New Ariel Excel Gel

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Yes!

One per wash.

I thought the emphasis of modern formats was on speedy ease of use, fling it in and walk away.

This seems like a retrograde step.
 
Hi folks, well sorry to be the first negative poster on here about this new `wonder' product, but I'm not so convinced this is such a brilliant new innovation. I'm pleased it seems to be working for so many of you but it's not really working out for me. Maybe I'm doing something drastically wrong.

I'm not quite sure how people are claiming this lifts off tomato, wine, coffee stains etc because I can't make it do this at any temperature! Can it even do this, chemically? I understand that there must be some new sort of enzyme technology, but from the results I've had these stains have proved themselves to be very much `bleachable' only. And Bolognaise sauce usually gets squirted with LCB as even oxy bleach won't touch it.

My definition of a `stain', by the way, is one of the above nasties amongst others which has been sitting in the wash basket for a few days before laundering....

Anyway,re the Ariel gel... used this product today hopefully and with an open mind, with a load of mixed colours on a 30 degrees normal cycle. Most baby / child type stains were not washed away acceptably. Bolognaise sauce / choc ice cream etc were almost untouched.

Rewashed whole load on 40 degrees with the usual oxygen bleach containing tabs and normal service was resumed.

Not saying it's worse than any other liquid - but it seems to me to be just that, a washing liquid. Plus, I can't seem to dose it without covering the shower-gel type flap. The silly, clunky, harsh, WEIRD dosing device is also not something I want to be part of my routine again.

To be positive, the scent is ok but to my nose is just a very minor tweak on the standard Ariel liquid scent. And it rinses ok. Ariel has traditionally been better at pretreating than Persil liquids (I haven't tried it with this one), but as an overall liquid product I slightly prefer Persil Small and Mighty.

Cheers

Nick
 
Hey nick!
Hope you are well. Sorry to hear your experiences with the new excel gel aren't as good as mine and others, tell me are these experiences in your new bosch machine:)

Time will tell for me what it's like on baby stains as our little boy is due in 11weeks!

So far im more than pleased with it. Though our items are lightly soiled.

Darren.
 
Hi Darren.

Yeah, I'm running a Bosch Classix 1400 at the moment and am pleased with all aspects of it. Also bought the matching dryer which is great too. It's vented and I can't believe how hot it DOESN'T get compared to the old Hotpoint condensor. Laundry seems to come out much fresher and it dries so much quicker.

I had decided originally to go for the Zanussi washer actually (it wasn't available) and I'm sure I would have been pleased with that but on balance I think this Bosch suits me better. And that's not just 'cause I've got it, I'm quite objective about these things. I knew the LG wouldn't last on Day 1!

Cost me £299 delivered. Is very old skool, just twist a dial, hit start, off you go. Everything works as it ought to. Dispenser perfect. Water levels acceptable. I like. Cycles? 31 degrees (darks) with two rinses and a 1200 spin takes 42 mins, 45 degrees (lights, sheets) takes 52 mins and 62 degrees (whites, towels) just over the hour. Of course these can be varied but those are the basic progs I use. Doesn't fuss to balance and just does the job. Makes a noise (though not excessive) but I don't mind that.

Notice the odd temps? Don't believe in dials. Always get the thermometer out to see what ACTUALLY goes on!!!

Hope all goes well with you guys. Yep, baby stains and then toddler stains are a challenge! Carrot is surprisingly nasty.

I would say in my experience be careful with Fabric Softeners, but bio detergent is ok so long as it's rinsed well. All babies are probably different. A tumble dryer is a huge advantage especially to the white vests and baby grows which go next to baby's skin, as you can launder without softener and they are still nice and soft.

Well if you find this Ariel Gel stuff works for you when you have the baby let me know and I'll send you my bottles, they'll still be sitting almost unused LOL

Cheers

Nick
 
Hey nick,
My brother has the classix 1200. I like the tumble speeds and the programmes aren't too long and the aqua plus gives 5rinses which is good. The water levels could be a little higher their definately an improvement over the one i had a few years ago.

Hmm fabric softeners sound to be an issue. I wonder if the fairy or comfort pure ones would be acceptable?

Hey if you don't want it throw it my way! lol!

Darren
 
Yeah I was just remembering, Luke (first born) was always fine with Pesil Non Bio tabs and Comfort (any fragrance was ok but normally used Pure). He reacted slightly to any McBride softener (store brand or Surcare) but he really couldn't tolerate any kind of Lenor including Lenor Sensitive which is now Fairy. I also couldn't use Ariel Non Bio, Fairy Non Bio....but I could use Ariel Bio(odd). You just have to try and see.

Main thing I learned was that Fabric Softener just isn't often needed - only for things which will attract static. I now rarely use it. All of the scents annoy me just to a greater or lesser extent. If I had to name one I mind using the least I guess it's the regular (green bottle) Fairy.

These days in terms of kids, I can use anything I like - Sammy (second born) never had any allergies to anything and Luke grew out of his eczema when he was about two.

N
 
Nick - glad to hear you're getting on well with your Bosch set! I do like the look of the current Classixx models. Sorry to hear you aren't getting on well with Ariel gel, but then there's always two sides to every coin.

BTW, tried emailing you a couple weeks ago but it bounced... if you could email me on the addy on my profile it'd be great :-)

Take care of yourself,

Jon
 
Nickuk

You're not doing anything wrong.

I washed a small load of whites, including a tea-towel that had bolognaise sauce stains on it from three days earlier. The wash cycle was Cottons @ 30deg C, cycle time 2hrs 9 mins, in a Zanussi IZ16. No other additives or softeners added.

The water was quite foamy, but seemed to rinse out okay.

The rest of the articles looked ok, but that tea-towel still had the stains, albeit slightly faded.

I must admit that I was sceptical about the cleaning performance of liquids in the past; that hasn't changed one iota.
 
Hi Nick,
I am surprised to hear you did not have good results with the Ariel Excel Gel.
I am not surprised that Bolognese sauce was not removed, over the years I have found it one of the most difficult stains to remove. Bolognese sauce produces a greasy stain coloured with Lycopene (Tomato pigment) which seems to actually dye Cotton fibers. I have found unless the stained item is washed ASAP the stain will not wash out totally and ultimately will need a little LCB. I keep a trigger spray with neat Lidl thin bleach handy but this is only suitable on white fabrics.

I must say I have had excellent results with Ariel Excel Gel, I was nothing short of astounded when it removed a Chinese Curry stain from my white Cotton T-Shirt. It has also removed Chicken gravy from another white T-Shirt. I always wear white Cotton T-Shirts every day, I'm a very casual kind of guy LOL.

I have been washing my hand towels separately in Ariel Gel and my remaining towels are being washed in hot water with Ariel Bio powder, the hand towels are beautifully white and fresh so far but I guess time will tell.

Your comments about your sons allergy confirms my thinking regarding reactions to detergents, I believe its scents not enzymes that cause reactions in sensitive persons. I'm glad your son has grown out of his sensitivity. I think Ecover fabric conditioner is a good option for childrens clothes as it is fragranced with natural Lavender as opposed to synthetic perfumes.

Darren,
Congratulations to the expectant father! I hope and pray for a smooth pregnancy and delivery. Not long to wait.

David
 
Got mine ..

Hey Guys

Asda Folkestone finally had it in yesterday so got a Colour and Fabreze yesterday, done a black load (work tops and trousers) with the colour on 30 (the Insight dosent go lower other than cold and I somehow doubt my tap water is 15 @ the mo!).

Pretty impressed it has to be said- quite sudsy on wash but rinsed well, nice scent left when combined with yellow Comfort :).

Got a white load for the Fabreze tonight(towels etc so no softener) will report back once its done.

Seamus

P.s I was bad and stole the dispenser cap from a bottle of Ariel concentrate- that stupid dispensing device is one thing P&G have gotta sort, can see that hard/sharp edge causing problems....
 
Put it to the Test!

Hey Guys!!

After using the Ariel Gel for a week now, Im still really, really impressed with it! Now ive had something stained to wash with it ( My Brothers pe kit lol), I'm still very impressed! I had my doubts about it getting ground in stains out in such cold water, but this has managed to clean some really heavy stains on a Cottons 30c Short programme in the Miele!

I was suprised when unloading the washer! I thought the most it would so is just fade the stains, but its tottally removed them :D!

Now I really would recommend this to everyone!, Though I must say, having washed whites at 30c with it, everything has come tottally clean, though it just dosnt seem right washing at such a low temperature for whites, anyone else noticed this lol??

Richard :-)
 
I agree that washing at such low temps takes some getting used to. I got the bug when I lived in Australia and used Cold Power with fantastic results and have been banging on about it ever since. I have just bought the colour varient but not tried it yet. My machine only goes down to 30 and then to cold so will be interesting what the result will be in the winter. Still curious to know what the average temp of UK cold water is in Dec/Jan/Feb. Have to say that having tried a cold wash last weekend am much more confident about using 30 with white washes as the results were outstanding. Gave away a partially used box of Fairy this evening to a friend so am exclusively Ariel Gel now.
 
The White load results are in..

Hey Guys

I was pretty impressed- everything came out clean and fresh with just the right ammount of scent after the dryer :)

Im still not totally convinced 30 is the way to go for whites and towels but this has maybe shifted my opinion slightly lol!!

Seamus
 
Be cautious about using liquids / gels

For those who don't realise:

Your machine can develop a mouldy slime or sludge over time, particularly at cool temperatures.

To combat it, you have to do regular HOT (60 degree C, or more) "maintenance washes" with powder that contains oxygen bleach, such as Ariel, Daz, Surf or Persil.

Don't use the 'Colour' powders, as they don't have the oxygen bleach in their formulation.
 
Speaking Personally.....

As someone in Sales/Service I knew that....

Actually I use Merloni Cleaner/Descaler once a month on a 90 deg programme, also I think whites will go back to 60 with bleach containing powder once the novelty has worn off lol ;)

Seamus
 
Finally

Well, I finally got my hands on a bottle of the color version. Been to the local Tesco Extra several times but the shelves were always empty. Today, there was still plenty of the "color" and "with Febreze" left - not surprisingly because it went up from 1.88 to 4.49 Pounds!

I don't like using gel on my whites as gels usually don't contain bleaching agents. For that, I bought a big box of Ariel Professional, which was on sale at Netto.

Can't wait to try it out next week when I'm back home!
 
£4.49!!!!!!

Blimey I thought £3.99 @ Morrisons was bad!

It was still £2.00 in Asda this morning ;)

Oh yer Tesco are Britains Biggest Discounter???

PMPL!!!!!

Seamus
 
You're quite right, Tesco as 'discounter' is a j

They say that they lower the prices, then a week later the prices are up.

Bunch of greedy buggers!

And they keep moving the shelf space about!

A week or two ago, I saw them selling Finish 'Max in 1' dishwasher tabs at half price; normal price was nearly £10!

How do they justify the prices?
 
Tesco claimed the £1.88 offer ran until 14th October too. Their full price is 50p more than all the other supermarkets normal £3.99 price - Every Little Helps!

They'll probably drop the price to £3.99 before long and claim it to be one of their hundreds of price cuts.
 

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