Tide Cold Water question

[lordkenmore]

Apparently Tide Cold Water in a small jug is on sale at one store locally. I have to admit I'm curious to try it. Plus, while I don't want to go to cold water washes, it would be nice to cut the temperature a bit. But I'm wondering two things:

 

First, what temperature range is a realistic minimum for it to work? (Most of my laundry isn't tough stains. It's more about freshening.)

 

is the scent as potent as other versions of Tide? (I'm afraid already know the answer is yes...and that is one reason I'm not in a huge rush to go and buy the stuff.)

 

[frigilux]

I use Tide Cold Water (Fresh Scent version) frequently and it's my favorite detergent scent. It works best in temps 65-90 degrees. Stain removal--not a big problem for you--decreases at temps under 60 (although Tide claims it cleans down to around 43 degrees). Stain removal also decreases at hot temps, probably due to the enzymes used in this particular formulation.

My Maytag has a fun Cold Wash cycle, but it only allows 'tap cold' water to be used. That's just too cold during Minnesota winters, so I save that cycle---with it's MagicMinute-like shampoo---for the summer.

I use Tide Cold Water and the 'cool' temp setting (around 68 degrees) in conjunction with the Normal cycle most of the time.

The scent is pronounced when clothes emerge from the washer (especially if a slow spin speed is selected) but some of that dissipates in the dryer. Scent is such a subjective thing; but I'd give it a try. You might find it fits the bill in cooler temps.

 

[launderess]

Cannot speak for the scented version, but the "free and clear" is excellent in terms of cleaning and stain removal.

Have soaked badly soiled table linens overnight in Tide Coldwater F&C with things mostly clean by next day. What stains remained could be easily shifted by a short hot wash using oxygen bleach.

Remember reading something in Consumer Reports or maybe elsewhere that Tide CW works best in a temp range of 85F to 100F. There was an article in newspaper (New York Times?) about cold water detergents which (IIRC) stated that P&G designed this product work in cold to warmish water. Hot or high temps would have a negative affect on performance. P&G stated (again IIRC) this was due to the enzymes (mainly) used were designed to work in cooler water temps.

For the record many liquid versions of Tide including "Free and Gentle" clean very well in warm water, so there is that to consider.

 

[dustin92]

Funny, I'm working on a bottle right now- It seems to work great in all temperatures, kind of sudsy (I have the HE version) but not unbearable. May actually work a bit better in warm than hot, but works better in warm than cold (we are in Michigan, so the water here is COLD this time of year). Scent is very pleasant, not super strong but fresh and clean, not flowery. I believe it's the same scent as the "new and improved" original scent. I'm also working on a large jug of Tide Simply clean and have been very pleased with the performance and scent level of that as well, along with the price. That, on the other hand, works in cold but works better in warm and hot water. I usually use a tepid warm for most loads.

 

[frigilux]

I didn't realize Tide Cold Water was available in a free & clear version. Have never seen it out here on the prairie. I've become fond of Downy Free & Gentle fabric softener for loads of dress shirts/pants. Haven't tried a free/clear detergent, yet.

 

[lordkenmore]

I didn't realize Tide Cold Water was available in a free & clear version.

 

The stuff is apparently only officially available in Canada, although I've heard stories (maybe legends) of a jug turning up in the US in some store near the border.

 

Someone mentions wanting/needing the Free and Clear on the reviews on a web page talking about Tide Cold Water, and the official response was:

 

...Tide Coldwater Free is currently only available in Canada. However, we'll be sure to share your interest in the product with our team and in the meantime, it may be helpful to know that you can still wash your clothing in cold water (down to 60°F) with your regular Tide detergent.

 

(From reviews on http://tide.com/en-us/shop/type/liquid/tide-coldwater-clean-liquid)

 

I wish the Free version was available here. I generally prefer unscented these days. And, practically speaking, unscented gives a better sense of how well a detergent works, since there is no scent to potentially hide the fact that an item didn't get properly freshened.

 

Of course, as Tide points out in the quote above, the regular Tide Free and Clear works down to 60...but I'm A) curious about Tide Coldwater, not regular, and B) for those dialling the temperature back, the regular version would appear to need a higher temperature to work to a given standard vs. Tide Coldwater.

 

[launderess]

For reasons known only to P&G

Tide Coldwater "free" was only available for a short time in the USA, or at least nationwide distribution. Had one known would have snapped up several bottles before the stuff vanished. Now it cannot be had in our neck of woods for love nor money.

https://www.amazon.com/Tide-Coldwat...003X0D9CK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

This *might* have had something to do with things:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/business/cold-water-detergents-get-a-chilly-reception.html

 

[mark_wpduet]

Hey Frigilux

What's your Maytag's cold water cycle like? Can you describe it? Oh, and what's a magic minute?
You're not the only one with frigid water in winter. Tap cold in winter is super cold here too. It feels like ice water. I can't imagine it being any colder. And it's weird because this winter has not been that cold at all overall. I'm almost sure one of the models of the Maytag FL will be my next washer when my Duet dies.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I like Laundress

Like the Tide Coldwater Free & Clear.  If I had known it would be discontinued as quickly as it was I would have bought more.  It did a very good job and my daughter didn't itch.   I have heard the Tide Coldwater (regular) has more enzymes than the regular mix, that is just what I have heard, so I suspect this is why my daughter does the scratchy dance when I wash her clothes with it.

 

The regular Tide Coldwater is too perfumey, at least for me.  I mostly wash in warm or hot, but there are a few things I wash in cold; as the fabric demands it.  Most of those items I use Woolite in the cold cycle, as it isn't overly perfumed.

 

My Maytag FL machine has ATC cold, so the water isn't tap cold in the winter,  during the summer the tap cold is almost warm water washing anyway. 

 

 

 

[yogitunes]

wow, so many factor to consider.....

in the 70's during the energy crisis, many people turned to COLD water as much as possible....making the best use of our energy sources, mainly the electric bill, and what would reduce it....back then we had COLD POWER detergent that worked pretty good.....

CHEER came in with ALL-TEMPERATURE.....rather than a different detergent for each temp.....one did it all....

I see a need to come back to that again.....and may be in a way, they are dong that, wonder if there is a reformulation of something like TIDE to work in all temps....

I haven't been to a laundromat in a while, but curious, what are the temps those machines are operating at?.....I do know they use more water in those machines than a residential machine uses for a FLer...

but curious, do we only have green house gas concerns for this side of the earth?.....you would think something like this would be world wide....as before, phosphates are removed from our detergents, but other parts of the world still use it.....aren't we all on one world, one water, one ozone?

 

[appnut]

What Frigilux says about Cold Water cycle

Mark, this is what he's said about the cycle in September & October 2015

 

COLD WASH CYCLE: Picked up a small jug of Tide Coldwater Clean HE Turbo yesterday to test the Maytag's dedicated cold cycle. Light Soil = 1 hr + 30 min; Medium = 1 hr + 34 min; Extra Heavy = 1 hr + 39 min.

 

 

Machine sprays concentrated detergent solution on the load, but just enough to wet it. Then it tumbles for 15 minutes. At that point the remainder of the water is added and the cycle continues. Cool! It's this machine's version of the Magic Minute.

 

 

I've also used the Cold Wash cycle on my Maytag Maxima several times. It cleans very well. It sprays a concentrated detergent solution on the clothes and tumbles for 15 minutes. Then the rest of the water is added and the wash cycle continues. I use Tide Coldwater detergent for that cycle and have had great results.

 

 

 

 

 

[johnb300m]

addendum, Maxima/Duet Cold Wash Cycle

In addition to what Frig and Bob said, I've witnessed the following activities of the Cold Wash cycle in my Maxima;

As stated, it will start out spraying a concentrated amount of water/detergent and will tumble at a relatively high speed, keeping the clothes mostly on the walls of the drum. Kind of like a "Catalyst" phase seen in top loaders!
It will do this for the first 15min. in variable tumble speeds from low to high to both tumble the clothes then spin them (likely to reduce wear during this active soak phase).
It then advances to a standard wash after adding the rest of the water.
But it still has multiple tumble patterns. Anywhere from a slow speed to really rub all the clothes together, to a quick speed where they don't harshly fall and hit the bottom of the drum, they gently hit more tangent to it. Like on delicate cycle. In between it'll do more active soak sessions where it tumbles 2-3 times and rests for a time, then again the other way.

I've been sorting my clothes differently now and using the Cold Wash cycle for all my darks and work shirts.
It takes a bit longer but it works really really well thus far.

 

[yogitunes]

NOW your getting the idea of the low water usage of the newer FL/TL HE machines......

concentrated detergent, and soak, adding a bit of mechanical tumbling, or spins to pull the lather through the clothing...

this works a heck of a lot better than diluting the detergent....

toss in a few saturated rinses....and a high speed spin......

yeah, the thing is 'time frame'....takes a bit longer, but you can't argue with the results.....

 

[frigilux]

I agree, Martin. I think HE frontloaders have really tapped into the gold standard for combining water/energy savings with excellent cleaning.

Mark--- Vintage Kelvinator/ABC washers would begin their unique concentric agitation before the tub had completely filled with water. The detergent solution was a little more concentrated for a minute or two before the incoming water reached its maximum level. Kelvinator called it the Magic Minute.

http://https//m.youtube.com/watch?v=jZV-EU2yvRo

 

[mamapinky]

Ollies

Discount is where I've been finding Tide Coldwater Free..love this stuff. I've used it often in hot water and it works great. For those of you that are close to Ollies check it out. Cheryl

 

[mark_wpduet]

Cool and Thanks

I can see me using cold wash just to try it out or maybe for specific things, but overall I don't think it would be something I would use often if I had it. I hope the rinses are generous though. I remember COLD POWER and I remember it smelling really good! I also remember ALL TEMP A CHEER and it smelled great too. In fact, I remember all detergents/fab softeners smelling a lot better back then than they do now. It seems like they have more of a perfume smell now than a clean smell - with a few exceptions.

If COLD POWER doesn't exist anymore, Tide should call theirs TIDE COLD POWER. I like the name better.

It sounds like another cycle that you may not use a lot, but you're glad to have it if you need it - kind of like sanitary.

 

[gusherb]

Last time I even tried a cold wash my clothes came out as dirty and almost as stinky as when they went in. Also our water is as cold as 42° so I'd still have to introduce warm to bring it up to optimal temp for the cold water detergent. I think the best time to try it would be during summer when the city water is upwards of 70°.

 

[lordkenmore]

my daughter does the scratchy dance when I wash her clothes with it.

 

Now that this comes up, I recall hearing complaints about Tide Coldwater irritating skin... Another possible reason for me to avoid it. I have some skin issues, and I'm always concerned when I hear skin irritation of any sort.


 

Tide in general has been blamed for skin irritation in the past IIRC. Maybe something about Tide. Maybe just the fact its so popular (thus more likely to be something someone tries and has issues with).

 

Although I've had no problem with Free and Gentle liquid (used within the last year) or powder (used within last five years or so). The regular powder (used 3 years ago or so) also caused no problems for me.

 

 

[lordkenmore]

CHEER came in with ALL-TEMPERATURE.....rather than a different detergent for each temp.....one did it all....

I see a need to come back to that again

 

But what's the fun of having just one detergent that does everything? LOL