In Mourning (UK)

[xanx22]

Having received the sad news today over the phone I have been bereft and in a state of flux trying to work out how I will be able to go on without. After making many calls I have managed to make temporary arrangements to deal with the immediate loss.

Some of you may already know the sad news in the UK that Proctor & Gamble decided 3 weeks ago stop making DREFT!

Having been a user (of DREFT) since 1985 I have maintained a superior status of knowing ALL my coloureds were only ever washed in Dreft and looked as good as new, even items over 25years old! Like most others on this site I can't help but analysis others laundry or more to the point others lack of skill in performing the task of laundry. This was never more prevelant than on the first morning of this years summer holiday, where upon stepping out on the balcony to be confronted by row upon row of beach towel clad sunbeds, the only thing I could declare was "thank god I have a German Washing Machine" when being dismayed at the array of dulled towels!

Anyhow, having found myself in the distressing state of almost out of Dreft, one found themselves searching all the local supermarkets for my usual supply of Dreft to no avail. So today I did what any sane person would do - phone the dreft helpline when the devestating news was shared. However I did acertain ASDA did have stock although my local did not have any on the shelves. I therefore set about systematically phoning Asda stores until I found one that had stock. I fought against the afternoon traffic, the school run and then the Friday night rush hour to gain the last 5 boxes of DREFT. But this supply will merely delay the devasting effect of having to use an inferior colours detergent (Persil colour is just not as refined as Dreft)

I am sure alot of you will be wondering how all those 1980's Dash outfits will survive now there is no more Dreft, but there is hope, the lovely lady on the customer services helpline informed me that all feedback is being noted and fed back so there is still room for the decision to cease production to be over turned! I pointed out that the demise of the product was due to the misguided decision in the 80's to stop the big box production, only making the 9 load small box which at £2.90 each made cost per load one of the highest when comparing.

So if any of you feel strong enough to feedback how much we will miss this product call freephone (uk) 0800 0852 592

 

[launderess]

How Very Odd

Dreft in the USA was one of the first light duty detergents meant to replace soap for laundering fine items. It then became a product for baby's laundry (hospitals used to and or still do give away samples to new mothers).

Wish you well in finding NOS boxes of Dreft to add to your stash. Have often found in the months after something has been discontinued the odd case will turn up as a supermarket manager or shop owner stumbles across.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Think....

....That this discontinuance applies only to the U.K., if it does happen. In the U.S., Dreft is positioned as a laundry detergent that is non-irritating to the skin of newborns, and is therefore suitable for Baby's laundry needs. While it's a niche product, it sells quite steadily and always at full tick; you don't find many sales on Dreft. There is also no real competition; no other U.S. manufacturer goes after the new-mother market the way P & G does. I can't imagine them discontinuing it on this side of the pond.

Something is definitely up for the U.K. version; the Dreft link on the U.K. P & G Website no longer works.

 

[launderess]

Dreft For New Mothers

Is really a tug on their minds and sometimes it works, others it does not.

Quite a few new mothers realize they can use any decent detergent such as Tide "Free and Gentle" long as they rinse carefully. Yes, there maybe infants that are allergic and or have skin reactions to this or that product, but that can happen with any detergent.

One reason quite a few new moms give up on Dreft is that they simply do not wish to be bothered sorting laundry into "nursery" and "family". That is they simply throw everything into the same load regardless.

Products like Dreft (which actually is a quite strong detergent, just made to rinse cleanly), may have made sense in the cloth diaper days and such, and or when most detergents where harsh powders, but today there are more than enough other offerings.

 

[danemodsandy]

Dreft Is Also....

....Used extensively in the eldercare industry, where incontinence soils are a problem; the stuff is quite good at getting them out. While commercial laundering tactics can deal with linens and the like, many eldercare recipients have their clothes cared for by caregivers, and Dreft does a job that needs doing.

When my late partner had issues of that sort, I was a very enthusiastic Dreft user, though I was somewhat less enthusiastic about the price, which was high.

 

[foraloysius]

What's in a name?

Dreft overhere in the Netherlands was similar to Dreft in the UK. I can't remember my mother not having Dreft for delicates. They now don't use the name Dreft for laundry detergent overhere anymore either. It's only dishwashing products now. I guess in the Netherlands Dreft is what Fairy is in the UK.

http://www.ah.nl/appie/producten/huishouden-huisdier/schoonmaakmiddelen/merk=Dreft

 

[launderess]

Goo, Poo, and Spew

Is what Dreft is designed to get out, so it is no mystery it will shift incontinence stains.

 

[whirlcool]

Last year we tried Dreft to see how it does with my very detergent sensitive skin.
I think I lost three or four layers of it from all the itchies after washing our bedding in Dreft.

 

[launderess]

Dreft Is Very Heavy On The Enzymes

IIRC, again better to deal with baby goo, poo, and spew; if not carefully rinsed perhaps it was that residue causing irritation.

 

[MrX]

Dreft over here was never aimed at anything other than delicates. It's marketed more like a competitor for Woolite.

Fairy was always the P&G product aimed at baby laundry duty. It's enzyme free due to the notion that non bio = non irritating that persists in Ireland and Britain. Persil Non Bio is also heavily marketed at baby laundry.

I would suspect that regular bio powders would do a much better job at shifting poo and other gunk.

I would suspect that Dreft was losing market share to Woolite which now has a very wide range of delicates detergents. They're all mostly in gel format though.

Dreft was a fine, lightly scented powder mostly. I don't remember seeing it in any other format here.

 

[foraloysius]

Overhere it was sold in Color varieties, Darks and Delicates and wool.

 

[mattywashboy]

Hi Euan,

Sorry to hear its going out of production :-/

Its one of those detergents i never used in the UK when I lived there or one I have thought to order in.

Just a thought if you get desperate, Amazon.co.uk still has it but may be running out of stock themselves. Might be worth grabbing a few off them for as long as you can. I have put the link to the Dreft page at the bottom.

Best of Luck!

Matt

Amazon.co.uk : dreft

 

[liamy1]

Dreft

Is this the Machine version of Dreft?

I believe the Handwash version has been discountinued for sometime.

There is a Facebook page for it

http://https//www.facebook.com/DreftHandwash

 

[xanx22]

Thanks for all your comments. I have been looking into this a bit further and it turns out Dreft Handwash was phased out in 2012 and so it was inevitable that Dreft for automatics would go the same way, as I have always used the automatic version I never noticed.
Laundress is correct as always, it was invented in 1933 and is a synthetic detergent with no bleach. I certainly will be keeping my eyes out for retailers selling Dreft, the only concern is how long is such a detergent still as effective when being stored longterm? I must admit I have stored detergents for years in the past, I used stock up when I saw good buys and store them in the attic, it wasn't until I moved house did I realise how big the haul was - enough for 18months of laundry!
Danemodsandy, it is the UK but if Proctor and Gamble decide to stop production here where else will production stop. You are right about the link on the website no longer working. It is definitely a recent decision, as when you call the customer care line if you follow the route re-availability of product the only Dreft product in the pre recorded message is ref Dreft Dark Liquid, I re-dialled and followed route to speak direct with a customer advisor.
Whirlcool, as Launderess stated it is a product full of enzymes, which makes it very effective. That said we are a household of sensitive skin but Dreft has never caused any irritation unlike others (Ariel was the worst), I do only use 60ml in 8kg AEG and as I have very soft water I add extra rinses, the AEG can add upto 5 extra rinses to make a total of 8, bulky things like bedding benefit from extra rinsing/ reduced dosing.
MRX, Dreft certainly is generally recognised as "for delicates", however when Dreft for automatics was launched in 1984 the advertising focused on colour safety as well as woolmark approval. The memorable adverts featured Dash designer garments that faded and bobbled when washed in ordinary detergent. As Launderess stated it is actually quite a strong detergent, which therefore is very effective at cleaning but without damaging/ fading/ bobbling fabrics. Woolite is quite different and we have also used Woolite for decades for certain laundry situations. My first use of Woolite in the UK was Woolite cold water wash, a hand wash liquid where you actually soaked the item in a cold water solution for 3 minutes, then squeeze suds gently through and a single rinse with cold water gently squeezing again. In the UK they then produced a Woolite machine wash in a slightly bigger bottle I think it was in the 1990s, for many years these were the only Woolite products available in UK until fairly recent years when a full range of Woolite Liquids for Automatic Washing Machines (In UK detergent marked automatic are designed for front loading washing machines.) I do use weekly the pink Woolite for Delicates when I wash our dry cleaning items in the AEG on the handwash cycle. Woolite is perfect for this cycle whereas Dreft would leave residue being a short minimal agitated / rinsed cycle, however Woolite would not be as effective as Dreft when washing Coloured shirts, jeans, underwear socks etc.
Mattywashboy, thanks I did look at Amazon but to buy the individual 9 wash box works out at a whopping £9.60 each box, the bulk buy of 12 is more realistic price, however shows as out of stock. I will keep checking to see if the bulk buy suddenly comes back into stock!

Euan

 

[ozzie908]

Bounty bag for new Mothers here now contains....

Fairy non biological powder its supposed to be gentle on delicate skin!!

My argument is get the skin used to your normal detergent just ensure its rinsed out!

Austin

Did there used to be Dreft for handwashing as well as low suds?

 

[xanx22]

ozzie908

Hi ozzie908,
Yes Dreft was originally a high lather detergent, when it was invented in 1933 it was targeted as a general detergent, advertising was concentrated on its use for washing dishes and how you could leave glasses to drip dry with no smears!
It was in 1984 that in UK the "automatic" low suds version was launched.
In the UK we had the option of the high lather - Dreft Handwash or low suds "automatic" Dreft from 1984 until the Handwash was removed in 2012. Sadly now to be no more at all in 2013.

Thanks liamy1 I did find that as well, maybe a campaign will rise to save the automatic version!

Euan

 

[liamy1]

Contact P&G UK

If anyone wants to contact P&G regarding this, without paying for a phone call to them. The link is below to email them - it's really quick to fill out, you only need to include email address, DOB and question.

http://ukconsumers.custhelp.com/app/ask/p/72/session/L3NpZC9zWkI1ZHRmbA%3D%3D

 

[launderess]

IIRC "Fairy" is Dreft in some European markets.

Dreft like FEWA, VEL and other early man made detergents succeeded because they could clean dishes and lightly soiled laundry without any of the downsides of using pure soap. Because they also worked in cool or even cold water you could do wools and silks without worrying about how soap would behave.

Being anionic surfactants these products produced oceans of suds. Great for hand laundry and or dishes, not so good for H-Axis washing machines. Top loaders OTOH were ok.

Have some old (green) boxes of Dreft and am here to tell you the powder gets' up your nose.

Dreft - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ozzie908]

Hey Launderess.. I guess you must be

snorting it not washing with it lol

Austin