High-sudsing detergent recommendation

[stan]

water hardness is about the same here

3-5 grains.

Decided to wash up some dishes using soap flakes, and did a little un planned experiment with a dishpan of hot water and the soap.

After getting some suds going, with a whisk, stopped, and thought to add a tsp of STPP to the dishpan. I added a little more water, and re stirred (whisk)
Huge difference with STPP.

Think Sudsmaster is on to something here!
if you want suds the water has to be softened, no way around it!

 

[launderess]

While One Does Love Pure Soap For Laundering

And one should having enough types and in quanity to start a small general store, using soap for wash day bit by bit is essentially waterproofing one's laundry.

Just as with the tallow/fat fabric softeners of old soap does leave some residue which does not rinse out. Several hot and or very warm water rinses in soft water will remove a bulk of it, but traces still remain. This is the "built in fabric softener" affect many soap makers marketed their products as in direct competition to laundry detergents.

 

[stan]

Hello Dear,

I suppose someone could "waterproof" with soap. (repeated use, and poor rinsing )

Or detergent, and fabric softener (repeated use, and poor rinsing) Oh and lets not forget the Dryer sheets, if they don't work for the Dryer...they do work well for ant repellant! LOL

BTW,
not all soap is made with Tallow, thats only one of many combinations of fatty acids that can be used. You would'nt get a lot of sudsing, or cleansing with 100% Tallow anyway. (other's needed, or blended with, to achieve that)

Back to the Suds,
I used the STPP as a last min thought, with Marks dilemma in mind.
(the dishpan with soap, and my water here being similar in hardness to his)

Point being... weather soap, or detergent, the STPP "may" be what is needed for Mark to achieve the desired suds level he's looking for.

Since most commercial detergents are now adding suds suppressants...
(Silicone being one, as is the case with modern Ivory Snow, and others)
the only alternative "may" be the surfactants used in some Mexican detergents, that "possibly" do not add a suppressant. Or with the old school, simple surfactant of... soap and "Phosphates" as Sudsmaster, and Maytagbear suggested up thread.

Mark has'nt chimed in yet, as he probably has tried all this already, and we are spinning our wheels for nothing! LOL

 

[kenmore71]

It's been a spell since I chimed in on the thread I stared here. I appreciate all of the thoughts & suggestions that people have shared. Honestly, I have not had the time to try anything, YET. It sounds like the most important thing I need to do is to get myself a tub of good ole-fashioned lab-grade phosphates (STTP). Having grown up with well water that was in the 15-18 grain range I THOUGHT that the Mpls. municipal water supply with its 3-5 grain water was soft. Guess I was wrong on that account. It is SOFTER but not truly SOFT. When I have the time in the next few weeks I will conduct experiments and let you all know...

I just remember that on the farm as a child my grandmother would put between 1-1/2 and 2 cups of Tide in the E2L until the suds ratio met her expectations. I think this suds thing is more of a an old-fashioed "soap opera" of longing to be with granny on washday than anything else!!!

 

[stan]

Mark

keep in mind that the Tide Granny was using, may not have been the concentrated version we have now, and that while suds are not what was doing the cleaning for her per se, but suds were an indication of weather she had successfully softened the water.
Depending on how long ago that was, she may have been using Tide that contained phosphates.

Granny knew what she was doing LOL

 

[circlew]

Mark, you might want to try the multi-purpose formula Tide. It's sold for cleaning floors, walls, etc. and the last time I used it (a number of years ago), it was quite sudsy. The only downside is that the smallest box is 18 lbs. Also available in 36 lbs. Sold at foodservice and janitorial suppliers.

 

[kenmore71]

Granny would have been using old-fashioned un-concentrated, phosphate laden Tide. This would have been in about 1980.

 

[stan]

Mark

Did you ever find what you were looking for? If so... What was it?

 

[volsboy1]

Put some Finnish Turbo rinse aid in it and it will suds like crazy...I tried it because just a few drops will hydro lock my dishwasher

bad.I have my rinse aid set to like 3 and that is still to much in my L.G. the suds will reach the top rack on it.

 

[iheartmaytag]

As our dear Laundress says "Wisk".
I would try the current version because the Wisk HE Free and clear version will still give you a "Bobby Brady" day if you aren't careful.

 

[mich]

Does Wisk even make NON-HE detergent anymore?

 

[matthewza]

If there's a south africa store near you, go look for OMO handwash, Sunlight handwash or Surf (south african surf only comes in handwash) and you will get guaranteed suds!

 

[lightedcontrols]

Tide Cold Water

Actually, Tide Cold Water makes a ton of suds and will REALLY give you a great layer in warm and hot water!

 

[mich]

Tide Cold Water HE, MAKES A TON OF SUDS..

I hate the stuff, I mean, even after 3 rinses there are still more suds.