Consumer Reports Detergents test

[jt1985]

The results are in the July issue:

Conventional (Top 10)
2x Ultra Tide Coldwater
2x Ultra Tide with Dawn Stainscrubbers
2x Ultra Tide with Downy
2x Ultra Era with Oxi Booster
Tide TotalCare
2x Ultra Tide with Bleach Alternative (reformulated)
2x Ultra Gain with Bleach Alternative
Tide with Bleach Powder
2x Ultra Cheer for Darks
2x Ultra Cheer with BrightClean Bleach Alternative

High Efficiency (Top 10)
2x Ultra Tide with Bleach Alternative HE
2x Ultra Tide Original HE
2x Ultra All with Oxi Active Stainlifters
Ultra Gain Original Fresh Powder HE
Up & Up Fresh Breeze HE (Target)
Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly 2x Ultra HE (Costco)
Seventh Generation Natural Powder HE
2x Ultra Gain Original Fresh HE
Amway Legacy of Clean SA8 Premium with Bioquest HE
Kirkland Signature Free & Clear 2x Ultra HE (Costco)

 

[sudsmaster]

Of those, the only one I use is the Kirkland Environmentally Friendly HE liquid.

I use it on bath towels because it leaves a softer finish than powders, and has a nice lavender fragrance.

I don't think it cleans as well as a phosphated powder, though.

 

[gyrafoam]

Not even a mention of the Mexican brands.
FOCA (with phosphates) would have beaten them all hands-down, and so would VIVA a few years ago when it still contained phosphates. Getting harder and harder to find.

 

[whirlcool]

You are right. We use FOCA now as our daily driver detergent. We are very happy with the results. But we are on our last bag of FOCA with phosphates. All Walmart has on hand now is the phosphate free version.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thanks, John

I don't understand why TIDE HE powder is not mentioned, but GAIN powder HE is. I've never even seen it.

Did the report mention anything about why the liquids foam so much in the rinses or say anything about how well any of them rinses out?

 

[DADoES]

 
Gain HE powder is available @ WM here.

 

[davek]

My cheap favorites are Ultra Tandil (Aldi) with Bleach Alternative liquid and powder Ultra Plus (Sears). Where did they place on the list? I will probably try some of the Cold Water Tide the next time I need some.

 

[appnut]

That's where I got my box odf Gain HE, Wal-Mart. Almost out of it. will be heading back to Sears then.

 

[dirtybuck]

I'm SHOCKED!!

Oxi ERA..on a Top Ten List? I'll definitely have to try that formula.

I also noticed that the non-HE version of 2X Tide liquid or the powder didn't make the list.

 

[jt1985]

Sears Ultra Plus

It finished #16 on the HE list with a score of 46. It costs 9 cents per load. Aldi's Tandil wasn't on the list.

The worst performers in conventional:

Xtra Lasting ScentSations Spring Sun Shine
Biokleen Cold Water 3x Concentrated
Dynamo Ultra
Martha Stewart Clean

The worst in HE:

Oxydol 2x Fresh & Clean
Biokleen Cold Water 3x
Ecos 2x Lily and Magnolia
Martha Stewart Clean

We carry Gain HE powder, Era HE at my Walmart. I was shocked to see both Era Oxi Booster and All Oxi Active Stainlifters in the top lists.

 

[westyslantfront]

Here is a link to the chemistrystore.com where you can purchase sodium tri polyphosphate powder to add to your laundry and dishwasher detergent.
Phosphates and other goodies have been removed from our detergents by the "green" fanatics.

Ross

http://www.fortune3.com/chemstore/Chemicals_S_Z-Sodium_Tripolyphosphate.html

 

[peterh770]

I remember a segment on a morning show here recently with Martha Stewart hocking her "Clean" brand and how well it works because it has her name on it. I guess she didn't pay CU enough under the table to get a better rating.

 

[jt1985]

Martha Stewart Clean

CU said it cleans just as well as water alone.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've started using my old supply of phosphated Ariel in the Neptune to clean my work clothes. Oversudsing is not a problem since the metal cutting coolant we use at work has plenty of foam suppressant, and some of it inevitably splashes on the clothes. I also have some FOCA in storage that I will start using when the Ariel runs out. I notice that it's getting harder to find phosphated Ariel; but the FOCA and ROMA are still on the shelves of local Mexican and Asian groceries. Also have an ample supply of STPP stashed away to continue to boost the Sears HE Plus powder.

I use an old box of Gain HE powder as a linen closet fragrance source, lol.

 

[davek]

Martha Stewart "Clean"

Cleans as well as water alone. Wow. I suppose that there is a way that something could actually clean worse than water alone. Perhaps some of its cleaning power was derived from the superior product *any product* left in the machine from the prior load.

After I did my repairs this weekend, I ran a cycle with no clothes or detergent to make sure there were no leaks. There was foam around the top of the inside tub after the final spin. Somehow, I must be using too much detergent, even though I use very little. My repairs included replacing the pump, so I know there was little or no residual water in the machine when that cycle started. I'm going to go powder only for a little while and see if that cuts some of that.

 

[frigilux]

Dear Procter & Gamble,

Re: Liquid Tide With Bleach Alternative (non-HE version)

When you reformulate a detergent, TRY TO MAKE THE PRODUCT BETTER, NOT WORSE. While you're at it, how about giving us a detergent that doesn't require six rinses when used in softened water. And clean your room, it's a mess!!

Hugs,
Frigilux

 

[gyrafoam]

I have been advised by a few people now, that the Coldwater Tide does a very good job in either warm or hot water. I am also advised it can be quite sudzy. I think I will try some just to see. I'll throw it into the Kelvinator and see just how sudzy it will get!

My favorite cheapie brand has been the FAB powder I get at the Dollar General stores. It cleans surprisingly well.

I am so glad to have plenty of phosphated Viva, FOCA and, Finnish Dishwasher detergent set by.
Nonetheless, the next time John orders Phosphates, I'll get some to just to prepare for battle.

I've already called all the manufacturers "hotlines" and raised-hell over the lack of phosphates----but of course, they couldn't care less.

Ross, I'm curious if any of you guys in the "border states" can still find phosphated "Paloma"?
It is the bomb detergent for towels. It has a fragrance like the old Cashmere Bouquet hand soap and leaves towels smelling wonderful! If anybody finds it LOAD-UP quick before they take out the phosphates! Venus found some for me over in Texas a few years ago, but hasn't been found since. It's great stuff!

 

[launderess]

Has Nothing To Do With Manufacturers of Detergents

Most saw the handwriting on the wall with many states moving to ban phosphates in dishwasher detergents, and decided it wasn't worth the bother.

In the early years of the state by state phosphate ban for domestic laundry products, many detergent makers had either different plants or ran separate production for non-phosphate versus those that contained the stuff. This lead to the famous disclaimer on many detergent packages stating "this product does not contain phosphates, other than trace amounts...." However as the nature of business changed, such production proved too costly, and phosphates were totally removed.

Even Calgon stopped making two different versions to save production and distribution costs.

There was a serious chance the US Congress was going to act and ban phosphates in dishwasher detergents, so again businesses just got proactive.

 

[frigilux]

Steve---

Tide ColdWater works very well in warm water, but unlike Tony Curtis, does not like it hot . I tried that a couple of times with loads of kitchen whites, and stains which were removed in temp-controlled cold or warm water were not removed as well.