Persil at Kmart NYC/Mixing Detergents

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Ok..

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here are my findings from today's outing, with more than a few pics thrown in for good measure.
The Persil intrestingly enough reminded us of the smell of our sheets after our summer tenant had them laundered at this same establishment, but thankfully not as strong. Probably because any frangrence is different than what were used to. When this place washes a load it is a maximum suds fest. Literally the whole window is solid suds the entire wash cycle.

So I used a 30# machine which was somewhat bigger than necessary but a 20# machine would have been a squeeze. For once the liquid detergent reservoir was empty so our results were untainted.
Given we spend over $6.00 a load just to run the machine paying more for better detergent is money well spent...if the results are indeed better. This was a mixed load of curtains (you would not believe how much NYC airborne particulate matter they fill with), sheets, towels, kids cloths, etc.
And I think the results were indeed better. A new chapter as BOL (cost-wise) detergents like A & H will no longer be the go to for us. Everything looks on balance somewhat brighter, less dingy than before.
And the whites are, you guessed it, whiter.
I like these Wascomats, very solid and quiet. Although the "instructions" leave a lot to be desired. I still am not sure exactly when each of the different dose pathways are to be used and for what. The dryers were Alliance which came in two sizes, small and large. The smaller machines give you more time per quarter but I get better results in the larger ones.
Laundress was right, the machine drains the prerinse water so dosing directly is not recommended.
I did rinse our one use detergent container (vitamin jar) in the incoming prerinse water which is acessible from the top. I also add water and fill the detergent reservoir to the brim. I do this so less is left in the bottom when it empties. Or more specifically what is left is more diluted. Perhaps it finds its way into the load better too.

[this post was last edited: 9/12/2015-17:34]

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The flower thing is for softener.
I is prewash
II is main wash

I can only assume the other one is for pouring in your favourite soda for that extra sticky result ;)
 
Those are the same Wascomats that our local Chinese operated laundry has. The controls are not intuitive at all and not that easy to figure out. Ours charge $3.00 per load and $4.25 for extra hot and extra rinse. I really can't tell if the heat is boosted or not. The glass on the window gets slightly warmed and that's about it.
But they do a good job cleaning our comforters and duvets.
 
Self Heating Washers

Are nil to none in the USA. Cannot find one single vendor of coin operated washers that mentions steam connections for American machines in sales brochures.

Coin Laundromat owners stick to the same rationale domestic washing machines had until recently; why heat water in machine when you can get it from a tank?

Also adding heating introduces other complications such as source (electric is just too expensive in most of the USA and steam would require boilers that could need a special license to operate), along with possible issues with maintenance and so forth.

Good boiler set at proper temperature along with recirculation system should deliver decent enough hot water to a washer. Much will depend if the machines are set to "dumb down" the temp by adding cold water and or pre-wash in cold but do not spin before the main wash. If you do even a short pulse spin between the prewash and main cycle it removes much of the cold water so the incoming hot won't be diluted.

On self heating front loaders the above doesn't matter much because machine is going to raise temps regardless.
 
Vinegar in the rinse also helps

Laundry sours such as white vinegar only are of aid if one laundered with alkaline pH substances such as soap, washing soda, etc... OTOH if one has used neutral to near pH there is less of a clear benefit.

The whole idea of laundry sours is to bring down the often high pH left from laundering processes. That and to combat the residue (mostly sodium bicarbonate) left from using carbonates and other alkaline substances. Bringing down the pH leaves textiles feeling less harsh and removing alkaline residues helps prevent browning and or scorching when laundry comes into contact with heat (dryers and or ironers).

However you have heard me use this word before; encrustation. That is the process whereby hard water minerals, detergents, soaps, soils, etc.. become trapped in textiles when high pH are used for the wash.

All alkaline substances cause natural fibers to swell, this is why chemical processes to change the color and or textile of hair (straighten or curl) often are alkaline. Problem is when it comes to laundry as the rinsing process begins those open "pores" if you will begin to shut down, trapping the aforementioned substances. The solution of using acids (laundry sours) after a series of rinses works well enough, but can damage some textiles and or colors in the long run.

The latest thing is commercial laundries have moved to liquid detergents with their neutral to only slightly alkaline pH. They clean without the brute force of highly alkaline substances thus textile fibers are not forced open. No opening of textile weaves helps deal with the encrustation problem. It also simplifies the laundry chemical profile since you can get rid off some rinses and skip laundry sours.

People often say the clothing feels softer after using a liquid detergent instead of powders. Well it would wouldn't it? Because of the absence of soda and other caustic substances. Liquids also are less aggressive to colors on average than most powdered detergents. In fact for many if using a liquid detergent fabric softeners in general can be skipped.
 
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Laundress, i was using a 30# machine with soil and extra rinse selected, i think the 50# machines here are around the same price you mentioned on the "uptown" machines you are familiar with.

Well today i mixed the two and it still smelled a bit much of the bouquet du Persil for my liking. I should have used less as the load i ran only consisted of our puffy nylon winter coats needing the summers dust accumulation knocked off, with one exception i mention below.

That said i may just dump the smallish Persil into the mega sized Arm & Hammer, and bother to twist the cap and smell what i'm getting into next time. I do like how it cleans, however. My sons jacket is almost fully rid of the nearly permanent staining brought on by his relentless explorations of the undergrowth in our local playground. Calgon take me away!
 
Persil available at Hy-Vee grocery stores: Persil took over an impressive chunk of the detergent aisle at the Hy-Vee in our little village in Minnesota. Several versions are available, but unfortunately, no Proclean 2-in-1. I'll have to ask the manager if that version is available, as it's the only one I'm interested in.

I'm shopping there again tomorrow and will try to figure out which brands / formats were downsized or eliminated in order for Persil to take up so much shelf space.
 
I was...

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Born in Minnesota. We. lived in the Golden Valley suburb of Minneapolis and my family had a cabin in Brainerd. Later we moved to Navarre on Lake Minnetonka, then on to California in 1971.[this post was last edited: 10/3/2015-12:27]
 
I

Just recently tried the Persil pro clean power pearls from Walmart.
Now I'm using TL machine... first issue was sudsing.. during the wash it was a nice one inch layer of suds.. No problem (I thought) but ended up with suds in the rinse water, which required a seconds rinse! Not good here in CA with our drought! The Persil did a very nice job at cleaning.
The biggest problem (for me) was the scent! I hate it, and it sticks to fabric.
Before leaving it on someone's doorstep, or setting on a table in a public laundry mat, I may try to dilute it with a scent free detergent.
So Robert, you might try that. if you have some scent free around, try mixing say one ounce of each, to use as a test run. Mixing two scented detergent may end smelling like a ----------
HTH
 
Stan..

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I just did that, poured the bottle into my huge reservoir of Arm & Hammer.
Bad bottle design! As you can see a good amount of detergent remains, unable to escape. Guess i have to cut it open. Perhaps they are encouraging you to fill the bottle with water to get the last dose.
[this post was last edited: 10/3/2015-12:46]

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Persil actually has info on their website about how to get the last amount of detergent out. I never realized you could do that. I have been doing that on my fabric softener too.

Just as a side note...I was amazed at how clean rinsing this detergent is....even when rinsing out the bottle to put in recycling. I only had to rinse it a couple of time. Others I have to rinse repeatedly because they leave so much residue.
 

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