Sears Detergent

[gadgetgary]

Went to two Sears stores today looking for their "Free of Dyes and Perfumes" HE detergent(Advanced Formula Ultra Plus....125 Washes....14.4lbs. powder) No such luck.
I was told that Sears stopped making this detergent. Any truth to that rumor?
I don't want the detergent with fabric softener or Oxy-clean built in.
Any suggestions? Another brand of Sears detergent?
How 'bout the Costco brand powder?

 

[whirlcool]

Have you tried the SA8 by Amway, uh..er...Quixtar? It comes in various versions

http://www.quixtar.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=E0003

 

[whirlcool]

Maybe this would be able to be used as a substitute?
From Sears Online...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...rs&sName=Detergents & Cleansers&psid=19309196

 

[toggleswitch]

I really like that Sears stuff.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've never seen the dye/fragrance free Sears HE. But the regular stuff, as in the link that Whirlcool provided, has almost no fragrance and according to Consumer Reports is very low on the optical brighteners as well. So it probably would make a good substitute.

I used to purchase my Sears HE powder in buckets at Orchard Supply. But they dropped the regular powder and now they only seem to carry the Oxyclean version, as well as various types of liquid HE. When I visited my local Sears, I couldn't find any buckets, either, so I bought a box of the non-HE Sears detergent. Did a suds test and it appears to be just as low sudsing as the Sears HE, so I suspect they are pretty much the same thing.

 

[gadgetgary]

Comparable

I have been told that this one is comparable to the one no longer manufactured...a slight scent and very low sudsing.
It is worth a try for $8.98.

 

[appnut]

Gary, I got the HE huge bucket of this over a year ago and love it.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Pathmark has a "low-sudsing" concentrate bucket, and Wal-Mart has "Sun" powder. They may well resemble the old, plain Sears bucket because I think they may be made by a company called "Huish", and I believe Huish manufactured the Sears formula.

Oh, I almost forgot! Costco has a formula in a bucket, that is VERY similar to the pictured Sears formula....it is probably made by Huish as well. It might be worth it just to get a pass if you're not a member and pay regular price to see...

Isn't it annoying when you finally find a favorite product, and it is vortexed into the maelstrom? I finally found the perfect dishwashing detergent powder at WalMart..."Great Value". I'm praying that, now that I've found a fantastic, affordable product that works excellently in my machine and water conditions, that they don't decide to go "improving" it!

 

[dixieland]

I can still get the Ultra Plus Free at Sears here in Memphis. Our stores have plenty of it. They must have a supply chain problem.

I have checked the packages over and over and cannot find any markings or mentions that huish makes the Sears detergents. On their website the $8.98 box pictured above is listed as "Desoto" - not sure if this is a manufacturer or not...

Ultra Plus is a good detergent regardless of who makes it.

 

[jamiel]

Desoto is Sears' paint and detergent manufacturer...the liquid version of Whirlpool

 

[dixieland]

Here's a photo from my lunch-time trip to Sears. I am not really sure why they don't merchandise this product near the washers. Seems odd to put it next to paints and stains!

There's plenty of the *Free of Dyes and Perfumes* variation to be had... this is just one of 5 Sears in Memphis.

View attachment 9-13-2007-14-41-23--dixieland.jpg

 

[gadgetgary]

Aaron

Thanks for the update. Called the 1-800 Sears Hotline and asked why I could not find that free and clear in my area. They said.....don't know. Hmmmmmm~!

I agree...Why is it next to the paints and stains?

The first bucket was purchased originally on LI. Maybe they never made it to CT.

 

[alr2903]

Do you guys think Sears is as potent as the quixtar SA8? SA8 works well, and i like it for whites and i use it on sheets and towel day. I mostly use the non bleach purex liquid for our work clothes mostly dockers and polo's. I see your plight from the above posts, nowdays don't get to cozy with a good product, because it surely will be discontinued. Thanks alr2903

 

[DADoES]

Sears probably stocks detergent with paints and stains for reason of them being household chemicals.

Speaking of good stuff missing/discontinued, I'm continuing to be very much PO'd about Downy Advanced. Interestingly there was a sample of it packed in RJ's new Neppy 6500. Either the machine had been warehoused for a long time, or Maytag has a stash of samples to be used up.

 

[dixieland]

Sears detergent is good - (I prefer the Oxy Clean formulation). Since I have a TL I use double the suggested amount since there is more water involved.

The liquids are okay but I have to add borax to the solution in order to get the best results (which is something I have found to be true with every liquid). I am a powdered detergent person.

 

[irishwashguy]

Take a look

Here is more of this stuff online. I think that they still sell it. I worked at Sears for five years, yes they are kind of strange, and picky, and full of tradition as to where things are placed in the store, the soap is always near the hardware, in the Sears near my home, the hardware is next to appliances..............well kind of handy.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_1...+soap&gobutton.x=0&gobutton.y=0&gobutton=find

 

[vintagesearch]

costco powder

costco's kirkland signature powder laundry detergent is actually really good slightly more sudsing than you would like but really good and works great in cold water.

 

[mrsalvo]

I'm a died-in-the-wool fan of the Sears detergent. I've found that it cleans as well as Tide and better than nearly all store bought brands. I use the orange box powder. It's very good. Recently bought a bottle of Gain and the cleaning wasn't nearly as effective. Its economical to use as per load.

 

[sudsmaster]

I visited my local Sears today and they finally had the free-and-clear HE powder. It was $15.99 for a 125 dose bucket. The regular HE powder was $19.99 for a 275 dose (30 lb) bucket. They also had the Oxyclean version, 120 dose, for $14.99. I got some of each, stocked up for the next few years, as it were. That works out to about 7 cents per dose for the regular, and about 12 cents per dose for the free and oxyclean versions, so the big buckets of the regular HE version is quite a buy. I usually boost it with up to 30% STPP. Results are quite good.

I use the liquid for cold water washing of delicates and hot washing of bath towels. Right now I'm working through some Safeway and Tide free liquids, so the Sears liquid stuff isn't getting as much "action" in the washer.

Also have been using straight Ivory bar soap, grated, and boosted with STPP. Results have also been good (love that crisp but not harsh feel and clean scent it gives to bed sheets), but lately have migrated back to synthetic detergents like Sears HE.