Persil Powder gets a rave review

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

Streaks of powder detergent residue are normally result of zeolites. IIRC most versions of Persil (European) including "mega perls" are some what high in zeolite content.

There may also be issues with using too much detergent and or coupled with using low temperatures.

Finally today's "HE" sort of front loaders use far less water. This also can cause issues with detergent not dissolving properly and rinsing cleanly.

This residue often isn't noticeable on whites or very light coloured textiles, but darker colours or blacks are another matter.

https://www.electrolux.ie/support/s...ale-streaks-on-laundry-or-emits-a-sour-smell/

https://www.miele.co.uk/support/cus...eolites,do not usually contain zeolites.[this post was last edited: 8/19/2024-17:20]
 
^Thank you, Laundress. I have an American Maytag top loader, and I’ve been using hot water only with the powder.

The 1/4 cup that I just tried with a load of towels on a “deep” water cycle and an extra rinse did rinse out. Now I’ll have to see if loads come of clean enough with only that much detergent..
 
If using a traditional top loader you may also wish to try adding powdered detergent first, setting washer to low level fill, let it agitate for a bit to fully dissolve detergent, stop machine and reset to proper water level and add wash.....

Thing about zeolites is they are insoluble, that's the whole point. However this can cause issues with residue sometimes no matter what one does.

Must of the "dust" or "lint" washed in powdered detergents comes from either zeolites or other substances that don't fully dissolve such as certain bulking agents.

Above is one reason why so many switched to liquid format laundry detergents for deep colours and or dark/black items.
 
^So I’ve settled on dissolving it in hot water in a jar, then adding it to the empty machine and letting it fill with hot water before adding the clothes. Although even with that, I was still getting those awful steaks, but reducing the amount of detergent seems to have helped. Must be those zeolites :/. Thanks for the articles, too. I read them and it makes sense.

Nothing can really beat those old phosphate containing detergents. I haven’t found anything quite as good in today’s market, for laundry or automatic dish detergents. They just don’t clean as well, and/ or they leave some funky residue.
 
"Would adding/dissolving sufficient STPP into the wash water before the detergent counter the zeolite issue?"

Probably not because adding phosphates won't remove or nullify zeolites already present in powdered laundry detergent.

One could argue presence of STPP would mean zeolites aren't necessary. However, since phosphates are pretty much banned from domestic laundry detergents there you are.
 
For laughs and giggles broke out one of the boxes of vintage Surf from my stash.

Stuff is loaded with zeolites and when used in Haier top loader could see bits floating about in wash water. This even after one had followed directions above; added powder to washer as it was filling with hot water to low level. After allowing agitation for about five minutes switched to high water level and added wash.
 
I think I’m going to give the STPP a whirl since I don’t think the reduced amount of laundry detergent I’m using now is going to cut it. Years ago when things first went phosphate free (early 10s?) I recall buying a commercial automatic dish powder with phosphates in it since the phosphate free ones were really, really bad back then, and I recall it helped. If it boosts the cleaning power of the small amount of powder I have to use to prevent the residue streaks, it will be worth it. Excited to try it :D.
 
I think you will be very happy with adding STPP to your wash formula. I use two tablespoons of STPP with 3 to 4 tablespoons of Tide He Turbo or 2 tablespoons of Persil. I am still rationing out small amounts of Rosalie's Zero Suds in loads of towels to knock down suds. The little quarter cup measure that comes in the box of Persil Universal I only fill to the first line which is half of that measure, so basically you are getting twice the number of washes as are numbered on the box.

I have a subscription order with Amazon to receive a ten pound shipment every 3 or 4 months. I used to buy the 25 or 50 pound containers of STPP through The Chemistry Store store in South Carolina, but since COVID, the shipping cost to Maryland is astronomical so I use my Prime membership to save on that. I calculated the cost per pound including shipping and the smaller container from Amazon Prime is a better buy.

I currently use front loaders from Speed Queen, Miele and Creda.
 
Vintage Surf detergent

Cannot believe it's been 12 years on since got the stuff.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?39129

Have only used one or two boxes, cracked open another recently in aid of using up some of this stash.

Bits have clumped but nothing that couldn't be fixed by dumping contents into bucket and breaking apart.

Overall results were fine in the Haier portable. Things weren't very heavily soiled, probably should have used more than 1/4 cup, but came out fine.

Scent is detectable in box, only slightly so after laundry is (air) dried.
 
GELaundry4ever- I buy my laundry powders from European/ Polish grocery stores. It can be hit or miss since things are oftentimes sold out, but that’s where I get my Persil and Henkel “E” laundry powders.

Tomturbomatic- I ended up getting the STPP off of Amazon as well. It got here yesterday. I tried a teaspoon in my dishwasher along with a smaller amount of Ecover powder than normal I normally use, and the dishes came out clean.

Also doing my second load of laundry now. A tablespoon along with the reduced amount of the Persil powder. I did the “normal” cycle on my Maytag, the only cycle on my machine that doesn’t allow for you to choose a “deep” water level, and I did notice some minor streaks on a couple of the clothes. I think I’m going to have to use a different cycle setting until this powder is used up. I’m happy to have the STPP to the extra cleansing boost, though. I’m going to be doing some experimenting with it.
 
Softened water either via substances such as phosphates or mechanically will get you but so far in terms of reduction of detergent used. At some point however using less "soap" will hinder cleaning resulting in a poor wash.

In best of all possible worlds laundry detergent would be formulated with phosphates as builders eliminating issues from zeolites. That is not possible largely any longer so there you are.

Long as you're adding zeolites to wash in any amount there will be risks of residue and streaking.
 

Similar threads

C
Huffington Post Article on German Persil.
Replies
3
Views
63
launderess
launderess
Ultramatic
Here we go again. Are we using too much detergent?
2 3
Replies
40
Views
308
gelaundry4ever
G
launderess
Job Lot of Persil Going Cheap
Replies
2
Views
42
launderess
launderess
T
Great Deal on Persil Everyday Clean 100 ounce
Replies
1
Views
66
gelaundry4ever
G
launderess
You're Probably Doing Laundry All Together Wrong
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
253
fisherpaykel
F

Latest posts

Back
Top