oxyplus or soda crystals?

shandyclover

Sorry if this is a silly question - I'm still learning about laundry additions, I grew up in India and Pakistan where there was only 3 brands of detergent for machine use and everyone else would use laundy bar soap. I was pretty overwhelmed the first time I went in a Sainbury's laundry aisle!

I generally buy Tesco biological liquid or Aldi bio detergent powder and for whites and lights add a scoop of oxy stuff or soda crystals, but I am very much a minimalist and if they both do the same job I would rather just stock one product.

What is best to use, oxy do dad stuff or washing soda, or do they do different jobs and I should be using both?

BitterAndTwisted

They do different things: the soda-crystals soften the water so you don't need to use as much laundry detergent and the Oxy stuff is a peroxide-based stain-remover.

I'd experiment using both but only on stained laundry or whites which need brightening.

SpikyHedgehog

I only use the soda crystals, I loved the way the oxy stuff got my boys white school shirts clean, but it irritated DS1's eczema skin... Oh well, if the schools wanted them to look super clean all year round, they wouldn't have white school shirts as the uniform!

shandyclover

Ok I think I understand the difference between what they do - will carry on getting oxyplus for the whites - currently using the Astonish one from HB - which do you rate as best value for money?

In that case does the soda crystals improve the cheap detergent performance? or would it be just as cost effective to buy more expensive detergent and not buy soda crystals?

McKneff

I dont understand why you need any additions. It just adds to the costs.

If you use a decent soap powder, it will clean the clothes.
That is what it is meant to do.

BitterAndTwisted

If you use a tablespoon or two of washing-soda then you will need to use a lot less laundry-detergent, possibly half or even a quarter of the usual dosage. Washing-soda is substantially cheaper than detergent

Minihauk

I think you would only benefit from using soda crystals if you live in an area with hard water. I don't think it will have any effect if your water is already soft.

j.e.j.

yes, I live in a really hard water area and soda crystals are cheaper than calgon so I add a spoonful to each wash (unless it's delicate or woolen clothing).

I also use soda crystals when running a maintenance boil wash to clean the machine, so that hopefully there's not much limescale building up and damaging the element.

If you're in a soft-water area, you may not need it.

Missli

I live in a hard water area, and use 1/2 a cup of cheap washing soda in every wash, with minimal detergent. Its very cost-effective. Washing soda does help as an in-wash stain remover. Its great when doing mixed colours, as there is no colour run.

For whites, I occasionally use a dedicated powerful stain remover. Not too often, as we have sensitive skin.

dragonette

I found myself pondering this in the shops today, really glad you posted this OP. From the previous replies, I'm fairly certain that soda crystals will be fairly pointless for me as I'm in Scotland. So if you live in the north, OP, soda crystals may not do much for your washing.

[Deleted User]

I usually put half the amount reccommended by the detergent makers and about a tablespoon of soda crystals.My clothes don't really get that mucky as they're only on for one day and as I'm retired its not as though I am down the coal mines :)the soda gets them soft and the soap powder gets them clean I watched my son-in-law put a wash on the other day and he seemed to use an enormous amount of powder for one wash,but he said 'its what it says on the packet 'Well I have been doing the washing for over 50 odd years and to me I would never put the amount in that he did No wonder they are always running out of powder :)