Things I wonder about – Washing Powder

Apparently I’ve reached the stage in adult life where I read up on washing powder. I’ve often wondered about the difference between hand washing powder and auto machine washing powder. The hand washing powder is cheaper than the auto and although I have an automatic machine, I often buy the hand washing one…

So in doing my research I found that there are three main differences. Their foam levels, dissolution rates and chemical formulations.

Hand Washing Powder is formulated to produce high, rich lather. This heavy foam acts as a cushion to reduce friction on your hands while scrubbing and provides a visual cue that the detergent is working. Whereas auto washing powder is designed with low-suds or “anti-foam” technology. Because apparently too much foam in an automatic machine acts as a buffer that reduces the tumbling and mechanical rubbing action needed to clean clothes.

Hand Washing Powder takes longer to dissolve because it relies on the soaking and mixing process. It needs significant amounts of water and multiple rinses to completely clear out the high foam. And auto washing powder is made to dissolve almost instantly, even in the low water levels used by modern fully automatic washing machines.

And then hand washing powder uses milder surfactants to protect the skin from drying out or irritation during manual washing, where auto washing powder is packed with stronger, more active chemical ingredients, enzymes, and bleaching agents. These are designed to target tough, ground-in stains purely through machine agitation.

A lot of the websites issue warnings saying that you should never use hand washing powder in an auto machine, because the excess suds can overflow, damage the machine’s electronic sensors or water pumps, clog the drainage and leave a soap residue on your garments. Well…that’s not good. And vice versa too because the stronger chemicals and enzymes in auto washing powder for hand washing can cause skin dryness, itching, or allergic reactions.

But if you’re in a pinch, I found this advice to use hand washing powder safely in your automatic machine:

• Use a Tiny Amount: Use about a quarter or less of the amount you would typically use for a hand wash. Overdosing is the quickest way to create too much foam.
• Dissolve it First: Never pour the dry powder directly onto your dry clothes, as it can cause bleaching, spotting, or leave a chalky residue. Instead, dissolve the powder in warm water first before pouring it into the drum.
• Avoid the Dispenser Drawer: Hand-wash powder can clump in the dispenser tray. Put the pre-dissolved, soapy water or the dissolved powder directly into the washing machine drum.
• Add an Extra Rinse: Because hand-wash soap is highly concentrated with lathering agents, it requires more water to rinse out. Select an extra rinse cycle on your machine to ensure your clothes are completely soap-free.

If you use hand-washing powder regularly, you should run a maintenance wash (an empty cycle with a machine cleaner or vinegar) at least once a month to break down the soap scum that builds up.