Tide Coldwater Free HE - 6 tests

[mysteryclock]

Lawrence,

They do also make a non-HE Tide Free powder that should smell like nothing, or close to it. It doesn't have oxygen bleach but it certainly should be less odorous.

 

[maytagbear]

Thank you!

However, the problem has been solved. I got to Sears Hardware today, and I have passed along the Tide With Blech to a friend from church who does a lot of laundry every day. (A young family.)

Now, back to the WONDERFUL Sears Ultra Plus in the orange box.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jetcone]

Mac that is all interesting; that new ECO

I bet it is using an enzyme that deactivates above 115 degrees.
Most of the recent research has been to develop enzymes that are alkaline, temp and bleach resistant. Right now there is no one enzyme that can do all of that so you need a blend depending on your laundry system and style and water.

I'd love to get a map of ECO's release plans for the various water around the country and how they plan to distribute their various products.

 

[launderess]

Stand Corrected

Found some PR from P&G on Ariel Actilift (one assumes all will apply to Tide), and the technology is supposed to prevent stains from setting.

Apparently benefits come with the first wash, but build up with repeated use,reaching optimal level after about five washes.

Am that curious just what sort of residue is being left behind, and does it ever wash out, say if one stopped using the product?

Pipe:

http://www.pg.com/en_US/downloads/innovation/factsheet-ArielActi.pdf

 

[MrX]

Henkel makes some excellent detergents, but honestly, I think you guys are being utterly ripped off by US distributors. It's a decent detergent, it's nothing amazing.

I'm in Spain at the moment and I've used a few detergents :

Ariel with Actilift, Skip (Unilever, same as Persil in the UK and Ireland), and I've tried Dixan (same as Persil in Germany) and also Whip Express (like german Persil Liquid).

To be quite honest, they all clean excellently and left absolutely no stains on anything. I can't really see why Tide wouldn't be excellent and I just don't know why some of you are paying enormous prices for what is a normal household item in Europe.

A lot of my choice of detergent comes down to the scent. I cannot stand the scent that P&G uses in the current range of Ariel products, it's just far too strong for my nose.

Whip Express (Henkel) has a nice uplifting scent that doesn't linger too much while Unilever Skip has a nice fresh smell too.

I also find P&G Ariel Actilift Excel Gel can be too strong to the point that I suspect it kinda wears clothes out more rapidly than normal detergents. I think it's because it might contain cellulase.

 

[launderess]

There Is Only One Official Distributor Of Henkel Laundry Pro

In the United States, Miele North America.

Where or how others are obtaining German laundry products is anyone's guess. However judging by the prices charged they face the same costs as Miele. In fact given that the later imports such a large volume of products to the USA, prices from them aren't *that* bad, it is the mark-up some vendors take that can cause sticker shock. As with everything else, Miele does require a certain MSRP for all products, so vendors try to find "wiggle room".

When Miele first started selling laundry appliances in the United States, there were few if any "low sudsing" laundry detergents available. Tide was then and still is one of the few brands that can equal results of Persil, but it was not suited for front loading washing machines (too much froth). Indeed early versions of Tide "HE" weren't that much less frothing than others, however the recent launch of liquid detergents seems to have gotten things right.

The situation you describe does not apply totally to the United States. In the UK/EU what are called "HE" detergents here are the norm, and have been for ages. Therefore it stands to reason those on that side of the pond have numerous choices.

OTHO "HE" washing machines have only recently began making any dent in the American laundry market, and detergents designed for standard top loading washing machines are the norm. Even when detergents are sold for use in front loading or such machines, they more likely than not are the same formula used in other machines, just with added anti-foam chemicals.

To even the playing field, the detergent market here would have to resemble that of the UK or EU, and that will not happen for several reasons.

One, many Americans still own and would purchase top loading washing machines over "HE" versions. Regardless of government dictates and incentives many simply feel the former type of washer cleans better than the later. They also aren't keen on paying >1K for a washing machine that lasts on average five years before it starts acting up.

Being as all this may, have been getting great results with Tide "Free and Gentle" HE liquid. Removes most all stains including red wine, rinses clean and leaves no scent. Would use it for all loads, but it has OBAs so cannot be used on darks/colours.

 

[paulc]

mrx

I stopped using Ariel Acilift as I thought it was very harsh on cotton clothing. I did wonder if it was my imagination at first, so I am glad someone else feels the same.

 

[launderess]

You Might Want To Hold Onto The Persil

At least the "Megaperls" with (oxygen) bleach formula.

Did the "when ever I can remember to get around to it)cleaning out of my Miele's pump/lint filter yesterday and it was gross. Muck, slime, mould, and god only knows what else. So have made a mental note to increase dosage of detergent regardless of STPP additives (or not), and will be using more powdered detergents. It's not like I don't have a huge stash! *LOL*

According to European "washer groupie" websides, one really should do a boil wash and or at least a very hot wash with a powdered bleach containing detergent now and then. Keeps things from getting gunked up.

 

[roscoe62]

@ Launderess

Do you think this junk you cleaned out of machine is a result of using too many cool/cold water washes coupled with a liquid detergent?

 

[launderess]

Who Can Say?

According to places such as WasherhelpUK and others, the leading cause of mould and rot inside a washing machine comes from excessive use of liquid detergents in temps <100F. More still not using bleach (oxygen) often enough.

Now when I first got the Miele used either Persil or whatever "HE" safe powder one could find, and added lots of oxygen bleach to top things off. With that everytime one cleaned the "lint filter", found nothing. However the past several times over the course of say two years, each cleaning finds mould, slime and "gunk", down there.

My main detergent for colours is a European commercial product, which while a powder does not contain bleach (nor OBAs which is why I like it), however colours are set to 100F.

Could also be one is skimping on detergent and or residue is remaining in the final rinse water, which in theory could give something for moulds to feast upon. Time to experiment.

L.

 

[volvoguy87]

Colors.

How does this new Tide fare with colors over time? I've found that Tide with Bleach tends to fade my colors over time, so I use Cheer powder (no OBAs).

I use Tide on my whites and lights, but what does it do to colors?
Dave

 

[launderess]

Tide

In all versions contains OBAs/fabric whiteners. So while the liquids at least do not contain oxygen bleach (am not sure that all powders do not, but suspect unless vintage everything else does), there is a risk of colours appearing "off" after repeated laundering.

A word about "Cheer", just be careful as certain formulas of that brand now contain fabric whitening agents/OBAs.

 

[roscoe62]

Launderess ,
Looking forward to your experiment results.I do enjoy reading your posts, Thanks Again.

 

[launderess]

MRX

One reason so many Americans went and or still go "nuts" over European laundry products such as Persil, is for quite awhile they were streets ahead of anything else here for use in front loaders.

When Miele first began selling washing machines in the United States, there was zero to little in the way of "low sudsing" detergents that performed well and rinsed cleanly.

P&G first attempts at "HE" Tide seemed merely to add a bit of anti-foaming agents to the normal formulas of that product, again with lopsided results. The stuff still would create mounds of suds if incorrectly dosed (and it didn't take much for that to happen), and wasn't didn't rinse cleanly.

Being as all that may, found when using American products juiced with STPP and extra oxygen bleach, got decent enough results.

Used Persil for awhile, but after the first box (and a free one of Tide HE), yes would say there wasn't *that* much of a difference in performance (see above), to warrant the prices Miele wanted.

However since then every single bit of Persil and other European detergents in my stash have either come as a job lot from eBay, or sent directly from overseas,usually with something else such as linens. This has brought my costs down to where they are cheaper than buying Tide or an American detergent.

It seems P&G is getting on the ball and moving some versions of Tide more in line with their European offerings such as "Ariel". The new Tide "clear" liquid cleans quite well and rinses clean. Froth issues seem to have been dealt with as well, though you should probably becareful on dosage regardless.

Should things continue along as they have been going with government pushing more "efficient" washing machines, expect laundry products especially TOL versions such as Tide to more and more resemble their European cousins. Afterall it was the major take over of H-Axis washers in the market place there which influenced the detergent market.