What is the difference between automatic powder and hand washing powder?
If you accidentally mixed it up, didn’t look attentively at the packaging, and instead of automatic powder, poured hand wash detergent into the washing machine, nothing bad will happen at once. Most likely nothing will happen to the machine.
But you shouldn’t get carried away and repeat the experiment. The large amount of foam that inevitably arises as a result of using hand washing powder “deceives” the automation. She incorrectly determines the water level. As a result, the heating element, instead of ending up in water, ends up in foam, which may entail replacing the heating element, motor or electronic control unit.
In short, you will have to repair the most expensive parts of the washing machine. It is worth considering that technicians often refuse to change the bearings or drum at home, so the washing machine often has to be sent to a service center. And this definitely entails additional transportation costs.
Therefore, if you made a mistake and bought powder for hand washing (it is actually also suitable for activator-type machines), or the nearest store does not have a detergent intended for automatic washing machines, it is still better to wash dirty laundry by hand (no matter how I wanted to avoid it).
Difference between automatic powder and hand washing powder
1. Foam
Powder intended for hand washing contains special substances that increase foaming. On the contrary, the powder for the machine contains agents that stabilize the foam and prevent it from exceeding the maximum permissible limit.
Thus, manufacturers made sure that foam did not leak out of the washing machine door and powder compartments, and also did not clog the hose and end up in the electric motor.
2. Washing machine/hand care products
In addition, almost all automatic washing powders contain special substances that soften water hardness and prevent sediment from forming. Hard water has a bad effect on the machine because it has an increased amount of salts, especially calcium and magnesium. Its presence is precisely indicated by scale.
It is especially dangerous for the heating element, the metal of which, covered with scale, quickly overheats and softens, as a result of which heat transfer decreases, the need for electricity increases, and powder consumption increases.
In addition, automatic powders are also useful because they do not contain various solvents and chlorine that can damage the rubber elements of the washing machine.
At the same time, hand washing powder contains special ingredients that care for the skin of your hands (sometimes they contain soap).
3. Dissolution rate
Automatic powder is more concentrated (which means it lasts much longer and you need to use less at a time), so it takes much longer to dissolve than those intended for hand washing.
4. Washing result
You need to put exactly the volume of powder into the washing machine that is recommended by its manufacturer, as indicated on the packaging. Otherwise, regardless of whether you have too much powder (the detergent may simply not dissolve) or not enough powder, the quality of the wash will deteriorate significantly.
Meanwhile, the quality of hand washing depends not so much on the amount of powder, but on the work of the hands and thorough rinsing. You may notice that if you add more powder, you will have to rinse things longer.
Interesting:
6 reader comments
I have been washing with regular powders for a long time since they are cheaper and I think these are tricks of the powder manufacturers
It’s more expensive to sell powders, my washing machine is 20 years old, Zlektorolux, and there’s no big foam, everything is as usual
This is just a marketing ploy. I also wash it in the machine with hand washing powder and nothing. Pah-pah)))
I didn’t notice either, and fell asleep manually. Then I was shocked. Everything is covered in foam... the neighbors are silent for now, I don’t think it flooded!
I took the risk of putting Myth in for hand washing. Too lazy to go to the store. To be on the safe side, I waited until the water had finished pouring in and then added it and washed it out of the watering can. Just in case, I took less powder, 15-20 grams. It’s not that there’s foam coming out of my ears—I don’t notice it at all!
Today I made a mistake, I poured Tide Aqua Powder for the manual one and everything worked out great, there was even less foam than for the automatic one :)
Today I poured manual powder into the machine 🙁 I thought: the machine has failed, water poured out of the powder compartment.