Detergents from the late 70s / early 80s

[kenmoreguy64]

My mom and I were discussing detergent the other day after she discovered Fresh Start again on a local grocery shelf. She used it often in the late 70s or early 80s, but it seemed her preference for years was All powder. What detergents were common on the shelves say around 1980 or so? I was into washers big time then, but didn't pay much attention to detergents, so I only remmeber a handful.

I remember the All being REALLY heavy, with blue, red and yellow specs in addition to the white base powder. We remember the Fresh Start for the scent and the small measuring caps. We couldn't use Tide as Mom said it made too much suds with the water softener we had. I do remember trying to get her to buy Cold Power, but that was a no-go for her. We like something difference once in a while, so occasionally we'd have Cheer or Bold3.

What does everyone else remember?

 

[jeffg]

My mom used All powder. In 20 years I never saw anything else in our laundry room, except Clorox & Clorox II bleaches. Its cleaning power took a major nosedive when phosphates were removed, but it's still pretty effective when spiked with STPP.

The last several years I've been using Tide Free and Charlie's Laundry Soap, because of their neutral scent. Most scented detergents these days are overpowering.

 

[rayjay]

How about if we go back even further?

Does anyone remember Silverdust, Breeze, Super Suds?

Giving my age away here. lol

 

[spoodles]

Back in those days Tide was still a UK brand too!

 

[gansky1]

Oxydol and Fab

This was from an estate sale find a few months ago...

 

[xyz]

Back about 10 years ago I used to go about once a week to help a 91 year old lady do her chores in the yard and house. She could get around pretty well for her age but did need help. Her cabinets were like a time capsule for detergents and other assorted products. She lived wayyyyyy out in the country and I assumed that she either hoarded up alot of the same thing or she may have been OCD. But I mean to tell you that she would have 20 boxes of washing powder and it would be so old it was like picking up a rock.

 

[xyz]

she even had some clorox in brown bottles. I'm pretty sure those werte old but anyways, they were unopened. I don't know why this lady thought she had to hoard up stuff like that that she never used.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I remember Breeze and SuperSuds. I tried to get the towels in Breeze, but mom only did that a couple times because she said she was paying for the towel not the soap.

We had SuperSuds in my college book store in those small notebook sized boxes. This was around 1987 or so. I had my '86 belt drive in my condo then, and I could buy big boxes (usually Surf of Fab), but it was fun to feel like a dorm resident so I bought the 'suds a few times. It didn't combine well with my belt-drive, even with Charlotte's semi-hard water, and I'd get that familar suds lock with towels.

I bought more than a few boxes of Punch back then too.

 

[phillygrl]

Ivory Snow and Ivory Flakes were around then, and I used Ivory Snow all of the time. I still miss them. Mom was a big Whisk liquid user then. She always had a box of LaFrance on the shelf for when we washed the curtains. I was great at getting out blood stains too. Wish I had known that Dial was discontinuing the product, I would have bought a case of it.

Lisa

 

[polkanut]

My Mom was a dyed-in-the-wool Oxydol user, same vintage as the boxes in Gansky's stash, SIGH. Once in awhile a box of Tide or Bold would find it's way into Mom's shopping cart, but only if they were practically giving the stuff away. She was a big believer in Blu-White and La France also. Now she uses Liquid Tide.

 

[soapnsuds]

Ajax

My mom never seemed too loyal to any ONE detergent growing up. We used Ajax, Bold and FAB!(oh FAB, we're glad, there's lemon freshing borax in you!) And of course my ALL TIME FAVORITE DASH!! God I loved to buy it in that big box with the handle. My Nana used it and I still remember the smell of her sheets and towels!! I continuted to use it up until the late 80's when they changed it to that awful yellow-lemon scented CRAP! (I'm not bitter though!)

Then we used powdered all and I would throw in a bottle or two of Wisk. I miss that too. The great smelling, blue liquid. mmmm

I used/still use Fresh Start, but it doesn't smell anything like it used to. Now it sorta smells like amonia or something. Certainly no Fresh SCENT. I only use it becuase it is so low suding in the front loader.

Anyone remember Borateam? I used to love the smell of that and for fabric softener you couldn't (still can't) beat the smell of the 80's Final Touch. Everything now smells SOOO sweet and strong. Makes me go running for my headace powders! LOL.

Trying to remember what deterget came with a bath towel in it, back in the early 70's? I remember getting two towels, one was Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer, and some other christmas one. God, I used those towels up into my teen's. They were my favorite. (I was young, what can I say)

But of all of them...DASH is still my favorite. Wish they would make it again. I miss that clean smell (and I miss my Nana).

Have a great night boys.

 

[polkanut]

Gordon mentioned the towels as being in Breeze, re: Post# 311022.

 

[rayjay]

Towels in Breeze

SilverDust had Cannon dish towels.

Breeze, I believe also had a towel.

DUZ had glasses.

Correct me if I am wrong anyone.

 

[tlee618]

You are correct but also remember the beautiful Golden Wheat dinnerware in the Duz box!!

 

[gadgetgary]

Remember?

The name of the detergent with 'Hazel' on the front of the box?

 

[iheartmaytag]

My Mom was a Ajax or Duz fan

In later years she turned to Tide or Cheer. I have recently discovered Roma detergent--LOVE IT! It's like Tide used to be.

 

[rayjay]

Duz Dinnerware

Terry, I cannot remember the dinnerware. Did the glasses also have the wheat design? (I see we are from the same era, lol ).

I know SilverDust had the cotton Cannon dishtowel, but what was the make and type of towel in Breeze? Growing up we lived in a 2 family home before my parents bought their own and we had a GE wringer washer, and Thor wringer (from an aunt), and the land lady had a pink Kenmore. All of the dishtowels she used were from silver dust. However, my parents were avid Rinso Blue and Tide users. It was always fun to open a new box of Silverdust and see what color stripe the towel was. lol

Were there any other promotions in any other detergents that anyone can remember?

 

[gyrafoam]

Yeah, Duz also had dishes. It was one of those that also cleaned. Super Suds wasn't worth a s*%t, Breeze was o.k. also. Of course, they all were BIG sudzers! Don't even wave the box at a Whirly/Kenmo 'cause its 'gonna sudz-lock at first sight! Lemon freshened FAB was also a HUGE sudzer back in the day. My best friend's mother used to constantly choke her old Highlander with it. Almost all the old detergents from the fifties/sixties made huge sudz except All, Dash, Salvo, and what else?

I haven't thought about the old Ajax in a while. It had a rather industrial odor to it----kinda like Cheer. And Fresh Start used to smell great---now it smells industrial.

Dash was just WONDERFUL! So was La France--- damn them for discontinuing it! Now if I need bluing I just wash with Foca.

I thought Ivory Snow left a wonderful fragrance on the clothes, but I didn't think it cleaned very well. Maybe it did better in a wringer when you could just let it agitate and hour or so.

 

[rayjay]

Hi Gyrafoam, Steve). I totally agree about dash. That was the only detergent my parents and I used when we got out first automatic in 1962, a Sears Kenmore Model 70 (POS). Only lasted 5 years, 4 water pumps, a motor, timer control. My dad finally threw it out and got a Frigidaire Rapid Dry 1000. The best machine they had. Then after that broke, a Frigidaire 1-18. Good machine but....the Rapid Dry washed better.

We always used Dash in the automatic. Great smell, super clean clothes, and the best rinsing. I think ALL of the HIGH Sudsers should be banned. It makes me itch just looking at all those suds. lol Since I have a front loader, I always use HE detergent. I think for the most part that people do not understand that suds do not do the cleaning.

Back in 1984, my wife and I had a Westinghouse a LT800E front loader, and you could not find a low sudser. Regular detergent had to be measured carefully, or the suds were up the window. Had to run several rinses.

 

[tlee618]

Hi Ray, as Steve said Duz was a good cleaner. The golden wheat dinnerware also had the matching glasses with the golden wheat pattern. We used Dux for many years and then went to Dash and All. We can't forget American Family Detergent either. They had coupons on the box that you saved, then ordered a catalog and picked out the things you wanted.

 

[rayjay]

hi Terry

Hi Terry. I never heard of American Family Detergent. What area was that in? Did DUZ also make soap flakes??? I may be wrong but I vaguely recall.

ALso used Instant Fels Naptha. Nice smell also.

Now.....Dash way back then was $4.99 for a 20lb box. It was one of the more expensive detergents back then. But....what a great job in cleaning. My dad used to put in 2 cups in the Kenmore Model 70 for his greasy workclothes, let them soak for a few hours, then turn the machine on. Everything came out. lol (Maybe that is why the water pumps wore out). lol

As for bleach....We used to get it delivered for .25 a gallon. It was called Modern Crystaline Washing FLuid. Powerful stuff. Better than Clorox.

 

[ptcruiser51]

Rinso

was often in our laundry room, along with Dash and AD. ShopRite here in NJ has started carrying liquid Dash in regular (?) and lemon scent.

 

[launderess]

Ivory Snow

Back then wasn't a detergent at all, but soap flakes (Ivory Flakes) or simply soap powder (Ivory Snow).

Pure soap is not the best thing for laundering dirty nappies and baby clothes, though fine for blankets and other lightly soiled items.

Enzymes helped kill off soap for baby's laundry, as detergents such as the new Dreft and others did a much better job on baby poo and spew than Ivory Snow. Once the Federal government mandated children's and infant's sleepwear have certain flame retardant qualities, it put the final nail in Ivory Snow, as pure soap, like fabric softeners interferes with flame retardency and can actually make some things more flammable.

Still, nothing smells like better than baby's things washed in the old Ivory Snow. Almost certain to make one go all broody.

 

[wetguymd]

Does anyone remember?

Salvo..I always thougth it was so neat because it was a tablet that you dropped in the wash instead of powder. I don't remember te smell of it but loved it.

Rainbarrel fabric softner was another one that was so wonderful. Loved the smell os it.

Bring back those days!!

 

[tlee618]

Hey Ray, I always thought that American Family was all over the US but I might be wrong there. I don't recall Duz ever making soap flakes but I could be wrong.

 

[soapnsuds]

Duz?

I'm too young for Duz and Breeze....my towels were from like 1970-75 somewhere round there. I wanna say they came in the FAB box. I know Breeze did have boxes with a Cannon washcloth in them (I have a box of that on my shelf). Aren't those from the 50's?

 

[laundromat]

Ad,Ajax,All,Breeze,Bold,Cheer,ColdPower,Dash,Dazel,Dove,Dreft,Drive,Duz,Era,Fab,Fairy,FreshStart,Gain,Lux,Lestare,LaFrance,Oxydol,Octagon,Punch,Rinso,Salvo,SilverDust,Snowy,Supersuds,Surf,Trend,Vim,and Wisk are the ones I remember.My favorites were All,Dash,Salvo and Vim.I liked Fresh Start when it was originaly introduced and All's original formula rocked!For a while,Ajax,Fab,Fresh Start and Surf had the same aroma but Surf changed drasticaly and smelled like cat litter.I think the best HE detergenr performance wise is Wisk HE.I can use ANY regular detergent anad WiskHE to it and NO suds will build up.One time I deliberately poured an entire botle of TideHE in my Frigidaire front loader.Suds built up everywhere and it took 8 rinses to get them out.I did the same with WiskHE I saw very few suds and the second of three rinses was crystal clear water.I also tried mixing the WisHE with my favorite(Gain w/Bleach)formula and it was extreamly successful in controling the suds!!

 

[whitekingd]

The little blue jug is -

DYNAMO!!!! And don't forget Era and Wisk! And, of course.
WHITE KING D!!!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Wetguy / Lyle -

My grandmother used Salvo. They lived in Westfield, NJ at the time and we were in Detroit, so it was usually an airplane trip adventure to go visit. To see her 1964 control box Whirlpool was a nice departure from the 1961 Kenmore 70 of my mom's. Then the Salvo, which she'd drop in, making a splash sound, then you could hear them knocking on the surgilator vanes a time or two before they dissolved. I convinced my mom to get a box one time at our local A&P, but she didn't like it (too many suds) as we had a water softener and about all we could use was All.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

PTCruiser -

Do I read that correctly that Shoprite has Dash liguid now? Is it still a P&G brand? They discontinued Dash not long after detergents went the first Ultra round. That's cool if they brought it back.

I recently found some Bold on the shelves at Lowe's Home Improvement (P&G says it's in limited distribution).