On The Quest For A New Powdered Laundry Detergent

[launderess]

Average wash temperature across Europe is 40 degrees C. But even that is too high for many as good number of households still go with 60 degrees C or above. What those who care about such matters want is more or all households switching to 30 degree C washing.

https://www.electroluxgroup.com/en/...ices-out-of-step-with-climate-concerns-32373/

https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/leading-detergent-brands-to-european-consumers-wash-cold/

 

[iej]

Seems my late gran was possibly a few decades ahead of her time - born in the 1920s. It wasn’t for financial reasons but she just absolutely *HATED* waste.

Back in the 1980s, as disposable culture was probably peaking, she would just never accept supermarket bags, both on the basis that it was excessive waste of resources and because she felt that if they wanted her to carry their logo and slogan around that they should pay her for the endorsement.

She’d always carry a shopping bag or two in her handbag, or use a canvas trolley and walk rather than drive unless it was some huge item.

She also still had an old fashioned grocer a relatively short walk away, as late as the early 2000s. You simply handed in your shopping list, went for a browse for a few items and probably popped in for a coffee with “the girls” and the groceries were ready and waiting in your trolley when you came back. All the vegetables, cold meats, cheese etc was packed in brown paper and grease proof paper! Then off to the bakery & maybe the butchers etc. Clothes shopping etc was all in the city centre and she got there by bus or on foot and It was all very civilised.

On that other side of it, they adopted an automatic washing machine way before most households did in this part of the world and household chores were pretty democratically shared. My grandad did plenty of cooking, baking and cleaning. I’m not sure what brand their first machine was, but was early. She also used a dishwasher from the 1970s onwards, but was quite sparing with the detergent and cycles. There was a dryer in the garage but I rarely remember it being used.

She did have “all the mod cons” and was a big advocate of microwave cooking. I remember her being a huge fan of cooking meat using combination of microwave & conventional oven. There was also a modern halogen based hob which was state of the art of the 80s.

Also I remember they had an old Nilfisk GA70 and she would reuse the bags multiple times! That machine still works and it’s probably from the late 60s

Strawberries, apples, rhubarb, raspberries, etc etc growing in the back garden and could whip up a batch of fruit scones with home made jam and clotted cream while she was talking to you. It was like how did that happen!? Oven door open!

Just when I think back on how my grandparents did things, they had a lovely lifestyle yet were probably far less environmentally impactful than more recent generations.

 

[launderess]

It's interesting when using vintage Persil 59 for a wash in my cold fill AEG washers.

Things start off as if there isn't any detergent, literally very little froth. As time passes and water temperature rises foaming increases. Since this product only has perborate bleach and no activator, use Persil 59 at temps of 60 degrees C or above. When temp of hot or boil wash is reached there is tons of lovely froth, especially when doing terry bath linen.

 

[foraloysius]

People with dustmite allergies are often advised to wash as often as possible at 60 degrees C. It takes a lot to kill those mites. It was one of the first things I was advised at the hospital when I was diagnosed with asthma.

My Siemens has four different stain options. The blood stain button ads a pre-wash automatically when activated.

 

[yuccadew]

Anyone try (Henkel) E laundry powder? I believe this is the brand my aunt in Poland used in the 90s. I just found it in a local Polish grocer in the US, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it is. I love the scent. Much different from the American brands, most of which I do not like and end up getting unscented.

I’m also looking forward to switching back over to powders after using liquids for a long time. Right now I have this one for whites, and Roma powder for colors.

 

[volvoman]

Reply #94

...What was the Polish grocer that you found this at? Did they have any other detergents?

 

[angus]

Also, how do you determine the appropriate dosage if you don't have a comparable washer? For example, if you were to use this in a regular top loading washer, how much would you use? I struggle with that whenever I have used German Persil and actually, the US detergent instructions aren't that helpful either. This may sound silly but I never know whether the dosage instructions on Persil Liquid or Tide powder are the same whether you use a front loading or HE washer or a nice top older top loader.... For all I know I could be wasting product or not using enough. My clothes are fairly immaculate, but still...

I have also called the 800 numbers for Henkel and P&G and while the reps are pleasant enough, really can't answer the question. All they tell me is that the products are suitable for both types of machine and dosage should be based on soil level.

 

[combo52]

Proper amount of detergent to use in a wash load

Depends on a whole list of things

Water, hardness,

Water, temperature,

Water, temperature, the colder, the water, the more you need

Volume of water

Quality of the detergent, concentration, etc.

In general you can’t use too much detergent far more problems are caused by using two little,

In general, I would start with what the manufacturer recommends. They’re usually pretty close. Check to see if the water is slippery after everything is dissolved and washing
for a few minutes.

However, it’s wasteful and costly to use too much detergent, generally, for most people, the most expensive part of washing a load of clothing is the cost of the detergent. It’s generally far more than the cost of the water, the heating of the water and certainly the small cost of electricity that the washing machine uses to operate ,

John

 

[yuccadew]

volvoman- Roly Poly in New Britain, CT has the “E” for whites. There was 1 bag left after I purchased this one. They also had others in small boxes. Vizir (1 left), which I took a picture of, and also Persil and Arial (no photo). My mother also found the E for darks and colors (pictured) at Polmart today, also in New Britain. She didn’t see what else they had, but she said there were several bags of E left. I love the smell!

angus- they have a conversion chart on the back (pictured). First you have to determine whether you have hard or soft water, then how heavy/large the load is. They give you the amount of detergent to use in ml, so you just have to convert it to cups. For my husband and son’s heavier, and more soiled loads I’ll use about 3/4 cup per load; 1/2 a cup or so for light duty loads (more or less, I’ll play around with it a little until I get it right. I haven’t used powder in a while). I have a top loading washer, and our water is on the hard side.