Consumer Reports: Tide Ultra HE Plus Bleach (powder) Rules!

[frigilux]

My suspicions (and those of a few others) were correct: Tide Ultra HE Plus Bleach powder does beat liquid Tide HE Plus Bleach Alternative in the latest detergent tests done by Consumer Reports. I switched over to the powdered version a couple of months ago and have had fantastic results. There is still the out-damned-suds issue to contend with in very soft water, but not quite as bad as with the liquid.

Here are the top contenders in the HE division:

Tide Ultra Plus Bleach (powder): 82 (only HE tested to rate an EXCELLENT at cleaning)

The following all rated VERY GOOD at cleaning:

Tide Ultra (powder): 74
Tide Plus Bleach Alternative (liquid): 73
Tide Pods: 72
Wisk Deep Clean (liquid): 69
Tide Plus Febreeze (liquid): 68
All With Oxi Active (liquid): 67
Tide (liquid): 66
Seventh Generation (powder): 65
Up & Up Fresh Breeze (liquid): 64
Kirkland Signature Ultra (liquid): 62
Sears Ultra Plus Concentrated 9879 (powder): 61

The remaining forty-or-so tested HE detergents rated only GOOD or FAIR for cleaning.

Up & Up is Target's brand, I believe.

 

[frigilux]

It dawns on me that with all the vintage machines in the family, many of you use non-HE detergents.

These three were rated VERY GOOD at cleaning:

Wisk Deep Clean (liquid): 63
Up & Up Ultra Concentrated (powder): 62
Tide Plus Bleach Alternative (liquid): 61

Tide Pods, All With Oxi Active HE, Seventh Generation, Kirkland Signature HE, and Sears Ultra Plus from the HE list all claim to be "dual-use" detergents for either traditional or HE washers.

The other sixteen tested conventional detergents ranked GOOD or FAIR at cleaning.

 

[jerrod6]

Have never seen ultra Tide He powder with bleach  in any supermarket or store where I live.  I want to try it. I've looked....can't find it.

 

I tried Tide free and clear and Tide Total care liquids and these rinse cleanly  even starting with the first rinse.  I am surprised there is still a suds issue with this Tide He powder.

 

[maytagbear]

Interesting!

My experience with Tide With Bleach powder is the same as CRs (imagine that!!)

However, I just could not abide the odor. My clothes, to me, smelled worse after washing. As soon as I could get to Sears, I did. Mac introduced me to Ultra Plus, and if that had been the only thing, that would have been enough.

Yes, Up and Up is the house brand of Bullseye Boutique**. (Tarjet.)

** "Bullseye Boutique" is what the hipper kids in this area are currently calling Tarjet. Alas, I am not one of the hipper kids.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[nmassman44]

The only place that I found Tide with Bleach HE is at BJs here. Walmart used to carry it in the smaller boxes but not any more. I have been using Tide w/Bleach HE since I got the new to me front loader. It does a very good job in hot water and on par with dare I say it...German Persil. I paid $26 for the box of Tide w/Bleach HE for I wanna say 160 loads. They also have the Original scented Tide HE powder. I don't use liquids since I don't care for the scents they use and leave behind on the clothes and in the washer.
One thing I did notice lately at the stores is the lack of Wisk detergents of all flavors here. And did you guys notice that SA8 "Legacy of Clean" powder got an overall score of 60 and just a "good" rating for performance. I stopped buying the stuff a long time ago when it was reformulated. You would think that Amway would have left well enough alone with the previous formula.

 

[frigilux]

Jerrod-- I find it at WalMart and Sam's Club. Think I picked up a box at Cub Foods, as well.

Mike-- It is a shame about SA8 "Legacy of Clean", isn't it? It used to be a great stain-removing detergent before the reformulation. It rinsed out well in soft water, too. I don't use the stuff anymore, either.

I get powdered Tide Ultra HE Plus Bleach in the "Original" scent, which smells a little more like vintage Tide. I remember being pleasantly surprised when I opened the washer door to the faint scent of that classic Tide smell. I don't care for all the fruity/floral/forest/ocean-scented products on the market.

My other detergent, UK Persil Bio, has a classic detergent scent, as well.

Lawrence-- Bullseye Boutique; I like that![this post was last edited: 7/5/2012-16:05]

 

[mysteryclock]

I stopped buying SA8 after 10+ years when a reformulation several years ago (and before the olive "Legacy of Clean" packaging) started irritating me and the boys after no problems at all before that. It really was good before but I can't abide the itchies.

Same thing for Tide Pods more recently - great cleaning, simple to use but started breaking us out by the 3rd container. I still use the Pods for cleaning placemats as I've not found anything better at getting out the greasy food stains that my boys can lay down without pretreating.

 

[ronhic]

To achieve these ratings

Do they test in cold, warm or hot water?

 

[frigilux]

Consumer Reports now tests detergents in both warm (90 degrees) and cool (75 degrees) water. "Cold Water" detergents are tested in cold (60 degree) water.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I wonder if the Sears Ultra Plus Free would rate the same as the scented??

Chuck

 

[washabear]

I have been using Tide HE With Bleach powder for awhile and have been very pleased with it. I don't recall the version I bought being named Ultra, but it was over a year ago when I bought it (it lasts a long time because I only have to use a little), and I don't have the box to look at because I emptied it into a pail. Is the Ultra a new formulation? I do find that it makes more suds than it probably should for an HE detergent, but it's not too bad, and although the powder itself has a strong chemical odor, it leaves no scent on the clothes when they are finished.

As pleased as I am with it, if I can't find it again, I'll probably go back to Sears Ultra Plus With OxiClean, which seemed to work just as well and made no suds at all.

Thanks for the info!

 

[appnut]

I've been using this for about two years possibly by now. I use it on my whites as well as light colored towels and sheets. After I got the new machine in December and use either Allergen (130 degrees) or Sanitary (155 degrees), results are fantastic. For everyday clothes and dark items, use Cheere HE powder I got at Sams. I got the 53 load size box of the Tide at Walmart in May. I sporadically see it at Target. I've seen the 120 use box at Sams a couple of times, but at the time I didn't need any, last few times I went there, they only had regular Tide HE Powder and Gain HE Powder.

 

[angus]

I have switched over to the Tide with Bleach HE powder for my SQ toploader. I have always been a fan of Tide with Bleach, but the regular formula simply produced way too much foam and it was frustrating to continue to adjust the dosage, I like solving equations as much as the next person, but enough was enough already. Like most of you, TWB HE is fairly difficult to find here in Connecticut as the big grocery stores don't carry a large assortment of powders. Wal Mart was hit or miss for a while, but seems like they just don't carry it anymore. However, I have had consistent results at the two Target stores in our area - they seem to be the only ones that have it all the time. I have also bought up every package of the powdered Tide stain remover that I could find since now they only offer liquid or pods. The powder is just as effective and I can control the dosage better. Also works well at keeping suds levels down on those occasions when I use some vintage Rinso Blue, Rinso with color bleach, Fab or Oxydol.

I also have a stash of Cheer HE powder that I nabbed at Sam's Club last summer just before P&G discontinued it. Was lucky enough to score 10 of the 120 load boxes at half price ($8.00) each. I am saving that for when my office is converted to a laundry room and I can have my 1986 GE Filter Flo (yes, with mini basket) connected as my second machine.

 

[nmassman44]

One thing that since I use those Tide Stain Release packs and use them in my front loader is that they don't dissolve all they way. The congealed wrapper is found on a sock or sheet. In the SQ washer I don't have that issue. I stopped using them in the front loader.

 

[mfduffy]

Target has a very good price on Tide HE with Bleach Powder -- 12.00 for 53 load, buy 2, get $5 gift card. Take some P&G coupons with you and save even more!

 

[alr2903]

The WISK stain spectrum,  works very well.  I still use the Kroger detergent for sheets and towels.  I think that Wisk comes in HE and regular,  Its very powerful and sudsy and requires a second rinse in our water.  alr

 

[strongenough78]

I'm surprised the Sears Ultra Plus was rated as low as it was. I love the stuff and it get's out a lot of stains for me with no pretreating most of the time. Plus the rinsablility is awesome.

 

[jerrod6]

So far no luck....no Tide He with bleach in my local  Walmart or Target.  These are the stores I have been going to to look for it. It's a No go.  I did see Tide with Bleach at Target, but not in the He formulation.

 

There is a Shoprite not far from me, maybe I will look there.

 

[DADoES]

 
Wal-Mart here has it, came close to buying a box a couple hours ago but am not yet in need of detergent.