A good brand of detergent is......

[franksdad]

STTP

What is STTP?

I use Sears Ultra Plus powder along with Borox or Publix Chlorine-Free bleach. I use Tide Free liquid with the gentle version of Clorox for whites and underwear. I sometimes use the Publix brand free and clear liquid detergent. I have had good success with Publix brand detergents, bleach, and fabric softners.

Jim

 

[toploader1984]

sttp

STTP stands for sodium tripolyphosphate "phosphates" found in laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent. or formerly in detergent i should say.... there is also TSP trisodium phosphate which is what people use to clean walls before they paint but is different from STTP. phosphates is a main ingredient in detergents which act as a builder and water softener. a main ingredient which was removed recently bacuse of tree huggers and the government on one of their power trips.

 

[franksdad]

Thank you.

Appreciate the info. I didn't know.

 

[DADoES]

 

Not STTP.  Not TSP.

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">STPP</span> (Sodium TriPolyPhosphate).

 

[tomturbomatic]

Is there still a detergent by the name of DIXAN? Some was given to me in 2002, I think, and it was put away (hidden and lost). I just came across it a few weeks ago. It was put in a plastic container with part of the DIXAN bag around it. Tried one coffee measure (two Tbs) with an equal amt of STPP (same formula I use with powder TIDE he) in the Miele W1986 with a load of white bath sheets at 140F. The rinsing was superb; even better than with the same amount of powder TIDE he. There is probably no way to get it here if it is still made, but it seems to be a very good detergent and I am grateful that it was given to me.

 

[dj-gabriele]

DIXAN!

It's the Italian name for Henkel Persil, so it's a top quality detergent!

The 2002 formula might still have had phosphates in it as they phased them out later.
Anyway, even the current formula without them is just as great! Nobody over here ever missed phosphates, even in hard water!

 

[tomturbomatic]

They are blue and white mega perls.

 

[franksdad]

Not STTP. Not TSP.

Okay. I remember in the late 60s and early 70's seeing pictures of streams and rivers filled with dead fish and covered with soap suds everywhere. I honestly thought the EPA had manufacturers remove phosphates from detergents decades ago. I guess not all of them. Back in the 50's and 60's a large electronics manufacturer near my childhood home dumped tons of PCBs into the main river which was, and still is, used as the primary water source for many towns in northwest South Carolina. This area is one of the EPA's cancer hotspots as the PCBs dumped into the river which flowed downstream into area lakes and other rivers have been determined to be highly carcenogenic. I can take you to the street where I grew up, heck the little town of 800 where I grew up, and point out the houses of folks I knew growing up that died from cancer. On the street where I grew up it seems like everyone has died from, is suffering from, or will soon get cancer. Not meaning any harm, but as a "tree hugger" myself I would much rather have clean safe drinking water than super white laundry. Just my opinion. Thanks, Jim

 

[tomturbomatic]

It was not the phosphates making all of the suds on bodies of water. That was due to non-biodegradable surfactants which have been eliminated so we do not have sudsing on waterways. Phosphates are not fatal like PCBs. In proper amounts, they are necessary for life like in ADP adenosine diphosphate and ATP adenosine triphosphate. There is also adenosine monophosphate and its initials are like the first Maytag automatic with a pump.

We can hope that the souls of those who poisoned the environment and caused deaths are made to feel additional pain and writhe in greater agony as each individual dies from the polluters' deeds.

 

[franksdad]

It was not the phosphates making all of the suds on bodies o

Thank you for clarifying that. Apparently I was confused on what was causing the suds. I do know that phosphate runoff from agriculturial practices can cause excessive plant growth in bodies of water. I thought it was creating excess suds also. Jim

 

[circlew]

Ultra Plus

I've been using it now for several years, and been pleased. Economical to use, doesn't leave a strong scent, and rinses out well.

As for the All, I think the last package of it I saw said it was from Johnson-Diversey (a division of Johnson Wax).

 

[foraloysius]

Dixan

Well Tom, I'm not sure, but I think I must have brought some Dixan with me in 2002. It's not exactly a different name for Persil. It's another Henkel brand that is top quality too. The megaperls have a different color than Persil and the scent is different too. I prefer the Dixan scent over the Persil one.

I will have to try some Dixan myself again too, that is after I have finished the huge box of Ariel.

 

[washabear]

I have been using Oxydol powder in my front loader with good results. It's not specifically an HE detergent but does have instructions for front loaders on the box. Works great and doesn't cost much. I have also used the Sears Ultra Plus detergents and was pleased with those as well. I might switch back to Ultra Plus when I run out of the Oxydol.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Louis, I knew someone wonderful brought it and I thank you very much. Yes, the "blue power" mega perls are a symphony of blue and white. They remind me of Hanukkah candy sprinkles for cookies. They are much prettier than the Persil mega perls for colors which have pink in them. I will save it to use on the white bath sheets because I don't think it can be purchased here, just in Europe. It is a very nice detergent. It was a wonderful surprise to find almost 9 years later and now that I have used it in a machine worthy of its quality, my gratitude to you is even more heartfelt.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Moved to Super Forum.

 

[toploader1984]

phosphates

my question is..... if one is concerned about phosphates polluting the water yet why is one NOT concerned about mercury in cfl bulbs??? going green you say? people are so concerned about the environment more than the health of humans. just my opinion.

 

[launderess]

Am Going To Say This One More Time

States were being leaned upon by the federal government via the Clean Water Act to get their acts together regarding water pollution. In many cases they could have been forced to build new and or upgrade existing water treatment plants. Feds also want things done to tackle water run-off from lawns and so forth.

Much phosphate can be recovered/removed from waste water, indeed as human waste contains tons of the stuff. However if one adds amounts from dishwashers and other sources it can quickly overwhelm many older systems. When states banned phosphates in domestic laundry products, automatic dishwashers weren't nearly as common as today. Of course today most every home has one.

NYC and other areas of the state were staring down potential scores of millions if not hundreds if forced to build new plants. Funds they nor many other local areas have right now considering the current fiscal meltdown nationwide.

Eaiser answer was to limit what goes into waste water, which is why NYS moved not only to ban phosphates in domestic dishwasher products, but commercial versions as well. Furthermore restrictions were placed on lawn care chemicals as well.

The EPA isn't finished, despite loud protests, sooner or later farm waste is going to be addressed.

 

[dj-gabriele]

why is one NOT concerned about mercury in cfl bulbs

Sorry for the out of topic but...

the savings in electricity due to the use of CFL vs. standard lightbulbs translate in less pollutants emitted and one of them is mercury!

In a typical CFL there are 5-6 mg of mercury, incandescent have none.

But the standard incandescent lamp uses around 5 times the electricity of a CFL, add this and the longer running life of a CFL and you'll see that the emitted mercury in the atmosphere is way less with a CFL (that must be anyway recycled!) than with an incandescent lamp because you're emitting less from the (fossil fueled) power plant.

Finally I must add that if the bulb is properly recycled none of those 5-6 mg will end up in the atmosphere!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp#Mercury_content

 

[toploader1984]

laundress.... i am refering to PEOPLE being concerned about phosphates NOT congress.... congress and the states are JUST a small group of people who have NO idea what is going on......... they think that will make a difference..... well pretty soon they will tell us we can't go take a dump in our toilets anymore because to much phosphorous is in the water.

 

[toploader1984]

as for cfl bulbs....... i switched all of them in my house to save money and energy etc..... BUT since they contain mercury inside and are a risk to my health.... BYE BYE!!!!!!!! you cant tell me that bulbs with mercury are worth saving a few pennies in energy furthermore they are made in CHINA....... like we havent lost enough jobs to china.