Do You Use Liquid Or Powder Detergent?

United States
December 21, 2008 4:59pm CST
I prefer to use liquid detergent. I use the powder detergent occasionally, but it just seems like there is less of a mess with liquid detergent. What kind of detergent do you use, liquid or powder?
7 people like this
22 responses
• United States
7 Jan 09
I actually utilize the liquid detergent. My mom used to use nothing but the powder until she ruined her washer because the little granuales were spining out of the drum and ruining the machine.
2 people like this
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I use liquid detergent. I prefer it to powder. I also use liquid bleach. As far as fabric softener goes, I use dryer sheets.
2 people like this
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
22 Dec 08
Powder detergent for the laundry as it is a lot better for the environment. That is very important to us as we recycle all of our grey water which is what comes from the laundry, shower, kitchen etc. Everywhere there is water used in fact except the toilet and that is called black water. The grey water is what keeps our lawn and nature strip green as well as our flower beds producing healthy flowers. The organic people who test the soil on our land to ensre we are not using stuff that is not organic, told us that there is some sort of additive in liquid detergent which is not good for the soil. Some people do worry about the powder detergent "clumping" and sticking to the clothes after they are washed. To avoid that make a bag out of something like an old stocking and put the detergent in there. The clothes are still being washed but the detergent powder is contained if it clumps or does not break down.
2 people like this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I use the liquid. That is just what my mom always got when I was growing up, so that is what I started buying when I started having do buy my own and do my own laundry.
2 people like this
22 Dec 08
I tend to use tablets for the detergent, and liquid for the fabric softener. It seems to be the easiest way for me to get the right amount of detergent is to already have it measured out in a tablet. It is also easier whenever my husband is helpful and decides to do some washing, I can say to him one tablet for half a wash, and two tablets for a full wash. Men to tend to need things to be spelled out in easy steps. :)
2 people like this
@tarheel (151)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I use liquid detergent. I had an issue with powder detergent leaving a residue on the clothes sometimes.
2 people like this
• India
22 Dec 08
For hand wash i prefer powder detergent.If i am using washing machine then i prefer liquid detergent.
2 people like this
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
7 Jan 09
I have been using liquid detergent for quite some time now. When I was younger and even poorer than I am now I used powder because I felt I got more for my money. I agree with you that liquid detergent seems to leave less of a mess. When I used powder it seemed as if it less a residue on most of the clothes.
1 person likes this
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
22 Dec 08
Hi, I use liquid detergent for the machine, and powder detergent when I hand-wash. We previously used powder for the machine, but then the powder tended to clump and clog - so we had to do some cleaning and unclogging. This doesn't happen with liquid detergents.
@glords (2614)
• United States
7 Jan 09
I agree that liquid is less messy, but I usually go with what ever is on sale. When the budget is tight laundry detergent is an easy way to cut back without feeling deprived.
1 person likes this
@mods196621 (3652)
• Philippines
7 Jan 09
I used both powder and detergent. If I will using my washing machine for laundry I prefer to use powder and if will using my hand for handwash much better to use both. For better laundry process first to dilute powder to water and put clothes then use detergent to add soap for better result. It will help us to do our laundry process faster.
1 person likes this
@jenrl17 (420)
• United States
7 Jan 09
Im like you. I prefer to use liquid detergent vs powder. I think it mixes better and is distributed better than the powder, plus you dont get clumps afterward. Plus they have it where its more concentrated so you use less, besides the fact that using less soap actually gets your clothes cleaner (less soap to rinse out I guess). Ill only use powder if thats all thats available.
1 person likes this
@nchap36 (556)
• United States
21 Dec 08
I rather use power, but I think my wash machine is set up for liquid.
• United States
21 Dec 08
I use liquid detergent. It's the way my mom did the clothes and I've never tried powder.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Jan 09
I use liquid. I don't like the powder much. It's always coming out of the box some how and if you aren't careful you'll end up spilling it as you go to dump it into the washer and the like. It's just not what I prefer to use to wash clothes. It's easy to move the liquid detergent and what not.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
10 Jan 09
I use liquid also. I have tried powdered detergent and don't mind it. However, I usually wash my clothes in cold water and so powder doesn't dissolve well. I usually buy All.
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
11 Jan 09
laundry basket - photo of Laundry basket with clothes
Hi Terri I used to use powder laudry detergent all of the time, but switched to liquid detergent about 5 years ago. It seemed like I was getting all the powder all over the place instead of in the laundry bin. I also switched to liquid detergent when Tide came out with the lavender scented kind. I use the lavender scented fabric softner too so that makes my clothes smell awful good! Happy MyLotting! Char
@ronnyb (6113)
• Jamaica
11 Jan 09
I use powder detergent and so does most persons in my community.I think the reason behind that is that powder detergent is more affordable because it is packaged in practical amounts that is suitable for all.You can get a small package for a small one man houshold like mine or larger packages for larger household
@UK_Shree (3603)
11 Jan 09
We always use liquid at home. It's just something that we have gotten used to I suppose. I think it is a bit easier to use liquid, less risk of it getting all over the place. Powder is probably easier to drop for example
@808nala (640)
• United States
7 Jan 09
Growing up, my mom used powder detergent so I used powder detergent. As soon as I moved out and had to do my own laundry, I went with liquid detergent. It's more expensive, but also more convenient for me.
1 person likes this