Detergent choices

[ea56]

Re:17

“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.”

Well John, I just looked at the owners manual for your beloved Speed Queen TL’s and it says explicitly to place the detergent in the BOTTOM of the tub, then add the clothes, just like the manuals of ALL the other TL’s. So I guess you know more than Speed Queen.

Back in the good old days when TL’s didn’t have flow restrictors that limit the incoming flow of fill water it certainly made sense to add the detergent on TOP of the laundry after putting in into the tub. The fast fill would quickly devolve the detergent so it could disperse evenly with the laundry.

Now, washing machines fill slowly and sporadically, often stopping to adjust the rate of hot versus cold water to satisfy the auto temp control. Adding the detergent on top of the laundry can result in a paste of powdered detergent sitting on the clothes during the fill process before agitation begins which could cause stains on darker clothing.

Adding the detergent at the bottom of the tub insures that the water filling the tub will drain down to the bottom of the tub, into the outer tub and mix with the detergent insuring that it is evenly mixed with the water by the time agitation begins.

You do it your way and I’ll follow the instructions of the manufactures.

Eddie

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #20

Eddie, your logic of proper detergent placement in these modern TL washers is what I've always figured as well. I've lifted the washer lid during agitation occasionally, and the detergent certainly seems to be sufficiently mixed with the washwater, after putting it at the bottom of the tub before the cycle.

I'm not sure if your machine does this, but mine will fill to a very low level while spinning the tub every few seconds. I'm guessing that's the sensing process, as the fill will stop for approx. 30 seconds, and then resume. During this second fill phase, the agitator moves in short bursts every few seconds until the desired fill level is reached, at which time full agitation begins. Bulky and superwash cycles do not perform this sequence, instead just filling to the top uninterrupted, presumably because these cycles don't have a sensing process to complete.

In any case, I always feel like the spinning and short agitations during the fill gets the detergent properly mixed in with the washwater, so I've always trusted the manufacturers instructions on where to place detergent.

 

[ea56]

Thanks Ryne for the validation! And yes, my washer works just like yours during the fill part of the wash cycles.

Eddie

 

[combo52]

Add detergent to Speed Queen top loaders

On the TR models, it should be added to the top of the clothes load that way the concentrated detergent settles down through the clothing while it’s filling, I would do the same on the TC models, but it really doesn’t matter on those because they have a motor driven pump that runs in reverse and there’s no risk of losing any of the detergent.

Obviously, you can do it either way, and it will probably work pretty well, however, the manufacturers are wrong. It does work better if you put it on top of the clothing, so the detergent can settle through the clothing as the warm water fills into the machine.

John

 

[DADoES]

 
F&P states to add detergent into the hollow centerpost of agitator models where it mixes with the water during fill and the Eco Active pretreatment ... or during agitation if Perm Press or the Traditional Wash option is selected.

AquaSmart has a flush-through detergent dispenser, and also mixes during Eco Active.  There are one or more recirculation periods during agitation on most of the cycles even if Eco Active isn't performed.

 

[panasonicvac]

I usually put detergent on top of my loads, never had any issues or noticed any differences.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

detergent loading

I put the detergent on the bottom of the tub, then add clothes and start the machines. The washer still mixes the detergent without issues. I believe the clothes are lifted due to the amount of water in the tub.

 

[appnut]

Alex, I always put detergent on top of the load on our 1964 Norge15, 1970 Kenmore 800, my Lady Shredmore. Subsequent washers have all been front loaders.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Detergents:

I have been using Tide with a touch of Downy in my SQ FL for a few years now. I could not be happier with the results. Laundry always comes out clean and fresh and after drying is soft and very lightly scented of Softener. No buildup in the dispenser and economical to use as a little bit goes a long ways and you don't need a separate FS. It plays nicely with FL machines IMO.
WK78

 

[cleanteamofny]

 

 

Bob,

I was just wondering what price you paid for the Tide Professional and if your box was lined with plastic.

 

[appnut]

Larry, from Amazon, before tax, the price was $51.68 and that was ordered in early September. No, the box wasn't llined with plastic.

 

[cleanteamofny]

 

 

Thank you, Bob.

 

The prices on AMZ are all over the map. The normal high price is  $54+. I paid $46.74 for it, and the price dropped today.

I'm a little upset that the box leaked from the un-tape areas.

Also, I did my first load with this detergent, using 2 TBS, and the water was very slippery to the touch. The scent is strong compared to other Tide products.

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

[petek]

I paid $49 canadian a few months ago on the Staples Canada website... today it's on sale for $39 canadian which is about $29 USD. Amazon in the US & Canada it' still around $50 both US & Cdn.

 

[petek]

btw the box isn't plastic lined. Mine hasn't leaked out but the smell certainly does. I actually offered it to my neighbor but she declined after smelling it and she likes things like Glade plug ins etc. I won't use it at all on my sheets and pillow cases and use it sparingly on regular washes with added extra rinses.

 

[frigilux]

Bob- Just wanted to check in to ask for your thoughts on powdered Tide Professional now that you’ve had a few weeks to get acquainted with it. I really like it. It’s a top-notch cleaner and the scent doesn’t bother me. It’s fairly strong straight from the box, but there’s barely any residual scent when items emerge from the dryer.

If I had to choose one powdered US detergent to use, it would be Tide Professional.

 

[appnut]

Eugene, I love it. Have been really impressed. I think somewhere in the original thread(s) discussion the product, it's formulated to perform best with warm water. The limited thus far expsoure to difficult stains, it's performed flawlessly. And rinses well. As such, my two go to cycles are towels and perm press for the rest of laundry. Those two cycles use lots of water and warm wash temp as default. In a lot of ways laundry has been vastly simplified compared to my almost OCD approach of the proper temperature and cycle for the various sorts of loads

 

[jakeseacrest]

Bob I switched from Persil to Tide with Downy and Tide Hygiene. No complaints with either

 

[appnut]

Michael, thanks. I may have to check those out.

 

[labboy]

I’ve really grown to like Miele UltraWhite. Probably the best detergent for white fabrics that I’ve ever used. Super concentrated. It makes me wonder about the dosing directions on the Miele package. I’d never be able to get good rinsing if used that dosing. My water is 14-15 gr/gal so pretty hard and I still need to use very little.

Bob

 

[mark_wpduet]

do any of you use baking soda with your laundry detergent? I only ask because I found a huge bag of Arm & Hammer baking soda from costco unopened... I've been adding about 1/2 cup in the drum and then my regular detergent in the dispenser... and then vinegar in the rinse dispenser.. I really just wanted to get through the big bag of baking soda and I'm kind of surprised but I think it makes a difference...

I'm also almost out of laundry detergent. I'd say I have a month's worth left and I have NO clue what I'm going to try next.