Are you a liquid or powder detergent person? In our Twitter poll, about 88 percent of participants said they prefer liquid detergent, but powder detergent still has its passionate supporters. So this week I’m looking into the pros and cons of both.
Also in this issue: A showdown between store-brand and name-brand foods, and our tips on how to pick a healthy cereal.
THE BIG STORY:
‘Stain, Stain, Go Away’
Growing up, I remember using powder detergents exclusively when washing clothes. But somewhere along the way I switched to liquid detergents because they seemed to be the dominant type offered in stores.
Recently, however, there have been TikTok viewers who have been asking us about the performance of powder detergents. So how do the two actually compare? Is one superior to the other? Here’s what laundry experts told me.
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When it concerns stain removal …
Powder detergents are especially efficient at removing stains like dirt, clay, and mud, says Jennifer Ahoni, the director of scientific communication for North America fabric at Procter & Gamble.
Liquid detergents, on the other hand, are great at dealing with grease and body soil, Jennifer says. It’s also easier to pretreat stains with liquid detergents, according to Rich Handel, who leads our testing of detergents.
When it comes to dissolving in water …
Liquid detergents dissolve more easily in colder water compared with powder detergents, says Mary Gagliardi, an in-house scientist and cleaning expert at Clorox.
And in general, CR’s experts recommend that you wash your clothes in cold water rather than hot water so that you can save energy. Because heating water accounts for about 90 percent of the energy needed to run a washer, according to Energy Star, the less hot water used, the more energy saved.
And a tip for people who prefer to use a cooler wash temperature: Mixing powder detergent in a little warm water before adding it to the washer may be necessary to make sure it dissolves, Mary says, though whether this is needed will also depend on the design of your washing machine.
Is one form better than the other?
Overall, both liquid and powder detergents offer their own benefits, and a lot of them boil down to preference, Jennifer says. For pretreating stains, she uses liquid detergents; for dirt stains on her child’s clothes, she uses powder.
As for me? I just might continue with my liquid detergent until the next time I decide to roll around in the mud. You never know; it might happen in the summer.
And if you’re looking for a good detergent, here are the best and worst laundry detergents, according to our tests.
Bonus link: Should you use hot or cold water to wash your laundry?
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RED ALERT
How TikTok is tracking you, even if you don’t use the app.
@consumerreports Read the full story at cr.org/tiktoktracking. Our investigation found that TikTok uses some of the same techniques as Google, Meta, and other companies to collect personal data. #techtok #techtoktips #tiktoktips #cybersecurity ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports
And if you do use the app, here are three privacy settings you need to turn on right now.
BON APPÉTIT
Can a store-brand ketchup ever beat Heinz? And can Walmart’s peanut butter taste as good as Skippy’s?
CR’s expert tasters blind-tested 10 leading name-brand versions of foods such as ketchup, ranch dressing, and peanut butter along with their store-brand counterparts from 10 retailers. Here’s their verdict on which tasted just as good as—or even better than—well-known brands. (Read more here for our full list of tasting results.)
🍅 Ketchup alternatives to Heinz
Ketchup from Aldi and Target tastes pretty good, according to our testers, and costs up to 72 percent less per serving.
🥗 Ranch dressing alternatives to Hidden Valley
Kroger’s has the same flavors as Hidden Valley’s ranch dressing but with a “decidedly cheesy vibe” that makes it taste a bit superior. It’s also half the price.
🥜 Peanut butter alternatives to Skippy
Aldi’s and Walmart’s creamy versions are a little thicker than Skippy’s but have a similar roasted peanut flavor and level of saltiness—and they’ll save you about 50 percent per quarter-cup serving.
MUST-READS OF THE WEEK
🥣 How to Pick a Healthy Cereal
Tip: Look for ones with at least 4 grams of fiber per serving.
🚘 What Does the Check Engine Light Look Like, and What Does It Mean?
Is it a sign of a loose gas cap or a serious engine issue?
📱 Best and Worst Phone Plan Providers (Available to CR members)
Which is better, T-Mobile or AT&T?
💵 Get Big Savings on Your Heating Bill With These Simple Lifestyle Changes
If you don’t properly maintain your fireplace, it might drive up your heating bills.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Most of the time I don’t pay much attention to the signs I pass by. They’re usually pretty bland until you get lucky and come across a gem like this.
You can check out our roundup of other funny signs, including ones for a gym with a weird dress code and a hospital that really needs to rethink where it’s placing its cafeteria.
QUICK FACTS
Today I learned that canned fruits and vegetables can technically be “fresher” than what’s in the produce section.
"I am not throwing away my snot."
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Pang-Chieh Ho
Pang-Chieh Ho is a senior content creator at Consumer Reports who writes about the intersections of home products and health. She has been working in the media industry for almost 10 years. Books are her first love, but movies come a close second. You can send tips to her at pangchieh.ho@consumer.org.