Platinum, Heavenly Exhilerations

[nickuk]

Or, in other words, random UK `product' musings. This thread looks at a new rinsing revelation, some new FS, and ADD.

Further to a recent thread from a US member about UK Persil, which turned into a few guys comparing it with current Ariel Actilift.....

(1) I would like to correct my previous assertion that Ariel now rinses better. Normally it does, on regular large loads of clothes etc, but it it is still far more difficult to rinse out on certain loads prone to making froth. A load of denims, for example, was generating froth after froth in each of the three rinses with Ariel (last week) whilst Persil rinsed clean (yesterday - same load, fair test etc).

(2) I got some `Comfort Exhilerations' blue variant, when I sniffed in the shop this seemed the best scent for me. Very interesting product which is a different formulation to the standard Comforts. The nonionic surfactants have gone, meaning that you don't get frothing issues. It is also a little less gloopy. The scent, despite the marketing, is quite light and only one artificial scent ingrediant is used. I would reccommend this product.

**Thanks Lavamot Jon, I tried the new orange Lenor and totally agree with you - also lovely. Reminds me of the old orange flavoured `Downy Enhancer'???

(3) Fairy Platinum Dishwasher tabs. Normally way too expensive (I use Tesco Value tabs LOL and these are 4 times the price) but were on offer so bought a pack. Great product. Dissolve really quickly so are these the only tabs suitable for a quick wash? Love the lack of unwrapping and the swirly liquids built into the tabs (what on earth is all that. However I got the lemon one and the scent is really odd, so next time I'll try regular. One more great thing about these is that they don't overfroth like Finish which chokes our Bosch, and on hoiday this year also choked a new full sized Indesit. Didn't notice the Fairy cleaned any better than Tesco Value but Which? say they are the best so it must be true LOL

Thanks all. Would write more but have to go change nappies (diapers). It's a glamorous life.

Nick

 

[frigilux]

Hi Nick----I'm up late (it's 3:30 a.m. here) and listening to the BBC news on my public radio station.

Before I get on with the topic, an aside: My father was from Wolverhampton, and all my life I've been something of an Anglophile. My cousins used to send me tapes of early 1970's Top-Of-The-Pops, which led to my love of Brit rock bands like T. Rex, Slade (who you probably know for the Christmas perennial "Merry Xmas Everybody"), Roxy Music, Roy Wood/Wizzard, and American rockers who did far better in the UK than on their home soil such as Suzi Quatro and Sparks. This was all well before you were born, LOL!

At any rate, I've always rationalized that having a Brit heritage (mother was from Italy) excuses my interest in all things English!

OK, back on topic...

Thanks for the update on UK Ariel vs. Persil. I have to say that I've had outstanding results with Persil, which I save for my many loads of heavily-stained kitchen whites. As I live in a tiny burg, my chief form of entertainment is having friends in for dinner, so I cook a lot; hence, many towels, rags, aprons, tablecloths, napkins, etc.

Coupled with an oxygen-based enzyme detergent booster called Tri-Zyme, I've yet to find a stain that Persil doesn't remove completely. Better than our best Tide products, even.

 

[nickuk]

Hi Eugene

Thanks for the info about your background. My mother is from Wednesbury which is fairly close to your father's home town. I have absolutely no link with the US but am fascinated with it, so no excuse here!

Ahh...the infamous Top of the Pops mix tapes! Have one from '88 in my loft. I must say that although I love most types of music I have never really paid much attention to the works of the artists you mention. Perhaps I will go and investigate. Of course, the Christmas classic is familiar and will start being playd in the stores from about October.

My favourite singer is American - Peter Cetera. Have loved him since I was 12.

Very interesting to read that our very own modest Persil (beams with national pride)is outperforming Tide. Are you tempted to try any other Brit products? Which Fabric Softeners do you like, if any?

Your dinners sound great and bring back memories before I had kids - I liked nothing better than to entertain at home. Clearing up afterwards was an added bonus!! Sometimes the girl in the appartment opposite mine would entertain, and we would cart all the dishes to my flat to clean as she didn't have a dishwasher.

Since having kids nothing is the same - not in a bad way, but life is all about them which I feel is the way it should be.

Nick

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi Nick,

Currently on a box of the new Persil Colour powder, it's so much nicer again now that they've changed the smell for the better - doesn't leave things smelling musty on the clothes horse like the old formula did either! I've not had any trouble with Ariel on the white loads I've washed (sheets, towels, t shirts etc), but haven't tried it on jeans as I tend to use Colour care on them. The only detergent I've had a major problem with for foaming recently was Asda Colour tablets - god knows what I was thinking when I bought them but I can safely say it will be a while before I do that again!

About due for some softener and saw the Bluebell Comfort is on BOGOF in Tesco, might try that next! Though the orange Lenor is definitely on my list of favourites. I'm also wanting to try the new pink Lenor Infusions when I get round to it.

My parents have Fairy Platinum tablets at the moment, they were on offer in Asda a few months ago, 33 for £3 or somethign like that so I stocked up - they're the best dishwasher tablets I've used in a long while. They were at the end of the last pack though when I was nosey today when I popped home, so would be interesting to see what mum will buy next.

Hope all is well Nick,

Jon[this post was last edited: 8/22/2010-15:19]

 

[lordkenmore]

It's actually sort of depressing that Tide is outclassed by Persil. Tide is generally considered our best detergent after all. It leaves me pessimistically wondering if there is any major US product left that is at least as good as what's made elsewhere. (I guess some here argue the cleaning ability of Tide is good. But rinsing and real suds control are important issues. I hate Tide even in a top load machine, and with the trend pushing most people towards HE machines, rinsability is obviously more than casual nicety.)

Eugene--this reminded me of your quest to find a good detergent match for your new washer. Have you considered Sears? I've no experience, but I have a vague sense or half-memory that it's been said here it has lower suds and good rinsability VS many other detergents.

 

[launderess]

Tide vs Persil.. Oh I Don't Know About That

Will give you that P&G seems to be leaving powdered versions of Tide to become red headed step children; however the liquid versions aren't half bad.

Tide liquids for the most part all contain a superiour chemical cocktail to the powders, including enzymes. This has been made even better one supposes by the recent addition of "Acti-Lift" to many liquid versions of Tide.

Methinks what hampers Tide liquids though is for the most part they produce too much froth, even those designed for "HE" washers, and can be difficult to rinse. This may be leading to poor results due to persons using too little product in attempts to cope with the above.

Just my two pence, YMMV.

 

[frigilux]

Launderess---There are certain stains--which usually contain grease and chili powder or paprika--that liquid Tide HE doesn't remove completely. UK Persil seems to have no problems with such stains. I would still rank Tide HE With Bleach Alternative as the best US detergent; it gets many stains out completely.

Also, keep in mind I'm using Tri-Zyme with both detergents, and liquid chlorine bleach in the first rinse. I haven't conducted a test using the detergent alone. You'll recall that I used to rave about results I was getting with powdered Tide Coldwater when it was first introduced, but when I removed LCB from the picture, that detergent fell to the bottom of the ranks in stain removal.

All I'm saying is that Tide + Tri-Zyme + LCB leaves certain stains behind, while UK Persil Bio + Tri-Zyme + LCB knocks them out.

The results could vary if the two detergents were tested alone. Sounds like a good project to tackle when the new washer arrives this week!

 

[launderess]

IIRC, The Amway Product

Contains sodium perborate, that is oxygen bleach. Am surprised you need LCB in the first rinse afterwards for good results.

That UK detergents do well on stains with chili powder or paprika does not surprise moi. Most all TOL detergents on both sides of the pond are tested against common local stains/soils as part of R&D. Curry is almost the national dish of the UK, and therefore items stained by this dish are very common.

Remember reading some where about one of the top UK detergents, and it was indeed tested against curry stains.

 

[sudsmaster]

Not to swipe the subject, but I recently made a visit to Sam's Club (it's a 70 mile round trip journey) and was handed a little complementary packet of three Sam's Club laundry product single load samplers: Member's Mark "Liquid Laundry 2x Concentrated Detergent 1 conventional or HE Load Fresh scent with Tru-Color Keeps Colors From Fading HE Compatible", Liquid Fabric Softener (Compare to Downy), and Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets.

Haven't tried any of them, but am somewhat interested in the fact that the detergent has color protection (which may mean it doesn't have OBA's), as well as having enzymes.

I'll have to give it a try on some dark colors one of these days to check on the sudsing level and color protection.

 

[frigilux]

Launderess---I use LCB more as a disinfectant than a stain remover. I wash all whites together (kitchen items, T-shirts, briefs, socks) and feel more confident of cleanliness when using standard LCB in the load. The new washer sports a very long Sanitize cycle (no need for LCB), but options such as pre-wash and stain-treat (profile wash) can't be used with it, so I'll probably opt for the Whitest Whites cycle and continue using LCB. I'm only using half the recommended dose of UK Persil Bio and it still cleans all stains well.

All other loads don't present stain problems, so I'll use SA8 on them, which is clean-rinsing but not as adept at cleaning as it once was. I've always been a Tide user, but I've had enough with the sudsy rinse problem. The new washer has only two rinses, so I think using SA8 as the daily driver and UK Persil for whites is the best combination.

Rich---Let us know what you think of the Member's Mark detergents. I once tried the powder-in-a-bucket detergent they sell (hoping it was clean-rinsing in soft water) but it was only mediocre at stain removal.