brettsomers
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,993
this site has taught me about the difference between enzyme and non-enzyme detergent. why are the two types so clearly differentiated in Europe, and why no distinction in the US?
American vs. European Detergents - What's the Scoop?
- Thread starter westtexman
- Start date
Help Support :
Brett - the main target market of Non Biological detergents here in Europe is those of people with babies and skin problems. Non biological detergents with the lack of enzymes and other additives are supposed to be kinder on the skin; but with a side effect being slightly reduced cleaning results. My mum prefers (and uses) non biological washing powder out of habit; however if you have a washer with good rinsing then in my opinion there shouldn't really be a problem with detergents used and skin allergies, whether biological or non biological.
Jon
Jon
nickuk
Well-known member
Thanks Jon
for the pics.
I'd like to pose a question for Launderess or anyone else to wishes to answer, if I may, regarding her explanation of oxygen bleaches cancelling out chlorine bleach in tap water.
In most of the UK tap water contains significant chlorine bleach too, you can smell it if the water is running from a tap / faucet. However, our detergent specifically for `colours' does not contain oxygen bleach. Do you think one would be better off using a product with oxygen bleach on colours?
It's a loaded question - I ask because I usually do anyway. I personally have found it's fine to use oxygen bleach all the time, even on blacks. Perhaps the only downside is that a non colour fast garment will `bleed to death' quicker than were oxygen bleach not present, but if it's going to bleed to death anyway why prolong the agony?
Dare I say that blacks look blacker washed in my normal detergent than with US Color Guard Cheer powder? (Ducks and runs)
Clearly, although I may commit detergent sins, I vary the amount of detergent, laundry in the drum, the wash processes etc etc I'm not a total laundry fool here. I don't really like any of the scents of the `colour' detergents over here, I find them strong and sickly sweet.
Thanks in advance for your responses
Nick
for the pics.
I'd like to pose a question for Launderess or anyone else to wishes to answer, if I may, regarding her explanation of oxygen bleaches cancelling out chlorine bleach in tap water.
In most of the UK tap water contains significant chlorine bleach too, you can smell it if the water is running from a tap / faucet. However, our detergent specifically for `colours' does not contain oxygen bleach. Do you think one would be better off using a product with oxygen bleach on colours?
It's a loaded question - I ask because I usually do anyway. I personally have found it's fine to use oxygen bleach all the time, even on blacks. Perhaps the only downside is that a non colour fast garment will `bleed to death' quicker than were oxygen bleach not present, but if it's going to bleed to death anyway why prolong the agony?
Dare I say that blacks look blacker washed in my normal detergent than with US Color Guard Cheer powder? (Ducks and runs)
Clearly, although I may commit detergent sins, I vary the amount of detergent, laundry in the drum, the wash processes etc etc I'm not a total laundry fool here. I don't really like any of the scents of the `colour' detergents over here, I find them strong and sickly sweet.
Thanks in advance for your responses
Nick
frontloader812
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2005
- Messages
- 83
Nick you would love detergent manufacturers in Australia. Our detergents really don't have a strong fragrance. It drives me crazy as I love a scent. Omo which is made by Unilever which is our #1 brand is almost but gone after you wash. It cleans really well and is in concentrate form you only need a tiny scoop. They also make sensitive and a colour lock versions.
Cheer, IIRC used to have oxygen bleach, but maybe they have moved onto other ingredients as "colour hold" technology has developed. One drawback from using oxygen bleach for neutralising chlorine bleach is it will bleach textiles over a long period of use. Such changes probably won't bother on whites or colours, but darks and others may turn "off".
seamusuk
Well-known member
To Jon/Filetti
Hey Mate
Sainsburys are half price at the mo- £2.85. Will try 100ml as the recommended doses do seem rather ott for a concentrated powder!!!
Seamus
Hey Mate
Sainsburys are half price at the mo- £2.85. Will try 100ml as the recommended doses do seem rather ott for a concentrated powder!!!
Seamus
Hi Seamus!
Yes, indeed the doses are quite high but from what I've seen it seems to be of the same consistency as the older stuff (though in all honesty I only saw the older stuff in the pack, never used it), plus the older stuff had little doses. I have noticed though that even Ariel and Persil have upped recommended dosages, so I've put it down to that in terms of the Filetti recommended dose raising. It does seem to do a pretty good job at cleaning, but I have to say the initial expense of it does put me off. However they also do a liquid which is 16 washes for cheaper than the pack of powder; which maybe more cost effective but I haven't used the liquid so I can't comment on it in terms of performance.
I've been using a megaperl scoop full for heavily soiled loads, 3/4 for normally soiled and 1/2 for lightly soiled and seem to be having great performance from it despite it being a sensitive powder.
Jon
Yes, indeed the doses are quite high but from what I've seen it seems to be of the same consistency as the older stuff (though in all honesty I only saw the older stuff in the pack, never used it), plus the older stuff had little doses. I have noticed though that even Ariel and Persil have upped recommended dosages, so I've put it down to that in terms of the Filetti recommended dose raising. It does seem to do a pretty good job at cleaning, but I have to say the initial expense of it does put me off. However they also do a liquid which is 16 washes for cheaper than the pack of powder; which maybe more cost effective but I haven't used the liquid so I can't comment on it in terms of performance.
I've been using a megaperl scoop full for heavily soiled loads, 3/4 for normally soiled and 1/2 for lightly soiled and seem to be having great performance from it despite it being a sensitive powder.
Jon
All this discussion about UK/German/Mexican detergents has me curious about trying some of them.
I'm a firm believer that powdered Tide With Bleach and powdered Tide Cold Water are the best cleaning detergents sold in the US. While many of the other US brands I've used do a fine job on normally-soiled loads, the two aforementioned Tide products take the checkered flag when it comes to heavily soiled and stained loads.
For those of you who have used both US Tide products and Persil or Ariel: Which do you think cleans best? I'm tempted to start out my detergent exploration with Mexican Ariel and German Persil biological powders because they are available at a reasonable price in the US. I'll have to order them online because I haven't seen them in any stores in Minnesota.
I've read that some people prefer the UK versions of both Persil and Ariel, but ordering a box of Persil from the UK will cost nearly $75. Ouch!
Any suggestions or advice for this foreign detergent novice?
I'm a firm believer that powdered Tide With Bleach and powdered Tide Cold Water are the best cleaning detergents sold in the US. While many of the other US brands I've used do a fine job on normally-soiled loads, the two aforementioned Tide products take the checkered flag when it comes to heavily soiled and stained loads.
For those of you who have used both US Tide products and Persil or Ariel: Which do you think cleans best? I'm tempted to start out my detergent exploration with Mexican Ariel and German Persil biological powders because they are available at a reasonable price in the US. I'll have to order them online because I haven't seen them in any stores in Minnesota.
I've read that some people prefer the UK versions of both Persil and Ariel, but ordering a box of Persil from the UK will cost nearly $75. Ouch!
Any suggestions or advice for this foreign detergent novice?
Gene,
Check the yellow pages for your town. You might be surprised to find some Mexican markets nearby. Look under "Groceries" and even under "M" for "Mexican".
Tide is right up there with Ariel and Persil. One might work slightly better than the other given your habits, machine and water quality.
I prefer the Unilever products as they seem to not suds as vigorously, rinse cleaner, have a nicer scent and leave less of a scent than P&G products. UK Persil Bio has a wonderful scent that you would swear there was chlorine bleach in it. I haven't tried German Persil yet, but it is available at several stores in the ATL.
When I bought my stash of UK products online, I stocked up from the get-go. That made the shock of the cost more bearable, and the stash is really lasting a long time.
Check the yellow pages for your town. You might be surprised to find some Mexican markets nearby. Look under "Groceries" and even under "M" for "Mexican".
Tide is right up there with Ariel and Persil. One might work slightly better than the other given your habits, machine and water quality.
I prefer the Unilever products as they seem to not suds as vigorously, rinse cleaner, have a nicer scent and leave less of a scent than P&G products. UK Persil Bio has a wonderful scent that you would swear there was chlorine bleach in it. I haven't tried German Persil yet, but it is available at several stores in the ATL.
When I bought my stash of UK products online, I stocked up from the get-go. That made the shock of the cost more bearable, and the stash is really lasting a long time.
Well, kids, I took the plunge and ordered both Mexican Ariel (21 load size) and the German Persil (15 lb. container). I'm excited; I've never used a non-US P&G product before.
Used to use Persil, when we got our frist font loader, and wasn't too impressed. Yes, it cleans very well and is low sudsing; but IMHO Persil cleaned no better than Tide with Bleach, Tide HE, or Wisk tablets. The later two are much cheaper than Persil as well. Where Persil does shine is in long "boil" washes of 180F to 200F.
If you have a front loader, it is worth remembering the dosage directions for Persil are for European water, which even the softest is no where near as soft as most United States water. Start with 2-4 tablespoons of the regular Persil powder, and 1-2 tablespoons of the mega perls and see how things go from there.
If you have a front loader, it is worth remembering the dosage directions for Persil are for European water, which even the softest is no where near as soft as most United States water. Start with 2-4 tablespoons of the regular Persil powder, and 1-2 tablespoons of the mega perls and see how things go from there.
Thanks for the tips, Launderess. I think the Tide products I normally use will be tough to beat, but I'm in a detergent-curious mood at the moment. I'm looking for something low-sudsing/clean-rinsing for my towel loads. They retain suds so unmercifully and are very lightly-soiled loads, so I'm not worried about brute cleaning power.
Washing exclusively in temp-controlled cold water for nearly 6 months, I've noticed a longer life for certain items. My bath and kitchen towels get washed a lot and generally start to fray at the seams. The elastic wiastbands tend to go first on my white cotton briefs. Since switching to cold water (instead of washing in 145-150 degree hot) these items seem to be hanging in there longer.
Washing exclusively in temp-controlled cold water for nearly 6 months, I've noticed a longer life for certain items. My bath and kitchen towels get washed a lot and generally start to fray at the seams. The elastic wiastbands tend to go first on my white cotton briefs. Since switching to cold water (instead of washing in 145-150 degree hot) these items seem to be hanging in there longer.
Yes, frayed towel edges and undies falling apart sadly are the result of uber hot water washes. Used to do all my whites at 160F or 180F, but stopped after noticing the same problems.
Happily own several sewing machines and a serger, so can "clean" up the frayed towel edges, undies just have to be thrown out.
L.
Happily own several sewing machines and a serger, so can "clean" up the frayed towel edges, undies just have to be thrown out.
L.
Towels falling apart...
I've noticed it also depends on the quality of the towel. Mind you, we bought a set of towels from Dunelm Mill a couple of years ago, now, and they had frayed at the edges by the 4th time they were washed or so (bear in mind these were expensive). We replaced them with cheap towels from the supermarket, and the supermarket towels are not only fluffier but in 2 years with going through a 60*C wash every week and a 95*C wash every 4 weeks; they haven't worn at all!
Jon
I've noticed it also depends on the quality of the towel. Mind you, we bought a set of towels from Dunelm Mill a couple of years ago, now, and they had frayed at the edges by the 4th time they were washed or so (bear in mind these were expensive). We replaced them with cheap towels from the supermarket, and the supermarket towels are not only fluffier but in 2 years with going through a 60*C wash every week and a 95*C wash every 4 weeks; they haven't worn at all!
Jon
Question for Tide CW users
I was wondering how Tide CW powder does as compared to it's regular brand mate. Does the CW outperform regular tide? My machine is temp controlled and if it is better i would switch to it.
I was wondering how Tide CW powder does as compared to it's regular brand mate. Does the CW outperform regular tide? My machine is temp controlled and if it is better i would switch to it.
seamusuk
Well-known member
Aquados.......
Jon/UK ppl
The 15 sachet box is on BOGOF in Morrisons atm
Got a couple of each this morning
Seamus
Jon/UK ppl
The 15 sachet box is on BOGOF in Morrisons atm
Got a couple of each this morning
Seamus
Ooooooh ... looks like a trip into town to go to Morrisons tomorrow!
Jon
... looks like a trip into town to go to Morrisons tomorrow!Jon
Golden Powder
Just backtracking a bit...what about Acdo, when i was a kid that used to be cream/yellow colour but it used to smell terrible of cheap old bath soap, but it was super concentrated and u used to get a lot from a little box.
Just backtracking a bit...what about Acdo, when i was a kid that used to be cream/yellow colour but it used to smell terrible of cheap old bath soap, but it was super concentrated and u used to get a lot from a little box.
