What is everyone's favorite laundry detergent?

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I'm currently using Cheer Color Guard powder, has a nice scent that isn't overpowering and it cleans well, but the downside is oversuding so I have to really watch how much I use.
I also like the HEB store brand Bravo liquid, cleans well and very nice scent.

I've been known to buy FAB powder, but it doesn't dissolve well in colder water, plus it can discolor dark colors, good for white towels though. It's mostly a sentimental thing with FAB.

I loved Amway SA8, but honestly, who could afford that? I visited their website and choked at the price they were asking. So, no thanks.
 
I have several that I really like and I'm continuing to experiment. I don't think there is just one brand that I've used more than others. For a long time I bought whatever was on sale, but after seeing a difference in the results, I generally buy name brands now.

I've been using pods lately...Gain (original and Moonlight Breeze). I like the original scent best...and now I also have Wisk pods, which I LOVE the smell of and they clean really well. I generally like powder too and right now I'm working on a bag of Mexican Ariel. It cleans pretty well so far. Def a fan of Cheer too and Persil.

I'll keep trying different ones but so far I've really narrowed it down to Persil, Gain Flings, and Wisk as my favorites. hahaha
 
I've always wondered...

About store branded detergents.

Whilst you can get some that clean amazingly (Almat from Aldi and Formil from Lidl, have won Which awards)

Do they take the best care of clothes and your machine over time?

With the huge brands, they can invest all the technologies into their detergents, whereas supermarket brands just strike me as me too products that the store just puts out to sell.

Of course, I am not syaing they don't fill a need, and I have, and do use them. I just don't think I could use them exclusively.

Could be wrong though.
 
TSP - Sodium Tripolyphosphate

Isn't the best choice among phosphates for laundry use. STPP and or sodium hexametaphosphate are better choices.

In addition to the latter two being non precipitating water softeners they are less alkaline than TSP. The fact TSP is or was used for cleaning walls and floors (IIRC it was one of the original ingredients in Spic and Span powder)tells how powerful the stuff is.

TSP is also more difficult to rinse from fabrics which is why if one had to use it was advised to do so in small amounts.

Yes, TSP was used back in the day to soften hard water, but this was mostly when soaps were being used *and* with wringer or wash that was mangled instead of automatics. Either way the action of lifting laundry out of the soapy water mixed with a precipitating water softener meant much of the hard water muck/curd remained and or dripped/flowed back into wash tub. Suppose solid tub or other early automatic washing machines with overflow rinses would have a similar effect.

Another reason for detergent makers and or others choosing TSP over STPP or SHTP would be cost. IIRC TSP is rather inexpensive, but SHTP and STTP tend to cost more.

 
TSP

Hi Laundress,

Yes, that's all right. Our water doesn't have problems with TSP, so I'm happy to use it.  That TSP has very strong cleaning properties is one of it's charms. And, of course, risks unless one knows what one is doing.

I think it's worth mentioning that neither STTP nor TSP contribute to eutrophication. That's a common misconception which has led to many people tolerating dirty clothes and dishes (one tablespoon of TSP in the main wash with even the best dishwasher detergent will improve cleaning by an order of magnitude).
 
My vintage issues of Consumers Union/Reports

In various months has "reports" on the various types of packaged water softeners on the shelves in 1950's. This makes sense since soap was still heavily used for laundry and other housecleaning purposes. Calgon was always top ranked (blend of STPP and SHTP), with other non-cloudy brands like Dew Drops, White King and a few others not too far behind. Oakite OTOH was not really recommended for laundry but boy could it clean walls and floors. *LOL*

Tend to use STPP with the various soaps in my stash (original Persil, savon de Marseille, P&G laundry soap, etc..) but do have some vintage Oakite (purchased before one knew what was in the stuff), that I use with liquid or gel detergents. Since those products do not have alkaline builders already the extra boost from Oakite (mostly TSP) is welcome and not too damaging.
 
My all time favourite is Persil, always excellent reliable results.
The next best detergent I know is Aldi`s Tandil. Actually a very good detergent but it has a very boring, cheap scent. Hardly detectable on dry clothes. Can be quite sudsy but I don`t mind suds.
Instead of powders (I don`t like zeolite dust) I use some Sil stain remover for the rare occasion of bleachable stains.

Kevin, I`m so happy to see you`re back !
Automaticwasher wasn`t the same anymore when you stopped posting.

mrboilwash++2-25-2016-05-38-42.jpg
 
@mrboilwash

Thank You!

I've missed the conversations here a lot!

Tandil does clean very well, it's not quite German Persil (American Persil is not that good), but it's a very good detergent. I don't like strong scents, so it doesn't bother me that it fades away during the wash program.

 
 
Buzz seems to have died down over American Persil

Having a few bottles of the German variety (for colors) cannot bring myself to use the stuff again just yet. The scent is just too powerful and does not go away even after things are dried. Perhaps if used a tumble dryer things might be different, but for linens and shirts the stuff is a no-go.
 
Most of my loads here get washed with Tide HE Turbo powder (Original Scent). Towels, jeans, and any heavily soiled items get washed in Persil ProClean liquid. Extra stubborn loads get half a scoop of Biz or 20 Mule Team Borax added in, regardless of which detergent I'm using.

Getting the Persil dosage just right after switching washing machines from the Whirlpool to the Maytag last year took some fiddling, but once I got that right, I was right back to having towels with the perfect amount of VERY subtle fragrance left behind.
 
Oxydol

That stuff in the little green bottle at Walmart or Dollar Tree isn't worth a flip!  I haven't tried the liquid in the link below but the Oxydol powder is good.  I have some and love it.  They have one that's regular and one that has bleach. It's my favorite scent, then Persil, then Gain, then Island Fresh Gain.

 
I just bought a big bottle of the Persil 2-in-1 and I can honestly say I missed using it. The fragrance is strong, but not as strong as Gain IMO. I'm not sure I'll ever make up my mind on my favorite detergent but I def like American Persil. I need to try the Fresh Scent.
 

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