Authentic

Laundry detergent is like "skincare" for your clothes. Choosing the right one ensures gentle cleaning and long-term care. Faced with a vast array of products, mastering the following key points will help you develop a discerning eye.

1. Read the Ingredient List to Avoid Yellowing Culprits

Optical Brighteners: These work by tricking our eyes through an optical effect, making clothes appear brighter and whiter. However, they are essentially chemical dyes. With long-term use, these substances build up on fibers. Once they oxidize or come into contact with chlorine-based products (like bleach), they can actually accelerate yellowing. Recommendation: For users who want to maintain the natural quality of fabrics or are washing delicate materials like silk or wool, prioritize detergents that are explicitly labeled "Free of Optical Brighteners".

Overly Alkaline Formulas: Human skin and most clothing fibers are naturally slightly acidic. Traditional strongly alkaline soap powders, if not thoroughly rinsed, can leave residues. These residues not only irritate the skin but also react with acidic substances in the air, leading to stiff, aged, and yellowed fabrics. Choosing a neutral or mildly acidic laundry liquid is more aligned with the natural pH of skin and fibers. It leaves clothes soft and skin-friendly while effectively protecting colors and fiber strength, making it particularly suitable for everyday wear and delicate fabrics.

2. Seek the Power of "Enzymes" for Targeted Stain Removal

Enzymes are biological catalysts, acting as "stain removal experts" in high-quality detergents. They work like precise "molecular scissors," efficiently breaking down specific types of stains under gentle conditions, minimizing damage to fibers.

Protease: Targets and breaks down protein-based stains like sweat, milk, blood, and egg.

Amylase: Specializes in tackling starch-based dirt such as rice, pasta, sauces, and mashed potatoes.

Lipase: Effectively dissolves oil-based stains like sebum, grease, lipstick, and butter.

Cellulase: This enzyme works not on the stain but on cotton fabrics themselves. It gently removes pilling caused by friction, restoring the fabric's smooth surface, revitalizing older clothes, and enhancing color brightness.

Selection Advice: Choose laundry liquids containing the aforementioned blend of enzymes to achieve comprehensive, targeted stain removal. This is especially effective in preventing yellowing caused by the residue of organic stains.

3. Focus on Formulation and Functionality, Choose According to Need

Color Protection Technology: If you frequently wash colored items, check if the product contains "color-protecting agents" or "color-lock technology." These ingredients form a protective layer around fibers, reducing friction and dye loss during washing, preventing color transfer and fading.

Detergent & Softener Combos: While convenient, the softening effect in these 2-in-1 products is often less effective than that of standalone softeners, due to the need to compromise with the cleaning formula. They can be used for everyday laundry, but for high-end fabrics (like silk, wool), it is still recommended to use specialized detergents for silk/wool, paired with a separate conditioner for optimal care.

Low-Sudsing & Easy-Rinse Formulas: Abundant foam does not equate to superior cleaning power. Conversely, excessive foam requires more rinse cycles to remove, wasting water and energy, and increasing the risk of residue. High-quality detergents often employ low-sudsing technology, ensuring cleaning efficacy while being easy to rinse, fundamentally reducing the risk of yellowing and skin irritation caused by chemical residue.

4. Texture and Packaging Reveal Quality Clues

Observe and Smell: High-quality laundry liquids typically have a uniform texture, moderate viscosity, and pour smoothly. They are ideally clear, transparent, or a uniform milky white. Products that are overly thin or thick like glue may contain inappropriate thickeners. The scent should be fresh and natural, not a pungent chemical perfume.

The Science of Packaging: Enzymes and active ingredients can degrade when exposed to light. Therefore, choosing products in opaque bottles or dark packaging better protects these effective components, maintaining washing performance. Also, check if the instructions on the packaging are clear and include detailed ingredient lists and usage guides.

5. Try Before You Commit — Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth

No matter how good the theory, personal verification is key. For expensive clothing, baby garments, or users with sensitive skin, it is highly recommended to:

Purchase a small size to test: Experience its cleaning power and ease of rinsing firsthand.

Check the final result: Observe if the clothes are truly clean, feel soft and fluffy, have a pleasant scent, and most importantly, see if white garments remain bright over time and colors stay vibrant.