an investigation of domestic laundry in europe - habits ... - SIFO

Assessment of the consumer laundry habits - a quantitative survey 39detergents seem to be most popular among the Norwegian respondents (where82 % report using fine wash detergents).Summing up, we find that washing powder is the most ordinary detergent forlaundering clothes. Almost every respondent reports using this. On the otherhand, washing tablets are least commonly used. But the respondents in all ofthe countries use other detergents as well. Here we find some significant differencesbetween the countries: the respondents in Norway and the Netherlandsare more likely to use detergents for coloured clothes, while the respondentsin Norway and Spain are more likely to use detergents for wool and silk,and as a general rule the Greek respondents are most likely to use washingpowder.2.5.2 Other laundry productsFabric conditioners (also called fabric softeners) are the most commonly usedof the other laundry products. 93 % of the Spanish and 91 % of the Greek respondentsuse fabric conditioners. The respondents in the Netherlands usefabric conditioners the least (only 66 %).Using a measuring cup for the dosage of detergent is quite common, and mostwidespread between the Greek and the Spanish respondents. 86 % of theGreek respondents use a measuring cup compared to only 65 % of the Norwegians.Using a measuring cup might have some environmental advantagesbecause it ensures appropriate dosage. In this perspective it is encouragingthat more than two-thirds of the respondents use a measuring cup (assumingthat without it there is a tendency to use more of the detergent than prescribed).Stain remover is used for special purposes – i.e. if clothes are stained. Abouthalf of the respondents use stain remover. The respondents in the Netherlandsare most likely to apply this, followed by the respondents from Spain. TheGreek respondents are the least likely to apply stain remover (Figure 2-17).One explanation could be that the Greek respondents are far more likely touse chlorine or other bleaching agents than the respondents from the Netherlands,where only 12 % use bleaching agents compared to 70 % of the Greeks.The Spanish respondents are even more likely to use bleaching agents (75 %answer this question in the affirmative). The Norwegian respondents seem tobe in the middle, with 39 % reporting use of chlorine or other bleachingagents.