Costco in Australia & US laundry detergents

[omomatic]

Hi Everyone. Tomorrow we have the first Costco store in Australia opening in Melbourne (needless to say I’m a bit excited!). I have just received notification of the US brands and type of washing liquids that they will be stocking and I was wondering if I could ask everyone’s opinions on them:

Tide 2X Ultra Laundry Detergent with Downy
Tide 2X Ultra Laundry Detergent with Bleach
Tide 2X Ultra HE Liquid Laundry Detergent
Gain 2X Ultra HE Liquid Detergent
Dreft 2X Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent
Bounce Renewing Dryer Sheets
Cascade Advance Power 2 in 1Dishwasher Tablets

I have an ASKO front loader and have never used a liquid laundry detergent, so any information would be greatly appreciated. I have been using Bounce now for about 10 years as I buy it when in the States or Canada. We have never been able to buy Bounce in Australia before, but I am unfamiliar with the type called ‘renewing’.

Many thanks Bruce

 

[westie2]

The bounce is moe than likely the dryer sheets wiwth the Frebrerze Spring and Renewal scent. Have used the Tide and Gain HE's and not bad but do suds more than others. We use less. The Gain scent is loved by some and hated by others. I am surprised that they are selling the 2X as here in the US have almost all gone to the 3X. I have added the bounce link here.

http://www.bouncesheets.com/en_US/products/febreze/detail.jsp?section=scents&scent=springrenewal

 

[launderess]

Hello Luv!

Tide is top dog of USA detergents, equal to Persil (Europe) and Ariel (UK). All versions (and there are many) are highly rated by Consumer's Reports (USA verison of Which? magazine), and normally the gold standard in terms of stain removal and cleaning performace.

Tide liquids and some powder variations tend to be very highly sudsing and often do not rinse out well if over doses. Indeed use too much Tide and you will find yourself rinsing until pigs fly to get the stuff out of your laundry and machine. Use less, much less than what is recommended until you have your dosages down. In our Miele I use about 1 tablespoon of Tide HE Free/Clear liquid for all but the most grossly stained/soiled loads.

Dreft is similar to "Fairy" from the UK and is sold as a detergent for baby's laundry. It contains enzymes, and is actually quite powerful, better to shift poo and spew stains, but rinses cleanly (or at least is supposed to). Same rules as above apply in terms of dosing. If this is not the the "HE" version wouldn't use in a front loader.

Bounce "Renewing" dryer sheets are yet another way for P&G to drown laundry with scent that just will not go away. Again through various patents and technology, this version of Bounce deposits a smell that is "renewed" each time one moves and or wears the clothing. Rather like those scratch and sniff scent strips. Again not my cup of tea, but if that is up your street, have at it.

Only have ever used Bounce "Free" dryer sheets (got a box on special offer and it sits barely used). Contains no scent and softens well enough for a dryer sheet. If you ever wish any
other versions of Bounce sheets, please do drop me a line. They can easily be shipped down to Oz. Liquid detergents would be a problem, but the smaller boxes of Tide powder should ship nicely as well.

Scented versions of Tide are tend to reek days, or even months after laundering, so choose carefully. P&G has patents on chemicals and technology that causes scent to remain on textiles long after drying, and they aren't kidding.

Tide "HE" is designed for front loading washers, while the other two mentioned are for use in top loaders. Tide with Downy contains fabric softener, something one never bothers with, but if such things are up your street, have at it.

Tide with Bleach contains a perborate bleaching system and is great for shifting stains and keeping whites and light colours bright. Just make sure it is just that and not "bleach alternative". The later contains no oxygen bleaching systems, but extra doses of surfactants, enzymes, and whitening agents to make up for the lack of cleaning power provided by bleach.

 

[omomatic]

Gday and thank you

Hi Charles
Thank you for your information. Regarding us just having the 2X products, I suspect that we may be a ‘dumping ground’ for any US discontinued products as we would not know any different. Thanks for the link to the Bounce web site. I must admit that I did not even think to look there.

Hi Laundress
Hello Luv back! Thank you to you as well for such a brilliant outline of the products. Thanks for giving me the ‘heads up’ on the scent issue with P&G products. I have only really used the original scent in Bounce and don’t mind it. But I am a little concerned having a scent on my clothes 24/7 so to speak. Also thanks for the info about how much to use. Have been known to suds lock on numerous occasions as the Asko needs very little as well.

It will be interesting when I go to Costco tomorrow, to see if they have any other fragrances of Bounce. I have been waiting along time for Bounce to be readily available in OZ as our version of dryer sheets is very lame! It is basically thick foam sheets with a bland fragrance and only about 12 in a box (me thinks?).

Thank you for the kind offer to post Bounce to me as I might have to take you up on the offer if Renew is the only scent that they will stock. It will save me 'schlepping' back several boxes when I come back from the US.

On a different note Laundress, over the last few years, I have enjoyed reading your posts especially relating to Miele.. Your information has been most informative. Planning to replace the Asko laundry with Miele in a couple of years.

 

[launderess]

Methinks the "2x" and "3X" bandwagon is being pushed out by Walmart and now other supermarkets. Yes on the one hand it does "save energy", but considering how tall bottles of liquid laundry detergent are, smaller ones not only take up less shelf space,but allow more room for others as well.

In our local shops the large 100 load and more liquids are always on the bottom shelves because their size.

 

[jamiel]

Interesting, I wonder if P&G is using Costco as a testing ground for entering the Australian laundry market. If memory serves, they don't play in that market now, but Colgate-Palmolive still is (really the only first-world laundry detergent market they're still in). Wonder if there's a transaction in mind, or if P&G is trying to enter the market independently.

 

[MikeS]

Costco House Brand Worth A Try Too

Bruce, you may also want to consider Costco's house brand, Kirkland Signature. I don't know if the Australian version will be similar to the American version, but the US Kirkland Signature liquid cleans well, rinses out completely, and can be used in both regular and HE machines. It's also lower in price than Tide or other major brands.
I would use it myself as my regular detergent (a late friend of mine would buy the stuff for me), but I can't justify the $50 annual fee to become a Costco member for just a few items.

 

[kqkenmore]

Stick to powders.I used to use liquid tide he and liquid gain he and my clothes always had a sour smell to them that is even with using just a small amount.I now use Tide or Gain he powders or sears ultra plus in the orange box and my clothes are much the better for it they smell fresh they are cleaner and my washer does not amell (kenmore oasis) The best value is the powder gain he it is about 3.00 dollars less than Tide.

 

[spoodles]

Interesting, I wonder if P&G is using Costco as a testing gr

Costco UK also sell lots of US products that have never become available anywhere else in the country. I've bought Clorox products from there in the past for example, and they aren't otherwise sold in the UK. US brands often have 'imported by Costco UK' on the labels alongside the manufacturer's details so they appear to have been produced specifically for sale in the UK. Liquids will also have weights in litres/millilitres rather than US ounces too.

 

[spookiness]

Agree on Kirkland Signature

I use the liquid "free" (no colors, no fragrances) and have been happy with it for many years. They also make a detergent with a bleach alternative which seems good.

Slightly off-topic, but they recently did change the Kirkland Signature automatic dishwashing powder formula and packaging, and I'm not happy with it.

 

[filterflo58]

persil or dixan

are the one and the same persil and dixan.
was in italy last year and LOVED the dixan powder.
anyone?

 

[launderess]

The girl will be missed!

 

[launderess]

Disregard above, wrong thread

 

[omomatic]

Thanks to all for the information. Well I went on opening day and let's say it was a mad house. I forgot how big the shopping trolleys were LOL. Decided not to purchase anything as it was just too hard to get around with a trolley. Must say was VERY impressed with the range and am looking forward to going back to shop when it has settled down a bit. Couldn't believe the prices!! Fantastic.

The only laundry products that were there were the ones that I originally listed. They did have our brand Omo-Matic which is one of our leading brands for front loaders.

Hi Jamie
Yes you might be onto something there as we have never had any P&G laudnry products (to my knowledge)here in Australia. Although our market for laudnry products is fairly substantial, it is by no means the size of the US or UK.

Hi Mike
Thanks for letting me know about the Kirkland Signature range. Although there were plenty of other Kirkland products at Costco, there was not any in the laundry products. Undoubtably that may change.

Bruce

 

[rayjay]

Hi Bruce, Enjoy the Costco. We do here. Just bring a lot of money with you. The savings are fantastic. You may go there just to buy laundry detergent and leave with spending 300.00. lol The prices on just everyday items like milk and bread are great. Milk in NJ is around 4.50 a gallon. At Costco it is 2.35.

Enjoy your shopping. I buy all my laundry products there, Use the Tide HE and Downy

Ray