Vintage Tide "Ultra" Powder

[launderess]

Having decided to swear off liquid format detergents for duration am attempting to use up powders in my stash.

This week's washday it was vintage Tide "ultra" powder detergent turn at bat.

In the AEG Lavamat used about 1/4 up for full 5 kg loads of both towels and clothing each. Also added a bit of Tide "In Wash" stain remover powder to get some oxygen bleach action going.

Results were staggering!

Wash cloths that had taken on a tattle-tale grey tint that no amount of high temperature (140 degrees F) with various liquid detergents came out smashing white.

Next load of whites (undergarments, vests, shirts...) all came out a treat. Grey tinge even underarms totally gone. Oh and everything had a wonderful fresh light scent. All this at temps of 120 degrees F.

May swear off liquid format products forever!

 

[awooff]

Back to Tide Powder

Ive done the same - after reading here only powders have fungicide. No more of that faint unlean smell in laundry. Even dirty clothes smell so much more fresh that its hard to tell they need washed!

 

[tomturbomatic]

That's what I use with STPP for dazzling results. Glad you have had such pleasing results.

 

[mrsalvo]

Tide really is hard to beat, in cleaning and freshness. It’s no wonder so many people come back to it after using other brands. My mother was a sworn user, plus Oxydol. Her wash was the cleanest I ever saw. The original fragrance was a bit sweet smelling for my taste, but far better than current offerings sold today.
Currently have a stash of detergents, Ariel powder and HEB Bravos liquid, have to use up. I’m thinking of switching over to powders as well. I’ve got to try and find Tide Free & Gentle in the powder though, think Tide probably cleans better than All Free & Clear. All cleans alright for the cost. Found Ariel fades colors and only use it for whites.

Glad to hear of your results Laundress.

Barry

 

[DADoES]

 
HEB claims Bravos is formulated to handle TX water conditions.  I tried it once years ago but not long enough to judge long-term results.

 

[launderess]

Have tried STPP with liquid (gel, pod) laundry detergents, results still aren't quite same as with powders.

Think there something to be said for reaction between alkaline substances found in powders (washing soda, sodium metasilicate, etc..) versus whatever are used in liquids.

Also note when using powders various amounts of crud drain out washer. This could be the scum or whatever that builds up from using liquids for prolonged periods.

Keeping in mind for whites and colourfast one always uses temps of 120 to 140 degrees F even with liquids.

Ironically most powdered washing machine cleaners are loaded with washing soda and similar powdered alkaline substances. Descaling products are another matter, those are usually acid based.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Launderess, is this the Tide that came out in the late 80/early 90s with the small red scoop in it; their first attempt at a condenseded low sudsing detergent as opposed to the HE detergents? I loved that Tide as well as the Fab, Cheer and others and was sorry during the interregnum between those and the HE detergents. It was at that time that Dash was discontinued and replaced by that lemon crap. They worked so well in my Kenmore Combo and my Westinghouse Front Loader, both with Grand Union's phosphate-based water softener. I tried Fresh Start, but while it was good on protein-based soils, it was no good on oily soils while the Tide and related offerings from P&G were very good on an array of soils and while Fresh Start was low sudsing under normal circumstances, if you combined it with a water softener, it made billows of suds in a front loader.

 

[launderess]

This box of Tide has a clear green tinted scoop.

Never bothered using however, as even lowest dosage would be too much for my front load washers.

 

[angus]

The "ultra powders" that were first introduced in 1990 or so did contain phosphates depending on where they were distributed in the US. The boxes usually said something like "if the code on top of the box begins with P, then it contained x% phosphorus. If the code begins with 0, then there was no phosphorus". All of the primary P&G offerings (Tide, Cheer, Oxydol, Bold, Gain), Colgate products (Fab, Ajax and Fresh Start) and Lever's Surf and Wisk Power Scoop were labelled that way. And at that time when Consumer Reports reported on these new products, phosphated versions of Tide with Bleach, Fab, Wisk Power Scoop topped the ratings with Surf, Fresh Start and Ajax not far behind. As Tom pointed out, by that time, P&G's Dash was transformed into that underperforming bargain brand phosphate free lemon powder, as was Colgate's Punch; the other Lever ultra offerings (All, Rinso) were only offered in phosphate free versions. The interesting thing was that certain supermarkets in Connecticut carried the phosphated versions (Stop&Shop, Shop Rite, A&P and the smaller IGA markets) while others (Grand Union, Pathmark, First National/Finast/Edwards and Waldbaums) carried only the phosphate free versions.
It was also the time that everyone started whittling down their detergent offerings. It wasn't long before Dash, Duz and Oxydol bit the dust, along with Rinso. Brands like Lever's Silver Dust, Breeze, Fluffy All, Cold Water All and Drive, along with Colgate's Cold Power, Ad and Burst and Purex's Brillo never even made it to the "ultra powder" period. And with the exception of Ivory Snow, none of the soaps like Duz, Ivory Flakes, Octagon or Instant Fels survived either - though Purex offered a reformulated Instant Fels as a detergent for a short time and Ivory Snow was ultimately reformulated as a detergent.

All that said, I still get the best results from Tide with Bleach powder and have gone back to using it since they changed the fragrance again so it is no longer as much of an assault on the nose. I also have several boxes of 1990 Fab Ultra, Surf and Wisk Power Scoop with phosphates carefully plastic wrapped and use them occasionally; they still do an amazing job. Do I use liquids occasionally? Sure, but occasionally is the operative word and for only lightly soiled stuff, cleaning rags or things that just need freshening.

 

[stan]

I wonder

How different this formula is from the current Tide Powder available now?
I always keep a box of Tide original on hand.
I never use the recommended dose as the stuff is strong enough with half the recommended dose.

 

[appnut]

I am get close to completing my 100 load Tide Ultra Oxy liquid bottle. I have Tide w/Bleach and original Tide powder waiting in the wings. I can't wait!!!!

 

[launderess]

Hi Stan!

Cannot find anything online giving ingredients for my vintage box of "ultra" Tide.

Nearest can get is something from 2000's or so.

https://www.whatsinproducts.com/types/type_detail/1/12421/standard/span style="color:#a9a9a9;">Tide%20Ultra%20Detergent%20Powder%20Plus%20Bleach,%20Original-Old%20Product/span>/16-030-569

Compared to older Tide with Bleach

https://www.whatsinproducts.com/types/type_detail/1/8588/standard/span style="color:#a9a9a9;">Tide%20Powder%20with%20Bleach,%20%20All%20Scents-Old%20Product/span>/16-030-177

Tide Plus Bleach

https://www.whatsinproducts.com/types/type_detail/1/22895/standard/p class="p1">Tide%20Plus%20Bleach%20Powder%20Laundry%20Detergent-10/25/2016/p>/16-033-626

 

[launderess]

Far as one can tell P&G released Tide "Ultra 2) in late 1990's (1997?).

Many top or middle shelf laundry detergent powders were getting on the "ultra" bandwagon in 1990's. By eliminating much fillers and otherwise concentrating formulas same number (or more) washes came in a smaller packet versus big box powders. Smaller packets meant more room on shelves for other products by same company.

Compact or ultra trend was going on across pond as well. In 1990's both P&G and Lever Bros. were introducing compact or otherwise concentrated versions of detergents.

post was last edited: 10/18/2022-06:01]

 

[stan]

Hello Dear!

Sodium Carbonate seems to be close to the top of the list on all Tide powdered versions.
And I imagine it still is with the new box of powdered Tide Original I have now.
I’ve advised folks that are die hard liquid detergent users to occasionally use straight washing soda and hot water and run a empty load just to help clean out the machine and or to occasionally spike their liquid detergents with a little sodium carbonate and a little STPP
After taking my machine apart for the second time in the 21 years I’ve had it…to give it a thorough cleaning, Im convinced that STPP helps with the hard water scale that can build up..
so a little STPP and a little washing soda.. It’s a good thing.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Slightly OT

I have been buying powder Tide at Costco for several years. It is the 180 load box and lasts me around 8 months. The latest Costco sale circular arrived in today's mail and the latest Tide powder offering is Tide with Oxi and it is only 143 loads. I am glad that I have stock on hand.

 

[roscoe62]

@launderess

Using the powder on towels did you find they dried harder compared to using a liquid?

 

[launderess]

When using any sort of powdered laundry detergent one normally adds a bit of white vinegar or Ecolab "sour" to final rinse, thus couldn't really say. Terry cloth items come out soft, not scratchy at all.

Mind you we use soap for bathing, so wash cloths have fair amount of that residue which comes out in wash (temps at or >120 degrees F with bit of STPP). Result is sort of a "built in fabric softener" sort of thing I suppose.