A Driving Force to Clean Laundry:

[washer111]

Finally finished the box of "Bio-Zet Attack" laundry detergent we've been using for the past several months, and moved onto a stashed box of Drive from when it was on sale several months ago. 

 

Drive was once the top-rated laundry detergent one could purchase in this country sometime around 2009, according to consumer-testing group "CHOICE." 

I can see why too!

Here are some Pros and Cons between the detergents:

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bio-Zet Attack (HE, "Kao" Corporation):</span>

Pros: Cleans well at lower temperatures using appropriate doses for soil and fabric type. Very free-flowing, non-clumping detergent. Never (EVER) had a box start getting "chunky" on me, Frequently on sale at Supermarkets. Tried and Tested Japanese technology (Hey, I like Nakamichi audio equipment, so why is this any different?)

 

Cons: Hotter temperatures and dosages appropriate to heavier soil result in heavy suds. Conservative temperatures and dosages are better, but cleaning performance suffers. Very foamy in the rinsing stages. Detergent seems better suited to "water hog" machines or FL machines that spin well between 3-4 rinses. 

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Drive (Unilever):</span>

Pros: 2-3% Better cleaning, at time of "supremacy," as per CHOICE. Seems to be a lot more in reality, due to dosages/sudsing. Zero or practically NO suds in the wash. Noticeable suds in rinses, but dissipate easily. Typically clear rinsing by 2-3rd rinse. Gentle scent

 

Cons: Not quite the like Bio-Zet in "flowability." Still free, but slightly more clumped (Not "sand"). Very rarely on sale, and usually AU$12 for a box. On sale, cost varies between $3-6 where I live and the promotion running. 

 

Photograph of the Box:

 

[mattywashboy]

I do love Drive detergent, I really miss the liquid they did. I haven;t used it in ages though since I was worried the cleaning ability had suffered from them going 'phosphates free'. I might give it another whirl if its still good....

 

[supersuds]

Having tried both, I pretty much agree with you, washer111. BioZet Attack is one of the most pleasant-scented detergents I've ever used. And it does seem to have a fluffy quality that makes it easy-dissolving even in cool water.

BTW, here is a picture of an original box of Drive from the US introduction in the late Sixties from my <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">hoard</span> collection.

 

 

 

[twinniefan]

Drive

I remember the old Drive, it was one of Lever and Kitchen's premium brands,my mother tried it one or twice,worked quite well, especially in higher temperatures, was not really suited for cold water washing, It was white and had beads of sodium perborate through the formula and a fair bit too from memory.
Actually I am fairly certain that in those days only Drive and Ajax had the beads of perborate in their formula.
Ajax was Colgate-Palmolive's answer to Drive I think.

 

[twinniefan]

Fab

Just as an aside and sorry to hijack your thread washer 111, at the moment we are using one of the myriad Fab concoctions and am finding it is not too bad when used in warm or hot water.
Thanks.
Steve.

 

[ronhic]

Drive strives for total CLEAN!

 

[washer111]

No trouble twinniefan! I've certainly considers trying out the Fab, but I'm kinda worried about the scent of that stuff... Have you found the scent to be overpowering, just right or "retch-inducing?" I wonder about those detergents: If they add that much scent it starts making you wonder whether it is actually CLEANING any of the laundry!

 

Now, I see that someone above mention the powder is WHITE with beads of Perborate in it for bleaching. Am wondering if these beads are Blue? If so - Drive still contains it, and in pairly plentiful quantity.

An interesting aside is that Bio-Zet also has those Blue bleads in its detergent.

 

In terms of rinsing performance, due to the softened water supply (Which I've prattled on about before), rinsing performance is skewed towards "poor." Yes, Miele do not recommend connecting to a softened supply, but I have to be honest at ask "Why on earth would I connect to a water supply that kills kettles in less than a year (With prudent maitenance)?"

You can literally watch a new "Grand Canyon" form in your kettle here... Blasted groundwater! Why can't the "desert" areas of this country have softer water? (I know - Limestone rock formation etc. Just a "funny joke").

 

[twinniefan]

Fab scent

Yeah Washer 111, the Fab fragrance is a bit on the exotic side, something called Spice Allure the cleaning is not too bad, although I do find that for some stains it does need a bit of help i.e. prewash spray or Napisan etc.
And as mentioned before it does seem to work better in warmer water.
You have me intrigued about Bio-Zet, I have never used it before, maybe it's time to give it a try.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[twinniefan]

beads of bleach

The answer to your earlier question is yes, the beads of perborate were indeed blue, in fact that was a part of the Ajax advertising campaign, "Ajax with it's blue beads of bleach.".
Some years later after Colgate-Palmolive acquired the R.M. Gow's brand, they changed it's formula for a while and it also contained the blue beads of perborate, indeed a friend's ex-wife actually worked at the C.P. plant for a few years and told me that the final version of Gow's was one of the best powders they ever had as it was actually made up from what was leftovers of Fab, Cold Power and Spree.
Now that I mention it, has anyone seen Spree lately? haven't seem it in ages.

 

[washer111]

Pretty sure my local store still sells the Spree (Maybe I'm confusing with 'Surf,' now that is pungent stuff, Whew!)... I'll get a photograph next time I happen to pass through the detergent aisle if I see it.

 

Bio-Zet is definitely worth the short if you have a TL machine and get the HE formula. It isn't quite suited to FL machines, but like I said, that might be our softened water starting to "grate" on things a little. 

If you have an FL, I would try and find the cycle with the most thirsty rinsing programme - you'll benefit greatly from such a programme, IMO. 

 

[ronhic]

I've never had an issue with Bio-Zet in a front load machine at all.....and Canberra has soft water.

 

It cleans very well, particularly in warm water, and has a light fragrance.

 

[washer111]

Guess I was right then Ronhic - must the mechanically softened water giving me the grief, not the detergent. I suppose I can't blame it then, really. 

 

Thanks for the input. 

 

[mielerod69]

Programmable function 'max water level'

Hi washer111,

you can programme the Miele to do always high water level rinses which is the same water level as in the delicates programme. You need to go to service mode to do it.

 

[washer111]

How does one enter service mode, since I'd like to make that modification!

 

I can get into the menu (as mentioned in the manual) by closing the door and powering on the machine whilst holding the "Start/Stop" button down.

Is there further setup beyond that menu or am I missing something?

 

[chestermikeuk]

Drive

Matty brought some over to test on his last visit, used it in the Hoover Keymatic and a Servis twintub, great results, smells fresh - no complaints!!

 

[mielerod69]

programming mode service level

Hi washer111,
Proceed as follows:
1. Close the door and switch off the machine
2. Whilst holding in the start/stop button switch on the machine
3. Release start/stop button and press it 5 times in succession, holding it in on the 5th time.
4. Green led around the button will flash and language appears on the screen.
5. Now you will find other settings that you can modify.

 

[paulc]

programming mode service level

Just tried it on my machine, only gives me the option to reset to factory settings.

 

[mielerod69]

Strange

If you scroll through you should find other settings that are not visible in the service programming mode. I tried it on a W 1913 and it worked.

 

[mielerod69]

Found this on youtube

Starts at 1.30 where the user puts it in programming mode and turns the dial to find the other settings