Well, keep in mind powder detergents do usually contain their amount of oxy bleach, in the USA since long now you will find variations stating having bleach included (rather increased), and for exstension best used in whites, but totally safe to use on color garments if of good quality (quality dyes and well done dying process),but with the warn that if low end or lower quality garments they *may* fade wash after wash as mentioned, this thing of detergent with bleach or increased bleach is starting developping just recently in Europe where you find brands such as Dash for example having variations for whites with increased bleaching ingredients along with other ones such as baking soda ( dash bianca purezza- pure white) or others like Sole that have a varation including Vanish (Sole+Vanish) which is the oxy powder bleach that the company producing Sole detergent Makes, this is similar of what happens in the US with Oxi clean which is a powder bleach manufactured by Church and Dwight, you'll find infact the Church& Dwight TOL detergent Arm& Hammer in a variation including Oxi-clean which is infact nothing but their variation including bleach you'll now find offered pretty much by every brand, again, not that their regular products does not have it, but products stating "with bleach" simply have an increased quantity of it, that makes their target the households and folks that are usual to add additives to their wash, such as people not getting particular hot water from their heaters or any conditions in which they find their regular detergents needs a boost/help.
That said, as Launderess mention, Oxi clean does not have a good reputation from some folks, as they find it being all about soda and few oxy bleach....on the other hand, this is what I could also hear many times about their Arm&Hammer detergent...saying being all about fillers and builders such as soda and baking soda, and so being bad formulated, also because leaving little space for others important cleaning agents that you're supposed to find in a greater quantity in good or acceptable well formulated detetgents. What consumers seems to complain the most, infact, along with poor cleaning performances, is the fact that their powder detergent, tends to leave white chalky marks and strips on colored/darks, and generally clothes hard and stiff...typical signs of too much soda used in hard- medium water and generally crappy detergents that are nothing but soda.
You find though many people happy and stating not having probs.
That said, I am that type of person that does not usually goes by what others says, bothways, and is rather willing to try myself.
After all, as in life, I believe it is important to try and really get yourself into everything to really have your own idea about something, otherwise you'll always speak the word of others, not your own...
I have finally ordered a box of Arm&Hammer powder to try myself....will finally be able to say mine about...I have only used their liquid, and found it to be very good, even though like every liquids, not paragonable to powders.
I cannot personally say anything about Oxi clean, as I do not usually use additives and have never tried it.
All I can tell you, is that I really find strange that over there you don't find that stuff...In Europe those addtives/multipurpose oxy stain removers such as oxyclean, are really famous, you find them sold all over the places, many many brands and even store brands...
If you really don't have that stuff in South Africa I think you may consider importing some from Europe, Vanish is the most famous, is in a fuxia packet, the same stuff may also be sold with the name Napisan...which though has not to be mistaken with the desenfecting additive from the same company that you find in some other locations...which is another thing....i have used the stuff and found it being good, as for others...[this post was last edited: 6/8/2014-15:24]
