New Detergent Ratings

[angus]

Each of the big three detergent manufacturers of the time (P&G, Lever and Colgate Palmolive) introduced new enzyme detergent products to market around 1966 or so. Each was given an "action" name - Gain (P&G), Drive (Lever), Punch and Burst (CP). Purex, with a smaller market share also got into the act and introduced Brillo Enzyme Detergent. P&G and CP then added enzymes to their main product offerings. As I recall there were only a few brands not reformulated with enzymes: Cheer, Bonus, Duz, Dreft, Salvo tablets (P&G), AD, SuperSuds (CP), any of the other Lever brands like All, Rinso, Silver Dust, Breeze and Wisk, and of course any of the granulated soaps like Duz, Ivory Snow or Flakes, Octagon, White King and Instant Fels.

In the case of Gain, it seems like it had been reformulated multiple times over the years, and each time the focus became on more intense fragrance - but until more recently, it always performed reasonably well in CR's tests. In fact when "ultra" powders were first introduced in the 90s, Gain with Bleach powder ranked at the top along with Tide with Bleach at a lower price point. But as more and more intense fragrance options were introduced, seems like overall performance declined. No great loss as none of Gain's fragrance options are even remotely tolerable - to me anyway. But to each their own....

 

[launderess]

Cannot say when Wisk liquid detergent got enzymes, but powdered "Power Scoop" released in early 1990's certainly than them.

https://www.bonanza.com/listings/1990-Sealed-Wisk-Laundry-Detergent-Power-Scoop-Powder-15-Loads-2-lb-6-oz-Prop/1523131668?goog_pla=1

 

[launderess]

Rinso, Silver Dust, Breeze were all value or bargain brands that Lever Bros. kept around perhaps long than they should. Last two were more well known for product give away items included in box (towels and glass ware mostly) than actual cleaning performance.

Lever Bros did try with Rinso, it got oxygen bleach, bluing agents and at one time loaded with phosphates.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315533319609?chn=ps

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256372464677

Rinso began as a soap powder and there Lever Bros had some success. But once P&G introduced Tide in 1940's sales of Rinso along with every other soap product for wash day went into decline.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinso

 

[gelaundry4ever]

persil heavy duty

I always thought Persil was a heavy duty laundry detergent that is the rival to Tide. What happened?

 

[launderess]

When first introduced Persil knocked Tide out of first place, something that never has happened before. P&G upped their game and Tide was back in top spot and they're determined to never allow it to slip ever again.

Henkel/Dial isn't lacking in resources so it will be interesting to see what if anything they do to regain top position with Persil

 

[frigilux]

I’d forgotten all about Breeze. I grew up in a household nearly devoid of grocery store brand loyalty. My mom bought whatever was on sale. We had several small—by today’s standard—bath towels and hand towels whose origin was a box of detergent.

 

[frigilux]

Bob- I did the first stained flour sack towel test in cool water this morning on powdered TideMatic (India) detergent. It removed tough coffee, Worcestershire, chocolate syrup, barbecue sauce and ketchup stains, but did not remove hot sauce, Rao’s marinara or mustard. Results were only a little better in cool water rather than warm. Will repeat the test with Tide Pro, Persil Bio (UK), Tide Ultra Oxi, and Miele for Whites powders. Will also test liquid Tide Ultimate Stain Release. I’ll run the tests over the next couple of weeks and post the results all at once.

Will admit that I’ll have to wash the test towel with Clorox liquid chlorine bleach to remove all the stains fully. At any rate, you’re probably best off sticking with your tried-and-true method of using a profile wash for your large, stained loads. I’ll continue to use LCB for heavily stained whites and aerosol Amway Stain Remover for orange/red stains on shirts that detergents seem to struggle with at any temp.[this post was last edited: 8/29/2024-11:57]

 

[appnut]

Eugene, you amazed me at the tenacity. You have to carry out all of these tests for everyone.

 

[mrboilwash]

I don`t get where this "cold gives better results than warm as long as dedicated cold water detergents are used" believing comes from.
Suppose if a lie is repeated in aggressive advertising for long enough and again and again people will just believe it no matter what.

For decades I`ve been following Warentest`s detergent tests and no matter if it`s powders with oxygen bleach or liquids or pods that rely on enzymes only there hasn`t been one single detergent that did better on a lower temperature.
Not a single one so far, and it`s not like Germans lived behind the times when it comes to chemistry or wouldn`t have access to P&G`s marvelous innovations.
And just for the record, with the exception of the latest test of detergents for delicates (that would be mild or light duty detergents) which have been tested at 30°C only, all tests of "normal" heavy duty detergents have been done at least at two different temperatures so far.

There`s no doubt that you can have decent results at 40°C these days or even OK-ish results at 20°C on lightly soiled stuff but hotter is still better.
They also recommend 50°C minimum for the activated oxy bleach to get going if a traditional powder is used.

PS
reply #23 doesn`t convince me too, but I`ll better start a new thread on this one.[this post was last edited: 8/29/2024-12:37]

 

[frigilux]

Stefan- I’ve found my Speed Queen model 7009 front-loader has a few quirks. One of them was discovered after I’d done the initial round of stained kitchen towel tests with it. On the Normal cycle with the max soil level selected, both the warm and hot water temps provide hot water. The warm setting provides 125F (roughly 50C) and hot provides tap hot, which for me is 140-143F (roughy 60C).

In other words, when using the max soil setting on the Normal cycle, there is no true warm water. The cold setting provides tap cold water; cool provides cool water (about 85F or 30C in my particular situation).

HOWEVER…if you select Light, Medium or Heavy soil settings on the Normal cycle, the cold water setting provides tap cold; cool, warm and hot settings all provide cool water.

The round of tests I did soon after acquiring the SQ were actually washed in what is considered hot (125F; roughly 50C) by American standards. This might have caused a premature deactivation of the enzymes in the detergents during the 50-minute wash tumble.

I’m curious to see if there are differences in the results of washing at 125F/50C or washing at 85F/30C.

This quirk of there being no true warm (about 103F in my particular circumstance; about 40C) wash temperatures in the Normal cycle is not seen in the other cycles.

I planned to explain all this when I post the results of the second round of tests in a few weeks, but since the discussion of wash water temperature has come up, I’ll let that cat out of the bag now.

 

[suburbanmd]

Freshness

We find that hotter water leaves laundry smelling fresher when using unscented detergents.

 

[littlegreeny]

Hey Eugene!

Would you please tell us how well the Tide Simply All In One with a score of 48 did on body oil?

 

[frigilux]

It received a 3 out of 5 on body oil and a 2 out of 5 on salad dressing, another fat-based stain. All other stains were 2/5 except chocolate (3/5) and blood (4/5). Not a great performer.

 

[littlegreeny]

Thanks Eugene!

I guess it's not that great. I was looking at the unscented version of it (same ingredients minus the dye and perfume). What piqued my interest was that it doesn't have OBs or enzymes.

 

[delco1946]

Project Farm test laundry detergents!

I love Project Farm on YouTube for all the stuff he will test out, usually things like oils, rust inhibitors etc but looks like he recently tested detergents. TLDR Tide wins with Arm and Hammer taking second.

I’m bummed by how poorly some others did, I really hate the smell of Tide and can’t buy it no matter how well it works.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Correction on SA 8 in post #7

I originally reported high suds when used with STPP. In those initial uses, I did not reduce the amount of detergent when used with STPP. When using one Tablespoon with the STPP, the sudsing is very moderate, only at the bottom of the glass in the SQ and it rinses out completely by the third rinse; the water is not slippery at the last drain and final spin.

I would like to add something about pods. I don't like the mandatory dosing, especially since I need less detergent because I add STPP. Pods are formulated for large loads in large machines and I don't wash that way.

 

[lovestowash]

In spite of the ratings...

Visit a Walmart here in St. Pete after the weekend, and Gain Liquid is almost gone, even with a significant shelf presence.

 

[launderess]

Gain detergent has a pretty significant (and often loyal) following. Some people just cannot do without its various scents.

IIRC market testing shows Latino/Hispanic consumers prefer highly scented laundry products. In any area with significant populations you tend to see Gain and other scented products move well.

Have seen persons liberally dose Gain detergent at laundromat in washer. Then increase scent more by chucking two or three Gain FS sheets into dryer. All this goes long way in explaining why one wants to stand upwind from some people.

In light of how little it takes to set certain persons off on a hate to ban something am shocked scented dryer sheets haven't been attacked. Either laundries or private homes often wafting scent of dryer sheets is quite powerful. It also cannot be good releasing all those fumes into air for those in close contact. Say living in area where all that dryer air is venting.

 

[tomturbomatic]

A lot of Latino/Hispanic consumers of highly scented cleaning products come from areas where perfume is cheaper than bath water. Powerful floral stink means clean in body, laundry and dishes.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

scent

Don't get me wrong. I like nice strong scents, but I prefer it to be a classic scent with some floral, fruity and woody notes. This is noticeable in laundry detergent and fabric softener.