Hi Mickeyd--- In fact, all of the detergent test towels are kept in a zip-lock bag in my linen closet. The winner of the tests so far has been SA8, followed by Persil, then Tide With Bleach.
Comparisons of the SA8 towel and the SA8+All-Fabric Bleach+Tri-Zyme show that SA8 alone actually did a slightly better job on the mustard and ketchup! This may have been caused by the fact that I used an older towel for the most recent test, which has fewer fibers to shed. The rest of the test load came out brilliantly, including a particularly nasty grass stain that eluded a prior wash in SA8+LCB. Most impressive was the very old, greyed, white chef's apron that had obviously been lightened a shade or two, despite many, many washes in SA8+LCB over the past year.
The next step is to test the Quixtar All-Fabric Bleach and Tri-Zyme with one of the poorer-testing detergents (Sam's Club bulk, for instance) to see how much punch they add to a second-tier performer.
In reviewing the towels from prior tests, it seems mustard is the toughest stain to remove.
When time permits, I'll reshoot all the test towels and post photos of them in order of performance.
Someone at AW really likes (Mexican) Viva, so I may test that detergent, too.
Good thing I have a ridiculous number of flour-sack dish towels!
