Woolite Recall

[cleanteamofny]

<h1 class="content-title"> </h1>
<h1 class="content-title">6,200 Bottles of a Classic Laundry Detergent Recalled for “Serious” Risk</h1>
voluntary recall of 16,200 bottles of Woolite Delicates detergent sold in 50 fluid-ounce units.

The products were manufactured by the Woolite brand’s parent company, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, and sold on Amazon.com in January 2025. Though it’s not explicitly stated in the recall notice, given Amazon’s pervasiveness in the United States, it may be presumable that the affected products are being recalled nationwide.

Further details about the recalled detergent include:

<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">SKU: 62338-72724</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Lot codes: S24364, S24365 and S24366</li>
</ul>
Check your stock if you recently purchased it.

https://www.thehealthy.com/home/news-woolite-recall-march-2025/

 

[qsd-dan]

Thanks for the heads up. Last time there was a Woolite product in the laundry room, I was kid.

 

[launderess]

Nabbed job lot of Woolite darks liquid on special offer, I quite fancy it!

Use on darks or richly coloured wash at 86 of 104 degrees F and things come out a treat.

 

[launderess]

Safely soaks fine washables clean in 3 mins

Like scores of others that little white bottle or white and blue canister was always near bathroom sink for dealing with dainties or flimsies.

Also used Woolite for down filled blankets, jackets, coats along with woolen blankets, scarves and such.

 

[cleanteamofny]

 

 

I thought that Bill Blass's commercial was a Sears Commercial.

Oh, Dear!

 

[launderess]

Dreft and FEWA were first synthetic detergents created to cope with issues of using soap in hard water. However great these light duty detergents were for dishwashing, house cleaning and so forth they were only good for "light duty" laundry.

At some point in USA and maybe elsewhere Dreft became a product for baby's laundry, this replacing soap based products such as Ivory Snow and Fairy Snow. In Europe and elsewhere Dreft remained a light duty laundry product.

https://www.wipeout.ie/blog/laundry-detergent-history.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreft... Gamble,including the Netherlands and Belgium.

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Dreft_(Washing_Powder)







Woolite was invented in early 1950's by Harvey S. Hewitt in response to complaints from Mrs. Harvey S. Hewitt about laundry detergents that shrank her wool sweaters.

https://archive.ph/K903U

Like FEWA and Dreft original formulas Woolite claim to fame is near neutral pH formula.

Character Johanna of FEWA basically goes on in adverts about how the product is "neutral" thus won't harm things.

 

[launderess]

Where Woolite went off the rails happened when "Machine Wash" powder was introduced.

Packaging was basically same as Woolite in canisters or bottles of old, but formula isn't same. Bit more aggressive in cleaning as contains all sorts of things one should not have near woolens or silks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152497548699

Largely due to confusion between original Woolite formula and "machine wash" whispers began circulating that all Woolite products harmed fine washables, or at least woolens and silks. Consumers not reading packets carefully didn't notice difference and you can guess the rest.

 

[agiflow]

Launderess could you repost the link ? Not getting anything

 

[launderess]

Leave us try that again...

For some reason eBay isn't allowing linking back, so have found another.

https://www.ubuy.co.in/product/4RIX...cle-powder-laundry-detergent-powder-14-oz-new

Or just Google "1982 Woolite Gentle Cycle Powder"

 

[DADoES]

 
eBay links work if the extraneous coding is lopped-off.

Vintage WOOLITE Machine Cold Water Wash Box

 

[DADoES]

 
Mom used Woolite liquid in the 60s into the early 70s for "good clothes."  My memory of it is very highly-sudsing.  The wash water wasn't slippery, which even then I recognized as an indication of proper conditioning.  The suds apparently were expected to do the job.

 

[launderess]

Woolite, Dreft, FEWA and other light duty detergents then as in original formulas were anionic surfactants, and nothing else. Well maybe a bit of scent and for liquids some sort of preservatives.

Anionic surfactants possess all the cleaning qualities of soaps but none of drawbacks (reacting with hard water to form scum). Yes, they are high frothing, but depending upon end use that may or may not be a bad thing.

https://sanyo-chemical-solutions.com/technology/2024/08/102500/

 

[launderess]

Of course if one had a two-speed RCA/Whirlpool automatic washer wouldn't have to wash dainties by hand.

*LOL*

 

[henene4]

I always found Woolite products over here to have a very specific smell that I loved.

But finding them has become a challenge. And ordering through Amazon is very dear in most cases...

 

[launderess]

In Color!

Even by late 1960's some still only had B&W television so guess Woolite sprung for big bucks and had commercial done in color to cover all bases.

 

[agiflow]

I guess people weren't 100% down with washers with 2 speed motors..lol

 

[launderess]

Am more than usually sure this is actor Gordon Thompson of Dynasty fame.

 

[frigilux]

I’ve been using the various iterations of Perwoll designed for blacks/darks for years. Think the latest is called Perwoll Renew & Repair for Darks. It’s spendy, but have generally considered it the gold standard for washing black clothes.

However, noticed the local grocery store carries Woolite Darks Defense, so will give that a try. It’s a fraction of the cost and is available locally.

 

[helicaldrive]

Hesitated to say this but what the hay

It’s not unusual for people to compliment me on a polo or rugby shirt. I’ll say oh, well it’s 30 years old.
Q: How did you keep it looking new?
A: I always machine wash knit shirts with Woolite.
Invariably, they scoff and proclaim oh that’s ridiculous, Woolite is way too expensive and detergent is detergent, it’s no different than anything else just outrageously expensive!
Whatever. I don’t even bother to reply well if they’re all the same then why do you recognize that my 30 year old shirt looks like new? And isn’t a $12 bottle of detergent that will last a year or so worth it compared to every load of wash containing about $300-500 worth of clothes?!
To me it’s a no-brainer.
I tried using Cheer instead and in time found that it didn’t work as well.
And surprisingly Woolite is no slouch at cleaning even though it has no enzymes for stains.