Soap vs Detergent: Which Is Better? <br>Soap vs Detergent: what’s the difference? Both will get your clothes clean, but they’re made very differently. We’ll talk you through the main differences between soap and detergent, which is better, and lastly, how to make your own soap at home. <br> <br>So if you’re looking for a way to make a more natural and eco-friendly cleaner, you’ve come to the right place. <br> <br>The main difference between soap and detergent is the ingredients. Soaps are made with biodegradable ingredients such as oils, lye and fats. Detergents are made with synthetic chemicals, such as surfactants, optical brighteners and perfumes. Both clean clothes well, but detergents are more effective on stains and with brightening clothes. However, soap is kinder on the environment and skin. <br> <br>Soap is a combination of fat or oil, water, and finally, an alkali or basic salt. It’s been around since 2800 B.C. and can be used for washing hands, our bodies and of course, laundry. <br> <br>Soap is made two different ways: either a cold process or a hot process. <br> <br>The cold process takes a room-temperature lye solution and mixes it with an oil. This thickens and heats up before being poured into a mold where it solidifies into a bar of soap. It’s left to sit for a few weeks to allow excess water to evaporate before being packaged and sold to consumers. <br> <br>The hot process heats all the ingredients until they’re mixed. This is a quicker way to make soap. When the soap is liquified, it’s poured into a mold. It can be packaged and sold as soon as it’s solid. <br> <br>How does soap work? It removes germs and dirt. Soap molecules have one end that’s water-loving, and one end that’s oil-loving. So when you wash your hands, the soap molecules bind with both water and oil (which carries dirt and germs on our hands). When you rinse your hands, the soap removes the germs along with the water. <br> <br>Soap comes in a bar form or a liquid form which is usually dispensed from a bottle with a pump. You can buy it in the store or make your own. <br> <br>Laundry detergents, unlike soap, contain more synthetic ingredients. The main difference is that detergents contain manmade sulfates, usually derived from petrochemicals, which cleans clothes, hair, hands, and dishes when it comes in contact with water. <br> <br>But that’s not all. Detergents nowadays contain lots of other chemical ingredients that have lots of benefits. For example, some contain enzymes which are good for stain removal. Some contain bleach which is good for disinfecting. Others contain fragrances to scent your clothes. Other popular ingredients include dyes, fillers, and optical brighteners. <br> <br>Like soap, detergents work by breaking up and removing grease, grime and dirt. They usually come in liquid, pod or powder form and most households are familiar with using them. In fact, they function very similarly to soap. <br> <br>The detergent molecules surround grease and grime, break it up into smaller pieces and wash it away with the water. Detergents do this by reducing the surface tension of the water which breaks apart blobs of water on clothes and helps the detergent do a better job. <br> <br>What’s the Difference Between Liquid vs Powder Laundry Detergent <br>Do you ever stop to ask: Is it better to use liquid or powder laundry detergent? Most people just grab whatever is cheapest or most convenient. But there are some important differences between the two types of detergent that you should know before making your next purchase. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of liquid vs powder laundry detergent, so that you can make an informed decision about which type is best for you! <br> <br>Liquid vs Powder Laundry Soap: Which Is Best? <br> <br>Both liquid and powdered laundry detergent have benefits and drawbacks. Knowing what each does best will help you choose the right soap for your laundry needs! <br> <br>1. Detergent Price <br> <br>Liquid detergent is typically more expensive than powder detergent. This is because liquid detergent contains more active ingredients than powder detergent, which means that it is more concentrated and effective. However, liquid detergent does not last as long as powder detergent, so you may end up using more of it in the long run. <br> <br>2. Convenience Ease of Use <br> <br>Liquid detergent is typically more convenient than powder detergent. This is because liquid detergent does not require scooping, and it can be simply poured into the washing machine. Powder detergent, on the other hand, can be more difficult to measure out and can sometimes make a mess. <br>3. Detergent Cleaning Power <br> <br>Liquid detergent is typically more effective than powder detergent at removing stains and dirt from clothes, because liquid detergent contains more active ingredients than powder detergent. However, there are some powder detergents on the market that are just as effective as the more expensive liquid brands. <br> <br>Solved! Can You Use Regular Liquid Dish Soap in a Dishwasher? <br>You have a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and not a dishwasher pod in sight. Read on to learn the best solution for this common problem. <br> <br>This is a really good question, and one that many folks have when they run out of the handy dishwasher pods we use so often. Years ago, it was commonplace to use a liquid dishwasher soap solution in a dishwasher, though most folks turn to pods these days. It might make sense that a liquid dish soap could serve the same role, but it’s not so cut and dry. <br> <br>Learn why these two soap solutions are not perfectly interchangeable, what happens if you try using dish soap in a dishwasher, and some homemade detergent options. <br> <br>Dishwasher detergent is designed to clean without suds. <br> <br>While dishwasher detergent is a soap, it doesn’t work the same as other types of soap. Dishwashing detergent is designed to clean with a thick foam of suds. Instead of suds, dishwasher detergent relies on enzymes to eat away at the mess. <br> <br>When you place dishwasher soap or a pod into the hopper in your dishwasher, it dissolves in the water. As the water sloshes and shoots around inside the dishwasher, the enzymes in the detergent attach themselves to stains, messes, and residues. They break the long chains of proteins and starches down into smaller and smaller particles until they can be flushed away with the water. <br> <br>Unlike dishwasher detergent, dish soap is designed to create a thick, sudsy foam that helps break down the food and stains on pots, plates, cups, and bowls. It works entirely differently than dishwasher detergent. Though both come in liquid forms, they’re not apples to apples. <br> <br>If you use the same amount of dish soap in a dishwasher as you would dishwashing detergent, you should prepare for a mess. The dish soap will create a thick foam of soap suds and bubbles inside the dishwasher, and it will eventually spill out through the door and drain in the sink. That might be funny in the movies, but it’s not as funny when it’s your flooring and drywall that could get damaged. <br> <br>Things happen, and we can sometimes be so preoccupied with daily life that we make the mistake of putting dish soap in the dishwasher. The first step is staying calm, and the second step is flushing the soap out of the system. <br> <br>If you accidentally put dish soap in a dishwasher, stop the washer right away. Once things have calmed down a bit, switch the washer into rinse mode to remove the suds as soon as possible. This could still result in overflowing sinks and suds on the floor, so you might need to stop and start the rinse cycle a few times in the name of damage control. <br> <br>Once the suds are gone, you’ll want to rinse the dishwasher at least once more to remove the soap residue on the inside. You might want to consider cleaning the dishwasher afterward, as well. <br> <br>Powder vs. liquid laundry detergent: What’s better for stains? <br>Both powder and liquid laundry detergents offer stain-fighting benefits, but their effectiveness may depend on the type of stain. Powerful cleaning agents that can be included in powdered detergent formulas, but not liquid forms, work to help remove mud, grass or clay stains. Liquid detergent is best used for grease or oil stains on your day to day items, because of its ability to help release and break down stains in fabrics. <br> <br>When calculating the cost per load, powder detergent is generally the more economical option in comparison to liquid detergent. Its lighter weight makes it less expensive to transport and often easier to manufacture in comparison to liquid detergent, making it cheaper for you to purchase. <br> <br>Because liquid detergent uses water as the main filler ingredient, it dissolves easily regardless of water temperature. This leads to less likelihood of buildup on your washer or clothes. Just make sure to use proper dosing to help avoid oversudsing, residue or bad smells from forming. Powdered detergents can also leave behind residue if they don’t dissolve properly. This can cause white stains on your clothes or a buildup in your washing machine’s drain, especially when used with cold or hard water. Using an extra rinse option, if available on your model, can help ensure that the load is thoroughly rinsed. <br> <br>Three Types of Cleaning <br>One question we often get asked at eMop is to explain the differences between “regular”, “deep” and “end-of-tenancy” cleaning. Here’s our guide! <br> <br>Regular cleaning <br> <br>This usually takes around two to three hours. It involves dusting all surfaces and decorations, vacuuming carpets and mopping floors, changing beddings, plus cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. <br> <br>Perfect for: smaller properties such as apartments/flats. <br> <br>Deep cleaning <br> <br>More comprehensive than a regular clean. Deep cleaning involves moving furniture around so that eMoppers can blitz every last spider web and speckle of dust. <br> <br>Perfect for: larger houses and properties with pets. <br> <br>End of tenancy cleaning <br> <br>An ‘extreme’ clean that usually happens when landlords call us after they’ve entered the flat and found the recently-vacated tenants haven’t bothered to clean it for a year! And you don’t, have time to do it yourself? Consider the end of tenancy cleaning London service. <br> <br>Consider the end of tenancy cleaning London service. <br> <br>Perfect for: properties that haven’t been cleaned for many months!