And Then There Were None - The End of Powder Detergent at K-Sears

[launderess]

Was such a lovely day, decided to go down-town to run some errands and do some shopping. Popped into K-Sears and while down on the lower level checked out the laundry product section.

It is now offical, there are no laundry powders, except the lone few Tide and Cheer boxes, and even they are pushed to the end of that long row, right before the Mexican detergents (Foca and Roma). Prime shelf space is all liquid laundry detergents from top to bottom.

Saw also that K-Sears has now started carrying appliances, but the selection is quite poor so didn't even bother having a look see.

Kind of makes almost regret giving that full huge box of Tide with Bleach away to Mama. Well not really as the stuff really isn't meant for use in my Miele.

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

I assume you're talking about K-Mart, right?

I can still get powdered Sears Ultra Plus at Sears proper, as well as at the Sears owned Orchard Supply Hardware.

 

[petek]

Do people actually by that stuff? I guess they must since they've been selling it for years but it stretches the imagination to picture people actually going into a Sears and walking out with a hulking big box of detergent. I know I've only bought it once to try it and that was years and years ago.

 

[rpm]

powdered detergent

Is this a big trend in the USA to switch to liquids?
I was just looking through the Sears catalogue and notice they don't carry their soap anymore.
When I worked at Sears they used to bring skids of the stuff in especially for the warehouse sales.
I can't remember what it smelled like, but alot of poeple bought it.
It did indeed come in very large honking boxes.They were always gritty on the outside.
Does anyone know who made the stuff?

 

[launderess]

People must be buying the stuff, or Sears would have dropped their detergents ages ago. IIRC CR gave one version of Sears detergent a very good rating.

Many over on THS swear by Sears detergents.

As for those large drums/boxes of detergent, does anyone remember when P&G used to sell those same Uber-sized boxes of detergent? Growing up my dad used to pick up HUGE boxes of Cold Power detergent when P&G had their plant at Port Ivory.

"K-Sears"

Yes, mean K-Mart, but since can use one's Sears card at K-Mart..... Cashiers keep asking if one wishes to open an "instant" Sears account. No! No! No! Have one and only use it when can pay off the balance when the bill comes, or for an item that qualifies for one year interest free. Sears should be run out of town, charging 24 some odd percent interest. One can probably get better rates (and service), from the local loan shark.

 

[whitekingd]

WASN'T "COLD POWER" A COLGATE-PALMOLIVE PRODUCT? SEARS DETERGENT WORKED REALLY REALLY GREAT FOR ME WHEN I USED IT. I HATE TO SEE IT GO!

 

[seamusuk]

Hopefully....

This isnt a sign of things to come over this side of the pond. Although im not as "anti liquid" as I used to be IMHO powders are still better for longer wash cycles, also as far as im aware no UK liquid has bleaching agents so powders are defiantly a must for white towels etc.

Seamus

 

[jons1077]

Uber-Sizes

Tony and I are members of BJ's wholesale club. They actually still carry a few different powders. I believe all of the Tide brands and maybe Surf. All of the boxes are really big and, in particular, one size of regular Tide holds about 160 loads. It looks like the old boxes from years ago when a load used a cup of powder. I'll probably buy a couple of those before we move to Portland if there is no BJ's there.

Of course there are tons of liquids too... Just thought I'd share that to anyone who knows what BJ's is or has a membership there.

Jon

 

[panthera]

In Germany

We have seen an enormous improvement in the quality of liquids over the last years (wouldn't be hard) but they are still primarily "special laundering needs" stuff - blacks, delicates, silks/wool, etc.
I had the time to look at labels this afternoon - several liquid detergents "suggest" things like "oxi-effekt" and "use only for white!" but none of them list bleaches of any sort.
Interesting, because, usually, bleaches are listed very clearly on powders.
I suspect this is just one of those stupid decisions which some young-dynamic-manager has made and all the other idiot in-duh-vi-duals are now parroting the echo.
Personally, I don't much care. I've had such good results with the newest generation of liquids and oxi-clean that I could live with it.
Be interesting to see what happens five years from now. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if we were back to "only powders" because they are, somehow, "die Zukunft" (the future) of washing!

 

[MrX]

European consumers seem to prefer powders and tablets. Liquids have simply never been as popular as powders.

There's a big difference in how we use detergents though.

If you're using a front-loading washing machine there's a drawer for dispensing the powder. It's a relatively simple and easy process to dose the detergent.

If you're using a liquid you've got to slosh it into the drawer and it can be messy or, you have to use some weird dosing ball.

Liquid detergents make more sense in most US washers as you guys tend to throw the detergent into the tub in top loaders.

This tradition seems to be carrying over, even as front loaders become more popular!

 

[panthera]

mrx

Having been in the US a lot the last few years, I have observed the disappearance of powders and reactions first-hand.
Most folks are not happy about it, regardless of whether they are FL or TL users. The Walmart, Target and Safeway stores - three of the largest chains in the West, all are trying very hard to convince consumers it is best for them. They wouldn't be doing that if consumers were jumping for joy.
By the way, here in Germany at least - we all know of our little regional, er, variations - the manufacturers all offer either drawers which can cope with liquids or add ons. I agree with you, those stupid balls are a pain, especially when they land in the dryer.
American consumers have much less real choice in many areas than we do, their isolation has left them vulnerable to industry concentrations on a level we don't have in the EU. Despite Brussels. Yet.

 

[spoodles]

Powders aren't going anywhere just yet in the UK - it is still the most popular format, although sales are falling slightly (tablets too) as liquitabs and liquids become more and more popular.

I read somewhere that since the launch of Persil Small & Mighty liquid last year, sales of Persil powder have dropped around 6%.

 

[MrX]

The 6% might be accounted for by the supermarket own brands. They all seem to have started really pushing their own brands much harder than they were even a few months ago. The packaging in stores like Tesco is also vastly improved. Tesco's standard detergents look as slick as Ariel or Persil in terms of the graphics.
They're also very effective!!

 

[spoodles]

The drop is in powder only not in the brand overall. Persil S&M has been very popular, people switching from powder to liquid would probably account for that fall alone.

Supermarket own label stuff is pretty flat sales wise. A lot of people won't touch it with a barge pole, and others will, mainly because it's cheaper. Personally, I wouldn't give it house space! It's mainly the copycat style that I hate - Tesco stuff looks like a hybrid of Persil and Ariel.

 

[washerboy]

I was in Sam's club (Little Rock) and noticed they had a good bit of the powdered stuff mostly Tide and Surf. I'm not crazy about the liquids..but have been using Makers Mark (Sam's knock version of Tide..I think) anyway seems to do a pertty good job..my teenager gets pertty nasty playing sports..everything seems clean coming out of the washer....I guess my confussion about liquids is..they come in heavy plastic jugs...I know we're supposed to recycle and at my house we do..however for those that dont..would'nt a paper box decompose in the land fill whereas a plastic jug would be around for...how long? I remember the tablets/cakes of detgerent from the 70's...actually liked them..throw it in the tub and your done..with the liquid I have to rinse the residue out of the cup

 

[mrboilwash]

According to Henkel liquids have a market share of 30% in Germany. Their popularity is growing. But powder still rules here.
I switched to mostly liquids when Henkel changed their design of the bottles, now I can dose it with the cap directly into the drum. Fragrance wise I would very much prefer Ariel, but it can not be dosed properly without one of those stupid, noisy dosing balls. They ruin all the fun when watching the cycle. Unfortunately my Miele`s detergent drawer doesn`t cope well with liquids it would only make a mess in the drawer`s cabinet, so it goes onto the laundry. Small and mighty is unknown here, guess because Sunil and Omo are no fancy brands. Haven`t seen any Unilever detergent ads for years. Is Small and Mighty really recomended to pour in the drawer ?
I think I read somewhere that bleaches would not be stable in liquids and therefore the "normal" heavy duty detergents in Europe only contain OBAs and Color versions dye transfere inhibitors.
I get along very well with liquids and like their benefits, but I am also glad to have plenty of powders for tough jobs on the shelves.

 

[danemodsandy]

Sears?

Is there still such a company? ;-)

 

[retro-man]

I was at BJ's last week and saw powered Tide, Gain, Arm and Hammar and Bright Star. More liguids than powders though. I think the detergent dispenser for the Maytag Neptunes is made for liquid detergent. I can't imagine the mess by trying to put powder into it, would have to add the powder to the tub prior to putting clothes in. So I guess in the US they are sort of forcing us to liquids by the dispensers in our washers. I believe even some of the toploaders with auto dispensing units use liquids also. See how the manufactures dictate to us. They probably own the detergent companies.
Jon

 

[launderess]

Well of the "HE" liquid detergents I've tried so far, Tide HE "2x" leaves me underwhelmed. Oh it cleans well enough, but is VERY sudsy and hard to rinse out, even with small dosages.

In general find it harder to get clean rinses with liquid detergents. OTHO Persil megaperls and even the Tide professional detergent always leave clean rinse water by the third rinse.

L.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Powdered HE still seems the best for my Neptune FL. Liquids tend to have animal fats and perfumes which tend to aggravate the Neptune's habit of having mold and mildew issues...

RCD

 

[gansky1]

Sears detergents were formerly made by DeSoto Inc. in Des Plaines, IL - as was their Easy Living and Weatherbeater paint line, but now I believe their laundry products are made by P&G. Wasn't it last year that CR rated it "Unacceptable" because of some chemical used in it that is harmful to the environment? I don't like the powder because it has a tendency to foam in the rinse cycle but the cleaning seemed fine - but I suppose after four sudsy washes...

Bit 'o trivia: Sears was the first detergent available to the entire nation to offer "No Phosphates" in 1970!

 

[dixieland]

I am currently using a small box of Ariel which I picked up at Kmart in Puerto Rico. The scent is nice (kinda like 1/4 the scent of Mountain Fresh Tide) and the wash water has a nice slippery feel to it. In PR, Ariel is the big seller. Some variations such as the color smells of U.S. Cheer.

Off to Venezuela next week... always fun to see what can be found in South America.

 

[soapnsuds]

Funny, I was just at Sears this weekend looking at washers and they had HUGE boxes of their powder detergent all over. Along with a few small bottles of their liquid (which smelled nasty!) soap. I just heard somewhere, that their powder is supposed to be really good. It was like $19 for that huge box. Didn't seem that bad of a price. As far as powders going away..we seem to have a good even mix here in Sacramento, from what I see. I admit, I use a liquid, but I miss the big (144 load) box of Fresh Start that Price Club (Costco) used to sell years ago. And of course, the all time fav is Ariel baja aspuma! But you have to have that smuggled in by your ex-husbands, best friend's, co-worker's mother in-law from Mexico! Speaking of which, it's time to give the old ex a jingle..I'm almost out of Ariel and he needs to plan a trip down to So. Cal to visit his friend! lol.
Abrazos! -Laurent

 

[MrX]

Launderess

Have you tried Wisk Small and Mighty ?

I've found Persil Small and Mighty pretty effective. Although, there's a strong possibility that Wisk is a totally different formula.

Persil S&M (standard biological) is a fairly thick, but free running clear green liquid.
The colour version is purple. (also biological)

Looking at the ingredients it has a LOT of surfactants compared to others that looked at.

The enzymes are : Protease and Amylase.

It seems to do a quite reasonable job and it rinses out exceptionally easily.
The previous generation of Persil liquigel products were terribly foamy. So much so that if you even slightly overdosed the machine you'd have suds everywhere!!!

Link to the Unilever Ireland ingredients site below

I assume that ALL may be more like Persil Non-Bio.

Without actually seeing the ingredients list of ALL or Wisk products it's hard to know if they are all that similar to Persil UK/IRL.

http://www.unilever.com/PIOTI/EN/p4.asp?selectCountry=IE&language=EN&productid=1513399

 

[MrX]

Persil S&M

Unilever and P&G seem to have gone into an environmental showdown though over here.

Persil's being pushed as saving water, trucks etc with their Small and Mighty
Meanwhile Ariel's doing a "turn to 30" campaign convincing people to wash at very cool temps. They haven't gone quite as far as cold, but this may be because most machines don't actually offer cold washes, 30 is as low as they go.

Here's Persil's "pop up book" ad.

 

[MrX]

This is how it was in the late 80s/early 90s

This was possibly their weirdest ad ever!

 

[seamusuk]

Cold water washing...

Hey Mrx

Hotpoints new range are equipped with the "No heat" option with a dedicated set of programmes.

Personally id never use it - yuk!

Seamus

 

[MrX]

Well, you're definitely better off adding a little heat to ensure the enzymes activate properly and the detergent fully dissolves.

The enzymes will function best between 30 and 40C

 

[toggleswitch]

I DO love my Sears brand powdered detergent!!

I found that the "Free and Clear" pwder is harder to find but regular powder so far still available (at least in central Connecticut).

I'd say powders have been on a steady decline in this country since the "energy crisis" of the early 70's and the switch to cold water washes.

Traditional American top-loaders generally did not have a detergent dispenser. Now that front-loaders are all the rage here, we can see that the dispenser dissolves the powdered detergent in warm to hot water even with a cold wash; so powdered detergents are now easier to use and provide better results. With cold water washes in a top-loader, powders dumped on top of clothing was causing detergent streaks, hence the desirability (lessened performace and all) of liquid detergents.

 

[spoodles]

mrx

I bought some All Small & Mighty whilst in the US, and aside from being enzyme free, it's not particularly similar to Persil Non-Bio S&M. It's hard to tell as they don't list ingredients the way euro detergents do. They have stronger (very nice) scents than Persil NB. I found it produces even less suds than Persil S&M does (I was using the HE version) and it also cleans really well. I doubt that the ingredients would be suitable for very sensitive skin in most of the All variants, unless using the free & clear version which may be more like the Persil NB formula?

I think Wisk is more in line with Persil, as the bottles of that stuff had the Persil/Omo/Skip "splat" logo on them.

Once Unilever sells their US laundry brands the new owners may change formulas all over again.