Tide "Cold Water" Nd "HE Free" Question

[launderess]

Have several dollar off Tide coupons that expire at the end of this month,so figure better start looking for a deal. Usually wait until Tide goes on sale then use my coupons to save even more.

Was wondering if anyone has tried Tide "coldwater" powder or liquid in a front loading washer. We have a Miele and while Cheer Free powder is ok, Tide detergents are famous for over sudsing, even the HE stuff. Since Consumer Reports rated Tide coldwater better at cleaning than Tide HE, thought I'd give them a shot if possible.

Also, has anyone tired Tide Free HE liquid? Was waiting for it to reach our area, and it seems one or two markets now have it in stock. P&G will not be releasing a powdered version of this product (drat), and I'm not really thrilled with liquids, but think it might be great for shirts, table linens and other items that need heavy duty laundering/stain removal but no scent.

Launderess

 

[ironrite]

This is a queen size comforter, with Tide Cold Water, Glacier scent. It's not spinning, just washing. Tons of suds! I had to pour in some Downey just to get the machine to rinse. I believe a whole scoop may have been used. I wasn't the one that originally started this particular load. I just had to make sure there wasn't a flood from the suds!

So far, I like the cold water. Normally, I will use about one quarter of the scoop. It seems to perform well in our hard as rocks water and as I don't use chlorine bleach, it keeps my towels white. I've also been using Cheer Dark liquid for my dark clothes.

 

[spiraclean]

Energy Saving

Hi Folks,
A cold water detergent that really works has the potential to save huge amounts of energy worldwide. Heating the wash water consumes the majority of the energy required to do laundry.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[shanonabc]

My mum always uses cold water and tells me to do the same because it saves on gas but i often sneak a hot water wash. She is right though! It uses 90 litres for a large load for one fill!

 

[gizmo]

cold water washing

Australians almost always use cold water, the deceased washers I pick up are almost always set to cold wash/non-heat settings.So the cold detergents DO work. All washing machines sold here (at least in my State, Victoria) now have dual energy labels on the front, showing cold wash and warm wash. The energy used to heat the water, either by the machine itself or by hot water service, is included in the warm water figure. The cold water figure is dramatically less, for an average front loader it is about 80 kwh/year for cold and 300 Kwh/year for warm water. There is no figure for hot wash, not sure if this is because no-one washes in hot any more, or because the thought police want to make hot water washing "unthinkable".



Chris.

PS: I personally use warm water, but I must confess I get my clothes REALLY dirty, and we have solar so it costs no extra anyway. Also I have sensitive skin (I'm such a delicate little flower) so I have to watch what detergent I use, and most of the specific cold water ones make me itch and go red.

C.

 

[rayjay]

I use 1/2 cap or a little less than 1/2 cap of Tide Cold Water in my LG 2032 Front Loader. It makes a little suds, but not too much. I also have soft water, softened mechanically.

 

[frigilux]

Hi Launderess--I've been using Tide Cold Water for a few months. I used the liquid form in my Frigidaire front-loader with very good results. After the latest CR tests, I bought the powdered formula and found that it does, indeed, clean better than both Tide HE and liquid Tide CW. I haven't used a powder in years, but I'm sticking with this one.

Old habits dying hard and all, I eventually began washing my highly stained kitchen whites (flour-sack dish towels, bar mops, dish cloths, etc.) in hot water (using Tide CW liquid). I'm so impressed with the powdered Tide CW that I'm using cold water for my white loads, once again. It's my experience that the powdered Tide CW is less sudsy than the liquid. (I use the amount of powder recommended for medium loads, as per the CR tests.) I should note that I use liquid chlorine bleach in all my whites loads, as well.

I haven't used Tide HE Free, however. But I give 'big ups' to Tide CW in its powdered form.

 

[frigilux]

Ironrite---Is that a Frigidaire/Kenmore/GE machine in your oversudsing picture above? Holy uber-suds! I have mechanically softened water, so it's extremely soft. I use a 'medium load' scoop of powdered Tide CW Fresh Scent and have NEVER gotten that much suds. Looks like fun, though

 

[ironrite]

Yes, that is a Frigidaire washer. When I questioned the guilty party they did admit to using a whole scoop of Tide due to the amount of dog hair on the comforter.

Don't ever let people tell you short hair dogs don't shed. Our doberman leaves at least one to two "other dog's" worth of hair in the house each week. I've never seen a dog that sheds that much.

From my experience, it's the dryer that gets most of the dog hair off the blankets and sheets, not the washer.

 

[launderess]

Did You Know Fels Naphtha

Was the original "cold water" laundry "detergent".

Because Naphtha (contained in the original Fels) is basically petrol, it cleaned quite well in warm and cool water. Housewives that had limited hot water supplies were recommended by various "women's guides" to use Naphtha soaps (P&G also made a version) for this reason.

Remember my mom used "Cold Power" detergent. It came in huge boxes that I think Big Daddy got from the factory. Was too young to remember (or maybe just not that interested) in the washing results.

Tide Coldwater must be taking advantage of some pretty nifty enzymes and other modern laundry chemicals to clean so well in lower wash temps. Many stores have stopped stocking the powdered versions and seem only to have the liquids. However a local Ace Hardware store had the powder in "Glacial" scent, and though really prefer unscented detergents will pick one up later this week. If I can find a shop with the "Fresh" scent powder, will use another coupon for that as well. To round things out may use the final coupon for a bottle of Tide HE liquid "Free". But have a huge bottle of Cheer Free and Gentle liquid which works quite well, and though unscented smells slightly better than Tide.

Launderess

 

[frigilux]

I had to go to (he swallows hard) WAL-MART to find the powdered version of Tide CW. I'm not a fan of shopping there for a number of ethical reasons, but it's the only place within 30 miles I can find whole milk mozzarella cheese....and powdered Tide CW. I live in a very small town (pop. 4,600) and think it's important to buy locally. I want to keep the Mom/Pop stores alive.

 

[pulsator]

My mom and I use Tide Cold Water in our Fisher Paykel, it's great because the F&P deep wash is only cold water, so it's perfect for us except for the occasional time when she decides to put in a cup and a half for large loads... **rolls eyes** Then we have a problem!

 

[frigilux]

Pulsator----what is 'deep wash' in reference to your F & P washer? Is it the name of a cycle? Why is it only available with a cold wash? Or am I misunderstanding something?

 

[launderess]

Tide CW on the way out?

Many shops in our area have ceased ordering Tide CW and only have what is left on the shelves. Or, only have the liquid versions (and that according to one shop is not being reordered as it does not move well, even when on sale); wonder what has happened.

Usually prefer unscented laundry detergents, but as Tide powder CW "glacial" scent does smell "better" than Tide HE, am willing to give it a shot. Besides can get a box of Tide CW powder for $8.99 verus the $10.99 for HE. If this stuff suds up my Miele, am going to scream at you guys! *LOL*

 

[DADoES]

I'm wanting to try Tide ColdWater, but WM here only has a rather large box for the powder choice, $12.98. Must check elsewhere for a smaller box. Don't want liquid.

frigilux, the F&P GWL11 EcoSmart that Pulsator has, and the IWL12 Intuitive Eco that I have, run a unique washing action top-loader style. The wash cycle begins with a saturation fill at the selected temperature, just enough water to saturate the clothes, dissolve the detergent, and allow for keeping the pump primed during a recirculation spray. Then while the wash basket slowly rotates, the concentrated detergent solution is sprayed over the clothes to loosen soil. This is similar to the Whirlpool/Kenmore Catalyst toploader. After several minutes of this "EcoActive Wash" the machine fills the rest of the way with cold/cool water for a traditional agitated deep wash. Lest you be concerned about inability to get a deep wash at warm or hot, that can be done. More easily on the IWL12 than on the GWL11, but both machines can do it.

 

[launderess]

IIRC Tide CW powder didn't come in "small" sized boxes. Smallest I remember seeing when local shops got their inital roll-out order was the one that is a bit larger than the Tide HE powder box. Tide HE powder is always slightly less in weight than other Tide powders.

 

[kenmore1978]

powdered Tide CW

I tried it in my '72 compact LK and was SHOCKED at how well it cleaned using WARM water. Way better than the Arm & Hammer Extra I normally use. My roommate is a pool serviceman and oils himself with baby oil. His clothes are always dull and dingy after wahsin even if I use hot water, ammonia, amd wash it multiple times.

 

[launderess]

My Review of Tide CW Powder - Where's All The Suds?

Well considering the rave reviews posted above,and the fact my coupons are soon to expire, decided to take the "Tide Coldwater Challenge" and picked up a box of the CW powder in "Glacial".

When I first opened the box, the first thing which struck me was the scent. As usual Tide tends towards the heavier perfumes, which is usually why one avoids their scented detergents. The scent reminded me of American Ariel detergent, which was so highly scented it gave me migrains.

Test load was the only items in the hamper; several dinner napkins and placemats. Stain wise the usual culprits, tomoato sauce, dijon mustard (always difficult to remove), various oils and grease along with butter.

Popped the lot into the washer and set the machine for warm water as I was not totally sold on "cold water" washing. Besides was going to add some oxygen bleach and that needs warm water at least to work.

Dosage:
1 teaspoon of Tide CW
1 teaspoon of Chlorox Dry Bleach (a great activated oxygen bleach long since withdrawn from the market. Chlorox now sells an "oxi clean" type oxygen bleach in tubs). Being an activated bleach it works in warm water.

Ok, watching the wash cycle, there was a good amount of suds. Nothing major, but still more than say "Persil" or another low sudsing detergent. About the same as when I use Cheer Free powder. What amazed me is by the first rinse/flush/tumble suds were very much knocked down. By the second rinse they were entirely gone. At the third the water was clear, (this is the rinse I usually add some vinegar), and at the final rinse water was draining TOTALLY CLEAN.

Results?

Stains and soils gone, laundry totally clean! Am gob-smacked!

Scent is still there, faint but still there, will see after the linens are ironed and aired if they still have scent before being put away.

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship! Still have several coupons left, but wish could find the other scent (Fresh) in powder so can compare. May have to head down to K-Sears and see if they have some in stock. Also wondering if Nationwide Wholesalers (a chain of stores that sells discontinued/overstock products and merchanise) has Tide CW as shops in our area seem not to be reordering stock.

Launderess

 

[geoff]

LOVE Tide CW

I suppose I am one of the people that Energy Star wants to throw paint at LOL. I ONLY use Tide CW in hot and warm water. I can honestly say I have NEVER tried it in Cold water. LOL Old habits die hard I guess. Our hot water is 170 degrees and Tide CW works like nothing I have EVER used in hot water. I was so amazed I tried it in Warm water and was even more impressed. I think it is the best hot water detergent I have ever used. I use a WP BD and even I must admit that it's awefully sudsy, with a full capful I get about 5 inches of suds.