It’s on the cover of the magazine this month, “Detergents, economical and effective, which keeps its promises?” We talk about it with Sylvie Metzelard, editor-in-chief at the magazine 60 Million consumers.
franceinfo: You tested 22 detergents, deliberately choosing a majority of ecological products, why?
Sylvie Metzelard: So these are not necessarily ecological detergents but detergents that highlight natural ingredients, such as Marseille soap, or aloe vera. Why these detergents? Because consumers are increasingly turning to what feels as natural as possible to them. Also this year, for the first time, we have slipped among the samples two laundry detergents that you can do yourself.
And what did the tests cover, because above all we ask a detergent to clean the laundry? To make it clean?
Indeed, the most important thing is the performance tests. Machines are run with white cloths impregnated with 15 different types of dirt, in order to judge the stain-removing power. And we rotate fabrics of different colors 25 times to see how these colors will resist or not (pastels like more intense colors). Finally, we assess the risks to health and the environment, from the list of ingredients, this is called MénagScore.
And the results are conclusive on the effectiveness?
On dirt, everyone (liquid detergent or in doses) is doing quite well; the two conventional detergents come out on top. The good news is that store brands generally do very well, as do green brands. So the green and the cheapest clean well with, of course, differences from brand to brand.
What about homemade detergents? With Marseille soap or baking soda?
So there it is less folichon. In terms of toxicity and low cost, that’s good, but the washing efficiency is unfortunately less. With its 40g of Marseille soap in flakes and its 20g of baking soda, percarbonate of soda, and soda crystals, the fairly concentrated homemade washing powder reaches an efficiency rate of 41%. But liquid homemade detergent, made by dissolving 15g of baking soda and 20g of flake Marseille soap in 1 liter of water, only reaches 32%. To be reserved for lightly soiled laundry.
Well they are effective, but do they respect the laundry?
It is a little less conclusive on the respect of colors for certain brands and especially on black. White laundry can also gray very quickly.
And on the environmental impact, are there big differences? Can we know?
Yes, there are quite significant differences in terms of the impact on health and the environment. There are still quite a few problematic preservatives in liquid laundry (thiasolinones), surfactants such as sodium laureth sulfate, sensitizing substances (perfume and stain-eating enzymes) amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, pectinase, mannanase), very present. Many substances harmful to health such as thiasolinones and certain surfactants are just as harmful to the environment.
Well then the big question also when you have to choose a detergent, is the formula? Liquid, powder or pod detergent, what does your survey reveal?
We can always try to remember a few names of problematic substances that we mention in 60 Million and look on the labels. And above all, choose those with the fewest ingredients on the labels; who says fewer ingredients says less risk of exposure. Otherwise, you should know that the products carrying the European eco-label are well classified.
And from an economic point of view, what are the parameters to be taken into account?
Take into account the type of fabrics that you slip inside; a delicate fabric, requires less product than a thick cotton. Assess its degree of soiling; You must also take into account the hardness of your water (limestone or not) ask your town hall, then look at the indications on the back of the detergent bottle and comply with them.
And then there is one thing to know, is that you have to dose well to save and to wash your clothes well?
Yes, putting the right dose means not spending too much (and we tend to always put too much because there are rarely any measuring caps); as a result, you will clog up your machine and the laundry will be poorly rinsed, and it may then irritate your skin. Better to invest in a small measuring cup and put what is indicated on the bottle. From one wash to another it is never the same thing.
So precisely are the pods really the most economical?
If you tend to put too much detergent, then empty your bottle faster than it should, yes, otherwise no. The cost of a detergent with a pod is on average 30% more expensive than with a liquid detergent.
Clearly, it is expensive to wash your laundry?
For the detergents we tested, the cost of a machine ranged between 18 cents and 50 cents for the pods and between 15 and 36 cents for the liquids.
So 22 laundry sifted, what is the choice of 60 Million consumers ?
For liquids, Bioactive green house which received a score of 14/20 and Xéor pods, benchmark brand of E. Leclerc.