Costco May Have Finally Got It Right

[sudsmaster]

I picked up a jug of Costco's latest foray into the "HE" detergent field. They may have gotten it at least 1/2 right this time.

The stuff is called "environmentally friendly laundry detergent" (efld) with natural lavender scent. The main issue I had with their past efforts has been oversudsing. Well, I added about the same amount of the efld liquid that I normally add of Safeway Select Free HE. I was surprised that it's not oversudsing. Plus, the fragrance is quite pleasant but not overpowering. We'll see how well it cleans and whether it leaves the bath sheets soft or scratchy. But so far, so good.

Oh, at best they got it only 1/2 right. They still recommend adding more of the detergent for HE machines than for top loaders. What are they thinking? Are they thinking that HE machines generally are higher capacity and therefore need more detergent? Who knows? In any case, the difference between the two levels appears to be rather slight, so maybe they have listened to the criticism.

No powder version that I saw.

The ingredients include plant based surfactants (coconut or palm oil), naturally derived enzymes, natural anti-soil redeposition agent, and natural lavender scent. No dyes or optical brighteners, yaaay!

 

[aamassther]

I've been using this product for about 3 weeks now. So far I like it too. It cleans the oil stains out of my massage linens very well, filling cap to "HE" line. I'm amazed, there is very little sudsing even at this level. It cleans regular clothes well, filling cap to line 2or 3, depending soil. I bought it because of the no OBA's in the ingreients list, for my darker colours. Clothes seem soft and stains are coming out when pretreated with a little of the liquid.
Here's my hypothesis as to why they recommend a larger amount. Since there is a smaller amount of water for the same quantity of dirty clothes, there needs to be a higher ratio detergent to water to keep soil in suspension. Now I can't say I agree with this.
Time will tell, but so far so good and it's cheap. It seems to be Huish's "Winfree" relabeled as Costco own brand. www.wintreelaundry.com

 

[sudsmaster]

The bath sheets came out fairly soft with a nice fragrance. They were half-dried on the line and then finished in the Neptune gas dryer. This generally leaves softer results than complete line drying, so the jury may still be out on that point. But so far I'm pleased with the product.

About time!

 

[rayjay]

Line Drying Towels

Rich, Do the reverse. Dry the towels in the dryer for 5-10 min. Then hang on the line. The tumbling will soften them more, and you will have the fresh air scent in the towels.

Ray

 

[sudsmaster]

Ray,

Actually I air fluff (no heat) the towels damp out of the washer for 20 mintues in the dryer. Then I dry on the line, and then I air fluff them again for 20 minutes.

This uses less energy than trying to dry them in the dryer.

 

[rayjay]

Rich, SOunds like a good idea. I thought the heat would make them softer. I will try it. But.....does the second air fluff take the fresh air out of the towels.

I will definately try.

Ray

 

[toggleswitch2]

only if the cat box is in the laundry room.

 

[rayjay]

Only if the cat box is in the laundry room??

lol lol lmao

Needed a chuckle today.

Thanks

 

[sudsmaster]

The second air fluff does take some of the line dry aroma off, but sometimes that's a sharp aroma that I don't especially like. So I don't miss it much. If the towels hang on the line too long on a hot sunny day then they stay stiff no matter what.

The line dry fragrance is better in the winter when the air is cleaner but then it tends to rain a lot then so it's a gamble.

The cat box is in the master bath. Not my 1st choice but that's where the cat wants it to be. I'd rather have it there than have "accidents" happen elsewhere in the house.

 

[rayjay]

I live in Jersey. We do get some cold winters at times. There is nothing like sheets hung out on a freezing winter day, (where the sheets freeze) and then brought in later to finish drying.

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, we lived in CT until I was 11. I remember the fresh smell of freeze-dried laundry ;-).