Ariel "Excel" Gel Causes Holes In Laundry?

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launderess

launderess

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Various posters have mentioned they felt Ariel Excel gel detergent caused holes or other damage to their washing. This interested me so did some research.

Ariel Excel gel with "Acti-Lift" contains:
Aqua
Sodium laureth sulfate
MEA dodecylbenzene sulfonate
MEA palm kernelate
MEA citrate
MEA borate
C12-14 Pareth-7
PEI-ethoxylate
Propylene glycol
Glycosidase
Protease
Disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate
Trimonoethanolamine etidronate
Geraniol
Sodium sulfate
Colourant
Butylphenyl methylpropional
Citronellol
Eugenol
Linalool

While not exactly short of chemicals do not see anything there that would "eat" cellulose fibers.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what is happening. That or is this damage widely reported among Ariel gel users?
 
Prime Suspect:

The protease, an enzyme.

These enzymes break down proteins, which is very useful for stain removal, but not quite so useful if a fabric is wholly or partially composed of silk or wool, two fibers which are themselves proteins - protease will eat silk and wool just like it eats stains. This is why your box of BIZ tells you not to use the product on those fibers.

There are a lot of weird blends out there nowadays, including cotton/acrylic sweaters "with a touch of cashmere." The average user wouldn't know or suspect that the little bit of cashmere (just enough for advertising value) would render the garment vulnerable to protease damage.

And that's just accurately labeled blends. There's a lot of overseas-made stuff out there that I don't think God could discern the real content of.
 
Ariel Actilift

in all variants contains ( or contained )cellulase, an enzyme that supposedly dissolves stray cotton fibres and reduces piling. I've tried Method detergent containing this enzyme and found it causes excessive wear and tear on cottons/cotton blends. Ariel excel gel had a disastrous effect on some bamboo clothing hubby had.

Judging by the ingredients list Laundress, it would appear that this enzyme has been removed from Ariel excel gel. Would be interesting to see if cellulase has been removed from the rest of the Actilift range. Am using Persil (Unilever) as it does not contain cellulase. A friend also had trouble with Almat (Aldi) bio powder, again containing cellulase.
 
Ariel Excel Gel certainly contained cellulase at some time, seems they have changed the formula now as it`s nowhere to find in Launderess` list.

Cellulase (the enzyme, not to be confused with cellulose gum an anti soil redeposition agent) should be safe for cotton but AFAIK better should not be used on Viscose (Rayon) fabrics (Bamboo also equals Viscose).

Ariel Excell Gel has been ceased in Germany, lately. Won`t miss it at all, always had to cut open the bottle to get to the last dose.
 
Never been marketed over here even though version of Dash gel were present in belgian and perhaps french and dutch market, but i tried the british ariel gel... As any liquid it didn't like to me for it's washing ability and I also needed a generous quantity of it, but I liked it's scent at least, from the ingredient list it looks no much different than usual TOL P&g liquids, celullase and protease along with amylase are present in many detergents, as far as i know they do not damage clothes, clear is the fact that if you wash "delicates" with such detergents you get them ruined, that's why in wool, animal (aminoacidic)and delicate wash products you do not find enzymes, and that's why you need specific products for them, and that's mentioned in about every package of regular detergents that thwy're not suitable for certain fibers, as for ariel and most of european detergent you do find a clear lable mentioning "not suitable for wool and silk" sometimes in addition it is also mentioned ( as if it wasn't obvious enough) that you need a specific product and often advertising their delicates liquid line, for P&G in italy is: "dash delicati", for henkel is "perlana" (perwoll), for reckit benckiser is woolite etc....
So here is the thing, either these people are dumb and washed stuff they should not have washed with the product, or their machine eats stuff (happened to me with a whirlpool FL, items got stuck between boot and drum causing wearing during spin cycle) or they have to blame something else..
I use products containing cellulase (many powders do) and never had something ruined of course...
Nor I had washing with ariel gel...but who knows? May be they used fake detergents,? remember that nowadays this is a threat for us consumers....that may sound like BS but read please, this is more common than we think:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/east_kent_mercury/news/fake-washing-powder-could-cause-4649/
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Fake...nvestigators/story-12479864-detail/story.html

You do find many stories like this, both in Europe and USA...

.[this post was last edited: 2/27/2014-06:11]
 
I have been using it regularly since it was launched and can't say I have noticed any holes in my clothes!
 
"Ariel "Excel" Gel Causes Holes In Laundry?"

Really? what planet have I woken up on??, the only reference I can find, have read about or dreamt even is the one listed below, 2 persons made the comment, one experienced it on Bamboo underwear which I am almost certain the user would not have "washed said items in Cold Water and Delicate Cycle" as prescribed on the label with gentle wash solution ...and the other changes his detergent like his socks and probably subjects said laundry to repeat testing and overdosing as possibly not seen even by a well known consumer testing dept...

Incidentally this post was picked up and read by P&G technical department who are somewhat bemused by said article -
"Your standards are slipping Laundress", we expect nothing but textbook in order to use ones title!!

Bamboo Underwear Washing Instructions!!
"Natural fibers like modal and bamboo are known for their ultra soft textures, but washing on too harsh a cycle can cause lint pills to develop.
How to Wash: Separate lights from darks, and wash separately. Machine wash in cold to warm water, preferably on the delicates cycle, and don’t use bleach or fabric softener.
How to Dry: Air dry in the shade. If you’re in a hurry, tumble dry on the lowest heat setting and remove as soon as they’re dry."

And Microfibers:
"Usually comprised of nylon, polyamide and spandex, microfiber fabrics are silky soft, stretchy and quick drying, making the need for a dryer unnecessary.
How to Wash: Wash in cold to warm water on a very basic cycle (or permanent press, if available).
How to Dry: Since a too-hot dryer can actually melt the synthetic fabrics, we recommend air-dry only, and in the shade."

Like many have used the Gels and certainly not had a problem with blessed linens, but again my preferred choice is powders!!!

www.automaticwasher.org

Ariel Actilift Biological UK

Evening I've been reading about all the different types Ariel and that the liquids,gels and liquitabs don't contain bleaching agents compared to the powders, I bought a big box of Ariel Biological from Sainsbury's today on special offer 72 wash pack for £10, i usually use Ariel gel,both bio...
www.automaticwasher.org www.automaticwasher.org
 
Oh....not attending here as much as I used to I missed that....
Of course we could not make a claim taking in exam few experiences like these and scream about holes kinda repeating the Persil Power story, will not comment further about a washing error, let's call it this way...
But what Launderess made was a question, remember she is overseas and even though she is a good knower of euro stuff she has not the possibility to readily come in direct contact with the stuff and who use that as often as we would do....
So I suppose it was just a curiosity, the fact she has questioned, and I think is a sign she does not believe it was fault of the product as well...
Even if the *why* of such comments is almost evdidently fault of them only, is that "almost" that makes one wonder if any others had this experience, and perhaps a delicate way to bring out the truth by common experiences....
A question is not a claim... :) but i agree with you Mike...[this post was last edited: 2/27/2014-16:33]
 
Hold on a minute!!!

What if it isn't the ingredients, but MECHANICAL abrasion instead.

Remember when Ariel Excel Gel first appeared, a few folk on here - myself included - commented on the sharp edges of the dosing device. Perhaps the edges have actually cut through the material.

I still think it's a bloody daft idea to put sharp edges on a dosing device. A typical case of "form over function".
 
That's a good point, the first thing i've thought the first time i removed the cap was " and this thing would go in the drum with these sharp edges? What's the stuff who designed it was on?" I have used it without, and a few times with, do not think it would start producing damaging results quickly and in an uniform way, then you should be able to tell a damage from a detergent and one from a sharp object I suppose, they'd be different...But always holes they'd be...so who knows? Again valid point![this post was last edited: 2/27/2014-18:59]
 
Now I feel as dumb as a box of rocks!!!

I hold my hands up and admit I didn't even read the washing instructions for the bamboo clothing. Yikes I've become a laundry novice!

Also, I agree the dosing device for Ariel gel could have contributed to putting holes in clothing.

Apologies everyone for being a dumb ass.
 
Gels, Powders and Rinses....

Morning Paul, no need to feel anything other than with all the new fabrics, detergents and eco faff we are all laundry novices and learning, I would be with you on the bamboo though, would have been a hot wash and on normal with a full load!!

Laundress, dont call the defense team just yet haha, you would be surprised (or perhaps not) who drops in to see what advice we can all offer, and are impressed with our level of knowledge - they just thought we knew something they didnt!!
 
Ariel Excel Gel seems to be pretty famous in UK. It has been discontinued in Germany as people are going back to buy big boxes of powder. We are currently seeing lots and lots of super xxl value size boxes and bottles with 48, 70 oder even 90 to 100 washes. Those sizes are selling like hot cakes while products like Excel Gel gathered dust on the shelves. Henkel decided to discontinue Persil Actic Power earlier as it would not sell well.

Seems German people feel good about using regular powders even if they are more harmful to the environment than compact powders.

(sorry for being off topic)
 
Ariel Actilift created too much suds so I don't buy it anymore. I use the compact liquid and find that better. Never noticed holes in my clothes and I am very fussy what I use on fabrics. I only buy cotton, hemp, linen and wool clothing as can't stand polyester or acrylic makes me itch! So I use non bio for delicates i.e. wool.
 

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