Washing with liquid soap in a washing machine
In search of a natural and cheap detergent, some housewives pay attention to liquid soap. It is accessible, inexpensive, hypoallergenic, antibacterial and similar in consistency to washing gel. But is it possible to pour it into a washing machine and will there be any results? We suggest dotting all the i's.
Will liquid soap harm the washing machine?
A variety of detergents are produced for vending machines: gels, powders, tablets and capsules. But their cost is often high, and completely natural and safe formulations are rare. Therefore, housewives have the idea not to overpay and wash with liquid soap in a washing machine. But it's not that simple.
Professional detergents have an important quality - low foaming. Gels produce little foam, dissolve quickly and are completely rinsed out of the fabric. Soap cannot boast of this: it foams strongly and if the dosage exceeds 3-5 tablespoons, it will fill the entire drum with “bubbles”. Especially when washing woolen fabrics, which due to the structure of the fibers increase foaming.
Liquid soap contains fatty acids that are difficult to wash out and settle on the internal surfaces of the washing machine.
The second point is the presence of fatty acids in soap, which are poorly washed out of the machine and settle as a “film” coating on the walls of the drum, pipes and other surfaces of the machine. Without constant monitoring of the condition of the washing machine and regular cleanings, the situation can lead to blockage or breakdown of the pump. Gels and powders, on the contrary, thanks to their special composition, quickly dissolve and are washed off with water without leaving a trace.
If you remember these nuances, monitor the dosage and regularly clean the machine, then you can wash it with liquid soap. But experts advise not to take risks, use only when absolutely necessary, and add only special gels and powders to the tray on an ongoing basis.
Why are such means ineffective?
Another disadvantage of liquid soap as a detergent is its low efficiency. Laundry gels and powders are concentrates with an optimally selected composition, which contains active bleaching components, color-catching elements and other chemical “tricks”. Soap products do not contain surfactants, enzymes or oxygen bleaches, so they wash 30-40% worse.
Liquid soap washes 30-40% worse than regular laundry detergent or gel.
It's another matter if liquid soap is used in combination with the main detergent. After washing or soaking in a soapy solution, dirt will be removed from the fibers faster, and subsequent washing with powder or gel will completely whiten the item. Fatty acids can't do it alone.
But when washing clothes for children and people prone to allergies, one soap is quite enough. You can also use it to freshen things up and remove a slight unpleasant odor.
How to increase the effectiveness of soap?
A short review made it clear that the soap only appears to be a safe and effective laundry detergent. In fact, the natural composition and low cost can play a “wicked joke” - the laundry will not wash well, and a coating will appear on the surfaces of the machine. The clothing itself is also at risk, since soap particles will settle in the fibers, making the fabric hard and uncomfortable to wear.
But you can wash it with liquid soap in a machine.The main thing is to adhere to the following recommendations:
- dose soap at the rate of 30 g per 10 liters of water;
- include a high-temperature cycle for better dissolution of acids (minimum 40 degrees, ideally 70);
- add three tablespoons of baking soda to the powder receptacle to improve the quality of washing;
- activate double rinse to remove soap deposits from the drum and hoses;
- Clean your washing machine regularly.
The optimal dosage is 30 g per 10 liters of water.
When calculating the dosage, it is worth remembering that about 30% of the added product will be used to soften tap water. Many people mistakenly believe that they need to compensate for the amount “eaten” and add more liquid soap. This is not true: you should be aware of increased foaming and use baking soda instead of a softener. But first we check the hardness of the water by washing our hands under the tap. If the foaming is fast and abundant, then there is no need to worry.
Liquid soap is not intended for automatic washing and will not fully replace gel or laundry detergent. Attempts to save money can result in poorly washed laundry and a damaged washing machine.
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1 reader comment
Liquid soap produces significantly less foam than special liquids and gels.