We are now on part 4 of the blog series about detergents and washing. In the first part we talk about the ingredients of detergents and general information. In the second and third parts we go into more detail about the different detergents. In addition to the common detergents, such as detergents for heavy-duty laundry, colored laundry and delicate laundry, there are also special detergents on the market. Various detergent additives improve the quality of laundry. This blog post is about the dosage and some washing tips to help you with washing laundry. We also compare the different types of detergent.
Important factors when washing
Various factors play a role when washing. The color and material of the item of clothing must be taken into account. The temperature is then determined based on this so that the washing result is perfect and there are no unpleasant surprises. You can get this information from the label on the item of clothing. Pay attention to the various symbols, as these indicate at what temperature the item of clothing can be washed and what you need to pay attention to when washing. The right washing program must also be selected. A little help for choosing the program is as follows:
- Pants & Shirts: at 20 - 40°C without pre-wash
- Towels & underwear: normal wash at 60°C
- Sweaters, silk, bras: at 30°C wool & delicate wash cycle
- Attention: Use color detergent for colored laundry!
The correct dosage
The correct dosage of detergent can usually be found on the back of the detergent. The dosage varies depending on the water hardness, degree of soiling and the amount of laundry . A washing machine normally has three compartments for dosing . The main compartment is usually the largest compartment. This is where the detergent goes. The fabric softener compartment is often the smallest compartment and, as the name suggests, is intended for fabric softener. The third compartment is for the pre-wash. This is only needed if you have very dirty laundry and want to do a pre-wash. A dosing aid is helpful to ensure that you dose the detergent correctly, but the detergent cap is sufficient if there is no dosing aid. If you are unsure, use pods, tabs or discs as these are already dosed and can be put directly into the washing drum.
Which materials are washed and how?
As we said, the choice of temperature and washing program, as well as the choice of the right detergent, depends on the material of the garment. That's why we'll now give you an overview of the different materials and how they should best be washed.
- Cotton, towels & bed linen: Color detergent for colored textiles, powder detergent with bleach for white textiles, boil wash up to 60°C or boil wash at 95°C for white items
- Linen: wash undyed linen at up to 95°C, use bleach-containing powder detergent or universal detergent, turn colored, unbleached linen inside out, wash at a maximum of 40°C with a delicate or color detergent
- Wool, silk, cashmere, etc.: Use wool detergent or mild detergent, hand wash program at maximum 30°C or wash cold, use low spin speed
- Mixed fabrics: it is best to use liquid detergent, for special sportswear use a special cleaner
The different detergents in comparison
There are many different types of detergent on the shelf. Everyone has their own preferences, some prefer the powder, others prefer the pods. Have you ever wondered how they differ? Here we give you a short summary and a brief comparison of the different types .
- Washing powder: Powder with bleach is best for white cotton, oxygen-containing bleach also works against bacteria and germs at 60°C
- Liquid detergent: Best as a color detergent for colored and black items, suitable for cotton and synthetic fibers, no bleach, no residue on the laundry
- Pods, Caps & Discs: the most modern detergent variant, all-rounder, already optimally dosed, available in universal, color and special detergents, go directly into the drum, no residue on the clothes, casing is water-soluble and biodegradable
- Detergent sheets: easy dosing, one sheet per wash, also suitable for low temperatures, light weight, vegan and without microplastics
- EcoEgg: contains a washing substance for up to 72 washes, natural ingredients, no aggressive chemicals, suitable for colored, dark and white laundry, can be used at 15 to 60°C, also suitable for hand washing
See you next time!
So far, you have received a lot of information about washing. Nothing should stand in the way of washing properly and if you are unsure, you can read some things here. But to ensure that your laundry is really clean and that the washing machine has a long lifespan, cleaning the washing machine is a must. More on this in the last part!
