Unilever launches new range of stain removal products(?)

[grwasher_expert]

I've seen on Portuguese page of "Skip" ,which is the european name of Persil outside UK, that there is a new range of oxygen bleach based stain removers with the brand name "Skip".Is is pretty similar to Vanish.Unfortunately the product did not yet become available in Greece,so I am not able to try it and I don't have any idea if they are planning to launch it here in the future. Do you know any more information about it?Is it also available in the UK under the "Persil" name? I didn't find the product on any unilever website other than the portuguese one.

Skip Pó Tira Nódoas Cores

SKIP Pó Tira Nódoas Cores, com Oxigénio Bioativo remove cuidadosamente e sem esforço as nódoas mais difíceis. Use como aditivo tira nódoas, em conjunto co…

www.skip.com

 

[liamy1]

Not

Yet in the U.K. that I know of.

Will keep an eye out in Supermarkets though and report back if I see anything.

 

[liamy1]

Although...

Saying that, it may be something we never see here.

See to me, they’re playing a very dangerous game to launch a stain remover product under such a long standing, trusted name - Persil has been the UK’s best selling laundry detergent since it’s launch in 1909
(bit of trivia, Persil non-bio sells not far off double the amount that Persil biological does (3.something million vs 2.something million), but because the sales are combined as it’s one brand, it’s the leader; if it were just biological detergent that was counted, Ariel would be the lead).

Anyway I’m digressing, but by selling a stain remover under a detergent brand name, I don’t see how this can be seen as any thing other than “the detergent isn’t good enough on its own, so you need the stain remover”. It seemed Ariel learned this lesson, you may remember that they launched a stain remover range, if memory serves, it was on the market for just over 2 or so years and then was pulled. So all that cost on development, manufacture and advertisement for nothing.

All of us here know the main reason for add in stain remover products like Vanish etc being so popular is to correct poor, lazy washing routines, that the manufacturers are actually adding to - the constant “advice” on using cooler/cold washes, the push on liquid based detergents and machines being pushed on their quick cycles - adding up to the “need” for stain removers. If correct laundering is done, the need for special stain removers is almost eliminated.

 

[launderess]

Have said this before

P&G, Unilever, Henkel et al have launched these in wash stain removers/boosters in response to several changes in wash day products.

First is the large switch away from powdered detergent which contain oxygen bleaching systems, to liquids, gels, pods, or whatever that do not. We've covered this before; enzymes and whatever else in liquid detergents these days do a decent enough job for stain removal, but some marks and or remaining traces need bleaching to totally shift.

The other trend is toward detergents (both powder and liquid formats) for colors that also do not contain bleaching agents. That is fair enough if one's washing does not have serious stains, if not see above.

TOL powdered detergents such as TWB, Persil, Ariel with oxygen bleaching systems true one doesn't really need anything else. Mayhaps for very badly stained washing to increase dosage, but that usually will suffice.

If one examines these in wash stain removal products will find among other things; oxygen bleach (with or without activators), maybe a source of alkalinity (washing soda, borax, etc..), perhaps some enzymes, and there you have it. All the things one is missing (more or less) when using a liquid detergent.

Keep in mind makers of Tide, Ariel, Henkel and others aren't fools. These in wash stain removal products also go after the "green" or whatever consumers what use liquid (or powder) detergents that are MOL or BOL in terms of cleaning ability.

Case in point:

Notice in adverts this Skip/Tira Nodoa is shown with *liquid* detergent.



Tide did same with their various "in wash" stain removers/boosters. Even on packet some of them showed a bottle of liquid detergent next to the stain remover product.

Miele with their Ultra Phase line simply mates liquid detergent and oxygen bleach cartridges. Amounts of either product are dispensed according to soil levels and other factors. [this post was last edited: 7/5/2018-00:14]

 

[thomasortega]

Same as in Brazil... Years ago they released Omo Stain remover. same thing, red and white jars

 

[liamy1]

Pretty much

Everything Laundress said.

Another thing that makes me chuckle, and I should imagine that this is a problem unique to the U.K;

You’ll have certain people who use only non bio detergent as they’ll bang on about being “allergic” to/or that bio is the work of the devil, and yet will then come along and chuck a heap of Vanish or what not in the wash, and as we know (in nearly all cases) these products are packed to the 9s with enzymes.

Wonder what would have happened if Ariel Non Bio was still around when Ariel stain removers were launched

I do use a non bio powder (along with many others) simply only because these detergents usually are packed with oxygen bleach (to make up for lack of enzymes), so they get whites blazing white on a boil wash. Also I like the smell of Persil, Fairy and Sainsbury’s own non bios.

 

[launderess]

Far less difficult and dear method

Which one also has advocated previously; simply add pure sodium carbonate when doing laundry with any liquid detergent.

Nearly all TOL offerings by Henkel, P&G, Unilever, etc... already contain complex enzyme cocktails. It is a slight rise in pH and bleaching that is wanted. Both easily done via sodium percarbonate.

Ecover sells the stuff in little packets as do others. You can also find larger containers at laundry/chemical supply places.

Personally am not fond of Oxi-Clean and similar products. It and most others tend to be heavy on washing soda.

 

[iej]

Unilever are also soft launching Neutral, which is their zero scent brand that originated in Scandinavia and *does* contain enzymes.

https://neutralsensitiveskin.com/

 

[liamy1]

Neutral

I used this when first launched about 18 months back, as thought was a really good idea to have scent and dye free bio detergent (something other countries have seemingly always had).

Turns out my body really didn’t like it. But it’s good people finally have an option of no perfume but a better cleaning performancewith enzymes.

 

[grwasher_expert]

Well,isn't it stupid to push liquids so hard and then launch extra stain removing products to compensate for their lack of bleach and enzymes?Just use powder on whites and hard-stained clothes!Problem solved without buying rip-off stain removing products!Fortunately here in Greece,although companies are constantly advertising and promoting liquids and capsules like crazy(I haven't seen for ages any ad featuring washing powder),powders have still very high market share.Liquids and capsules are most popular only among young people because they are easier to use.I hope powders never die!

 

[iej]

@Neutral

It's still a *very* slow launch. They have done almost no push of it at all.

 

[liamy1]

Same here

In U.K, I can’t recall an advert for washing powder since 10+ years ago. They’re all at it - started by pushing liquids, then gels and now pods (even though we have had liqui-capsules since the late 90s).

P&G especially are pushing pods hard, as seen by the latest £10 million cost “Do you pod?” campaign.

I think you’re right, amongst a lot of the younger generation, powders are seen as “old fashioned” and “hard work” to use, and when it comes to washing a lot (of course not all) don’t know one end of a detergent box to another.

Saying that, despite the push on “wet” detergent formats here and the ever decreasing supermarket shelf space given to powders, Powder still has the highest share of the U.K. market, but dare say that may well change as older generations reduce.

 

[liamy1]

It's still a *very* slow launch. They have done almost n

Yes, never seen it actually advertised, seemed to be word of mouth. Started out as being available on their own Webiste and now on Amazon, the only U.K. supermarket that has it is Sainsbury’s - it seems Tesco and Unilever have not quite got over their spat from last year

 

[rolls_rapide]

I honestly don't think these pods are a suitable solution at all. For one thing, they are expensive. Secondly, they have a neutered formulation, based on liquids. Thirdly, small loads still get a full dose. Moreover, these pods sometimes glue themselves to the clothes.

I have to say that decent quality powders - even shops' own brands these days - will knock the pods into a cocked hat in terms of cleaning ability, dosage adjustability and value for money. I wonder why some folk in the general public are blind to that?

 

[grwasher_expert]

As I searched online,I found out that the stuff is primarily sold throughout the whole latin america,under different names depending on the coutry(Omo in brazil,Ala in argentina,Nevex in chile etc.)Portugal is the only european country where it is sold.I suppose that this is a test launch in a small country to check the european consumers' response to the new product and they are apparently planning to bring it to the rest of europe if sales in portugal are satisfactory.