28 Aug 2026
Capsules vs Liquid cheat sheet:
- Laundry capsules are perfect for quick, everyday washing.
- Laundry liquid gives flexible dosing and is great for hand washing and stain pre-treatment.
- Both smol versions perform as well as the big brands, with less plastic, carbon and chemicals.
- Our Liquid comes in recycled aluminium or recycled plastic bottles-for-life.
- The best choice? It all depends on the way you wash.
The supermarket laundry aisle is stacked with powders, pods and liquids, all claiming to be the best.
So which one is? It depends.
Laundry capsules and liquid each have their own strengths, so it tends to boil down to how you like to do your washing.
Here's what you should know.
Laundry Capsules vs Laundry Liquid at a glance.
When it comes to our Laundry Capsules and Laundry Liquid there are a few key differences.
smol Laundry Capsules | smol Laundry Liquid |
Pre-dosed (so no measuring) | Flexible dosing |
Just pop one in the drum | Pump exactly what you need |
Great for everyday washing | Handy for hand washing items and pre-wash stain treatments |
Bio, Non-Bio & Fragrance-Free choice | Bio & Non-Bio choice |
Recycled aluminium or recycled plastic bottles-for-life | |
Brilliant at low temperatures | Great at low temperature and quick, 15-minute cycles |
Why choose Laundry Capsules?
If convenience is king then smol Laundry Capsules are hard to beat.
No measuring or guesswork. Put one in the drum before your clothes and you’re good to go.
With outstanding cleaning at lower temperatures, you can save energy while keeping clothes looking and smelling brilliant. They're also:
✅ | Pre-dosed to help avoid overdosing |
✅ | Available in Bio, Non-Bio and Fragrance-Free Non-Bio (Our Fragrance-Free Non-Bio is recommended by Allergy UK) |
✅ | Packed in our plastic-free cardboard box |
✅ | Independently proven to perform as well as the big brands¹ |
Why choose Laundry Liquid?
smol Laundry Liquid gives a little more flexibility.
You can easily adjust the amount you use for smaller loads or ones that aren’t so dirty, you can use it for hand washing your clothing, or apply it directly onto stains before washing.
Our Laundry Liquid is up to 45% more concentrated than many leading liquids, so you use up to 42% less liquid per wash.1 All this AND you’re using less chemicals per wash than the big brands.
You can choose the bottle that suits your home, with both recycled aluminium and recycled plastic bottles-for-life, then just refill as needed using our compact refill cartons.
Laundry Liquid is also:
✅ | Brilliant on 15-minute quick washes |
✅ | Brilliant on 15-minute quick washes Available in Bio and Non-Bio (Non-Bio is dermatologically tested) |
So, which cleans better?
Both.
Our Capsules and Liquid deliver all the cleaning performance you'd expect from the big brands.
Our Non-Bio Laundry Liquid has even been independently tested against Persil Wonder Wash Non-Bio on a 15-minute quick cycle, where it matched overall cleaning performance while keeping whites whiter and performing better on grass stains.
Can I use both?
Absolutely. Lots of smol customers do.
Laundry Capsules for everyday family washing because they're quick and pre-dosed, then Laundry Liquid for hand washing items, smaller loads or pre-treating stubborn stains.
Choose one or choose both! With smol we’ll have you covered.
Capsules vs Liquid FAQs.
¹ see our claims on smol.com/our-claims
Catherine Green, Cleaning Expert
Catherine has been on a mission to revolutionise the way we tackle chores since the dawn of smol and is an advocate for making more sustainable living accessible to all, with a strong focus in cleaning that’s heavy on dirt, lighter on the planet and gentle on the skin. Catherine has tested hundreds of hacks to make tackling chores easier, safer, and better for the planet and our homes.
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