I've been using Era liquid detergent for the last 15 years in my top-loading Maytag A606. We like Era for two reasons: its cleaning ability and its lack of heavy perfume. The last couple of bottles I've bought seem thin, and I seem to have to add more to make a few suds. Has anyone else noticed this? I suppose I could go back to Tide, but I like my clean laundry to smell like clean laundry and nothing else.
Are they watering down my Era detergent?
- Thread starter kenwashesmonday
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A friend of mine recently brought over a couple of loads of laundry to process in the Neptunes here. He brought a bottle of Era with him.
I for some reason had associated Era with dollar stores, but I think that's wrong. It wasn't as thick as Oxy-Clean, but didn't seem any thinner than Persil, either. I'm curious about this now, as I thought I was imagining his scent still being on the clothes after washing (he's hairy and runs hot). Maybe it wasn't my imagination after all?
I for some reason had associated Era with dollar stores, but I think that's wrong. It wasn't as thick as Oxy-Clean, but didn't seem any thinner than Persil, either. I'm curious about this now, as I thought I was imagining his scent still being on the clothes after washing (he's hairy and runs hot). Maybe it wasn't my imagination after all?
My mom used Era for several years after it's introduction, and it seemed to do a good job.
Last weekend I visited my sister, and took some of my laundry to do there. I brought detergent along, but she had her Era out, so said to use it. I did one load of towels, socks, etc., and one of colored clothes. I noticed after they were dried that they had an off odor to them - they smelled like coffee grounds. She has softened well water, which tends to be high in sulpher, so that may be the cause.
Last weekend I visited my sister, and took some of my laundry to do there. I brought detergent along, but she had her Era out, so said to use it. I did one load of towels, socks, etc., and one of colored clothes. I noticed after they were dried that they had an off odor to them - they smelled like coffee grounds. She has softened well water, which tends to be high in sulpher, so that may be the cause.
when I worked in a laundry....if we ran out of our industrial chemicals, ERA was the next best choice...as it was based off of the product we used...
and it did clean spots exactly like the commercial said....
I like the scent of it, and around here seems to be the same formula/thickness as before.....
I get it from Dollar General for around 8.00 for the huge jug...
call the 800 number, you may have gotten a bad batch....they will replace it for you free of charge...try another one and see if you get the same results
and it did clean spots exactly like the commercial said....
I like the scent of it, and around here seems to be the same formula/thickness as before.....
I get it from Dollar General for around 8.00 for the huge jug...
call the 800 number, you may have gotten a bad batch....they will replace it for you free of charge...try another one and see if you get the same results
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Wait?
Era isn't an " generic brand". It's a name brand. I'm almost 100% sure it's a P&G product or at least it used to be. I remember the commercials for it in the 80s, but we never ever used it. We always used Gain or Tide growing up and powder only. My parents and grandparents were too stingy to use "liquid" detergents. I remember them saying they were way more expensive.
Era isn't an " generic brand". It's a name brand. I'm almost 100% sure it's a P&G product or at least it used to be. I remember the commercials for it in the 80s, but we never ever used it. We always used Gain or Tide growing up and powder only. My parents and grandparents were too stingy to use "liquid" detergents. I remember them saying they were way more expensive.
ERA And Other Cheap national Brands
Like Purex, Arm&Hammer are usually poor buys and not nearly as effective as the more expensive national brands.
You are usually better off with the better store brands than these cheap national brands, the store brands like Costco care much more quality than brands like ERA.
John L.
Like Purex, Arm&Hammer are usually poor buys and not nearly as effective as the more expensive national brands.
You are usually better off with the better store brands than these cheap national brands, the store brands like Costco care much more quality than brands like ERA.
John L.
Gain too...
I use Gain original scent, and noticed it seems thinner now too.
I use Gain original scent, and noticed it seems thinner now too.
steved
Well-known member
Woolite
I noticed the consistency of the Woolite detergents is thinner now as well.
I noticed the consistency of the Woolite detergents is thinner now as well.
A P&G product
When my mom used Era back in the 70's-80's , I don't think it was considered a bargain product.
When my mom used Era back in the 70's-80's , I don't think it was considered a bargain product.
I never considered Era a "cheap" brand, just less expensive due to less advertising, sort of like Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce.
I thank everyone for their opinions. I think I'll try what Yogitunes said and call the 800 number. I will post what I find.
I thank everyone for their opinions. I think I'll try what Yogitunes said and call the 800 number. I will post what I find.
P&G Likely Would Die Before Admitting Dilution
But no harm in asking....
One other way is to note if container gives less washes than previous. That is does one need to use more product as suggested by directions to achieve same results.
P&G has been known to play games with their dispenser caps as well. Making them larger so one uses more product which may or may not be same previous dilution.
One thing have found for both liquid detergents and fabric softeners if kept too long some will go off. They either become thinner and or gloppy as various substances break down.
But no harm in asking....
One other way is to note if container gives less washes than previous. That is does one need to use more product as suggested by directions to achieve same results.
P&G has been known to play games with their dispenser caps as well. Making them larger so one uses more product which may or may not be same previous dilution.
One thing have found for both liquid detergents and fabric softeners if kept too long some will go off. They either become thinner and or gloppy as various substances break down.
I was using ERA for awhile because, well I'm not all that particular so I thought and it was cheap.. Cheap as in maybe $2.00 to $3.00Canadian for a pretty big jug along with XTRA which I've also bought. But I noticed after a few months that all my clothes were looking a bit dingy than what I remembered so I stopped using it and stick to Persil , sometimes Tide if the other half buys that.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
So basically
Era did NOT used to be a bargain detergent, but now it is? It was NOT cheap in the 70s/80s, they advertised it on TV and the bottles were very small in comparison to today. I'm not sure, but I think there was only ONE size for liquid detergents back then....
Era did NOT used to be a bargain detergent, but now it is? It was NOT cheap in the 70s/80s, they advertised it on TV and the bottles were very small in comparison to today. I'm not sure, but I think there was only ONE size for liquid detergents back then....
About a year or two ago they changed the formula and removed the enzymes. According to Consumer Reports, cleaning was good.
I wonder if they changed it again?
I wonder if they changed it again?
You basically never get a good buy with nationally advertised products [ You Are Paying For The Ads ] and these cheaper nationally advertised brands are usually the worst products.
John L.
John L.
Protein gets out protein
Era was first launched at same time or near (IIRC) as Dynamo liquid detergent. Prior to this there were only a few liquids on market such as Wisk.
Liquid detergents are better for grease, fat, oil based soils/stains; while powders do better with clay/muck based soils.
Era detergent was released in 1970 (or so, cannot recall exactly when), but Tide liquid didn't arrive until 1984.
Colgate had Dynamo
Lever Bros had Wisk
So P&G launched Era
As time went on, and especially as P&G poured R&D into Tide liquid won't say Era became a "bargain brand", but it certainly does not have all bells and whistles of Proctor and Gambles top shelf baby, Tide.
P&G always gives Tide pride of place, their other detergents maybe perfectly fine for many however. It all comes down to marketing and how products are positioned. P&G obviously does not want Era to steal sales from Tide.
Era was first launched at same time or near (IIRC) as Dynamo liquid detergent. Prior to this there were only a few liquids on market such as Wisk.
Liquid detergents are better for grease, fat, oil based soils/stains; while powders do better with clay/muck based soils.
Era detergent was released in 1970 (or so, cannot recall exactly when), but Tide liquid didn't arrive until 1984.
Colgate had Dynamo
Lever Bros had Wisk
So P&G launched Era
As time went on, and especially as P&G poured R&D into Tide liquid won't say Era became a "bargain brand", but it certainly does not have all bells and whistles of Proctor and Gambles top shelf baby, Tide.
P&G always gives Tide pride of place, their other detergents maybe perfectly fine for many however. It all comes down to marketing and how products are positioned. P&G obviously does not want Era to steal sales from Tide.
Why rush for liquid "heavy duty" detergents?
As commercials make clear, liquid detergents are better at oil, grease, fat based stains. Powders OTOH are best at clay, dust, dirt, etc... soils. Hence Wisk making fun of "ring around the collar" and how useless it was to use powdered detergent (even with soaking, scrubbing with a paste, etc...).
Liquid detergents also could be used as a pre-treater which meant you didn't need a shelf full of extra products. P&G kicked things up a notch when they added proteinase to Era (protein gets out protein), by the 1980's.
This is an early commercial for new Tide liquid. It doesn't mention enzymes by name, but fact housewives are going on about blood, grass, and other protein based stains being removed tells me P&G gave their new product the full treatment.
As commercials make clear, liquid detergents are better at oil, grease, fat based stains. Powders OTOH are best at clay, dust, dirt, etc... soils. Hence Wisk making fun of "ring around the collar" and how useless it was to use powdered detergent (even with soaking, scrubbing with a paste, etc...).
Liquid detergents also could be used as a pre-treater which meant you didn't need a shelf full of extra products. P&G kicked things up a notch when they added proteinase to Era (protein gets out protein), by the 1980's.
This is an early commercial for new Tide liquid. It doesn't mention enzymes by name, but fact housewives are going on about blood, grass, and other protein based stains being removed tells me P&G gave their new product the full treatment.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
My grandma
absolutely HATED tide. I remember she always used the big box of Purex Powder with the picture of Niagra Falls on the front (at least I think it was Niagra Falls). I remember it smelled awesome. My other grandma also hated Tide, but I can't remember what she used. Era sounded like it was a good detergent back in the day but it's not so great now. I guess, like you said, Era was P&G's baby for liquid and Tide for powder and when Tide became liquid too, they didn't focus on Era. I'm surprised they didn't just discontinue it if that was the case.
absolutely HATED tide. I remember she always used the big box of Purex Powder with the picture of Niagra Falls on the front (at least I think it was Niagra Falls). I remember it smelled awesome. My other grandma also hated Tide, but I can't remember what she used. Era sounded like it was a good detergent back in the day but it's not so great now. I guess, like you said, Era was P&G's baby for liquid and Tide for powder and when Tide became liquid too, they didn't focus on Era. I'm surprised they didn't just discontinue it if that was the case.
Also, Yes (Texize and/or Reckitt-Benckiser)
