Detergent choices

[appnut]

There's a part of me that's like, I cannot believe I'm asking y'all this. I'm coming to the end of my boxes of powdered Tide and Tide w/Bleach Alternative. So I'm pondering wanting to use some of the "newer" stuff. I'm considering Tide Professional and Tide Ultra Oxi. What I've been able to surmise is Professional is an excellent all around detergent and does best using warm to tempid for just about everything except grease/oil. Amd Ultra Oxi has gotten very good reviews too. I"m not a slaave to having tons of detergents and I find it kind of expensive in some ways. It waws a stretch for me to use the 2 I have been using. Part of me would love to settle on one that's best for just about all my laundry. But that might be impractical. Oh, and BTW, I've been using these two boxes The Tide w/Bleach alternative was bought in late 2021. And the regular Tide powder was late 2021 or early 2022 after having to go through the Tide Ultra Clean liquid after having to get the new LG washer in late 2021.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

personally

I have been using Persil Advanced Clean oxi+odor ultra packs for my laundry and I find they perform much better than Tide and they suds less than Tide. I also find that they smell better especially after that Tide power pods odor eliminator which didn't smell too good. Persil smells absolutely pleasant which is what I expect from laundry detergent.

 

[appnut]

Jerome, thank you. I personally refuse to use pods. I prefer dosing flexibility. I tried Persil liquid severeal years ago with nothing but a suds factory and I believe I mentionned that in my initial post. So, Tide it is.

 

[frigilux]

Bob- We like Tide detergents—or at least some of them—so I don’t think you can go wrong with either Tide Professional or Tide Ultra Oxi powders. I’ve found that the suds from Ultra Oxi breaks down a bit better during the drain and first spin. On the other hand, from what I’ve seen come out of the washer, I think Pro removes stains a bit better. I’ll know more when I’ve done the stained kitchen towel tests. In fact, I’ll do those two detergents first. Too bad the Tide Pro is only available in a 155 load box.

I find using between 30-50g of detergent—about 2 to 3 1/2 tablespoons—depending on the size and soil level of the load works well in the Speed Queen. Sometimes 50+g will trigger the suds removal protocol, but not often.

Following a link from your “8 Reasons Liquid Detergents Are Better” article, I ran across a fairly well rated detergent sheet called Freddie, with protease enzymes. Ordered a box of the frosty mountain scent and one fragrance free. Interested to see how they work. If they’re crap, I’ll use them for lightly soiled loads.

Here’s a link to the ingredients list at the Freddieco website for those interested. Calling Launderess!
https://freddieco.com/pages/ingredients

 

[gyrafoam]

Bob----

I have been using the Tide Oxi powder for a few months now and I have to say it is really doing a good job. I have finally broken my old habit of hot washes for everything. I rarely use Clorox anymore. I am very impressed.

 

[appnut]

Steve, thanks for letting me know.

 

[ryner1988]

I'm currently using Tide Clean Breeze liquid. I enjoyed the Tide Ultra Oxi powder when I had it, but I don't know how to use powder in my current TL washer, since it doesn't have separate dispensers and I can't add the powder to the water while filling. If I had a front loader, I'd probably use powder as many of you do.

Ryne

 

[ryner1988]

Note: I know I've complained in the past about the smell of Ultra Oxi, but in my experience, that's just in the pods, and just the regular pods at that. The odor eliminator pods are fine. Just don't ever get the regular-sized ultra oxi pods as the smell is repulsive, chemical, and nauseating. At least, I find it so.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

tide odor oxi

I find that Persil Advanced Clean ultra pacs smell miles better than Tide odor oxi. I haven't looked back. They do dissolve quickly and produce very little suds.

 

[appnut]

the Tide Professional arrived yesterday and I just unpacked it from its shipping box. I used the last of the Tide Regular and Tide w/Bleach Alternative this afternoon.[this post was last edited: 9/5/2024-21:57]

 

[mwill1116]

Frigilux—-

Have you reached a verdict on the detergent sheets from Freddie? I noticed their Frosty Mountain scent and I’m curious to see their performance. I’m currently on the hunt for a Mountain/Alpine scented detergent that cleans.

 

[ea56]

Re:#6

Ryne,
My machine is essentially the same as yours. When I use powder or liquid detergent I always add it to the bottom of the tub first, then add the laundry to be washed on top of it.

I’ve been using Ariel 2X power powdered detergent for the last 3 mo or so and I LOVE it! Doesn’t over suds, cleans everything thoroughly and is especially effective in removing oil and grease stains. It also rinses out well too with no traces of detergent left on the completed loads. Plus, it’s very economical too. Since it comes in a 17 lb bag that is somewhat unwieldily I pour the detergent in to a large Rubbermaid plastic canister and keep a 1/4 measuring cup in the canister for measuring out the detergent. For full to the top of the basket loads I use 1 cup, 3/4 full loads 3/4 cup, 1/2 loads 1/2 cup. It has a pleasant scent too.

I’d been using Tide 10X Heavy Duty liquid before this for about a year and I liked it but it os pretty expensive so I gave the Ariel a try and I don’t think I’ll be going back to liquid detergent again.

Eddie

 

[frigilux]

Scott- The Freddie sheets are middling performers at best. They’re fine if you pretreat stains. I use them for lightly soiled loads. I won’t buy them again.

 

[petek]

Everyone of those detergent sheets tested got a piss poor rating in CR's ratings.

 

[launderess]

German consumer test site didn't think much of those detergent sheets either.

Posted link to YT video showing results that left both housewife and television testing host not very impressed.

 

[combo52]

Best way to add detergent to a washer load

If you have a top load washer that does not have a recirculation pump and has an electric drain pump. You should add the detergent on top the clothing or of course if there’s a detergent dispenser put it there, if you pour liquid detergent into the machine before the clothing goes in it may run down into the sump and some of it may not get into the wash load and just be wasted.

If you’re using a pod, it can be loaded in the bottom of the tub and then the clothing put in this applies to both front load and top load washers for front load washers again you should always use the detergent dispenser for liquids and powders it varies by machine but this is good general Advice.

John

 

[ea56]

The owners manual from the last three TL’s that I’ve owned ALL say to put the detergent in the BOTTOM of the tub before adding the laundry, NOT on top of the clothing. I can follow directions.

I believe this advice is because newer TL’s have flow restrictors that don’t allow the fill water to gush in rapidly enough to thoroughly dissolve the detergent right away.

Eddie

 

[combo52]

Appliance manufacturers are not always right

Having worked in this field a long time we see mistakes all the time that manufacturers make many people on this site, including you, Eddie, know more than many manufacturers.

It’s simply common sense that if you sprinkle the detergent on top of the clothing and as the water goes down through the clothing as the tub slowly turns and fills with water you’re going to get more detergent, action in the clothing and more cleaning time and less possible waste of detergent, especially liquid detergents.

John

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #17

When I had my Whirlpool direct drive TL, I always started the washer filling, added detergent, and then put in the clothes. With my current TL I can't do that because the machine stops filling as soon as the lid is opened. However, I still try to do as close to that by putting detergent in the bottom of the tub. I then add clothes, close the lid and start the washer. Didn't realize that was the incorrect way to do it, guess you learn something new every day.

Ryne