Laundry Detergent in Japan: Why I Switched from Powder to Liquid and Finally to Pods
When I was a child, laundry detergent meant one thing: a large box of powder with a measuring scoop inside. Later, I started using liquid detergent. These days, as I get closer to 50, I mostly use laundry pods. It made me realize that even something as ordinary as laundry detergent has changed quite a lot during my lifetime. After living in Japan for many years, I have also watched the laundry aisle change. Japanese drugstores and home centers now sell powder detergent, liquid detergent, refill packs, concentrated formulas, and colorful laundry pods. In Japan, laundry pods are usually called “gel balls,” or ジェルボール. I did not move from one type to another because I believed one detergent was perfect. My choice changed gradually, depending on what felt easier in everyday life. Here is what I learned from using powder detergent, liquid detergent, and gel balls in Japan. Why I Stopped Using Powder Detergent Powder detergent is the type I remember most clearly from my childhood. There was a...