Liquid wash or powder for sensitivity?

AuronGrande

I am finding myself in a predicament when it comes to doing my washing.

As we all know, wash powder is cheaper than the liquid/tabs so I thought that I would save money by switching to the wash powder. Seemed like common sense.

However, I discovered a problem. My skin is sensitive to the wash powder. This is bog standard "Surf" brand. Non-bio.

I have discovered that to prevent the skin irritation, I have to set my machine on "Skin Care" cycle with "Medic Rinse". With the regular Cotton cycle it would usually take almost 50mins to do the wash, but with "Skin Care" it goes up to 1hr 40mins. Medic Rinse adds another 10mins.

The liquid/tabs I don't get skin irritation.

This means I don't know which is cheaper.
Cheaper wash powder with more expensive wash cycle
or
More expensive liquid/tabs with cheaper wash cycle.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or even questions?

AuronGrande

Any questions or suggestions?

elsien

Have you tried using less powder? I find the amounts they tell you to use on the box can generally be cut down and still get the clothes clean.

Norman_Castle

AuronGrande wrote: »

This means I don't know which is cheaper.
Cheaper wash powder with more expensive wash cycle
or
More expensive liquid/tabs with cheaper wash cycle.

90% of the cost of a wash cycle will be heating the water. The extra washing time will make very little difference to the cost.

Buy liquid when its on offer.

Zola.

Try using less powder and see if that makes a difference.

using too much powder can actually weaken the clothes stitching etc as well, so better use less than more.

pollypenny

Try a different powder. OH has a bad reaction to Tide, used when we're in the USA at DS' place.

Cisco001

I usually find liquid cheaper than powder??
Liquid is about 7.6p per wash, powder is 8.6p.

My friend with sensitive skin use fairy non-bio. They are not cheap...

rach_k

I usually find that powders rinse out more easily than liquids so I would definitely try using less powder as it may well be that you're using far more than you actually need. Either that or try a different brand of powder - presumably you don't have to stick to Surf!

firebird082

I have the same problem - can't use powder at all as it makes me itchy. I've resorted to Fairy non-bio, and just buy it when it's on special offer...

AuronGrande

elsien wrote: »

Have you tried using less powder? I find the amounts they tell you to use on the box can generally be cut down and still get the clothes clean.

Yep. I tried that. I'm basically using half the amount stated on the box and it still irritates my skin.

AuronGrande

I tried reducing the amount of powder that I use. My clothes don't really get dirty. It's more of a wash to freshen them up. However, reducing the amount of powder didn't help and I still need to use the Skin Care cycle etc.

I don't have to use the brand that I currently have, I just grab what's on offer. Powder or Liquid. This box of powder happened to be on offer at almost half price. I could try different brands of non-bio. When this current box runs out that is.