Frigilux: Admitted Detergent Globalist

[frigilux]

One unexpected outcome of purchasing the front-loading Speed Queen pair back in October was a fairly decisive switch from liquid and pod detergents back to powders. A whole bunch of them.

The little smorgasbord of detergents arriving at my doorstep stemmed from two seemingly innocuous sentences in the washer’s user guide: “If a Pre-Wash or Stain Boost (or Soak, as I discovered) option is selected, liquid detergent added to the main wash compartment may run into the load during the Pre-Wash or Stain Boost (or Soak) interval. To avoid this, use powdered detergent in the main wash compartment. “Gee, I should get a box of powdered detergent” thinks me, and it was off to the races.

First came a box of powdered Tide Ultra Oxi…which led to Persil Bio and Non-Bio from the UK, ArielMatic and TideMatic from India, Miele Ultra White & Miele Ultra Color from Germany, Ace Naturals Chamomile Scent from Mexico (or possibly Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama or Guatemala), Diva Lime Scented (yet to arrive; of Mexican extraction, if I recall correctly), and good old Mexican Ariel Original Scent. Also yet to arrive: Viva Plus from Nigeria and domestically sourced EC30 tiles/sheets/swatches, which should be very similar to the upcoming Tide Evo Tiles. Finally, and arguably the most boring of the lot, Amway SA8.[this post was last edited: 3/12/2024-14:15]

 

[launderess]

Welcome to my world....

We've got you now! You're in our clutches....

 

[qsd-dan]

That stash will take 7+ years to go through in your Speed Queen front loader.

 

[westtexman]

Great finds! You’re going to have to host dinner parties every single night with sleepovers and fancy breakfasts in the morning (with white tablecloths and cloth napkins) to use up that stash!

 

[frigilux]

Launderess- The recent expansion of my detergent repertoire is humble compared to yours! I started eyeing vintage detergents on eBay and had to draw the line. I was tempted by a lot of three boxes of Cold Power, but knew that the scent I remembered and loved all those years ago probably wouldn’t have survived the passing decades. Drooled over a box of Vim tablets and a lot of 11 boxes of Tide tablets, as well.

Dan- I do a lot of laundry for a household of one, but yes; should Western civilization fall apart, I’ll have clean clothes. LOL

Bryan- I used to have frequent, large dinner parties with white tablecloths and napkins and did several loads of those whites each week. But then I got older, sold the house, moved to a modest apartment and now we go out to eat when we get together. Suffice to say I’m set up for a few years in the detergent department.

[this post was last edited: 3/12/2024-20:30]

 

[qsd-dan]

"Dan- I do a lot of laundry for a household of one, but yes; should Western civilization fall apart, I’ll have clean clothes. LOL"

If electricity and water are still flowing, yes you will

 

[powerfin64]

How did you find Viva Plus? Never heard of it before. Sounds interesting, for something different.
I don't have the Global variety as you have acquired lately, I do have a small collection of powders.
140 load of Tide turbo HE, 73 load of Tide OXI,
German persil:
universal megaperls,
color megaperls(both 18 load bags),
deep clean plus color(XXL box),
deep clean plus Lavender(Lg Bag),
Miele: Ultra While, Ultra Color, Sensitive.
I will sometime get Tide Matic Front load powder just for something off the beaten path.

 

[frigilux]

Rich- I think the Viva Plus was found on eBay and the lime-scented Diva on Etsy. My favorite is still Persil Bio made by Unilever from the UK. I’ve only used the Miele Ultra White once, but it did a great job. I’ll use the Ultra Color tonight when I do a load of mixed colors. You’ve got quite a collection of the German detergents!

 

[powerfin64]

The German detergents were all impulse buys at different times. I do really like all of them.
I think you'll like Miele. Cleans great, and not alot of suds.
your Persil bio sounds like a awesome detergent, I wouldn't mind trying some of it someday.
Viva Plus and Diva sound, different. I know you'll put them to a test!

 

[mark_wpduet]

in the USA... why is our detergents not labeled BIO or NON-BIO? When you buy a detergent in the USA, aside from reading the ingredients... how would anyone know if it's Bio or not? I'm assuming Bio means it contains enzymes, no?

 

[DADoES]

 
Enzyme (bio) detergents work best in cooler water.  Non-bio at high temps.  UK and some other non-US regions historically have washers that have onboard heating for much higher temperatures than the US market.  Thus, the bio and non-bio designations on detergents so the consumer is clear on the best usage.

 

[mark_wpduet]

but we've had onboard heaters for YEARS now... along with that... there is often a push to wash everything in cold... so I'm surprised they're not labled as such

 

[launderess]

Non-Bio

We've done this many times before.

Non-Bio laundry detergents are really only a thing in UK for a few reasons. Chief among them is belief in some quarters that enzymes are evil and cause all sorts of health issues such as allergic reactions.

Persil at one time after launching their "new" and "improved" bio product (in common with laundry detergents elsewhere in Europe and North America at that time) was hit was massive push back. Housewives, mothers, those with sensitivities attacked Lever Bros for perhaps discontinuing enzyme free Persil they've known and loved. Well from amount of noise one would have thought Lever Bros was going to destroy all some persons held near and dear.

In end a compromise was reached, Lever Bros would not discontinue non-enzyme Persil, but market it along side "new and advanced" product that did contain enzymes.

Ever since then UK has had "bio" and "non-bio" laundry detergents, each clearly marked. It is really only market where this sort of thing happens. In North America and elsewhere TOL and even MOL laundry detergents all contain enzymes. Yet no one is dying in droves, nor has there been any reports of massive increases in skin allergies, etc...

To be fair when enzyme pre-soakers and laundry detergents were first being launched there were reports of allergic issues. However upon deeper investigation much of that was those employed in manufacturing said products, not end users.

"Enzyme (bio) detergents work best in cooler water..."

Once launched on European markets makers of washing machines were quick to rejig things to take advantage of enzymes.

Washers had "stain" or "bio" programs that would hold water temps within a certain range for extended period before going onto "boil wash" temps.

In response to energy costs rising things got better with introduction of bleach activator (TAED for Europe). This gave boil wash results at lower wash temps (60 degrees C).

Starting from cold and gradually heating to warm or hot water gave each part of detergent time to do it's part. Again with machines that had "eco" or "stain" programs certain additions to wash were not flushed down until set part of wash cycle.









In USA things were a mixed bag.

Enzyme products originally began as pre-soakers (Biz, Axion, etc...). This was fine because it gave products time to do their work. P&G moved that technology over to their TOL laundry detergent (Tide) with great fanfare and promise.



Thing is top loading automatic washers reigned in North America. Wash cycle times are shorter and product is more diluted due to higher water levels. Worse many started wash with hot water which sets in stains and certain soils. If water temp is high enough will also decrease or kill off enzyme activity.

 

[launderess]

What best enzyme laundry products do are remove stains more fully (and at lower temperatures) than say boil washing with oxygen bleach.

This aides in preventing dreaded "shadow" you see mentioned in commercials above. That is faint trace of stains that remain on things after washing.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

persil and finish

I've been using Persil and Finish products, so I like foreign products too.