam from the laundry. In addition, it threatens to break the washing machine.

Another important inscription on the packaging means indicates for what type of fabric the powder is intended for. Most often there are detergents for three basic types of fabrics:

• Cotton and linen.
• Wool and synthetics.
• Universal.

Important! Many powder detergents for washing are subjected to granulation to reduce their dusting and ease of use. For economical use, use just such products.

Powders for children and allergy sufferers

All mothers know the truth: children's clothes need to be washed with special means, since the powder "for adults" can harm the delicate skin of the child and cause irritation not only to the skin, but also to the mucous membrane.

For children and people prone to allergic reactions, manufacturers recommend choosing powders without soda and bleach. The composition of the powder for washing children's clothes should include a natural baby soap that does not cause the baby allergic reactions.

The detergent should not contain any fragrances, coloring agents or other synthetic substances.

Important! There is an opinion that it is better to wash children's clothes with household soap, as it does not cause any allergic reactions in the child. But this is not the best option, since laundry soap contains a huge amount of alkali, which is detrimental to tender baby skin and can cause irritation.

Liquid detergents

For products made of delicate fabrics, including silk and wool, it is better to use liquid detergents. They have a special composition, a lower pH level and ensure a careful treatment of the material being washed, especially colored.

Liquid detergents are just as effective for washing lightly soiled laundry.

Important! To wash heavily soiled products, use liquid detergent is useless.

Tablets

This type of detergent can be a single-layer, instant or multilayer, with a controlled rate of dissolution of the layers.

In the second type of production, the active components are switched on in turn: first the enzymes( at a temperature of 30-40 ° C), then the oxygen-containing bleaches( at 60 ° C).

Important! The main advantage of tablets is the convenience and economy of dosing.

Concentrates

Concentrated detergents are one type of powder detergent. They contain the same active substances, but in a greater concentration. Therefore, the consumption of the product is much less than that of the powder.

Concentrated detergents contain 1.5 times more active chemical elements and a minimum of filler( sodium sulfate), which means that the concentrate consumption by weight is 1.5 times less than the powder consumption.

Important! Concentrates are produced as a means for automatic washing machines. They cost more, but, with the correct dosage, the cost of washing with concentrate does not exceed the cost, using expensive, not concentrated powder .

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How to choose the washing powder?

In order to choose the right detergent, it is necessary to take into account:

• Fabric type.
• Type of washing.
• Pollution type.

Important! Be sure to read the instructions for using the product and the composition of the powder. In a good powder, the surfactant content should not exceed 5%, and the phosphate content - 12%.

Also consider these recommendations so that the result of using the washing powder is always excellent:

1. If you want the washing to be of high quality, then be sure to buy a special powder for a certain type of fabric: wool, synthetics, cotton.
2. For each individual case it is necessary to use its detergent:
   • for washing light products - powder for white linen;
   • for colored - a tool designed for washing colored underwear;
   • for children's things is a suitable tool;
   • if you need to get rid of dirt, then get a powder-stain remover or a remedy with enzymes.

Important! The quality of washing depends not only on the quality of the detergent, but also on whether you use the powder correctly: if you use too little, then washing will not be effective, if too much, there will be excess funds on the fabric. It is recommended for 5 kg of laundry to use 5 tbsp.l.washing powder, for 3.5 kg - 3 tbsp.l.

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Useful advices:

• For automatic washing machines, choose washing powders with reduced foaming, on the packaging of which the front loading machine or loading door is shown. For the designation of a means with reduced foaming, the word "matic" may be used.
• If the automatic washing machine is not fully loaded, reduce the amount of detergent.
• Use liquid detergents for washing at temperatures not exceeding 60 ° C.
• Do not use liquid detergents for prewash. They are applied directly in the main wash cycle.
• When washing in cold water, reduce the amount of detergent, as it dissolves much worse at a low temperature and some of it will be wasted.
• Special attention should be paid to the instruction for the use of children's detergent powder. It is recommended to fall asleep directly into the drum directly on the laundry, and not in the ditch, as usual means.
• The conditioner is diluted with water, as the washing machine will not be able to use it completely because of its density.

Important! The most important thing in choosing a detergent is its safety, because "chemistry" should not harm the health of the consumer not only during the washing process, but also with the subsequent wearing of the laundered things.

The fact that the powder is not a health hazard is indicated by the "Mark of conformity" on its packaging. It is mandatory. However, in our time it is easy to run into a fake, for example, buying a powder in a plastic bag. Therefore, buy chemical products only in the proven departments of trade, and in the course of operation, be sure to follow the recommendations of the manufacturers indicated on the packages of the goods.

We hope that the information obtained in this article will help you to choose the right powder for washing, and, in turn, it will not fail you and will please you with a wonderful result.