Why You Need A Controlled Suds Detergent

[dirtybuck]

Somewhat Disappointed

I hit Wally World on Friday to make my All purchase, and was disappointed in seeing the only version they had was the Oxy Free and Clear. I was hoping to buy a buy a box of the regular or Free and Clear. Since I didn't have the time to drive to another store (Target, K Mart, etc.), I decided to buy what was on the shelf.

 

[sudsmaster]

As Laundress has pointed out in the past, oxygen bleach may actually be good for colors. The oxygen release will help to inactivate residual chlorine in the tap water, which in turn will lessen the tendency of that residual chlorine to fade colors.

So my thinking is that the Oxy All Free and Clear is probably a good product to use on all types of fabrics that are compatible with a powdered detergent (assuming you got the powdered version of All).

 

[launderess]

There Are A Number Of Reasons Why Oxygen Bleaches

Are called "colour safe", when used as directed on colourfast laundry.

First as stated upthread small amounts of sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate will lessen the affects of chlorinated tap water on fabrics.

Next used at the normal low wash temps for colours (<120f or at or <100F) oxygen bleaches will provide powerful stain removal properties whilst not being aggressive on colours. Of the two sodium perborate was the original "colour safe bleach" because it really does require temps of >120F to get going, and really takes off at 140F and over (boil washing). Sodium percarbonate OTOH is the "cold water" oxygen bleach that can and will provide action even at 85F. For these reasons Persil and other European detergents that contain bleach recommended not routinely using such products on items that are richly coloured. Pastels and or colourfast yes, but not one's dark or even deep sky blue shirts.

Oxygen bleaches also keep colours looking bright by helping to remove dull and dingy film from wash. And so it goes.

 

[sudsmaster]

Quite recently I wore a sky blue knit shirt while felling trees and servicing chain saws etc. To my dismay it acquired some greasy stains that washing at 130F in the Neptune with Sears Ultra HE and STPP didn't completely remove. So I tossed it in with the next batch of whites in the Miele, which combined the same sort of detergent plus both sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate, at 160F (really about 155F by measurement). Viola! the stains were gone after that, with the darker blue trim on the shirt undamaged.

The only drawback to that regimen is that the 160F temp setting tends to lift off the silkscreeened garment labels on the tidy whities significantly more than a 150F setting. But that's a small price to pay for thorough stain removal.