FOCA

[vintagekitchen]

Anyone else have any experience with this detergent? I have just started trying it in my twin tub, and so far, I AM IN LOVE!! lol... It suds well just like detergents used to when I was a kid, even using less than the called for amount, and rinses away very very well, unlike some modern detergents that require 4 spray rinses and 2 deep rinses with our hard water... (I try every detergent I can, and EXTRA powder was the one which gave me such issues). No overly strong perfumes, and best of all, my laundry comes very clean, without any additional work or additives, no more Calgon needed. This is what detergent is supposed to do!! Pretty sure thay still use phosphates, which explains why it does all the things detergent used to do, before the big switch..

 

[peterh770]

"Search"...  We have tons of discussion about Foca and other Mexican detergents out there...

 

[vintagekitchen]

thanks

 

[passatdoc]

My understanding is that it's made in Mexico and has phosphates in it. That would explain its apparently superior washing performance.

 

[DADoES]

 
Has been a while since I bought Foca (opened a bag a few weeks ago that I bought several months ago) ... but I don't think all Foca at the stores that carry it here is still phosphated, some is phosphate-free unfortunately. The liquid @ Wal-Mart is phosphate-free, I recall checking that recently. Not sure on the powders.

 

[vintagekitchen]

From what I have seen locally, Wal-Mart carries phosphate free powder, while the local grocery store carries the phosphated version. Bags at Wal-Mart say "phosphate free" in the upper right hand corner, while the ones at my local Save-A-Lot don't say this, and on the ingredient list, they include, "sodium phosphate". Other than that, the packaging is identical.

 

[whirlcool]

We've been using FOCA for about 18 months as our daily driver. It's a great detergent. As you have noticed it rinses very easily, which we find desirable.

For extra dirty clothes, do a prewash and 30 minute soak with FOCA. You'll be amazed at how white yout clothes come out. And it doesn't have a heavy scent either.

 

[dirtybuck]

Although it is a good detergent, there are two things I don't like about Foca:

1. If you use just a little too much, you get remnants of suds in the rinse water (at least I have).

2. THE DAMN PLASTIC BAG!!

 

[iheartmaytag]

When I still had my TL machine I used FOCA a lot, Now that I have  a FL I don't use it, because it can be very sudsy. 

 

[vintagekitchen]

Well, in my Daewoo twin tub, (larger than the old Hoovers, almost identical design to Haier) I use about 1/2 cup to start, adding just under 1/4 cup to additional loads as needed. Doing that seems to work about perfect. When I used the entire cup called for on the packaging, the suds cake actually rose several inches above the top of the machine, lol... As far as the plastic bag, I transfer the detergent to a large Tupperware cereal keeper when I get it home.

 

[whirlcool]

I hate those plastic bags too. I wish it would come in a box. But you can't beat the price! A small bag is $3.27 at Walmart and lasts us at least 7 months!

 

[abcomatic]

HI all, I bought a bag of Foca today just to see what you were talking about. I got mine at Sav-a-lot too and it says sodium phosphate on it. I can't wait to try this in the Easy. I have soft water so I would guess I shouldn't use a lot of this? Thanks for recommending this. Gary

 

[vintagekitchen]

In my Daewoo, about 1/2 cup is usually enough. I would start with that.

 

[abcomatic]

Thanks for your help.Gary

 

[whirlcool]

Gary:

Did you try your FOCA yet? What did you think of it?

 

[abcomatic]

HI there

HI, I did laundry in the Easy today with the new bag of Foca. I love it! I used about a half a cup and got a small suds cake. The next load was less sudsy. It rinsed out well in the spinner section with the water running.
I spilled a huge gob of ketchup on a shirt at school yesterday. I dabbed it off with water yesterday and didn't pre-treat it today. No spots at all, the ketchup was gone.
I am sold on this stuff and will buy more. I have been using Sears powder and will try the Foca some more. Thanks for the heads up here. Gary

 

[whirlcool]

I am glad that you like it. Another satisfied customer.

Not only does it remove stains nicely, but leaves a very mild fresh scent on your clothes.

 

[vintagekitchen]

Congrats Gary! I'm very happy you like it. No other modern detergent cleans my clothes so well. Combine it with some oxygen bleach, then add a touch of bluing during the final rinse, and you will have the whitest whites in the neighborhood!

 

[stan]

Thanks kevin for posting

After reading I went to a nearby Mexican Market and found some 1 lb bags of the phosphated kind, $1.19 ( larger bags said phosphate free ) I add 2 tbls of washing soda along with about 2/3 cup of Foca.. Not much gets passed it!
Don't know how the phosphate free formula works?.. maybe someone here knows? or if detergents with phosphate likes being mixed with washing soda?? ( maybe that's counter productive ) Think I'l have to post a new topic, with just that question LOL