Opinions on today's Laundry/Dishwasher detergents and additives

[murando531]

I searched for a while for any forum posts about this topic, but couldn't find anything that really stuck out, so I figured I'd ask.

While at the store today, I noticed that more and more "boosters" and "additives" are popping up on the shelves for laundry and dishwashers. Now we have Oxi-Clean and Tide Stain Release Booster, along with Tide Oxi. The same went for the dishwasher detergent aisle; Finish booster and Oxi-Clean detergent additive.

Now, I know there have always been things to "assist" the machines in tough scenarios, because some people use Borax, my grandmother has used Clorox 2 for years, and I remember Oxi-Clean being a thing even when I was a kid. However, I know that what hasn't been the case until recently are detergents that don't seem to do any good besides perfume your laundry. As much as I love Gain, and Tide when it's on sale, I've noticed that it doesn't work well on things that used to be a breeze to clean out years ago. What really took the cake was today when I pulled out the white shorts that got dusty and dirty from cutting grass, and they still had tinges of brown on them. It wasn't even grass stain, just dirt dust that was being kicked up from the mower.

So here's my point of view on the subject: With the removal of phosphates from our products, performance went south enough as it is, but if we have the right ingredients to compensate for that, why is it not being formulated into the detergent we're already using, and instead being sold as an "accessory" for an outrageous price? The first thing that comes to mind is marketing and profit, and that they're appealing to the part of society that "just doesn't want to have to think about it", and if they're told they have to buy something to get quick easy results, they'll eat it up like sheep. I, on the other hand, have always been rebellious, so I've already posted reviews to Amazon, Consumer Reports, and the Proctor & Gamble sites just to provide something more intelligent than "Five Stars, Works Great, Fast and Easy!".

What thoughts do you guys have on the subject?

 

[washman]

One word

Profit.

 

[washer111]

They have these products because the poorer cleaning of pods And liquids is evident on soiled loads. It's profit driven.

The leading cold detergent here in Australia follows that approach. They recommend pretreating washables, usin Cold Power to (not)wash yours clothes, then remove the pong with fabric softener.

 

[logixx]

Henkel pulled off a similar thing over here: they first released a gel made for cold-water washing and then released a laundry sanitizer to kill off germs resulting from cold-water washes.

 

[arbilab]

Did we forget 'washer cleaner'?

Much like Lay's chips, the key concept is shelf space. Both aisles are the same length and you sort through dozens of things you DON'T want to find the one you DO. If it's still there at all. Mine isn't, Tide HE powder.

I hope the marketers (alongside lawyers and politicians on the 'scum of the earth' scale) find brand disenfranchisement (such as mine) as a result of plethoraplexing product placement with a half dozen things to do a single job, which a single thing used to do just fine. Proctology and Grumble has pissed me off. Where otherwise I would have gone on buying Tide HE powder until I died, now since they won't sell me one thing that works I might as well look at alternatives with a bias AGAINST ANYthing P&G. Since I know what they're doing, taking the working elements OUT of the base product and hogging shelfspace to hawk them separately at higher prices.

They call Tide Plus a "SUITE" of products. Like Pokemon cards, you're supposed to 'collect em all'. Not gonna work, Pusillanimous & Gluttony. If I have to 'collect' laundry products they're going to have legitimate uses like good old generic STPP and sodium percarbonate. I'm not the least interested in your 'suite' of flavors.

 

[murando531]

I knew that would be the synonymous answer, but just had to make sure I wasn't the only one.

I've always used Gain powder, and Tide now and then, but now it seems like I would be better off putting Dawn dish soap into the washer. I've also noticed some over-sudsing lately; my washer has had to stop, fill up, and drain completely several times because of suds-lock, and only with a simple scoop of powder, so I also figure that they're attempting to make the ill-informed consumer think their washer is going crazy in hopes they'll buy an HE machine.

The only scent of any laundry detergent that I actually like is Gain, but now I guess I'm going to have to suck it up and find an alternative that can work in a full-fill washer. What would be good suggestions for the US market?

 

[whirlcool]

We use All Free and Clear and get excellent results.

 

[frigilux]

I use Tide or Wisk pods for tough loads, and add liquid chlorine bleach for loads of kitchen whites. Stopped purchasing other boosters as well as fabric softener in 2010. No problems with cleaning.