Detergent Tablets

[jt1985]

I am looking into replacing my detergent with a UK detergent (Ariel, Persil or Surf). Which is better and what format is best?

 

[2drumsallergy]

UK Detergents

Hi jt1985,
In the the UK Ariel and Persil are the top sellers and considered top of the line detergents. Surf and Daz are lower end detergents, Surf in particular is loaded with overpowering cheap smelling scents. My personal favorite is Ariel, I have always found it to be a superior product in terms of stain removal and whiteness. The latest formula of Persil (With Just Washed Freshness) has gone downhill in terms of cleaning performance and the new scent is anything but pleasant to my nose. If you like heavily scented detergents then Bold Infusions is likely to impress, they are floral scents and linger on the laundry even after drying. Bold Spa Minerals is nice and smells like a Bath Foam product, Bold Apple Blossom & Lime Zest is my personal favorite as it has an underlying note of the Original Bold 3 scent from the 1980's

What type of washer do you use?

You should be aware that UK detergents are low suds and primarily designed for European Front Loaders which fill with cold water and heat it to the selected temp. Euro washers also have extremely long cycle times 2 hours plus for whites, UK and Euro detergents are designed with these long cycle times in mind. My point is if you are using a Top Loader you could be disappointed with UK detergents and will likely get superior results with a top end US Detergent such as Tide which is designed to clean in shorter cycle times.

I hope this is of some help.

David

http://www.britishcornershop.co.uk/

 

[peterh770]

I've used Persil and Ariel tablets from UK. I prefer the Persil by far. Next time I order, it will be for the powder in both regular bio formula and colour formula. And I have used British Corner Shop in David's link above.

 

[jt1985]

What Type?

I have a Kenmore Washer/Dryer unit. The washer is a top loader, but it acts more like a front. Fills from the bottom, making a ton of suds. Even Tide HE doesn't work.

 

[jt1985]

Correction

When I used Tide HE, it created suds. But is it because the machine fills differently? I have a friend who has some Persil Bio from a trip and has offered to let me try it.

This is how I do my laundry:

1) Let water fill
2) Add detergent (Currently All HE)
3) Add clothes

 

[jeffg]

Try Charlie's Laundry Powder, and add 1/4 - 1/3 cup of STPP for white loads.

http://www.charliesoap.com/products.asp
Follow the label directions to get rid of residual detergent in your washer and clothes.

Here's a link for STPP:

http://www.chemistrystore.com/Chemicals_S_Z-Sodium_Tripolyphosphate.html

 

[2drumsallergy]

UK Detergents

Hi Peter,
The new Persil formula is a real disappointment in terms of stain removal and odor removal, the new scent "Just washed feeling" makes me itch and sneeze constantly. Which? Magazine in the UK has consistently found Ariel in all formats (Powder, Liquid & Tablets) to be the top performer in its tests, I have found this to be true in my experience.

Hi jt1985,
Your machine is a Top Load Whirlpool DD design; I have a Whirlpool DD Top Loader in my collection and I find the best detergent to use in it is Ariel Handwash & Twin Tub, it is designed for use in Twin Tubs, Top Loaders and for hand washing but more importantly it is designed to clean in the short cycle times of Top Loaders. Regular Ariel Bio Powder also works well in it but I need to add three full measures to get the correct dosage due to the huge volume of water used by the Top Loader. Persil Bio Liquigel http://www.persil.co.uk/ works well in my Whirlpool so it might be worth a try.

Good luck.

David

http://www.ariel.co.uk/

 

[jt1985]

Ariel Handwash

Can it be used for the whole wash? Can Ariel Handwash & Twin Tub be used on colors?

 

[2drumsallergy]

Ariel Handwash

Hi jt1985,
Yes it can be used on colours but it does contain Oxygen Bleach and could cause some fading over time. Its only called Handwash now because Twin Tubs and Top Loaders are almost non existent now in the UK. Originally in the UK our low suds detergents used to be labeled Automatic the way H.E. is used in the US but the term Automatic is no longer used as all our detergents are low suds except for anything labeled Handwash.

David

 

[washdayisfun]

Low suds!!...HHMMMMMM...Not with my very soft water..Bloody nightmare! Am yet still to find a powder that does not suds up all over the place.

Mark
x

 

[2drumsallergy]

Extremely Soft Water

Hi Mark,
Low suds well relatively speaking LOL!

I have extremely soft water here in County Down and a trick I have learned over the years is to add a spoonful of grated Fairy Household Soap to loads I know will suds a lot e.g. Towels. The soap actually suppresses the suds without effecting the wash results.

David

 

[zanussi_lover]

Surf

Surf isn't overpowering, when you take your clothes out of the machine they smell lightly of the scent, they come in 3 scents

Lemon, Tropical or Lavender fragrances

Ariel smells vile, of a lemony piney scent which is disgusting,

Surf rinses really well, i get a clear rinse by the 2nd rinse

 

[2drumsallergy]

Detergent Scents

Hi zanussi_lover,
Its all a matter of taste!

Personally I find the scents in Surf disgusting and I adore the wonderful fresh scent of Ariel.

David

 

[zanussi_lover]

I know

I prefer Daz over ariel, just can't stand the scent of ariel.

I love the liquids and liquitabs though

I prefered the pre 2005 formulation, the scent was less overpowering, i find the only powder which smells like the pre 2005 formulation is sainsburys bio powder.

 

[zanussi_lover]

Daz tablets scent

I'm sure the daz tablets scent since it changed from this packaging. this is the pre 2004 packaging

 

[launderess]

Meal Time Mess Magnets!

I Love It!!!!

*LOL*

 

[zanussi_lover]

I know

i remember my brother used to use this formulation of daz in his hotpoint 9530, this was back in 2002, I can remember washing a really old white floor rug which was totally black with mud and dog stains, I remember washing it at 40*c prog [5] on the hotpoint, and it coming up really white

also i recall this daz to be blue in colour, and it smelt amazing

 

[washdayisfun]

David

Thanks for the tip. I would have never of thought to add soap to reduce suds. How does it work?
Does it help with the first spin....aka...less chance of suds lock as I always get it with the first and a lot of times in the other spins also.

Mark

 

[2drumsallergy]

Detergent Scents

Hi zanussi_lover,
You can still get the old 2005 formula Ariel Bio Powder in Makro its in the P&G Professional range and has the original sweet Bubblegum like scent.

Hi Mark,
I'm not sure of the chemistry going on but it does work, actually Soap is used as a suds suppressant in most detergents these days. In the 80's silicone was the preferred ingredient for suds suppression, but silicone can cause major problems in certain situations such car spray painting. The silicone comes off fabrics and lands on the car body panels, when painted the silicone repels the paint leaving small pin head sized holes in the paint surface.

David

 

[2drumsallergy]

Hi Mark,
Sorry I forgot!
Yes it does help during the first spin. I don't use it in every load but you get to know which loads require it usually Towels in my case.

David

 

[zanussi_lover]

2Drumsallergy - Really, Will have to check that out, i heard they sold ariel alpine in professional boxes as well.

I saw daz today in this shop a big box for 14.99 and it has the old daz logo on it, if its the old formula then i will buy it

I loved the old scent of daz when it had the old Daz Logo with mealtime mess magnets.

 

[jt1985]

I've made my selection.

Ordered Ariel Bio Tablets and Ariel Excel Gel Colour. I am anxious to try the tablets on my workpants. I work in a garden center, and my pants are prone to looking bad. I am also interested to see if the Ariel Colour Excel Gel can keep my workshirts and my blue jacket brighter longer than 2x Ultra Tide w/Bleach Alternative (which got a label change again, no more Color Clean).

 

[launderess]

Soap & Foam

What you want is long chained soaps,not just any soap.

For instance Fels Naptha does a good job in reducing foam, however Savon de Marseille, or Lux Flakes can cause more suds.

Strange, but find soaps do a better job of foam control with liquid detergents than some powders. In all cases a tiny bit of carept cleaning foam suppressent (which is mainly silicone based), knocks down foam better and keeps it down, versus soap.

L.

 

[2drumsallergy]

Long Chained Soap

Hi Launderess,
I'm not sure what type Fairy Household Soap is but I have attached a link to its ingredients list. Perhaps you can tell from the list and report back.

David

http://www.scienceinthebox.com/cgi-bin/info-pg/showproduct.pl?lang=en_UK&id=1555-1