Bold laundry detergent?!!

[steve_b79]

Hello!

Long time lurker, first time poster. Great to meet everyone!

I have a question, and I’m hoping that someone may be able to shed some light on this one for me.

Whenever I shop at some of these “close out” stores (Ollie’s, National Wholesale Liquidators, Big Lots), I’m pretty much guaranteed to find some neat detergents. And yesterday was no exception. While at Big Lots, I care across Bold detergent, which has been discontinued in the US for about four years now. As someone that loves a good powdered laundry detergent, and misses Bold something fierce, I purchased it.

I was curious as to whether this was the UK formula. There is an 800 number on the side of the box, that when called, brings you to the Tide help line. I asked the representative if they knew anything about this. After sitting on hold for what seemed like an eternity, they came back, and told me that I probably purchased “UK stock“ – and that it was up to me as to whether I wanted to use it or not. I told the rep that of course I’d like to use it, and we parted ways.

There is no mention on the box of this being a UK product. If anything, it mentions that it is made in Toronto.

With that said, I am curious if this is a new product (it has a 2017 copyright on it), if it comes in other scents, and if there is a liquid format.

Does anyone have any ideas? For now, I’m going to enjoy it – it smells terrific!

 

[rp2813]

Welcome Steve!

What type of washer are you using with this stuff?  I haven't been able to use any P&G powders since they changed their HE formula to "for both" types of machines because they produce way too much suds. 

 

I see on the Bold box that it has just the HE logo without images or copy stating it's for both types of machines, so may give this a try in my front loader if I find it at my local Big Lots.  Since instructions are in both English and French, this seems to be Canadian packaging.

 

[yogitunes]

Welcome Steve....

interesting.....we have a new Ollie's opening up here in town, I will have to be on the lookout for that....

I expected it to be a plain detergent, but it does contain enzymes, so may turn out to be a decent detergent....

but am puzzled by the dosage for an HE load.....I would have expected more for a standard TLer....

keep us posted to how you make out.....

 

[steve_b79]

I’ve already used it twice. I have a front-loader (an old stackable Kenmore that came with my apartment). It’s not terribly sudsy (I’d actually prefer to see more suds), but it certainly dissolves quick. Fragrance is awesome. I can’t really describe it, though. Sort of citrusy with melon? Nowhere near as sickly as some of those again scents.

I have tried finding more information on it through Procter & Gamble’s Canadian website, but it is not listed.

I’m not sure if Ollie’s carries this, but it’s definitely at Big Lots. I purchase mine in Morrisville, PA, and saw ample stock at the one in Hamilton, NJ.

 

[steve_b79]

To build on this, I’ve attached a picture of the washer and dryer that I have. The washer, as you can see, is a fairly standard front loader. I have no idea how old it is.

Also, take a look at Bold’s scoop (right), compared with the scoop for some Indian Ariel powder that I picked up at an off-brand (read: truly trashy) closeout store near Camden. I’ve never seen a scoop that small.

 

[supersuds]

Note that it says "imported for" P&G, Toronto, which = not made in Canada (otherwise it wouldn't need to be imported).

It says "distributed by" P&G, Cincinnati, which along with the French instructions means this box was intended to be sold in both the U.S. and Canada.

If it was of non-US origin, it should have been labeled Made in [Wherever] under US law.

I suspect it was made in the US to be distributed through dollar stores and "closeout" type places. For years, I've seen Era liquid at Big Lots when nobody else has it. This is probably some similar arrangement. They're squeezing some bucks out of their dead brands.

 

[rp2813]

John, the scenario you describe sounds fairly accurate to me, but I'm still curious about why a 2017 box doesn't have the "for both" graphics on it.  I may have to gamble on a box.  I can always use it in my old Maytag if it's too sudsy for my Affinity.

 

Steve, that washer you have is one of the best American front loaders, and it was produced before the water restrictions became ridiculous.  It may not be the largest capacity, but those machines seem to run forever.

 

I would certainly not use a full scoop with that machine, and maybe not even with an old school top loader unless I was washing a seriously filthy load.  The size of that scoop is all about P&G wanting to sell more detergent.

 

[steve_b79]

@ RP2813 - agreed. My brother has a relatively new (and fancy) Samsung front-loader, and I’d take my machine over his, any day. If I were to ever buy my own place, I’d love to seek one of these machines out. The capacity may not be huge, but I’ve washed full-sized comforters in it, without issue. And I love the “fast” setting for its spin cycle. No idea what kind of RPM it runs at, but it’ll leave certain garments (fleece, especially) near dry when removed.

 

[mrboilwash]

In the first picture it reads "Do no induce vomiting"
Is this proper English ?

Then it goes on "This package contains 63 medium loads, on average, based on weight as measured to bar 1 on scoop"
But picture #2 shows a level 2 scoop for a medium load ?

No "for both" graphics ?

I also find it hard to believe that there are no nonionic surfactants listed in a current enzyme containing P&G detergent and their help line not knowing the product ?

I wonder if this might be a fake.
Plagiarism is not only restricted to high fashion items.

 

[yogitunes]

THAT is the best of the best series of washer they built....keep note of that control panel...

first generation machines had a linkage setup from the timer dial, that would wear over time, and not dispense as needed....this model has solenoid activated dispensers...

some models spun at medium, and boosted to high speed for 1 minute at the end....this one spins full speed the whole way through....

takes a lot to kill one of these.....even if it eventually requires new bearings/seals....inexpensive enough, and quick to repair...

and note, these never required a 'clean washer' cycle....

always favored the Kenmore version of these, especially the dryer offering a stainless drum as well...

next time your near Camden, visit the Habitat ReStore in Pennsauken on Rt130, and a huge Dollar Discount store out front, they carry a variety of detergents....plus there are all sorts of thrift stores along 130 from Burlington on down....you should join us for a thrifting run sometime...

 

[rolls_rapide]

"Do not induce vomiting"

Yes, it is proper English. It means that first-aiders must NOT try to make the patient purposely vomit. Doing so could cause secondary damage to the oesophagus.

Our Bold would have the P&G UK, Weybridge, Surrey, with an '0800' phone number.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Ooops!

@mrboilwash:
Sorry, I misread your post (my brain added a 't' in, where there wasn't one)!

Regarding the lack of ingredient info on the Canadian site: Perhaps they're just too slow to get their site updated.

 

[mrboilwash]

So you can say "do no induce vomiting" and "do not induce vomiting" interchangeably ?
I didn`t know that. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[mrboilwash]

Ooops too

You seem to just have posted while I was still busy with writing

 

[rolls_rapide]

Bold... Canadian

The photos in the original post, also show 'colour' as spelt the American way, and the 'he' logo. UK products don't have those.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Lol

Serves me right for 'jumping the gun'! Haha

 

[rolls_rapide]

@mrboilwash

No... somebody definitely DID leave out the 't' on the packaging. Otherwise it is bad grammar. Perhaps it's been translated from French badly, or they've simply missed out the 't' in 'not'.

 

[steve_b79]

@yogitunes: Are you talking about the discount dollar store next to the “Supreme” supermarket on 130, near the Pennsauken/Camden border? If so, that’s where I grabbed the Indian Ariel! They were selling it for $1.35 a box; I picked up 12 boxes, and split it betwixt my neighbor and I.

As crazy as this is going to sound, I think I’ve found my online “home”. It’s nice to talk with folks who “geek out” over laundry products/machines as much as I do - even if my family, girlfriend, and colleagues don’t share my opinions! Haha!

 

[launderess]

One: This variety of Bold was never sold in North American market when P&G still produced. Last incarnations were Bold "2in1" and a ultra compact powder.

https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=manu&id=16003

Thus we can assume this is a "lower shelf" or whatever import from P&G for French Canada/North American market.

Two, it is obvious from the grammar package directions were translated into English (and likely via a computer and not a native American English speak IMHO), from French.

At least in French there isn't a single adjective negation/not. You've "ne pas", and a few others. Ne provoque pas de vomissement is "do not induce vomiting", so you can see, well there you are.

Three, P&G customer service likely wouldn't know this variation of Bold no more than they would any of the other products sold only in UK or Europe; why should they? P&G customer service likely does not know much about Tide, so (again) there you are.

Years ago now there was a series of discount shops in New York City called Nationwide Discount. At their Broadway store here in Manhattan back in the day would find all sorts of detergents and products that hadn't seen elsewhere. Plenty of products from P&G, Unilever and so forth in French which one assumes means they came from "up north".

Four,

Lack of non-ionic surfactants per se isn't a bad thing. Generally anionic surfactants are highly frothing, but that can be compensated for by foam control agents. There is also the fact this Bold obviously isn't a TOL detergent offering from P&G like Ariel or Tide. Thus likely does not have an advanced cocktail of ingredients. Going by that scoop this detergent also seems not to be "compact" either. So again mayhaps P&G isn't putting all their cutting edge technology into that product.

Bold in UK/Europe for sometime now has been more about scent than performance IMHO. Going by that scoop this detergent also seems not to be "compact" either.