Detergent Thread

[superelectronic]

Mr Wash, do you ever intend to use all that stash or is it more of a collection for posterity? That's surely YEARS worth of laundry...

I feel overburdened with just my large box of Ecover powder and 1.5l bottle of their liquid, plus a container or two of stain remover. Not that it doesn't take some self-restraint not to go and buy a load of stuff, I'll admit, but with an average of 2 loads a week it makes no sense to hoard. Even large sizes of products can induce boredom and a longing to see them finished!

 

[ronhic]

an average of 2 loads a week

You're kidding me?

When I was single I would easily do 4 medium loads...

Sheets - 2 Queen size, 2 pillow slips (and a duvet cover every other week)
Towels - 2 standard, 2 bath mats, washer and gym towels
Whites - all business shirts (no darks)
Light colours - alternate week to darks
Dark colours - alternate week to lights.

 

[franksdad]

Ariel detergent-find it at Ollies and WalMart.Whats the stuf

Rex, I bought a bottle of Ariel liquid at Ollie's a couple of weeks ago.  It seems to clean very well and it has a very pleasant fragrance.   However, I found the fragrance was a little too strong for my shirts or pants.  I have been washing my sheets and towels with this Ariel liquid and the it leaves them with a very light and pleasing fragrance.  A good deal for only $2.99 for a 32 use bottle.  I may go back for another bottle when I finish this one.  Ollie's just opened here last month and they are carrying a huge selection of detergents-can't recall all the varities off hand.  They also carry the Ariel powder.  I might try the powder next.   Jim

 

[mrwash]

Oh and this came to me today because of a super special offer. Couldn't resist the new Persil with lavendel freshness. And it really smells like lavender, not like something with a hint of somewhat that could have been lavender a few years ago *lol*

 

[mrwash]

And to answer the question:

YES, I will use all the things I have and YES I do collect detergents as a hobby. But as mentioned, I don't keep them forever. I do use them step by step.

I do wash for two people and a dog and I do have 25 loads a month. Sometimes just 20 but sometimes 30. It depends on numerous things.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

@ MrWash you should set up a laundry detergent business, have enough there to supply an army lol

Do German detergents contain phosphates out of curiosity?

 

[superelectronic]

@ronhic: yes indeed only about 2 loads a week for me, 3 at a push if I'm being extravant or have extra things.

Currently it tends to work out as:

 

1 load of whites (contains 1 double sheet, bath and hand towel, undies, tea towels, t-shirts etc - a large hot wash)

1 load of lights or darks on alternate weeks (duvet cover in with the lights which are mostly shirts)

 

I'm not a gym bunny so that's extra towel use out of the equation, nor are there bath mats to be washed. Every few weeks there are shower curtains but I've recently found they are quite safe with the whites on hot wash.

 

Washing is fun but drying and ironing isn't so I'm not in a hurry to generate laundry at volume for the sake of it. I don't want to spend every day with my fingers crossed for dry weather (I'm not one for indoor drying, nor am I a big fan of the tumble dryer).

 

Nobody's told me I'm a dirty b*tch yet, well...not in earshot anyway...

 

Anyway, back on topic, more power to those of you maintaining and actually using your stash. I've no doubt you're having hours of fun!

 

[mich2013]

Could one consider this a collection, or just hoarding..?

 

[mrwash]

liberatordeluxe

No, there are no phosphates in German detergents.

 

[ovrphil]

Mr.Wash - What a monumental collection of chemicals. Are neighboring countries products available in Germany, such as UK, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, France, Italy, etc? If so, have you purchased and tried these and how do they compare to the German products? I don't know where Persil or other products you collect are made,of course, but if I was a collector, I'd have a station for each country and products, with a flag at the top of the display(just me). I have never seen so many laundry products...and it doesn't matter if you use them or not, to me; visually, it's an extravaganza other visual people must enjoy, too. SplishSplash!

 

[tolivac]

Jim: got a 4 pound plastic bag of Ariel powder-haven't tried it yet.Did get a box of "Zote" flakes-tried that works quite well-the smell is strong would be good for other things besides clothes.Will go to Ollies at some point and get some of the Ariel they carry.The new WalMart has the Ariel powder and Zote.They also have Zote in bars if you want it that way instead of flakes as I got.

 

[launderess]

Still working my way through this:

 

[launderess]

And this

 

[launderess]

And this:

 

[launderess]

And so forth

 

[launderess]

Et plus

 

[mrwash]

@ovrphil:

I do have products from UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Repubilc and the Netherlands as well as from the United States. As a flight attendant it is easy to get those products.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

The Surf packaging reminds me of Radion here in the UK from the 90's.

 

[franksdad]

Rex, I believe our new Ollie's has the Zote flakes also.  I will be grabbing a hotdog next to the new Ollie's in just a few moments and I believe I'll stop back in and check it out again.  Thanks!

 

[aquacycle]

The Surf packaging reminds me of Radion here in the UK from

On the subject of Surf and Radion, you might not know this, but yellow Surf is actually Radion. Or at least, what Radion used to be.

Radion was discontinued by unilever, but the formula was rebranded as Surf.

 

[launderess]

Surf

Actually am working through that stash and find it is a pretty good performer. While it does lack enzymes that is an easy problem to solve as one also has a decent stash of various oxygen bleaches and or stain removal products that are laden with that sort of thing.

Surf really does what that marketing says, takes the "whiff" out of laundry. Scent wise the perfume is a vintage powdery sweet floral. Rather nice after things have been line dried and even after machine as well. Love using it for bed linen.

Can get away with 1-2 tablespoons in the Miele without worries about excess frothing or rinsing problems. Still add a bit of defoamer as a precaution.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

Surf only has 1 enzyme so basically only good for protein stain removal.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

Where does one get defoamer from? Never seen it supermarkets so guessing diy store jobbie?

 

[mich2013]

I've found, Commercial Grade de-foamer at the Rug Doctor rental kiosk thingies. It's like a 30oz bottle, for $3/4?

I think one can also find 1 gallon defoamer jugs in the aisle, with the Vacuum Cleaner and Carpet Cleaners in Home Depot. I think Lowes also used to carry it, but I don't think many stores still do.

Now keep in mind, this stuff DOES kill the foam. It's sorta like the effects of Fabric Softener but it doesn't effect the cleaning ability of the detergent solution in the washer.

I wanna also say, use a very limited, small amount of this stuff. Like 1 maybe 2 and a half table spoons, it's very effective, and while I don't know of any side effects to overdosing, I wouldn't really try.. I don't know, I guess I'm just paranoid.

Linkie- For anyone interested.

http://locations.rugdoctor.com/

 

[launderess]

Sadly the vintage circa 1980's Surf does not even have a whiff of enzymes.

 

[mich2013]

WAIT...

1980's Surf had NO PHOSPHATES?

 

[ovrphil]

Launderess - you have your work cut out - get dirty often. (down and dirty is not related) ;-) wow, what a stash.

MrWash - cool! Ever had any of your stuff confiscated when taking it on the plane? No ingredients in those wash products that are on the banded list?

All these products are an incentive to get filthy....and try all the different cleaning goodies.. Burst and Surf... Anyone ever experiment with mixing brands in various ratios to see if your laundry cleaning results are better, worse, or no change?

 

[mich2013]

Wish I could say it was a tad more organized, although I think it's okay for show & tell right now

 

[mich2013]

Could this be considered Vintage?

 

[launderess]

@Orvphil

Methinks sooner or later some of the more bulk items in my stash may start to go.

When the new AEG arrives next week have made a firm resolve that only modern European detergents such as Persil or Ariel will be used. Just want to start things off right and not worry about over sudsing issues and so forth.

Vintage offerings that *may* be fine are "All, with the three B's) (very low to nil sudsing), and perhaps the Surf. Other detergents such as vintage Tide Ultra simply create too much froth and are very hard to rinse.