Powder HE detergents

[richimaor]

I’m willing to go back to powder detergent and I’m looking for a good performance but inexpensive solution, I saw Arm & Hammer 185 Load for almost $18, but I could really use some advice based on your personal experiences and I’d be thankful to hear too

 

[DADoES]

 
A&H was one of the lowest-rated detergents in Consumer Reports testing a few years ago, as I recall from perusing a detergent discussion on a board elsewhere.  I don't know if that's still the case.

 

[imperial70]

I've used the arm and hammer on whites in my front loader. I had excellent results using hot and warm water washes.

 

[launderess]

Last time tried A&H powdered detergent

Was ages ago and it left the wash hard, scratchy and rough feeling. Turns out the stuff was high in washing soda (hence the cheap price), so never bothered again.

 

[joeypete]

Gain

I'm using Gain powder and I really like it. Doesn't get too sudsy either, I was expecting that after hearing some reviews. It seems to clean well. It's rated last in the "Very Good" category of CR testing. So I figured I'd try it out.

 

[ea56]

The week before last I bought a big box of Tide Powder with Bleach of the whites. I really am very pleased with the results. But, boy is it ever expensive! I paid $18.97 at Target. I had been using Persil Intense Fresh, but I think they’ve changed the formulation and it doesn’t seem to do as good a job on the wihtes as it used to. I really liked the Persil Pearls for whites, but alas, I can no longer buy it anywhere around here anymore.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 3/17/2018-14:35]

 

[launderess]

Again, hit where America shops!

FleaPay has tons of all sorts of Persil on offer.

 

[ea56]

Sure Launderess,

I know I can get Persil Pearls on Ebay, but there will be snowballs in hell before I’m going to spend $25.00, or more on a jug of Persil Pearls! As George HW Bush said, “Not gonna do it”!

It ain’t that good!
Eddie

 

[joeypete]

Eddie you can order the PowerPearls from Target online. It's like just under $11 a bottle and they do ship to store for free. Not sure why they don't sell it in the store anymore.

 

[ea56]

Joeypete.

Thanks for the 411 about Target and Persil Pearls! I already do a fair amount of ordering online with Target, and with my Redcard I get 5% off too, and free shipping.

I really like Maxwell House Colombian Coffee for everyday use, and once it’s something that’s next to impossible to locate consistently.. But no problem, I have a subscription with Target and they send it like clockwork once every 4 weeks, shipping free and the price with the 5% Redcard discount is less than I can buy it at any store, and the price has remained the same for the past 6 months.

For anyone that hasn’t tried usinf Target online for items you buy on a regular basis, you might want to look into it. So when I finish off the box of Tide Powder with Bleach I’ll order the Persil Pearls from Target online.

Mazel my friend!

Eddie

 

[richimaor]

I went ahead and searched about making my own laundry powder detergent with the next ingredients: Zote laundry soap (comes in a bar), washing soda, baking soda, and oxiclean or plain oxygen powder; but my biggest concern is that if it is totally safe for HE washers, most people doing this kind of detergent claim that they use it in HE machines with no problems at all but I’d like to know before going ahead and put it in my washer...

 

[richimaor]

Oh and forgot the borax, i’ll Attach some pictures of zote soap and LA’s totally awesome oxygen

 

[lordkenmore]

Target online

I haven't ordered anything online yet, but I like using the Target website because I can usually find out if something is carried at my local Target, and where to find it. (I say usually, because sometimes really cheap items don't turn up in a search, but are there in the store.)

 

I certainly could see myself buying something that would be shipped to the store.

 

 

[launderess]

Two main issues with using soap in any modern washer

Is the need for plentiful amounts of *soft* water (preferably hot or at least warm), and what continued use of soap will do in terms of residue.

With single tub washing machines such as wringer or solid tub washers issue of scum and crud building up between tubs was less of an issue. Just as with stationary wash tubs, one had to scour out the things after use.

However modern washing machines with their two tubs can become fouled with continued use of soap. Think of your shower curtains and bath tubs to get an idea.

Believe some modern soap based powders sold in EU/UK such as ACDO have plentiful amounts of water softeners (Zeolites), and are designed for use in front loaders. That being said even Henkel does not recommend routine use of their Le Chat soap chips on a regular basis.

 

[maytagbear]

Henkel USA

I wish, wish, wish they'd import Somat dishwashering!!!! It's the only dishwasher detergent I have consistently preferred to Cascade Platinum.

As for powdered detergent in a front loader? Not for me, thanks. I do like my new card-op Speed Queen FL down in the building's first floor laundry room, but the stains I have most often, liquids and pods are far better.

As for making my own.....FEH. Feh, I seh! This is the 21st freaking Century.

Just because something can be done, should it?

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[iowabear]

I've always used Tide with bleach, but only do an average of 3 loads a week, so if it's .25 vs .10 a load for a cheaper brand that's less than $2 a month savings.  I figure clothes are expensive and if Tide occasionally gets a stain that I didn't see it's worth it.

 

Still, I wonder if I'd really notice a difference if I switched...  The premium detergents seem to compete by cleaning the little wash clothes with specific stains that Consumer Reports uses.  And that hardly resembles my typical laundry.

 

[richimaor]

I thought of making my own detergent because is budget friendly, otoh soap residue is what was stopping me from doing it
As for going back to powder... I saw this member’s thread in the deluxe forum of a Bosch Nexxt bearing repair, he’s been using powder detergent for almost 9 years and his washer’s Tub is spotless, outer tub looks brand new as spin basket...

 

[lordkenmore]

Past all the other issues with making your own laundry products (possible build up from soap, hassle of assembling the product, etc), I have to question whether a DIY "detergent" would work very well. I haven't done tests, but I'd hypothesize that even a passable but not great budget commercial detergent would be better than the standard homemade formula that I see quoted all the time.

 

[lordkenmore]

I wonder if I'd really notice a difference if I switched

Only one way to find out, I suppose, and that's to try a switch.

 

In my experience, I have had mixed results. I think one possible factor is the washing machine quality. I've valued Tide and the like more and more as the washer quality went down. And I was happier with budget detergents as the washer quality improved.

 

I also think a lot depends on the nature of the laundry. When its just freshening up something (say, a shirt that has been worn but has not been stained), Tide may be overkill.

 

At one point, I had an idea that one could keep several detergents around, and just select the best for a given load. A load of shirts that only need freshening? Grab the budget detergent. A load of stained kitchen towels? Grab the Tide.