FOCA - Update

[whirlcool]

We have been using the Mexican laundry detergent FOCA for about a month now. We really like it a lot. No bad smell to it, clothes come out very clean. In fact they come out cleaner than Persil ever cleaned them.
The other day I washed some T-Shirts that I wear around the house on weekends while doing home/auto repairs, chores, etc. I used the standard dose of FOCA in the wash with the shirts. Surprisingly old stains that I thought were set were totally removed. Karen washed a older set of kitchen curtains which had yellowed and washing didn't really clean them and they came out perfectly white! Karen has noticed that the wash water seemed "grayer" than it has in the past.
Is this the result of phosphates in FOCA at work? We also noticed that our washing machine smells a lot better too.

 

[launderess]

Phosphates, phosphates, and more phosphates.

You are pulling detergent soil residue out of your laundry, and keeping it in the wash water where it gets flushed down the drain.

Aside from STPP, there really isn't much else to recommend any of the Mexican detergents, IMHO. Study after study has proven that laundry cleaned with phosphates will be whiter and brighter than those without. Even adding tons of OBAs cannot make up for the difference.

L.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I love Foca, too. I agree that whites appear brighter and cleaner, but I get one hell of a sudz lock with every wash. We have very soft water in Boston, and I don't like the idea of putting any extra wear and tear on the old Maytag.
Bobby in Boston

 

[toggleswitch2]

I love my phospahtes. Old yellowed T-shirts that were ready to be tossed out washed-up like new!

I even pre-washed them in the machine and then put them in a huge kettle for a stove-top boil wash with phosphates. The water was nearly black!

 

[bobbyderegis]

I need to try Foca in the Norge or the Frigidaire. I'll have sudz until Spring!
Bobby in Boston

 

[rayjay]

Bobby, I use Foca in my LG front loader for the whites. Excellent results. Even add bleach, Now the results are really great.

I have very very soft mechanically softened water and I just use less and have not experienced any problems in my LG.-

 

[westyslantfront]

I use Viva and I add more phosphates that I purchase from the
Chemistry Store.
My whites are white and my brights are bright.

Ross

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

 

[re563]

I have seen FOCA at walmart, have been very curious about it, but want to know from those who have a modern FL, how much do you use? and do you also use it on your colors as well?

 

[toggleswitch2]

...and I will be forever grateful to you Ross, for getting me hooked!

I have spread a bucket (each) of the stuff to various members of my family and they are tickled pink!

That and SEARS powdered detergent and we are the cleanest on the block!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Ray, If I used Foca in a front loader I'd be rinsing for a week. I'm not that daring. With Sears powder, I could use the whole bucket and no suds whatsoever.
Bobby in Boston

 

[rayjay]

Hi Bobby. For some reason I do not have a problem. But of course if I added a cup in the front loader I guess I would. I think since the water level is low in front loaders, this may account for not a lot of sudsing. I do get some suds, but not up the window. I think on my LG with the sprayer, that this might have something to do with it. When then sprayer turns on, the suds diminish a little. Does anyone out there have a theory on this?

Now my water is super soft so I add about 1/4 cup. When you get out of the shower your skin is so soft. Family and guests were not used to it and felt that they had to keep rinsing off. lol You can try this and see how this works. It is worth a try in that Foca is really great for the whites, (along with bleach of course). lol

I would try it, but have the vinegar or fabric softner near to add to the drawer if oversudsing should occur.

Let me know how you make out.

But do not try it on towels. lol

Ray

 

[rayjay]

Persil

Bobby, You may want to try the powdered Persil. I would say it has about the the same cleaning power as Foca but no suds in the front loader. You can send for it on-line. It is expensive, but you use very little and it lasts a long time. Great for whites. You want to get the Persil from Germany, I think it says Henkels on the box. You would have to ask.

WOrks great in the front loader.

Ray

 

[whirlcool]

I used 100ml of FOCA in our Whirlpool DD washer. It does generate a nice suds cake, however it rinses out very nicely. The second rinse is almost clear with no suds at all. So it does rinse out very easily. Unlike Tide which will still have suds after 6 rinses.
In a FL I would try 25ML to see how that goes.

Some of those grease/oil stains on my T-Shirts have been there for years, and FOCA took them all out.

 

[rayjay]

In a FL I would try 25ML to see how that goes.

Allen, Thanks for the dosing tip in front loaders. I will have to try it. And yes.......I do agree that Focs RINSES out very well.

Bobby, It is worth a try.

Keep those tidy whities nice and white. lol lol

Ray

 

[bobbyderegis]

Can someone convert mls to ounces? I'm pretty bad at math. 1/4 cup?
Bobby in Boston

 

[gyrafoam]

Bobby-----

Maybe a good idea is to start with just a couple of Tablespoons full. If your F/L is a modern one that uses very little water, maybe that is all you will need anyway.
As for the 'tag, just do half a cup and see how it goes.

Back in Atlanta, where the water is fairly soft, I had to be careful with my "Power-Fin" 'tags to keep them from sudz-locking with FOCA or Viva. The "Gyratator" equipped '64 'tag seemed impervious. The FriGEMore just needed a few Tablespoons of FOCA----I didn't even try Viva in it. Here in Roanoke where the water is hard, I don't have a problem with the FOCA at least.

I am so spoiled by both FOCA and Viva, I just don't think I could ever be satisfied with the performance of any of the American detergents again.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Once you FOCA you never go back?

250 ml = 1/4 litre
230 ml = one 8 oz cup
100 ml = 1/2 cup (4 oz) less 1 Tablespoon.
15 ml = 1 Tablespon
5 ml = 1 Teaspoon

I don't like phospates in my (ultra) darks. I say it makes them bleed and fade. When the devil is in me, I will use it in light beiges, pastels, old jeans, etc.

 

[brettsomers]

I used Sears powder on a load of darks and it seemed to fade them after one wash. I use liquid Cheer on darks now.

Water is hard in San Antonio. Never had sudsing issues with Foca, even when using a heavy dose in a Dexter FL.

As others have pointed out, the bluing and clean rinsing are Foca benefits.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I usually use one cup Foca for a full load in the Maytag, large capacity. Won't using only half a cup leave soil deposits on the clothes? My clothes get pretty gross because of oily skin. (Italian family) My front loader is a Dexter tank triple loader. I usually use the same amount as for a top loader, as it fills with 20 gallons for wash. If I use Sears powder, I get no suds whatsoever.
Bobby in Boston