Vending-Size Detergent

[petebldg9]

These have been sort of a novelty to me since I was a kid (anyone else?). If my aunt happened to go to a laundromat, she would bring me a little box of Tide. She knew I watched my Mom's Kenmore all the time. To this day, on rare occasions when I need to visit a laundromat, I'll pick up a few extra boxes...usually Tide or Cheer. Also, I wonder why the powdered chlorine bleach found in the vending machines can't be found at a grocery store.

Pete

 

[coldspot66]

My aunt used to work in a laundramat a few years back. She got me a case of powdered chlorine bleach in the one load packets. LOVE that bleach because it is strong but does not leave that chlorine odor in the clothes. I can send you a few packets to try. Also there are Carbona bleach tabs that are sold in the supermarket. They seem to work well and no chlorine odor as well.

 

[launderess]

With top loading washers dominating the market the need for powdered chlorine bleach really isn't there. However for reasons of dispensing and possible laundry damage from spills, powder is preferred for front loaders.

IIRC the powdered versions do not have the small amount lye like the liquids, but do have sodium carbonate (washing soda) as chlorine bleach is more effective in alkaline conditons.

Many laundry/vend supply stores sell Twice as Fresh/Lever Bros and a few other brands of dry bleach. You could just purchase the chlorine sold for use in swimming pools, which is pretty much the same thing.

In addition to chlorine bleach tabs, Carbona makes a oxygen bleach tab with enzymes. Saw it at a discount store but didn't get any as I'm trying to use up a large box of Biz bleach. However the shelf was half empty, so someone must like them.

Launderess

 

[peterh770]

I sell Lever dry chlorine bleach in my laundromats. Tide, ALL, Gain, Ariel, Lever bleach, Sunggle liquid and sheets. $.50 a box. The Lever belach is actually my #2 seller after Tide.

 

[launderess]

As an aside, powdered chlorine bleach is supposedly safe for use in front loading washers, and others with stainless steel tubs. Perhaps it is the fact that unlike LCB, the powdered version does not contain lye?

Launderess

 

[kenmore1978]

lye in LCB

I've never heard that lye is in liquid chlorine bleach. LCB is Sodium Hypochlorite. My roommate is a swimming pool serviceman, and the chlorine he uses in the pools on his route is the same as laundry bleach, just a different concentration, 14% vs 5.25% for laundry bleach, so, I just use proportionatly less of the pool chlorine when I bleach (which is virtually only for the whites).

I almost always use a non-chlorine bleach in every load, in addition to what comes in the "bleach included" laundry detergents. If a load is REALLY, REALLY dirty and gunky, I'll add ammonia on top of that, run the wash cycle twice, then let the cycle complete and then run the load through a complete again with chlorine bleach.