Tide Cold Water question

[joe_in_philly]

Tide and Cold Water

According to this CR article, It seems to imply that the cold water technology has been extended to the entire Tide line, which would make a separate coldwater version unnecessary. Whether that is true or just marketing-speak, I don't know. But it does fit with P&G's previously stated goal of increasing cold water washing.

From the article:

"Front-loaders and high-efficiency top-loaders run normal cycles 10 percent cooler than agitator washers, and the 'warm' wash temperature in the U.S. has declined by 15 degrees over the past 15 years," says Tracey Long, communications manager for P&G's fabric care products in North America. “Traditional detergent enzymes can be sluggish in cold water so we worked to create a mix of surfactants and enzymes that deliver cleaning performance in cold water across all product lines," says Long.

http://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-bother-using-hot-water-to-wash-your-laundry/

 

[lordkenmore]

According to this CR article, It seems to imply that the cold water technology has been extended to the entire Tide line, which would make a separate coldwater version unnecessary.

 

Thanks for posting that article link!


 

I wouldn't be surprised if some technology has spread through the Tide line. Indeed, I've noticed Tide has cleaning comparisons on their bottles now, and I think I've seen something about Tide's cleaning power in even cold water on normal Tide bottles.

 

But it appears that Tide Coldwater might still work better at lower temperatures, based on what I've seen mentioned on Tide's website. The FAQ on the Tide Coldwater page says:

 

You can use our detergents with cold water, but warm or hot water provides the best cleaning results. If you wash with cold water, we suggest you use Tide Coldwater. Tide Coldwater can clean effectively in water as cold as 40°F (4°C). If the water in your washing machine is colder than this, add a bit of warm water to bring the temperature to that level. If you use another detergent, the water should be at least 60°F (16°C). If the water in your washing machine is colder than this, add a bit of warm water. We recommend you only use a cold wash for items that specify this on the care label.

 

http://tide.com/en-us/shop/type/liquid/tide-coldwater-clean-liquid

 

 

 

[frigilux]

CR ran a more recent (not that one you linked is old by any means) in which the author said sheets/pillowcases (among other items) should be washed in hot water. And if CR is really sold on cold washing for heavily stained/soiled loads, why do they continue to test both detergents and washers using the warm setting on their tough-to-clean loads?

 

The other variable: Where one lives.  Tap-cold water temps are consistently above 70 degrees in some areas of the country. Today's best detergents work very well under those conditions.  The water in Minnesota barely hits that temp in August. My water---and I live in the relatively balmy southern part of the state---is below 65 most of the time and as cold as 42 during the winter months.  

 

Users find the stain removal power of even detergents specially formulated for cold washing---like Tide Cold Water---drops significantly in temps below 60. 

 

Temp-controlled cold water washing in conjunction with an excellent detergent has its uses; but it's not for everything.

 

[launderess]

Depending Upon One's Housekeeping Habits

Bed linen often are moderately to heavily soiled with sweat and body oils, thus will need the extra oomph of thermal action (hot water) to help shift. Soil amounts will vary by how often things are changed. That is if you swap things out daily as opposed to weekly or worse bi-weekly.

Examine water draining from washer even on sheets that "look" clean. If you see scum sort of like what is in tub after taking a bath; well it is the same thing really; bodily oils and sweat liberated by soap or detergent.

You can compensate for using warm water to launder bed linen by increasing the amount of detergent (remember the five parameters of good laundry; WATCH, Water, Agitation, Time, and Heat), but that is another matter.

 

[lordkenmore]

That is if you swap things out daily as opposed to weekly or worse bi-weekly.

 

Or even worse: only "every leap year"...


[this post was last edited: 2/25/2017-17:24]

 

[lordkenmore]

Update

I got a jug to try a while back. It came to about $3 (clearance about $6, and additional $3 with digital coupon downloaded to my shopper loyalty card). I finally got the courage to try it tonight. The test ended up flawed in that the water was too warm--I miscalculated the hot/cold water mix--so it wasn't a challenge for the cold water washing ability. Maybe next time I try this...

 

I haven't carefully checked to see how clean the clothing got. I'm drying this load on a wood rack, and so I probably won't carefully examine it until its dry. Stuff, however, does look mostly clean, although I did see one small stain that didn't get lifted.

 

One thing that I'm moderately hopeful about is the scent. I hate strong scents, as I've indicated before, and Tide liquid has been really...ah...problematic in the past. This liquid, however, doesn't seem quite as overwhelming. The opened bottle doesn't have the impact that I recall from other Tide liquids, and the scent on the finished laundry (still damp, recall) is noticeable, but not oppressive. While unscented has become my preference (particularly in summer when drying things like sheets outside), this Tide might be something I can live with. I will still specify unscented for sheets dried outside in summer, but I could imagine using Tide Coldwater for regular clothes. I may also be open to using it on sheets in winter. I used Wisk as my primary detergent recently, but never could face using it for sheets because the scent was too strong.

 

So far, my one gripe with Tide Coldwater is the rinse was pretty sudsy. This has been an issue with Tide, in general, for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gusherb]

I found Tide Coldwater (along with every other Tide detergent) on sale at Target, so I figured I'd finally give it a try. Now is a good time since our city water is about 70-75 degrees at this time a year. I tested with probably the nastiest load of laundry I normally would wash - my own clothes. All my shirts are sweat laden and smell awful, some even soaked in sweat. Everything came out just as it would had I washed in regular Tide on warm, definitely contrary to washing in cold with regular Tide. I'll continue using the Coldwater for now unless I start seeing less than desirable results. 

 

[wishwash]

I am interested to hear if the results continue to be promising. Just bought some Tide Mountain Spring, but would be interested to try ColdWater after this bottle is done.

 

[launderess]

Remember there is cold water.....

Then there is *COLD* water.

IIRC when CR tested Tide CW detergent it was in water near or at 85F, which by the way is the "cold" water setting for most European and other washing machines with heaters. IIRC as well P&G stated Tide CW at the time works well in warm (100F) water as well.

In much of the Northeast right down through mid-west tap cold water can be quite chilly during winter months. Not sure how well Tide CW would do in water at or below 60F.

All this being said the "free and clear" version of Tide CW always gets my vote. For some insane reason P&G only sells the stuff up north.

 

[gusherb]

85° would be bordering lukewarm to me. I think running a warm wash in the SQ gets to about 105-110° once it's full. Though this water heater has a nasty habit of delivering cooler water fairly soon. (Should be more consistent once I get a new WH put in)

Our winter water temp is about 40-45°. I don't think ANY detergent could work properly in that, hence me waiting til summer to try Tide CW.

 

[lordkenmore]

It's interesting seeing this thread again. I've been thinking of seriously trying Tide CW, and it seems like this is the time. For me, it's less about water temperatures--it's not that hard to vary temperatures, at least a bit. But I prefer doing these sorts of tests when I'm line drying, since there would clearly not be the risk of dryer heat setting stains.

 

I did do one round of experimenting earlier in the season. I never monitored the exact water temperature, but it was cooler than usual, but not tap cold. The laundry (at least a shirt or two) didn't seem to end up as fresh as I wanted. That said, it wasn't so bad that I immediately decided to rewash said items.

 

I have used this stuff a couple of times as a regular detergent (i.e. in "normal" wash temperatures). It seems (not surprisingly) to work just fine there for cleaning. My only gripe is the scent. It's not an unpleasant scent, and it's not the strongest Tide has ever shipped. But I'm not a huge fan of scents in laundry detergents these days.

 

[lordkenmore]

All this being said the "free and clear" version of Tide CW always gets my vote. For some insane reason P&G only sells the stuff up north.

 

Assuming my tests work well enough that I'm willing to get another bottle, I'd be interested in Free and Gentle. I've heard stories that it sometimes turns up in the US near the Canadian border, so I keep my eyes open here in WA. But I may be too far from the border.

 

I recall when I was making this earth shaking decision of Do I Buy Tide CW? that I checked their website. One review asked for Free and Gentle, and the official Tide response was to try regular Tide Free and Gentle. They indicate it requires 60 degrees Fahrenheit (vs 40 degrees Fahrenheit for Tide CW). I have to admit I wonder what the actual realistic minimum is. Maybe I should get another bottle of Free and Gentle and experiment with cooler temperatures now during line drying season...

 

[panthera]

Cold, Cool, Lukewarm, Warm, Hot

Enzymes, when formulated to work in lower temperatures have made it possible to reduce temps continuously over time.

They're obviously not there yet, but it's great that their effectiveness at lower temperatures is improving. Sooner or later, they'll get to where we really can wash at low temperatures.

 

First, however, we have to have some useful definition of 'cold - hot'. Our tap water cold in winter is just barely 35ºF. In summer, it's warmer, but still way colder than the 'cold' found at lower altitudes or in warm areas of North America.

Our 'Hot' is 145<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ºF. That's enormously warmer than the recently-dead body temperature American washers now call 'hot'.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Personally, I'm sticking with phosphates and enzymes which are happy in the 120</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ºF range for now coupled with real rinsing and not just two quick squirts and a heavy scent to cover the filth.  We'll see how things develop over time, but it's looking good.</span>

 

[mamapinky]

If you have a Ollies discount near you they may have Tide coldwater Free, my Ollies has tons of it.I like this stuff in warm and hot water.

 

[lordkenmore]

Sooner or later, they'll get to where we really can wash at low temperatures.

 

Well actually we have been at this point for years. Problem is...the results might be, ah, disappointing for anyone but those for whom saving energy is Priority #1.

 

I have to honestly wonder if detergent technology will improve enough so low temperatures are viable. Can it actually be done? And is there enough push to make it happen? That is, are there enough people who actually care about laundry getting done decently to encourage detergent engineering?

 

One unfortunate issue: it seems like a lot of people are perfectly satisfied with technology the way it is. A couple of years ago or so, I had one conversation with a woman about laundry. I mentioned using hot water, and she immediately told me about the wonders of cold water, and how great detergent technology is. I have not tried Tide CW in tap cold yet--one day I might try and get the courage to do so--but I'm guessing the results would be disappointing. And yet this one woman is perfectly happy, apparently, with the detergent technology of today.

 

[appnut]

Washing in cold water still creeps me out.  Especially for personal whites; towels; cotton sheets; kitchen towels; and cleaning rags. 

 

[gusherb]

To provide an update to my experiment using Tide CW; it has gone over quite well actually. I've only washed my clothes in cold water since my last post about it in July and they've come clean and odor free each time.
Though, now that the weather has taken a turn toward winter the city water is dipping into the 50s so I've begun to use the detergent on warm now, which is rather lukewarm given the water heater situation mentioned in my original post from July.