UK Washing powder shake up?

[liamy1]

Following on from my thread "colour care powder soon to be gone?" and the perceived changes to the powder format in the colour care category. I am wondering if we will see another change.

As most will know/remember, in the early 90's, both P&G and Unilever launched "compact" powder detergents, usually under the "ultra" and "concentrated" names respectively.

Apparently, these never proved popular in the UK, largely in part blamed on the introduction of powder tablets in 1998.

So compacts were dropped and returned to a "standard" type powder.

However, it is now looking like both P&G and Unilever are looking to drop the powder tablets, and as always, powders are being touted as ever increasingly concentrated (and the packs are getting smaller).

Now we know in P&Gs and Unilever's ideal world, they would want everyone using liquids and pods/capsules. But unless they find a way of introducing bleaching to liquid formats, I don't see powder completely disappearing (and as Aquacycle pointed out on the last thread, powder is still the biggest selling format).

So I am wondering, if we could see a re-introduction of the compact powders?

 

[foraloysius]

I don't know about the UK, but overhere in the Netherlands compact has never disappeared. The regular classic powders were less compact than the Ariel that is on the market nowadays. Here's the Ariel that is available in the NL.

 

[liamy1]

That's good..

To know.

No, we don't have any powders termed as compact. I believe they disappeared pretty much when tablets came along.

We also lost the "refill" packs (washing powder in bags) at round the same time; washing powder has only come in cardboard boxes for at least the last 15 years.

Linked below is what we have.

http://www.ariel.co.uk/en-gb/shop/type/powder/ariel-regular-washing-powder

 

[aquacycle]

That's an interesting theory Liam. I wonder if we'll see a return of compact powders. Aren't Persil doing refil packs for Small & Mighty again?

I do wonder sometimes how far these detergent manufactuers can go. I mean, we've had everything - powder, liquid, tablets, liquitabs, various dosing balls and gizmo's. And with the EcoEgg thing now too, in some cases we've no detergent at all. And yet, through it all, it's good old powder that contains to sell the most.

 

[liamy1]

Refills

Yes, Persil S+M is indeed doing refill bags again, which I am sure means we won't wait too long for an offering from P&G.

I really think we could well see compacts back, of course in the mid 90's when it was only a Powder or Liquid option and powder would have been even more prevelant than now, it made sense for them to do compact option.

Then of course, they were able to design the tablets, so consumers would have naturally jumped straight on to them (something new and all that). Along with the fact we are hard wired that smaller quantities cannot mean more (more so in the 90s), compact sales slumped off.

Then with the development poly vinyl alcohol and it's introduction into laundry, liquitabs were born and as liquid detergents are cheaper to manufacture and more expensive to sell, it was natural the manufacturers were going to push in this direction.

Interestingly, in the markets were Toploaders were prevalent (US, AUS and NZ) where powder tabs would not have worked as well (and failed when launched), their powders remained compacts - OMO (AUS and NZs Persil) even the powder format is sold as OMO Small and Mighty, and of course, Tide Ultra in the US.

Over time, with ever increasing focus on the environment, and the ensuing concentrated everything, (Persil S+M liquid being a great example) we now are more accepting that less product can do more than a higher quantity of product.

So to me, in the early 90s, the UK market was just not ready for compact powders, as much as it would be today.

 

[aquacycle]

In all fairness though Liam, most powders are compact powders just not in compact packaging. The dosting recommendations on Ariel and Persil for example are pretty much the same as Ultra and Microsystem were back in the day. The powders have remained concentrated, but the compact packaging was dumped.

Look back at how much detergent was needed in the days of Persil & Ariel Auto - 1 cup and it filled the detergent drawer right to the brim. Not so much anymore

 

[liamy1]

Yes,

True actually.

Was thinking about that this morning in fact.

I have my regular Ariel Powder and the dose for that (for my load conditions) is 80ml.

Also got a box of Persil Non Bio and the dose for that (same load conditions - soft water, light soil) is 45ml.

So the doses (especially Persil's) is miniscule anyway.

So you could be right, and the boxes are fine as is. Just one that really gets my goat is P&Gs 22 wash box (any of the brands) - it's a pour type, not a scoop type; so unless I rip the box completely open it means I have to try and pour it into the scoop over the sink and the amount of waste is annoying (remembering it is bigger than the 10 was box which is also a pour).

I know you're into your Persil, not as exciting but still, have you ordered their new scoop from them?

Clearly I have too much time to get fussed by these things.

 

[aquacycle]

I have!! I have a bit of a thing about laundry scoops actually. I'm constantly in search of the perfect scoop lol.
I don't use the Persil scoop though - it's a bit like a windsock and isn't particularly good. I tend to use the Almat scoop. It's a nice, sturdy plastic and similar in size to the Ariel Futur scoops, so the dosage is about spot on for my laundry.

 

[liamy1]

Haha,

Same here got a few scoops going myself.

The USA P&G one's would be perfect if they were a little sturdier.

I didn't know Almat did a plastic one. I ordered Sainsburys and Asdas ones, and they were both a carboard pop out rectangular thing.

 

[aquacycle]

Almat scoop

 

[liamy1]

Thanks

That does look a good little scoop, do they still do these now?

Will have to go buy a box, because I can't find their helpline number anywhere on the web, like you can for all the other store brand detergents.

Will post a pic of the P&G USA one (unless you have already seen it).

http://i

 

[aquacycle]

Yes, they still do them, but you have to ring up and order them.

 

[foraloysius]

It says scoop included on the website.

ALDI UK | Quality Groceries, Amazing Offers & Specialbuys Every Week

www.aldi.co.uk

 

[spiraclean]

Oh yes, the old powders where you'd use one or two full cups - I kind of miss that, with today's smaller dosages it doesn't feel quite the same!

I think Lever had the best measuring cup sometime around the late 90s, early 2000s. Clear plastic, and graduated with measurements for light, normal and heavy soil in soft, medium or hard water. You'd just fill it to the appropriate line, easy to see at a glance. P&G had a simple system too where you'd fill the scoop to the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or 1 mark. Now both use measurements in ml, so you have to refer to the directions on the box.

Regarding the old compact powders, they did tend to go sticky if used in the dispenser drawer, hence why they were supposed to be added to the drum via a dispenser ball instead. Today's versions are much freer flowing, so can be used in the machine dispenser without clumping up.

 

[liamy1]

Thanks

Aquacycle and foraloysius.

foraloysius - Thanks for that, should imagine scoop would only be included on the 100 wash packs (which I don't know if that is a regular size or a one off special).

Will see if I can get hold of a 100 wash box. Hope it's not a typo, as no washing powder over here has included a scoop for the last 5 years at least. PG at one time said they included one in every 3rd box, they were fibbing, as for the amount I buy, and I never found a single one.

 

[aquacycle]

Liam, the number to ring is 0800 644 6090

 

[liamy1]

Thank you

Ah thanks very much aquacycle, saved me a trip to aldi (and possibly 100 washes of stuff I dont like as much as others) been a while since I used Almat