Because the UK is primarily composed of chalk and limestone, around 60% of houses in the country have a hard water supply. Laundry detergents don’t work as well in hard water areas as they struggle to lather up as much. In general, you’ll need to use slightly more detergent in a hard water area, and it’s also vital to remember to run limescale remover through your washing machine on a regular basis. Dissolve half a sheet in warm/cold water. 2. Add laundry and wash by hand. 3. Thoroughly rinse with water. Safety Discover the feather-light Magic Leaves laundry detergent sheets that make washing so convenient. One water-soluble sheet ensures a deep clean and radiant freshness – even at low temperatures. Washing has never been easier: Just pop one sheet into the washing drum and experience a highly convenient way to wash your laundry – even on short cycles. The ultra-lightweight and compact format is easy to carry, easy to use and easy to store. Important Information

Vegan, free from microplastics and preservatives, and dermatologically tested to be kind to skin, these sheets are a great eco-friendly choice. We were particularly impressed with their performance at low temperatures, where they still got clothes clean.The difference between biological and non-biological detergent is that the latter doesn’t contain enzymes and is usually free from dyes and fragrances, too. The enzymes in bio detergents break down amino acids in protein-based stains such as blood and egg, boosting cleaning power, but they can also be an irritant and fade coloured garments. The GHI has found that powdered laundry detergent is almost always the best at removing stains. That said, budget and personal preference should also play a role in your decision-making process. This recyclable bottle’s handle made it the most comfortable to hold and easiest to use of all the bio detergents on test. It triumphed over baby food, makeup and blood stains, fully erasing them from cotton and polycotton, and it did not fade our coloured items. This concentrated bio detergent comes in a choice of three fragrances, of which we tried peony blush. It smelled pleasant, but note that it’s not entirely plant-based, should you be adversely affected by synthetic perfumes. In terms of effectiveness, it removed 90% of stains from our polycotton pile and only struggled with tea and foundation residue. If you care about the environment but are also faced with a mountain of grubby laundry, our winning bio detergent saves you from having to compromise. It banished 89% of stains from our polycotton clothes and proved particularly effective against baby food and sebum (the body oil that contributes to acne). It scored top marks for colour retention too, with only minimal colour fading after several spins in the machine, and it left all our white garments sparkling.

With a pleasant, fresh scent, Miele’s powder does what it says on the tin. Whites are bright after just one wash and stains are easily shifted. However, it will lift colours, so make sure you only use it with plain whites. Miele says that its powder is suitable for use at 20˚, 30˚, 40˚, 60˚ and 95˚C, so it should work with a huge range of programmes, as well as at energy-saving low temperatures. Expect to get around 42 loads from one box.When it comes to formulas, it’s harder to define. There is legislation in place in the UK, for example, to ensure that ‘surfactants’ (the ingredients that make detergents bubbly) do biodegrade, albeit in very specific circumstances. Similarly, the quantity of phosphates allowed in laundry detergents is also limited by law. This means that some claims made by ‘eco’ products may be equally true of many products that don’t claim to be ‘eco-friendly’. But buying a laundry detergent isn’t as simple as it used to be, as there’s a huge variety of products to choose from. You’ll find powders, gels, liquids, capsules and even washing sheets, with some detergents designed to wash specific types of clothes. It can be difficult knowing where to start. Washing powder – Traditional powder is economical as it tends to be cheaper than liquids. Powder generally comes with a small measuring scoop and goes directly into the detergent drawer. This can lead to clogging of the drawer, so make sure you clean it regularly.