Washing baby’s clothes: powder or liquid detergent?
When it comes to a detergent, you may have your own choice. However, how to choose a powder or a liquid detergent for your baby’s clothes? Let’s find out.
When it comes to laundry, everyone has their preferences. While some prefer liquid detergents, others prefer the powder ones. When it comes to washing baby clothes, which one is better, and why? Let’s find out.
What is needed to wash baby’s clothes
Before we enter the debate, let us first understand the process of washing. Most of the households in Singapore use washing machines to wash baby clothes. They are either top load or front load washing machines. Each one has its merits, but it changes the type of soap you use.
Generally, for regular adult clothes, you get specific types of soap for specific machine type. So why you should not use the adult detergent for baby clothes? The answer lies in the types of stains typically found on adult clothes vs. those found on the baby’s.
Adult clothes are generally moderately soiled. They often do not have any stains and just need a good wash to clean them. When it comes to babies, their clothes tend to have more stains. These could be food, grease, dirt as well as baby’s own poop and vomit. The variety of stains require a detergent that is strong enough to remove these and at the same time keep the clothes soft to suit the baby. Also, bleach is not recommended on baby’s clothes.
Powder detergents
So, when it comes to detergents, the powder type has some advantages. It is easy to use and store, and is often cheaper to purchase than the liquid type. According to the Soaps and Detergents handbook by the SDA, USA, powders are better at cleaning clay and ground-in dirt.
There are a few disadvantages of using powder detergents though. A few powder detergents, especially the more inexpensive ones, have a lot of fillers in them. So, they might not dissolve completely leaving behind residues. When used with a few new-generation eco-friendly washing machines that use less water, even good powder detergents may not dissolve completely.
Thankfully, there are baby detergents like Pureen’s A-B-D (antibacterial detergents) that come handy.
It has a potent anti-bacterial action that is effective even on nappies. It is tough on stains, gentle on skin and contains Perborate, a chlorine-free bleach that keeps the white nappies white. What’s more, it is bio-degradable!
Liquid detergents
Liquid detergents are generally a bit more expensive than the powder ones. However, they are handy, easy to use in even the front load machines and may often double up as a pre-soak laundry aid for tough stains. According to the handbook, the liquid formulations are useful on oily stains and oily soils.
There is no particular disadvantage to these. So, try Pureen’s Antibacterial liquid detergent with softener.
It is equally effective in cleaning the clothes as the powder formulation. It has added enzymes that remove stubborn stains. And the anti-depository agents prevent the washed dirt from resettling on the clothes.
For sensitive skin
If your child needs sensitive products for her skin, use Pureen’s Hypoallergenic Detergent. Use it if your child is suffering from atopic or contact dermatitis or even nappy rash.
It is a fragrance-free detergent that is devoid of harsh chemicals that may cause your baby’s skin conditions to worsen. It does not leave a residue on the cloth and thus limits the allergens on the clothes. It is available in liquid form and can be used on all fabrics.
Verdict
It seems that one does not have an upper hand over another. Both the formulations are equally effective when it comes to taking care of your baby’s clothes. If you want to use a softener separately, use Pureen A-B-D Powder. Else, you can use the detergent-softener combination – Pureen A-B-D Liquid.