Introducing ‘The Wirecutter Show’

Wirecutter is a product recommendation service recognized for conducting rigorous and independent testing to ascertain the best products for consumers.

Wirecutter's team of dedicated journalists uses extensive testing to provide objective and thorough recommendations. Their commitment to unbiased reviews is apparent in their refusal to allow company influences or freebies to skew their judgement.

Methodical and In-Depth Evaluations

The Wirecutter team of roughly 140 journalists carries out methodical and in-depth evaluations across various products. For instance, their dedication to accuracy is evident in the way they analyzed 55 pairs of hiking boots, a process that involved hiking 1,400 miles over a span of seven years.

Their scrupulous assessment extends to other product categories, as well. To verify the efficacy of fire safes, Wirecutter constructed an entire room just to burn it down with the safes inside, testing their resilience in extreme conditions. Andrea Barnes, who is Wirecutter's authority on big home appliances, has conducted hands-on tests with different washers and dryers and detergent types. Their office itself is a testament to their meticulous process, bustling with activity around stained clothing and a plethora of detergents for testing.

Independent and Consumer-focused Recommendations

The integrity of Wirecutter's recommendations is paramount. The organization operates independently ...

The podcast episode delves into the intricacies of laundry care, exploring products and techniques, with staff writer and laundry expert Andrea Barnes sharing insights from testing and research.

Liquid and Powder Detergents Have Different Properties

The episode discusses the differing capabilities of liquid and powder detergents, with liquid detergent generally recommended for its effectiveness in removing body oils from clothing. Liquid detergent’s surfactants have a similarity to oils, enabling them to better absorb oil stains. Wirecutter suggests Tide Free & Gentle liquid detergent for most laundry due to its stain removal efficacy and hypoallergenic properties.

On the other hand, for individuals who frequently encounter dirt or mud stains, powder detergent may be a better solution. Powder formulations often include oxygen bleach, boosting their stain-removing prowess, particularly for set-in stains. Oxygen bleach, unlike chlorine, is safe for colored fabrics, albeit testing on a small area is advised. Wirecutter recommends Tide Ultra Oxy for dirt-heavy clothing.

Pre-treating Stains Before Washing

Pre-treating stains by applying a stain remover or laundry detergent directly onto the affected area before washing is emphasized as a significant step in improving stain removal. For nearly all stains, a standard laundry detergent should suffice for pre-treatment, but for more stubborn stains like makeup and permanent ink, Amadex, an all-purpose stain remover, is recommended. Andrea Barnes notes that pre-treating oil stains with warm water and liquid laundry detergent can be particularly effective, even on stains that have survived previous wash cycles.

The type of water temperature is imparted as an essential factor: cold water is crucial for blood stains to prevent setting, and warm water is ideal for lifting oil stains. F ...

Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset discuss simple changes that can be made during laundry routines to reduce environmental impact.

Washing in cold water, using less detergent, and air-drying clothes are simple ways to reduce the environmental impact of doing laundry.

The energy required to heat water accounts for a significant portion of a washing machine's energy use, so cold water washes are more efficient.

Blackwell highlights washing in cold water as a key takeaway for being more eco-friendly during laundry. Clisset agrees, noting that the energy required to heat water in washing machines is the biggest environmental impact of doing laundry, and advocating cold water washes as a way to address this. While not directly mentioning the energy needed to heat water, the conversation suggests that cold washes are more efficient, indirectly addressing the benefit of cold water for certain stains.

Andrea Barnes adds that washing in cold water is better in terms of energy efficiency, because a significant portion of a washing machine’s energy use goes to heating water. Barnes suggests using cold water for most stains, including urine, as it is generally pretty sterile, and only recommends hot water for sanitizing purposes. This reinforces the notion that cooler temperatures are typically sufficient for cleaning, aligning with the practice of reducing energy use by washing in cold water.

Using only the recommended, minimal amount of highly concentrated detergent prevents residue buildup and reduces chemical waste.

While there was no specific mention in the conv ...