How good are the Mexican detergents?

[whitekingd]

I have never tried Roma or Foca. Are they worth trying? Do they suds much? I have a 1967 Kenmore wringer washer that tends to build suds fairly easily. What do you folks recommend in that machine? Also, does anyone out there still use Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing? I swear by it! I really think it works great! Any comments are appreaciated.

 

[frigilux]

I haven't used Roma or Foca, which are both budget-line detergents, but I have used Ariel and Ace and Viva and they do a very good job---especially Ariel.

Others here have said very good things about Roma and Foca, so give them a try. They aren't expensive. Both produce quite a lot of suds, from what I've heard about them. In fact, all the Mexican detergents are pretty sudsy.

 

[gyrafoam]

Roma is o.k.
IMO Foca is better and has a bit of bluing in it---nice for colored loads.
Viva is my personal favorite and is very strong. Great on whites and heavily soiled loads---particularly greasy stuff.
I hardly use American detergents anymore. I believe the Mexican brands (with phosphates) I have just mentioned to be vastly superior in performance.

All are high-sudzing---especially the Viva. The Foca is slightly less so and easier to control. I can use Foca in my F/L's without too much danger of over-sudzing.
In my experience they will sudz-lock an old Kenmore/Whirly or 1-18 every time, at least untill you get the "dosing" down real well----then again----maybe not, those do like to sudz-lock you know!

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Delmer. I use Viva all the time and it does a wonderful job. Yes, it can foam sometimes and when that happens, I have carpet cleaner defoamer to kill the excess suds. It also has a very nice scent. I also buy phosphates from a chemical company and add them to Viva.
On whites, I have used Mrs. Stewarts bluing for years on whites along with bleach (lately I use Mexican bleach, Chloralex), and of course hot water.

Ross

 

[washerboy]

Foca/Roma experience

I got Foca and Roma both at Big Lots... I thought the packaging was novel and it was from Mexico..both made excessive amounts of suds...I was'nt pleased with it's cleaning abilities either..in fact..heavy soiled items had to be rewashed in my regular detergent. But..the tons of suds were a lot of fun...in fact so much fun that my machine actually had it's first suds lock..the suds even filled up the drain pipe and drain line..had suds comming up in my kitchen sink..liquid fabric softner got a handle on the suds. I think both brands were like 1.97 each.