Laundry capsules… you may have seen them on the shelf and wondered, what are they? How do they work? Do these ‘throw and go’ options really clean clothes as well as more traditional options? What are the best laundry capsules to buy - and should you try them?

Let’s do a deep dive!

A podded history

Detergent tablets – called ‘Salvo’ - were first introduced in the 1960’s.



Unfortunately they were a dismal failure. They were hard and didn’t dissolve well, leading to their swift exit from the market.

It wasn’t until 2012 that ‘laundry pods’ – in the form we now recognise - found their place in the laundry world. Although Australia’s been slower to catch on, capsules (as we call them here) have gained popularity in the last few years, driven by the convenience factor for busy lifestyles.

What are laundry capsules?

Laundry capsules are pre-measured packets of detergent encased in a water soluble film. Once in contact with water the film dissolves, releasing a concentrated dose of laundry detergent, along with stain removers and other active ingredients.

Pros of capsules

Convenience is obviously a huge plus with capsules – there’s no messy measuring out, no cups or scoops needed. The correct dose is right there – one and done. They’re also light and portable, which is fantastic for travelling or transporting to communal laundries. In small homes they can be a space saver too.

Natural advantages

In Australia, there are two main types of laundry capsules: brands with multi coloured capsules, and plant-based products, like Bosisto’s Sensitive or Power + Laundry Capsules.

According to Bosisto’s Product Development Manager Gang Yu, the main difference is the fragrances and dyes.

“Bosisto’s capsules are dye free and fragrance free, and we use only pure Australian eucalyptus oil for its aroma and freshening. You can hold them up to the light and see for yourself – transparent and no bright colours.”

Gang says it’s also important to consider the plastic wrapping capsules come in.

Capsules have had a bad eco-rap for putting ‘micro-plastics’ into the environment. However this isn’t the case with Bosisto’s. “The formula and film are biodegradable: a unique type of material that is water soluble, even in cold water,” says Gang.

In fact there’s an argument that laundry capsules could even be more eco-friendly than both liquids and powders, once the fossil fuel of transporting these heavier products is added into the equation.

Do laundry capsules actually work?

According to Gang Yu, the answer to this is yes, and surprisingly well. They may seem small, but laundry capsules are super concentrated compared to their liquid equivalent.

“Bosisto’s laundry capsules have been tested in a third party lab on 20 different stains – these products shifted all of them, demonstrating their effectiveness.”

Bosisto’s Power + Capsules contain 6 x enzymes so are particularly good for very tough stains, but even the Sensitive product performed well.

Gang Yu is a fan of the format: “Laundry capsules offer convenience, precise dosing and minimal mess compared to liquids and powders – and they generally have a better cleansing performance than sheets.”

Where do you put laundry capsules?

So you’ve decided to give laundry capsules a go. Now, how do you use them?

A lot of people make this one common mistake: throwing them in on top of your clothes (or worse, putting them in the detergent drawer).

Laundry capsules are designed to go in the bottom of the washing machine drum – towards the back, if you have a front loader – before your clothes are added.

This allows the pod to come into contact with the most amount of water, while experiencing friction with the drum’s wall, helping distribute the product more effectively. So, add your capsule first!

And a bonus tip: don’t overfill your machine. About three quarters full of clothes is ideal, so the water and detergent can swish around all the surfaces and do their job.

Keen to try?  You can find Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Capsules in Woolworths supermarkets, and Power + and Sensitive Laundry Capsules online now.

SHOP BOSISTO’S LAUNDRY

References:

https://home.howstuffworks.com/laundry-pods-powder-liquid-detergents.htm

https://9now.nine.com.au/the-block/how-to-use-laundry-detergent-pods-rightway-
expert-scientist-advice/a7ca43ff-1e3f-4588-9a4d-17ea01550f1e