In my never-ending quest for the "perfect" laundry detergent(s), I have accumulated quite a stash. I have detergents from the US, Germany, the UK and Mexico. I also have quite a few additives, softeners and other "chemicals". I am working toward downsizing my collection and am trying to figure out what works best for me in my water conditions. At the same time, I am also experimenting with lower water temperatures and other methods of getting my laundry as clean and white as possible without doing a 2 hour wash and running up high energy bills.
My favorites so far are German Persil powder and UK Persil Bio Tablets for whites, lights and towels, UK Persil Non-Bio Tabs for sheets, and a variety of others for colors (still searching there). I have FL machine with an internal heater which I use primarily for whites, lights, sheets and towels, and I tend to do most of my colors and some lights in my F&P top loader.
Based on my personal experience with over 55 different detergents, I am headed toward the conclusion that the European detergents tend to be better than their American counterparts specifically on white and light-colored items. As far as colored items are concerned, I think the American products work just as well as the Euro products. Mexican products work VERY WELL too (probably due to the phosphates), but the overpowering smells can be a bit much on most days, and they seem to be loaded with OBA's and so I hesitate to use them as much on colored clothing.
I can't imagine that there would be a huge difference in quality between the US and the European detergents, especially when many of the detergents are produced by the same manufacturers. So I'm wondering, why the difference in results? Is the make-up of these detergents that different? I know that the Euro detergents seem to have quite a bit of bleach in them, which I assume is a major factor. Could there be more to it? Could it be that I see better results with the Euro detergents because I use them in the FL with longer wash times and higher wash temps?
When using the Euro detergents in the FL with the higher water temperatures and the extended wash times, I don't have the need for liquid chlorine bleach (LCB) like I did when I was using American detergents (like Tide) in the TL. In fact, when I stopped using LCB over a year ago and began washing all my whites in the FL with Euro detergents, I've noticed that my t-shirts are actually WHITER than when I was using Tide and LCB in the TL. I realized that if one uses LCB too often, then it tends to yellow clothing. My t-shirts are now restored to bright white, and I couldn't be happier.
Maybe I'm just operating under my own presuppositions dictating that one must use LCB when washing in a TL, due to the shorter wash times and the lower temperatures. Could I be wrong? Would I get the same results in the TL if I were to use Tide w/ Bleach powder without adding LCB? Honestly, I've never done this as I am afraid the results will be less than satisfactory.
Furthermore, I've heard that US detergents (like Tide) do have some oxygen bleach in them. Does it have as much oxygen bleach as say UK Ariel or Persil? What about Tide w/ Bleach? Does Tide w/ Bleach have the same type of oxygen bleach as Ariel or Persil, and in similar quantities? What about Tide Coldwater? Does it contain oxygen bleach, or does it rely more on enzymes to get the job done in cold water?
I've just read some posts that some of our European members are using their Euro detergents in American TL machines with cold water. To those who have tried this, do you get the same results as far as whitening and brightening in the TL with cold water as you would in your FL with hot water?
Opinions, anyone?
My favorites so far are German Persil powder and UK Persil Bio Tablets for whites, lights and towels, UK Persil Non-Bio Tabs for sheets, and a variety of others for colors (still searching there). I have FL machine with an internal heater which I use primarily for whites, lights, sheets and towels, and I tend to do most of my colors and some lights in my F&P top loader.
Based on my personal experience with over 55 different detergents, I am headed toward the conclusion that the European detergents tend to be better than their American counterparts specifically on white and light-colored items. As far as colored items are concerned, I think the American products work just as well as the Euro products. Mexican products work VERY WELL too (probably due to the phosphates), but the overpowering smells can be a bit much on most days, and they seem to be loaded with OBA's and so I hesitate to use them as much on colored clothing.
I can't imagine that there would be a huge difference in quality between the US and the European detergents, especially when many of the detergents are produced by the same manufacturers. So I'm wondering, why the difference in results? Is the make-up of these detergents that different? I know that the Euro detergents seem to have quite a bit of bleach in them, which I assume is a major factor. Could there be more to it? Could it be that I see better results with the Euro detergents because I use them in the FL with longer wash times and higher wash temps?
When using the Euro detergents in the FL with the higher water temperatures and the extended wash times, I don't have the need for liquid chlorine bleach (LCB) like I did when I was using American detergents (like Tide) in the TL. In fact, when I stopped using LCB over a year ago and began washing all my whites in the FL with Euro detergents, I've noticed that my t-shirts are actually WHITER than when I was using Tide and LCB in the TL. I realized that if one uses LCB too often, then it tends to yellow clothing. My t-shirts are now restored to bright white, and I couldn't be happier.
Maybe I'm just operating under my own presuppositions dictating that one must use LCB when washing in a TL, due to the shorter wash times and the lower temperatures. Could I be wrong? Would I get the same results in the TL if I were to use Tide w/ Bleach powder without adding LCB? Honestly, I've never done this as I am afraid the results will be less than satisfactory.
Furthermore, I've heard that US detergents (like Tide) do have some oxygen bleach in them. Does it have as much oxygen bleach as say UK Ariel or Persil? What about Tide w/ Bleach? Does Tide w/ Bleach have the same type of oxygen bleach as Ariel or Persil, and in similar quantities? What about Tide Coldwater? Does it contain oxygen bleach, or does it rely more on enzymes to get the job done in cold water?
I've just read some posts that some of our European members are using their Euro detergents in American TL machines with cold water. To those who have tried this, do you get the same results as far as whitening and brightening in the TL with cold water as you would in your FL with hot water?
Opinions, anyone?
