Detergents Update: What are you using?

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mrsalvo

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Hey Guys!
Has been a while since we've had an updated detergent preferences. Was wondering what everyone is using, and what's in their "stash." Know that many manufactures like to change their formulas from time to time without informing the buying public. Would like to hear of your experiences and likes, dislikes. Know that there has been different threads from time to time, but would like to consolidate opinions.

I'll start: Am currently finishing up a big bucket of Wind Surf from Sam's Club. Cleans okay but think there is a lot of borax in it, seems to fade fabrics some. Also finishing up a big bottle of Woolite for Darks, cleans about fair but is low sudsing and eliminates the need for a second rinse.
Will probably switch back to H-E-B Bravo after everything is used up.

Last year I had a very bad reaction to Gain, fabric optical brighteners, told my Dr. and he recommended All Free & Clear only. It's okay, but it's no Tide or Persil, don't care for the chemical smell.

My goal is to find a well cleaning, low sudsing detergent than doesn't fade fabrics, and eliminates any need for a second rinse, and is reasonable price wise. A tall order!! Has anyone used Rosalie's Low Sudsing Detergent?

What are you using?

Hope to hear from everyone!!

Barry
 
I Generally Find

that this subject causes more arguments than it settles.

We just had a cold front come in overnight in the Houston area. It's rainy, dreary, chilly and a great day for nesting-
 
John, I don't wish to stir any pots, that's not my intent. It's just laundry detergent!!! Hopefully it will be okay. Yes, cold front moved in and the weather is frightful. Going to work on Christmas cards today and get them out.

Benjamin, glad you mentioned the ammonia, it works wonders. Have a homemade pretreat stain formula that I've used for years. In a spray bottle combine: 1 part sudsing ammonia, 1 part dish soap (top shelf brand), and 1 part water. Don't use it much these days as detergents have improved a lot but it's my fall back upon. It's good!!
 
"Tide Plus Bleach Powder" is the official name according to P&G.

 

It used to be at my local grocery store but I can only find it at Walmart now.  Would prefer an unscented version but it's relatively mild and mostly gone once the clothes are dry.

 

$13 for a 53 load box, but I use less than the recommended amount on small or lightly soiled loads.

 

Happy with this until it disappears or P&G changes it for the worse somehow.

iowabear-2017120612490301411_1.jpg
 
I like ERA liquid.  I use a conventional top-loading washer.  ERA washes almost as well as Tide, but has a much milder scent.  The only thing I want to smell in my laundry is "clean"!

 

The only other things I use in some loads are Borax for odors like shirts loaded with cologne, and regular liquid chlorine bleach in the white underwear load and the kitchen rag load.  I've given up on fabric softer, it seems I don't need it with our water here.

 

ERA is becoming scarce in some supermarkets, so I buy the big bottles with the spigot at Walmart.  A box of Borax is cheaper there too.

 

 

 

 

http://https//www.walmart.com/ip/Era-2X-Ultra-Regular-Liquid-Detergent-96-Loads-150-Fl-Oz/14244721
 
Borax does have bleaching properties

Though rather mild, the stuff does release oxygen when mixed with water. No where near powerful as sodium percarbonate or perborate, but there you are then.

Borateem was sold for ages as the "borax bleacher", which supposedly was a gentle alternative to chlorine or even "all fabric" bleaches.

While borax probably is safe for most colors and or colorfast wash; yes, I'd be careful around darks. More so if using it in warm or even hot water frequently.
 
Wind Surf

big bucket. I like it much better than the Costco HE powder. I'm actually on my 2nd bucket I've been using it for a long time along with Lemon ammonia in lights and colors. I think it does a GREAT job overall. I did miss a shirt that had an oily stain on it that didn't come all the way out, but that same thing happens with expensive detergents too. Next time I wash it usually a little dish soap on the oily spot gets it out - or Spray n Wash.

About the fading - I haven't really noticed this but I haven't really been paying that much attention - so more fading could be a possibility.
 
Best thing for oil based stains...

Hands down Fels Naptha soap, especially the older stuff before Dial made (many) changes.

Using Fels soap as a pretreat works wonderfully for many things (including ring around the collar and make-up stains), but unlike washing up liquid does not create froth in the wash.
 
I just opened my box of Gain Original the other week that has been sitting in the closet for probably close to 2 years and was starting to clump. I have two other boxes of Tide I haven't started on yet because I try to use the liquids up first since they have a shorter shelf life. [this post was last edited: 12/6/2017-17:24]
 
I’ve been using Persil 2 in1 ProClean for the past couple of weeks. I had been using Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid and I liked it too, but the Persill seems to clean noticably better, especially on whites. I also really like the scent of the Persil.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 12/6/2017-18:24]
 
 
I have a large stash of Persil Pearls (both Original and Intense Fresh scents) and 2-in-1 liquid.  Two jugs of Wisk liquid that I haven't cracked open.  Some Tide w/Bleach powder.  A bag of Foca powder.  1 & 3/4 jugs of Fresh Start powder.  Maybe one load left in a jug of Era liquid.
 
Kirkland.....

Ultra Clean "Refreshing Scent" liquid detergent.

I think they recently changed either the scent of this detergent or the formula.
This detergent now has such a STRONG scent that even clothes (whites) that have been bleached REEK of fragrance.
I will try the "scent free" formula next time as I don't care for this new scent at all!
 
Keep the responses going guys! The more the better. I'm a little surprised by some of them, thought maybe the natural bio products (ie..Seventh Generation, etc.) would be listed since there's been a push in advertising and marketing on tv. Also interesting that what is available in one part of the country is often very difficult to find in another. Wisk, Era, Biz comes to mind, for south central Texas. Mexican detergents seem to be much more readily available nationwide, a trend I'm noticing.
Septic systems also play a factor in what is used as well. Water hardness too can determine how well any of them perform.
Strong perfume doesn't seem to be favorite either....ie..Gain Mango Tango.

Eugene, how do you like Rosalie's Zero Suds?

Glen, if I had that much stash I wouldn't need to buy for a LONG time. Where, oh where, did you find Fresh Start?

Keep'em coming!!

Barry
 
Tide Powder. I currently have a box of Tide powder Mountain Spring, but I will go back to regular because Mountain Spring powder doesn't have the same scent as the liquid version, which is the same as old original. I also keep liquid around for pre-treating stains

I had a box of the oxygen bleach version but I found it wasn't worth the extra cost despite the fact we have white towels. Regular works just fine.

I usually have some Oxydol too but currently have some dollar store 1 cup formula detergent. The directions for front load machines actually says to start with 1/3 of a cup and add until suds are half way up the window. I cannot imagine what would happen if someone actually followed that in an HE front loader. I bought it for the entertainment.
 
My most recent detergent supply was Tide Purclean. It seemed to work well enough for my needs, and I can see buying more. Except...I have a tendency of buying something different each time. I do return to products that work well for me...but I don't have loyalty of buying that detergent and only that detergent forever and ever and ever.
 
The more the better. I'm a little surprised by some of them, thought maybe the natural bio products (ie..Seventh Generation, etc.) would be listed since there's been a push in advertising and marketing on tv.

 

It doesn't seem like many people here have mentioned using Seventh Generation during my time here.

 

I've used Seventh Generation and other such products, and they seemed to work OK for me. But I used warm water, and my laundry is typically freshening, not really dirty loads. Seventh Generation is priced like Tide, but does not have that cleaning power. At one time, I used it regularly, anyway, because I tend to like natural products. But I quit due to the cost.

 

 


 
I use the Persil Perls on whites, and either unscented Persil or Tide liquid for much else. However, I've also been running through some of my old detergent stash. Here are the empty boxes from the last year and a half (obviously I didn't use the Spic and Span on clothing).

Of the older detergents here, I liked Drive and White King D the best. The AD was virtually useless, but it was REALLY old. Overall, it was surprising how well many of these oldies still performed.

supersuds-2017120623511306195_1.jpg

supersuds-2017120623511306195_2.jpg

supersuds-2017120623511306195_3.jpg
 
John, oh did you ever bring back memories I thought I had forgotten with White King D. Totally forgot about that detergent. Had a very distinctive smell. Good call. And you are right, it cleaned well from what I remember in 2nd grade!!!
 
Eddie-- Glad you tried Persil ProClean 2 in 1 and have been getting great results with it. I used Tide Ultra Stain Release in HE front-loaders with excellent results, but found it lost cleaning power in the top-loading Speed Queen. I finished the jug on lightly soiled loads. Been a Tide man for many years, but the Persil 2 in 1 fares much better in the SQ's large volume of water.
 
Currently using Ariel 3 in 1 pods, Woolite for my merino and cashmere and Lidl small & powerful colour detergent, will not repurchase.. it smeeeells soo baaad. All my white washing gets a scoop of Vamish Gold oxygenated bleach.
 

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