Bluette Bluing is no more.

[polkanut]

I called Homax Products today, the makers of Bluette, to order another case, and was told that they no longer make the product. Damn! My wife and really liked this brand and it had a nice scent too. Why is it that when I find a product I like, it ends up being discontinued?

 

[launderess]

Last Time One Looked Bluette Was Still On The Shelves Here

If you want a case let me know and will ask a store manager if he will sell it to me that way.

 

[polkanut]

Yes I do!!!

Launderess, please contact me @ the email addresss in my profile to work out the details. I would prefer the 32oz size, but will gladly accept the 16oz size if that's all that is available. I appreciate your help in this matter!

 

[launderess]

Let me nip down to the local supermarket (need milk anyway), and see what he has on offer/in stock. If he can order cases still (such as at the warehouse), how many would you be interested in?

L.

 

[launderess]

Back!

One local shop has about ten of the small bottles *@$1.39/ea) on shelf. Asked about ordering more, and the assistant manager in charge of stock stated if the product is discontinued he may not be able to.

If you want the bottles found thus far contact me (your email addy is hidden in your profile), and will fetch them.

 

[polkanut]

Launderess,

I'll take all 10 please. My email address is: [email protected]. Contact me with price, shipping charges etc.

 

[mrb627]

If It Fits, It Ships!

Will these fit in a USPS IIFIS box? Might help keep the postage reasonable...

Malcolm

 

[mistereric]

Dammit!

Is there another brand on the market?

 

[maytagbear]

There is a bluing-

but it is Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing. I do not know of any solid bluing left on the market. It is in most supermarkets/mass merchandise stores.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[angus]

Oh, no, not this again? First Lifebuoy, then Lux, now this... I will check my local stores also. There are probably 3 or 4 stores that had the 32 ounce size, I will not be able to get there until Saturday but will find out what i can. Very disappointing news.

 

[launderess]

Done!

Only eight bottles at the aforementioned shop, nabbed then all, will email after packing so have a total price including shipping.

There are several more stores in the area that carry Bluette, so let me know if you want anymore. Don't think product will be rushing off the shelves, but then again one never knows, does one?

Funny have a half or so bottle of the stuff in my stash, but kind of went off Bluette once I got the case of "Bleachette" and Reckitt's bluing cubes (dolly bag bluing).

Now that one has the Whirlpool portable top loader, may give Bluette another go. Think another reason I stopped using it was because of the front loaders (Malber then Miele). Bluette can be kind of thick to dose with "flakes" and if not dissloved totally can leave marks on one's wash. Also the several rinses after the main wash in front loaders probably takes away much of the effect of using bluing in the first cycle.

 

[~sudsshane]

Hi Polkanut

Also, you may want to try Netgrocer.com.
They work in partnership with ShopRite Supermarkets in the Northeast, and I know they stock Bluette Bluing. I've ordered from them before for the Shop Rite "can can" sale, and they are fantastic!

 

[polkanut]

Thanks Shane!

After I receive my "care package" from Launderess I may give them a try. It's always good to have another source to choose from.

 

[launderess]

MisterEric

Nope, with the demise of Bluette, that only leaves Mrs. Stewart's as the only liquid bluing on the market.

IIRC, you still can find bluing powder and or cubes (dolly blue), in the UK, EU and some Commonwealth countries, but as on these shores you may have to hunt to find it.

Bluette and Mrs. Stewart's are two different types of bluing.

Bluette is a Prussian blue that is (ferric ferrocyanide) and water. More exactly it is a colloidal suspension since the ferric ferrocyanide does not mix with water.

Modern Mrs. Stewart's bluing is also a Prussian Blue (Ferric Hexacyanoferrate), but not too sure about vintage versions. Have a an older glass bottle of the stuff and it looks and behaves like ink. Indeed am told this particular form of liquid bluing was used also for writing purposes.

While excess or stains from Bluette are some what easy to remove (same goes for dolly bag and bluing cubes), Mrs. Stewart's is another matter. At least the vintage version in my stash can and has stained counter-tops, dish-cloths, and laundry. Nothing like haning white sheets on the line to find little blue dots or stains. When this happens, one is supposed to soak the item in ammonia and water, and often you are totally out of luck.

OTHO vintage Mrs. Stewarts does give a more lasting blue "tint" than other bluings I've used.

 

[polkanut]

I have to agree with L. on this one, Bluette is more forgiving if it is spilled, Mrs. Stewart's is not. I have 2 white bath towels that have a permanent light blue streak in them from Mrs. Stewart's.

 

[laundromat]

I loved laFrance when it was out for what seamed to be forever but,alas ,it is no more. That was the only bluing I liked.I'd mix it with Dash and used Final Touch (with bluing for extra whiteness)fabric softener in my final rinse water.

 

[angus]

I have tried Mrs. Stewart's and also found it particularly difficult to get the dosage and dilution correct. Not a very forgiving product. I went to at least 6 smaller IGA type and Compare Latino markets today and the sad truth is that Bluette must have been discontinued a while ago because I was only able to score 4 32 ounce bottles out of 6 stores that used to carry it regularly. And forget about back stock. Most stores employ just in time ordering and carry much less inventory. I covered most of southern Fairfield County today and will start moving north and west. I have only 12 bottles left so I will now have to become more judicious in my usage. But as I find out anything further, I will advise. I still keep hoping to run into an old stock of Lifebuoy 3packs - not too delusional!!!

 

[launderess]

Despite It's Blue Colour

LaFrance moved to chemical optical brightening agents long ago.

Early boxes after this conversion touted "Luminess" which is what LaFrance called their OBAs. It is also why the product was promoted for whitening and brightening nylon.

True bluing works best on cotton, linen and other natural fibers. Man made textiles such as nylon, polyester and the like do not take up nor hold pure bluings, hence the "invention" and need for chemicals that really are nothing more than flouresent agents.That is they reflect UV light to give the appearance of "whiter than white".

Bluing does reflect UV light, but only because the colour blue cancels the yellow our eyes "see" to give the impression of a whiter than white. However bluing also slightly dulls fabrics, which is why many housewives/laundries took care in not over using the stuff.

Back to LaFrance. The product is mainly surfactants OBAs and blue coloring. While the blue color does tint the water a slight blue, and probably the same with wash, it is really the OBAs that are doing the work. Also LaFrance claimed the extra degerent action of the surfactants resulted in a cleaner and brighter wash, especially for nylons/man made fibers. These textiles tend to hold onto oils and soils becoming dull over a time. However because they are thermoplastic using hot or very hot water will cause damage and or creases. The answer is usually to increase the amount of detergent/soap when laundering in cooler temps to help shift the soil.

Just added two large boxes of LaFrance (it's last incarnation sold by Dial Corp. before being withdrawn from the market), and noticed something new was added towards the end, protease enzymes. Guess this was a way to go up against the likes of "Biz" and other laundry additives.