Review: Detergent aisles of American supermarkets

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Powders vs Liquids

It is worth noting that the two top rated "HE" detergents in a recent Consumer Reports article were powders.

Both (Ultra) Tide with Bleach and (Ultra)Tide were the only detergents to clean all tested soils and stains across the board including grass, blood and other stains.

Mind you as Which? reported earlier neither liquid or gel detergents contain bleaches which factors into why they cannot totally shift certain stains.
 
I find it interesting,

and I hope I'm not high jacking this thread, but...since we have talked so much here on AAW.ORG about the pro's and con's of washing soda, and other precipitating builders in detergents, that the two "top rated" (Tide powders) both contain them! And as much as 30% of the total in the formula!
Anyone care to comment ?
 
There Is Nothing Intrinsically Evil About Washing Soda (Sodi

Just as with everything else much depends upon how it's used, in what amounts, and what type.

Housewives, laundry workers and anyone else has known for ages that base (alkaline) substances shift certains soils, oils and grease for cleaning. Many also found out from rough, hard, cracked and dry hands from being frequently in contact with the stuff in wash/cleaning water how harsh soda can be.

Most TOL and MOL laundry detergent powders contain far less soda than older versions, especially after phosphates were removed and makers had to find their way around. Modern enzymes, surfactants, Zeolites and other substances remove much of the need for large amounts of washing soda in detergents. IIRC versions of Tide powder are <40% sodium carbonate more or less. Inexpensive products such as Arm&Hammer of old (and maybe even today for all one knows) still contain lots of washing soda to provide cleaning action. The stuff is cheap and can even be billed as "green".
 
Jerrod:

Last weekend, I saw several boxes of HE Tide with Bleach powder on clearance at both the Target in South Philly and in Bridesburg (2701 Caster Ave). Target is now stocking the new vivid white and bright Tide powder, although I didn't check if it was in HE version. Last night, I found myself in the Target at the Springfield mall, and they must have had 100 boxes of non-he Gain powder 50% off.

Joe
 
No luck

I went to the Snyder Ave Target and no luck.  There were two boxes of gain powder and two boxes of regular Tide powder pushed over to the right side along the wall.  All of the aisles where loaded with liquid although there were empty spaces on the shelves.  What is this Vivid White?  How is it different from Tide with Bleach.

 

There isn't another South Philly Target is there?
 
Jerrod -

Vivid White IS Tide with Bleach - no changes except in name and packaging. I think P&G is trying to dispell a well anchored consumer myth that detergents with bleach have Chlorine bleach that will cause Chlorine related problems.

Gordon
 
Tide "Vivid"

We went through this on another thread.

In yet another inprovement/incarnation of Tide, P&G yas launched "Vivid" technology which covers Tide detergents (both liquids and powders), along with "Boost" stain pacs and Pods.

Apparently the new chemical cocktail contains special enzymes and chemicals to restore and keep whites and colours "bright". Claims are also made that the Vivid line of products will restore whiteness to washing that has gone dingy with tattle-tale grey.

Have seen the new "Vivid" Tide liquid detergents at local shops, but not the powders or Pods/pacs. Since powdered Tide in any version is rare around here don't know if anyone will bother stocking. That is unless what puny offerings (mainly ultra TWB and or Tide HE) are swapped out for the new "Vivid" stuff.
 
Well Something Is Going On

At least for one shop.

A quick milk run before closing time with a detour down the detergent section shows one puny box of Ultra Tide "HE" powder. What other powdered Tide normally offered was bare shelf space.

This particular shop is normally pretty good at keeping things in stock so one wonders if space is being made for the new Tide "Vivid" powders, as the liquid is already on offer.

Speaking of P&G in general have noticed for the past year or so Tide liquid detergents in our area go on sale like clockwork. Indeed if one is willing to look the sales seem to rotate amoung local NYC shops so one really never purchase at full price if careful. However Tide powders *NEVER* go on sale, ever, period.
 
About Target and Tide Vivid

Target "clearanced" a lot of their powdered detergent starting about 2-3 weeks ago here. First they weren't a huge deal - like 10% off or maybe 20%. They had all the Tide with Bleach powders, and some Gain items. I first thought they were cutting powders down further. BUT, now Tide Vivid is in great supply on Target shelves, powder included, and it looks like they were just changing boxes over to the new packages. They have Vivid in original scent and in Clean Breeze. The Gain products they got rid of seem to have made way for others as well, so the net drop in powders seems minimal. Target did have Cheer powder that seems NLA there now.

Last week the Clearance detergents got a second round of more aggressive clearance pricing, which is why it was hard to find by week's end. I found one lone 63-load box of Gain Apple Mango that has been priced at $11.99 for $4.64 on Friday night. It had been placed on a nearby shelf where someone must have changed their mind - it was the only one left of any clearance powder. A week before it was plentiful.

As to the formulation of Vivid - I have asked P&G now twice by phone if there is any difference with this and the previous Tide w/Bleach. Both times I've been told the formulas are the same and that the product is simply being re-branded to get it out there in the mindsets of more consumers. The new additions to the vivid line like the Tide Boost, etc. may certainly have improved brightening abilities, etc. to augment the line however. Nothing different in liquid or powder detergent alone.

Gordon
 
Don't know about the Gain Apple Mango Tango stuff. I sniffed it once a long time ago in the store and thought it was pretty dreadful. But I think that about most products these days and there apparently is a market for those types of products. Between that and all those ridiculous fabric softeners and scent beads it is a wonder anyone can breathe. One of my friends who shall remain nameless is so over the top that they insist on liquid softener in the rinse and dryer sheets to boot. You can smell them coming a mile away and in a closed space with he and his family, the effect is near suffocation level.
 
Apple Mango Tango - is a muted version of the scent of an apply Jolly Rancher candy, if that means anything. When I first noticed this stuff, I said "dang, we've come a long way from the Gain of the 1980s", but it leaves a decent fresh scent in the finished product.

Certainly to each his/her own in detergent scents. I give my Mom a lot of detergent, and recently I got back a bottle of Fab Spring Magic - "Smells like cheap men's aftershave" she said. I like it, lol...
 
SF Bay Area P&G Check for powders and liquids

My stores in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area mirror what everybody else is saying; powders are hard to find. When two Safeway stores (the biggest chain in our area)announced remodeling, we all thought we'd get more selections. Nope. Just more rows of large sizes of Tide Liquid in too many flavors. They don't even carry Cheer any longer. I have to go to independent stores (Diablo Foods in Lafayette CA 94549) to find a good selection of products, especially in smaller sizes.
 
I do like the scent of Apple Mango Tango but I don't really know about the softener. I mean, I do Know the scent but am unsure if I like it or not.
 
Duane Reade

A good friend of mine is an executive with Walgreens Corporate in Chicago and the the plan is to slowly integrate the Duane Reade chain into Walgreens over the next few years. New Yorkers hate change and I told him this would be a BAD idea for business in the long term.

As for the grocery chains offered here in Florida, we have:

Publix
Winn Dixie (soon to be BI-LO)
Albertson's
Sweetbay
Whole Foods Market
Sedano's
WalMart
Fresh Market

Publix is the market leader but VERY expensive. Albertson's presence here has all but come down to a few stores. Sweetbay is fantastic, great sales and excellent produce. Sweetbay is owned by Hannaford which is a New England supermarket chain. I find myself shopping at The Fresh Market mostly these days. It truly is a wonderful shopping experience but a bit pricey.
 
Every Duane Reade One Has Seen

Either has been or is now going through vast make-overs that turn them into small supermarkets.

First thing one noticed after the sale was that WG took away all DG POS terminals/cash registers and replaced them with their own equipment. My pharmacist told me that all the DR computers with patient/perscription information and such were taken and tossed as well. Again these were replaced with WG equipment. However many scripts either weren't transferred or done incorrectly. Pharmacists or patients spent hours contacting doctors to get replacment scripts.

Other thing to go at once was the DR private label merchandise, again replaced with WG stuff. I purchase saline solution for contacts from DR and noticed the cartons were now Walgreens.

Thing is how things came full circle for Duane Reade.

When one first started working in The City, you couldn't find a DR above downtown/Wall street area. By the 1990's they had expanded all over NYC and showed no signs of slowing down. In the process they either purchased or put out of business scores of small independent "mom and pop" pharmacies. So it came to pass even they got too big and for that and a few other reasons DR will soon vanish into Walgreens.
 
Didn't Duane Reade buy out a bunch of Walgreen's locations? My local Walgreen's growing up was the busiest or highest grossing location of all for many years.
 

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