Ladies, it's time to make the laundry list! Don't worry, I'm not going to talk about complaints but stains. Yes, let's chat about laundry detergents. Did you know that you can use it for more things than washing clothes? You can actually wash your floors and dishes with it. Laundry detergent's makers are constantly experimenting and researching better ways to make their products work efficiently. If you wash your clothes, read on because we tell you the latest about the soap and how to get more stains out for your money.
Read more ¿Qué más?: 5 ways to make your house look like a million bucks without spending a lot!
In cold water: A test conducted by a cleaning company found out that detergents work better in cold water. This is a win win situation because washing clothes in cold water is more energy efficient so it'll save you money in the long run. If you don't trust the cold water will wash away bacteria from sheets and towels, use warmer water, but not hot so the solution can remove stains.
Annoying stains: They drive me mad! The thing is that you need to act the moment the stain happens so they can actually disappear. Don't waste your money on expensive laundry detergents with "powerful" stain removers because they won't work unless you soak the stain as soon as possible.
Bleach or not to bleach: Those laundry detergents with bleach don't work too well, so don't waste your money. If you didn't treat the stain rapidly, the next best thing is to use straight up bleach. For colors you might have to use a stain remover solution on the clothes and leave it on for at least a day or two.
Regular vs. organic: Everything is becoming green these days. There are more and more cleaning supplies and soaps from organic brands becoming popular. They are more expensive than regular cleaners, but are better for your lungs and the environment. Laundry detergents jumped on the bandwagon, but some of them don't work as well as others. If you go green, make sure to use a determent with baking soda as the main ingredients so it can actually remove stains.
The pod alternative: You have seen them, but you don't trust them, right? Well, they work! First of all, they are already prepackaged with the exact amount of detergent you'll need per load. This also solves the issue of putting way too much liquid soap which at the end will irritate your skin and make your clothes smell too much. They are also easy to use, so really what's not to like about them. Just be careful with kids around them–there have been way too many instances of kids confusing them with candy and dying or getting seriously ill.
Image via Corbis
