Opinions on Kirkland (Costco) Laundry Detergent?
- Thread starter j2400
- Start date
Help Support :
Well, I purchased some of their power and liquid, and the main thing I noticed is that these are not HE detergents, despite the labeling. Way too much sudsing. Also, the dosage instructions on the containers is all wrong - it specifies more detergent for HE machines than for regular top loaders. Ass-backwards. I sent Costco a note about this a while back but never got any meaningful reply.
These detergents may clean OK in a traditional top loader, but for HE machines there are much better choices.
These detergents may clean OK in a traditional top loader, but for HE machines there are much better choices.
Spot-on, Rich. My experience was exactly the same, even the email I sent Costco that fell into an abyss!
I just finished a box of the powder and it was fine in a top-loading washer (non-HE) but was a sudsy mess in my front-loaders.
The Sam's Club detergents under the Member's Mark brand were a similar situation - the liquid was high-sudsing yet still sold as an HE product.
I just finished a box of the powder and it was fine in a top-loading washer (non-HE) but was a sudsy mess in my front-loaders.
The Sam's Club detergents under the Member's Mark brand were a similar situation - the liquid was high-sudsing yet still sold as an HE product.
I frequently use Costco detergent. I have a TL, so the HE bit is a non-issue for me. I've been very satisfied with the performance of the liquid. I tried the powder some years back and it did not dissolve well in cold water. It has been reformulated since that time, so I just bought another box of the powder, but haven't tried it yet.
Have used Kirkland powder
Really am not impressed and way too sudsy.
Really am not impressed and way too sudsy.
I prefer
Seare Brand Detergent
Seare Brand Detergent
passatdoc
Well-known member
I bought a box of their powder to try. It has the "HE" logo on it, which I thought was copyrighted, but I guess anyone can use it. There are bizarre instructions on it, telling the buyer to use MORE for a FL than a TL. I use 2-3 tbsp (30-45 ml), the same as I would use with Tide HE or other powders, and I get good results without excessive sudsing. This detergent was highly rated by CR, but there are other detergents like Tide or Sears that one can buy on sale at reasonable cost. Given the small amount of detergent used (2-3 tbsp), to me detergent costs are not really an issue, at least not like they were with a TL where you'd use 2/3-1 cup at a time.
I also have a large bottle (with spigot) of their liquid detergent to try. But first I have to go through that big box of powder!! That will take me a year or more to go through.
I noted last time at Costco that they are moving toward 2X concentrated products, both for their own brand and for Tide products.
I also have a large bottle (with spigot) of their liquid detergent to try. But first I have to go through that big box of powder!! That will take me a year or more to go through.
I noted last time at Costco that they are moving toward 2X concentrated products, both for their own brand and for Tide products.
passatdoc
Well-known member
PS I am using Kirkland Ultra in the cardboard box. There IS an "he" logo on the front, unlike the photo submitted by Gadget Gary.
Possibly a different product or formulation?
It says "HE" on the box, and I wonder if the logo is trademarked by the FL manufacturers or something. Tide HE has the logos of the companies that recommend the use of HE detergent such as Bosch, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, etc. The Kirkland box does not carry the manufacturer logos and I wonder if they can list the logos only if they pay money or fees to the manufacturers?
Despite the different packaging of this product, vs. GadgetGary's photo, the directions still instruct the customer to use MORE detergent for a FL than for a TL. I ignore this of course and just use 2-3 tbsp per load.
Possibly a different product or formulation?
It says "HE" on the box, and I wonder if the logo is trademarked by the FL manufacturers or something. Tide HE has the logos of the companies that recommend the use of HE detergent such as Bosch, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, etc. The Kirkland box does not carry the manufacturer logos and I wonder if they can list the logos only if they pay money or fees to the manufacturers?
Despite the different packaging of this product, vs. GadgetGary's photo, the directions still instruct the customer to use MORE detergent for a FL than for a TL. I ignore this of course and just use 2-3 tbsp per load.
I don't currently have a Costco membership-
but friends do....I have found some Kirkland products to be wonderful....particularly the grocery items. I love the extra virgin olive oil.
Haven't tried the laundry detergent, and after this thread, I probably won't.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
but friends do....I have found some Kirkland products to be wonderful....particularly the grocery items. I love the extra virgin olive oil.
Haven't tried the laundry detergent, and after this thread, I probably won't.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
I also like many Kirkland products, including their xtra virgin olive oil, but their laundry products continue to disappoint, at least on the HE side.
BTW, anybody notice how much extra virgin olive oil (evoo) has shot up in price in the past couple years, even the Kirkland brand? It's led me to discontinue using it for low temp sauteing. I use safflower or peanut oil instead for that now. I still use the evoo for salads, though. I figure the health claims for evoo have driven up demand/price. But I have an avocado tree and figure my regular consumption of avocado is just as good as if not better (heart healthy etc) than evoo.
BTW, anybody notice how much extra virgin olive oil (evoo) has shot up in price in the past couple years, even the Kirkland brand? It's led me to discontinue using it for low temp sauteing. I use safflower or peanut oil instead for that now. I still use the evoo for salads, though. I figure the health claims for evoo have driven up demand/price. But I have an avocado tree and figure my regular consumption of avocado is just as good as if not better (heart healthy etc) than evoo.
Have tried Kirkland detergent both powder and liquid
And found they were easly outcleaned by just about anything else. Very poor when dealing with avg. or heavy soil. I guess if clothes are not very dirty it might be ok.. But I sure would not want to use them.
And found they were easly outcleaned by just about anything else. Very poor when dealing with avg. or heavy soil. I guess if clothes are not very dirty it might be ok.. But I sure would not want to use them.
Costco Kirkland detergents.
My only experience has been with the HE liquid and 2X HE liquid in a GE Adora front loader. I had a very poor opinion of the regular HE liquid, but the 2X is even worse! It does a very poor job cleaning and it just won't rinse out, even when selecting the extra rinse" and we don't have hard water.
I would use anything else,
Dave
My only experience has been with the HE liquid and 2X HE liquid in a GE Adora front loader. I had a very poor opinion of the regular HE liquid, but the 2X is even worse! It does a very poor job cleaning and it just won't rinse out, even when selecting the extra rinse" and we don't have hard water.
I would use anything else,
Dave
I have never used any other Kirkland other than the "Institutional" in the plastic pail. This is manufactured by a company called Huish.
When I first tried it a number of years ago it came in a large round 32 lb. pail. It had a nice lemony fragrance that completely rinsed-out and made almost NO sudz---perfect for my FriGEMore or 1-18. Cleaning performance was not nearly as good as Viva----but hey, it was a trade-off.
Then, in more recent times they changed to "Super Concentrated" in a smaller bucket. It has a different citrusy fragrance and is not nearly as low sudzing---so I won't bother to buy it again. It is still not a good performer when compared to Viva or Foca IMO.
When I first tried it a number of years ago it came in a large round 32 lb. pail. It had a nice lemony fragrance that completely rinsed-out and made almost NO sudz---perfect for my FriGEMore or 1-18. Cleaning performance was not nearly as good as Viva----but hey, it was a trade-off.
Then, in more recent times they changed to "Super Concentrated" in a smaller bucket. It has a different citrusy fragrance and is not nearly as low sudzing---so I won't bother to buy it again. It is still not a good performer when compared to Viva or Foca IMO.
I had the flavor in the red box - won't buy it again. I still like Tide HE for the f/l and a variety of things for the t/l'ers. Tide HE formula was changed a while ago and is now a little more sudsy than I like in a front loader but it still cleans the best. I bought some Purex HE on Bob (of BobLoad fame ;-) and it works well too but the Tide HE is still tops for my needs. The Purex does seem to be less sudsy which is good. Dosing is of utmost importance with softened water - usually far less than recommended.
Back in the 90's Costco used to sell a very good detergent called "Clout" in a big bucket. It worked very well in my Whirlpool belt drive toploader. Then, suddenly, in the mid-90's as I recall, the performance plummeted. Whites came out stained whereas before they came out clean.
After a little label reading I realized the difference was that the new formulation didn't contain any phosphates. The good stuff contained 8% phosphorus. I was able to find some of the old formulation and used that, but eventually that supply dried up.
From there started my quest for the "secret ingredient". My search intensified when I got a front loader and found the cleaning wasn't what I expected. I wound up buying a large amount of TSP thinking that was the answer. Nope. Still got it! Eventually I figured out that STPP was the missing ingredient. Found a chemical supply warehouse locally that was willing to sell me mass quantities. Problem solved!
In brief, Costco USED to sell a great laundry detergent, but when they pulled the phosphates out of it, it was no better than any other bargain basement phosphate free brand.
PS-I notice that the current Kirkland detergents no longer qualify their HE logo with "*He Compatible". From what I can tell, it's the same darn stuff and still is not really an HE detergent.
After a little label reading I realized the difference was that the new formulation didn't contain any phosphates. The good stuff contained 8% phosphorus. I was able to find some of the old formulation and used that, but eventually that supply dried up.
From there started my quest for the "secret ingredient". My search intensified when I got a front loader and found the cleaning wasn't what I expected. I wound up buying a large amount of TSP thinking that was the answer. Nope. Still got it! Eventually I figured out that STPP was the missing ingredient. Found a chemical supply warehouse locally that was willing to sell me mass quantities. Problem solved!
In brief, Costco USED to sell a great laundry detergent, but when they pulled the phosphates out of it, it was no better than any other bargain basement phosphate free brand.
PS-I notice that the current Kirkland detergents no longer qualify their HE logo with "*He Compatible". From what I can tell, it's the same darn stuff and still is not really an HE detergent.
I Liked The Liquid...But
Kirkland Signature liquid did a good job for me--but I stopped using it after my supply ran out. That's because I found my own alternative:
My 99 Cent store sells bags of Ariel (Mexican-made with phosphates), and I have stocked up on every shopping trip. Now, my laundry routine works like this:
Ariel for my whites and sheets--cleans and brightens great, rarely need chlorine bleach.
Cheaper liquid detergent for my colored items (I wash them in cold water to prevent shrinkage and fading). Sun 2X has done well (and I recently picked up two large bottles for three bucks, so it should hold me for a while.
It's not that Kirkland was a bad detergent (it was quite good actually), but my alternatives do an even better job for less. Just four or five spoonfuls of Ariel in my Roper top loader, and my whites get sparkling clean in hot water.
Kirkland Signature liquid did a good job for me--but I stopped using it after my supply ran out. That's because I found my own alternative:
My 99 Cent store sells bags of Ariel (Mexican-made with phosphates), and I have stocked up on every shopping trip. Now, my laundry routine works like this:
Ariel for my whites and sheets--cleans and brightens great, rarely need chlorine bleach.
Cheaper liquid detergent for my colored items (I wash them in cold water to prevent shrinkage and fading). Sun 2X has done well (and I recently picked up two large bottles for three bucks, so it should hold me for a while.
It's not that Kirkland was a bad detergent (it was quite good actually), but my alternatives do an even better job for less. Just four or five spoonfuls of Ariel in my Roper top loader, and my whites get sparkling clean in hot water.
~sudsshane
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,250
I think~
the powder smells awful, but it does do a good job at cleaning the dog blankets and beds. It is also fairly low sudsing in my GE Filter Flo.
the powder smells awful, but it does do a good job at cleaning the dog blankets and beds. It is also fairly low sudsing in my GE Filter Flo.
