I Tried Powder vs. Liquid Detergent, and I'll Never Use One Again

As a young girl, we only used powdered laundry detergent scooped from huge cardboard boxes. As I entered college, I discovered the benefits of liquid detergent and have used it for many years.

For this test, I took the time to study and test powdered detergents vs. liquid formulas. I used each product for two weeks on my regular laundry loads including the pet laundry of one very cute dachshund rescue. Here are the results.

What Is Powdered Laundry Detergent

While the shelf space allocated to powdered laundry detergent in the United States is smaller than it used to be, it is still there. Around the world, powdered detergent is still the most popular formula. It can be used in any type of washing machine in almost all water temperatures.

Even with the higher costs of shipping due to additional weight, powdered detergents are typically more affordable per use than liquid laundry detergents or laundry pods.

The main difference between powder and liquid detergents is how they are formulated and packaged. The active cleaning ingredients in powdered detergents must be dissolved in the washer water to clean effectively. The main surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) an inexpensive ingredient that is effective for lifting dirt but less so on greasy or oily stains.

Ingredients in liquid detergents are suspended in water, so the detergent disperses more easily in the washer water. They contain LAS and alcohol ethoxylates, which are effective for challenging oily stains.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Powdered Detergent Pros

• Less expensive than liquid detergent per load.
• The formula is more stable than liquid.
• More effective at removing outdoor stains like grass and mud.
• Easy to measure.
  

Powdered Detergent Cons

• More difficult to use for pretreating stains.
• Must be stored in a dry area to prevent caking.
• Does not dissolve well in extremely cold water leaving white residue on fabrics and in the washer.
• The fillers in powdered detergent can build up in septic systems and cause clogs.

What Is Liquid Laundry Detergent

Liquid laundry detergent contains water-soluble ingredients suspended in the formula. The most popular type of laundry detergent in the United States, it is compatible with all types of washing machines.

Liquid Detergent Pros

• Easier to use as a stain pre-treater or spot-cleaner.
• More effective at removing oil and grease stains than powdered detergent.
• Disperses well in any water temperature, even extremely cold water.
• More effective for cleaning laundry in hard water.

Liquid Detergent Cons

• Difficult to measure correctly using premarked lids often resulting in overdosing.
• More expensive to use per load than powdered detergent
• Not as stable as powder, limiting the effectiveness of some ingredients if stored for more than six months.

The Comparison Results

Before you read the results, I must confess that I'm a laundry expert so I followed all the best methods for using each type of detergent. A novice might not have the same experiences or results.

Powdered Detergent

For the first two weeks, I used powdered laundry detergent for all laundry loads. I placed a scoop of powder in the bottom of the washer drum before adding the dirty laundry and I found the powder dissolved well in warm and cold water.

However, if I lived in an area with freezing winter temperatures and extremely cold tap water, I would dissolve it in a quart of warm water before adding it to the drum.

It worked well to remove dirt on gardening-jean knees and muddy doggie towels. I found it cumbersome to use as a pre-treater for stains because I had to mix it with water to make a paste before applying it to the fabric.

Liquid Detergent

The two weeks with my regular liquid laundry detergent went well. I added the liquid to the bottom of the washer drum to prevent accidental spotting on the clothes. I did not use the provided lid as a measuring device and relied on a set of measuring spoons. I usually use about one tablespoon per front-loading washer load.

The clothes came out clean and smelling fresh. Pretreated stains were removed.

The Final Choice

In the end, I'll stick with my liquid laundry detergent. It offers more advantages as a stain remover, ease of storage, and works in all water temperatures. However, the key to clean laundry isn't always about liquid vs. powder. It's about the cleaning effectiveness and amount of cleaning agents in the product.

Read labels and look at the list of ingredients. The more active ingredients listed in the formula—like enzymes that break down stains and surfactants that lift the soil away from the fabric and suspend it in the wash water—the better the powdered or liquid detergent will perform.