Sears Detergent..not so good?

[surgilator_68]

This week I have seen 3 or 4 Kenmore washers that have been used exclusively with Sears powdered detergent. All of the machines had considerable mineral build up. 2 were front loaders. All of the owners said they follow the directions on the box and use the recommended dosage. I've also noticed this with Costco powdered detergent, the liquid seems to do fine.

Now I know that most of us (myself excluded) do not stick to one brand of detergent so we might not notice when one fails to perform properly. But I figured I would see if anyone else has noticed this in other machines used EXCLUSIVELY with Sears detergent.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Not A Limestone Cowboy

I am not surprised Jason. The Sears powder is loaded with washing soda, which is combining with calcium in hard water forming calcium carbonate AKA limestone deposits. Though many insist that powders are better, I don't agree for this reason. In the 70s, when phosphates were getting banned in powders in many areas, GE in particular sounded a HUGE ALARM over it in their laundering guide saying that fabrics would get stiff and grey, washers would suffer limestone builup and listed a host of problems that would ensue. If your water was soft or softened mechanically, not a problem so much but even then, washing soda does not dissolve well at cooler temps. Liqids rarely contain it so they ARE the way to go many times. If you can find a phosphated mexican powder, that's a different story, for no liquid is a match to a good PHOSPHATED powder!

 

[sudsmaster]

I simply boost Sears Ultra Plus HE powder with STPP to the tune of about 33%. It works fine and the washer has no mineral build-up or odor issues.

Also works well in the older Miele washers.

Sears has a special HE powder that comes in a blue bucket, with Oxyclean added. I've found that this cleans very well also, without needing STPP, although I haven't run it exclusively in any one washer.

 

[brettsomers]

Yes, I was not thrilled with it. Hard water in SA. Water had to be really warm for it to dissolve, and it did leave a harsh feeling. Perhaps in softened water (or treated with phosphate) would be satisfactory. Probably wouldnt notice if i used conditioner.

 

[sudsman]

I have used ultra plus for years and NEVER had a problem

Use around 10 boxes evey 2 weeks and have NEVER had anything but good with it. And never a build up problem in any of the machines at all.

 

[lordkenmore]

Years back, I knew someone who used Sears detergent, and never washed in anything but cold. The stuff didn't seem to dissolve too well, and I recall that it would often form little chunks of undissolved detergent that would be there after the cycle was totally finished. I have to wonder what sort of buildup there was in the hidden parts of that machine.

As for powder vs. liquid detergent, I get the impression from what I've read here that liquid can build up in hidden places in machines used with liquids and cold water. This possible buildup and keeping the machine clean is one of my primary arguments for NOT using cold water exclusively when talking to non-washer types.

 

[surgilator_68]

I have only ever used powdered tide (with the exception of the ALL Small and Mighty that was free. Awful stuff) and I have never had any problems. Although I may not have had a washer long enough to develop those problems. HAHA Ok, I did have the SQ for 2 years so it would have been evident in that machine.

I remember when I was a kid my mother bought a box of Sears detergent and right away she said she didn't like it. The clothes felt rough and mine and my dad's clothes didn't get clean. She went back to tide. Now when my father did laundry his idea was to fill the entire filter pan with detergent. I thought it was so cool to see the suds coming out from under the lid. He's also the one who thought you needed 3 cups of bleach in the whites.

I think anything used in enough quantity would work fine. But the average person doing laundry is only going to put in one scoop or cap full, if that. It does say use more for heavy soil, large loads or hard water. Use less for small loads, light soil or soft water. Most people don't know what any of that means. They either use too little or too much. Although I do have a lot of customers who actually do things correctly.

Virtually any detergent will work if boosted with phosphate. I've used about 1/3 of my 5 gallon bucket over the last 2 years. I find with Tide I really don't need to boost. But again, I'm not talking about me or those of us who know the proper way to dose detergent. It's the average American that worries me.

I agree with the build up of liquid detergent. I am not sure if it is the detergent, the machine, over loading or too much detergent. But I see it frequently in customers machines. The lint filter in the dryer also has a coating of stickiness which causes the lint to adhere and low air flow. On the other hand there are many people who use liquid and never have those problems.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Even liquids could cause problems in cold water, though Tide Cold Water shouldn't, they say. Perhaps these 3-4 Sears folks were using cold water with the Sears powder, I dunno. I use warm or hot, and virtually never use cold. I miss phosphated powders. If powders were phosphated, I'd go back to them. True, one can add STTP but there still is the washing soda in these phosphate free powders that does not like to fully dissolve unless the water is really warm. Our Maypool coin-op washer in the condo seems to have dumbed down temps as the warm, even hot are not AS hot as I would like. BTW, in a pinch, I tried Oxydol liquid fron the dollar store, and was shocked at how very well it has worked, repeatedly proving to even get out stains that were tough!

 

[mrsalvo]

I used the Sears powder for many months in my old machine and had a HUGE build up on the tub and everywhere. I think it killed my machine. Never again.
Since I bought my new washer, only stick with liquids (and I switch out every month or so) to avoid any kind of buildup. We have very hard water down here in south Texas.
I must say though, the Sears powder did clean and rinse out very well.
They can put a man on the moon, why can't they make a really good low sudsing detergent? I miss Salvo.

 

[magic clean]

Funny

I was just talking about Ultra Plus powder detergent with another member yesterday. Only praising its effectiveness and next to no suds formation; that works great in a Calypso. Like others have remarked, I've not used it long enough to witness any build-up.

 

[maytagbear]

I've used Ultra Plus for

a little over a year now, and so far, my washer is in fine shape.

It is one of the best detergents I have used, period, and the absolute best when price per use is considered.

I certainly prefer its (very) mild citrus-like scent to any Tide formula I have smelled recently.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[circlew]

Like it!

Have used it for 3 or 4 years now, and have been very pleased. I've been going to the washateria during this time, so have no idea if it leaves a residue in the machines. Never see undisolved product on washed items or in tub, but I do not use cold water. Imagine any powder could leave a build-up in certain types of water.

 

[sudsman]

There are so many things that can cause problems

hard water overloading too much detergent too little detergent water too cold but most people want to blame the detergent for all the problems rather than to take the time to find the real problem and most of the time it is theirself!

 

[autowasherfreak]

I have been using Sears detergent for about a year or so, and I have had no problems with it at all. I use it in a front loader and a top loader.