profmom Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I've started couponing and reconsidering brand loyalty, etc. I see that I can get Purex for a reasonable deal ($1.49/32 load), but I don't know how good it is. I've googled "best laundry detergent" and keep coming up with Tide, but is there really enough difference to justify the cost? Are there some detergents that make your clothes last longer, especially in keeping the color? Are there some detergents that you wouldn't buy at any sale price? Any thoughts or advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I use Ultra Sun Free and Clear and LOVE it! It really does get everything clean, especially using the Earth Friendly Products non chlorine bleach powder alongside it (EFP is cheaper than Oxyclean). For the life of me I just can't understand how people can walk around smelling like their laundry products :confused: That smell is transferred to every.single.thing it comes in contact with, sometimes for days :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I don't think there is a "best" or a "worst." I've been using Amway laundry products since 1975. They are the only products that Mr. Ellie did not react to. Possibly there are other brands that we could use today, but I've always been so pleased with Amway I don't see the need to try anything else. I've had old top loaders, new front loaders, new top loaders, hard water, soft water..I still see the same clean clothes. And I had the whitest cloth diapers of all my friends. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I only use the Free & Clear kind because I'm sensitive to the smells. We use 7th Generation Free & Clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I've always used cheap stuff, because, well, it's cheap. But after having to buy a little thing of Tide to try and clean up some tough stains/smells on a baby item I had bought used, I realized that there IS a difference. Clothes that had been stained for months were suddenly clean when I used the Tide! I was shocked! I still can't justify the cost of Tide alone, but I do mix. I do 1/2 Tide and 1/2 cheapy detergent to save money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooRho Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I make my own. I don't notice differences. I use to use Tide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I always used ALL free and Clear liquid when I had a top loader but when I got my front loader I didn't want to use liquid (because I knew I would spill it and get the drawer all gummy). I tried a bunch of different ones and end up with lots of grease stains on my clothes. I tried Tide and my grease stains mostly disappeared. So I've stuck with Tide but I only use a heaping TBSP per load. Since one box lasts me 8-10 months Tide is now both cost effective and efficient for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 This thread is making me re-think buying the cheap-o brand. I've been using Sun. But the mention of the grease stains brought to mind that dd has a lot of shirts, nearly new, with stains. Why grease? I have no idea! :confused: I haven't used Tide in years but I do love the way my mom's clothes smell and would love to get rid of those grease stains. Hmmmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We don't have a Sams membership right now, but I've found that I prefer the Member's Mark version to "real" tide. Purex works alright, but the cheaper version of it with an X in the name is worthless even though it's practically free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I think my homemade averages .03 per load. I love it. I will never go back to buying if I can possibly help it. I spend aprox. $10 per year on laundry detergent. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Tide, hands down! Like a previous poster said, it gets stuff clean. It's the only thing my mom used (and we were always poor) and it's the only thing we'll use. I've tried other stuff but they just don't compare. I even use it on my cloth diapers, even though it's not recommended. But I've used the same diapers for years with no problems and they look clean and smell clean. I've bought used diapers, that came not as described, dingy, stinky, and one wash in Tide and they are white again and no stink. FYI- Big Lots just had Tide for really good prices. I bought all that was HE to stock up, because it was such a good deal. You might want to check them in the next couple of days, they don't always carry the same stuff for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted August 11, 2011 Author Share Posted August 11, 2011 Wow, ok! Interesting about Tide! Is Gain the same thing only cheaper? (I've read that it is??) I hadn't considered making my own, but I might. Adding another question: Is HE for a specific type of machine or can/should I use it in my 19 year old Kenmore top loading machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4wildberrys Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 This thread is making me re-think buying the cheap-o brand. I've been using Sun. But the mention of the grease stains brought to mind that dd has a lot of shirts, nearly new, with stains. Why grease? I have no idea! :confused: I haven't used Tide in years but I do love the way my mom's clothes smell and would love to get rid of those grease stains. Hmmmmm. Dawn dishwashing liquid gets the grease out!!! We had a MAJOR problem with mystery grease stains---and someone mentioned Dawn and I tried it...and it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam L in Mid Tenn Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I coupon and usually match the sale with the coupon to get the cheapest thing. The last I bought was ALL and I absolutely HATE it. I've had to wash several things twice to get them clean. If you have to run the washer twice, does it save money? NO. Tide IS the best. And after this ALL is gone, I'm going back to Tide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Those of you voting for Tide, does it matter the powder or the liquid? I just bought liquid for the first time and to be honest the smell reminds me of a litter box. I have a front loader HE machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymotherof4 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We are a Tide HE free and clear family. We have to use a free and clear and Tide is the only one that seems to work for us. I use less than the bottle says and it works great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I have had a lot of success with Target's store brand detergent. When I lived closer to Costco I used their brand and that worked well, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorilou Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I have always used Tide HE Free & Clear and have always been pleased with the results. I do have Costco's Kirkland HE Free and Clear to try once this bottle of Tide is finished...will keep you posted on what I think! I have found many of the Kirkland items to be identical to brand name items, so we will see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaMa2005 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I make my own detergent, but a couple of years ago, Consumer Reports compared laundry detergents. Guess who won? Costco's house brand - Kirkland. It edged out Tide in all areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Tide. I love Tide. It gets clothes and clean and it is dependable and unchanging. I like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I'm not sure what the best is, but I use Tide on warm or hot for towels, sheets and undies, and Bi-O-Kleen on cold for most of our clothes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We use Country Save. Love it! We bought a ton of it when a local grocery store stopped carrying it (they were selling it for cheap). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Wow, ok! Interesting about Tide! Is Gain the same thing only cheaper? (I've read that it is??) I hadn't considered making my own, but I might. I can use Tide, but not Gain because Gain makes my middle son break out. (my mother-in-law said the same thing happened to my father-in-law) What I use most of the time is All Small and Mighty. The only problem I have with staining is the ink on my husband's work clothes. Tide detergent does not remove it, but the Tide stain remover packets do help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Well, we've tried everything, from the cheapest to the most natural to making our own to the most expensive. Tide worked the best by FAR. However..they changed Tide recently, to a new Ultra version that I swear doesn't work as well. I bought out Big Lots of the old kind for my diapers, and switched to the Kirkland Signature brand from Costco for everything else. it looks like tide, smells like tide, and seems to work like the old Tide. It does have a strong smell, but doesn't seem to cause any of us reactions. And I'm known to get itchy from other brands, like Gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 If cheap is what you want, and you don't have sensitive skin issues so don't need detergents designed for that, use Dawn Dishwashing liquid. I've been using it for almost a year based on the advice from a frugal mom-of-17 friend who's been using it much longer than that and we have found that it works great. You use just 1 tsp. per large load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I like Tide, but find it doesn't work at well in our front loader so I have switch to Charlie's Soap and it works great. http://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Soap-Powder-2-64-Loads/dp/B0018B15FE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kiddies Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I've started couponing and reconsidering brand loyalty, etc. I see that I can get Purex for a reasonable deal ($1.49/32 load), but I don't know how good it is. I've googled "best laundry detergent" and keep coming up with Tide, but is there really enough difference to justify the cost? Are there some detergents that make your clothes last longer, especially in keeping the color? Are there some detergents that you wouldn't buy at any sale price? Any thoughts or advice? Haven't read all the responses yet but just wanted to say that I LOVE Purex and HATE Tide! Tide makes my clothes smell like mildew....yuck! I especially love the Purex with the orange lid and you really cannot beat the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Doesn't it suds a lot? Dawn If cheap is what you want, and you don't have sensitive skin issues so don't need detergents designed for that, use Dawn Dishwashing liquid. I've been using it for almost a year based on the advice from a frugal mom-of-17 friend who's been using it much longer than that and we have found that it works great. You use just 1 tsp. per large load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Doesn't it suds a lot? Dawn No more than laundry detergent. I've looked and it's not all sudsy like when filling the sink for dishes. No Brady-Bunch-type problems! (Was that the show where suds were overflowing the machine and they couldn't get it to stop?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jubygirl Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Someone gave us a couple boxes of Gain laundry soap. I was so appreciative, but it made me realize just how much I dislike powder detergent, even though that is typically the cheaper choice. With that being said, before I received the powder detergent, I was making my own and loved it!!!:001_smile: If I can at all help it, I will not go back to buying laundry detergent. The only thing I miss is the scent; however, I know I can add my own. I just haven't in the past. I really would like to find a recipe for making my own dishwasher detergent as well. I haven't looked very hard, but I heard they are out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepymommy Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I love Charlie's Soap, but I've never seen a coupon for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I think my homemade averages .03 per load. I love it. I will never go back to buying if I can possibly help it. I spend aprox. $10 per year on laundry detergent. Dawn :iagree::iagree: If you use a good bar soap like Fels Naptha, then the grease stains come out. Higher priced detergents contain optical brighteners. They aren't good for the water, and they are just a smoke a mirrors trick to make you think your clothes are especially clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Not only that, but somehow we have been led to believe that if our clothes smell like the perfume in the detergent that that equals clean. Now, don't get me wrong, I miss nice smelling detergent sometimes, but that didn't make them "fresh" or "clean" as the commercials claim. Dawn :iagree::iagree: If you use a good bar soap like Fels Naptha, then the grease stains come out. Higher priced detergents contain optical brighteners. They aren't good for the water, and they are just a smoke a mirrors trick to make you think your clothes are especially clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We have hard water. We use Tide HE and love it. I buy and sell most of the kid's clothes at a second hand store, and they take almost all of them because they still look nice when we are done. I think it pays off for us to use Tide due to this alone. I don't worry about my kids clothes almost every stain comes out with the Tide. My dds both get their clothes very, very dirty. DD12 with art projects and dirt. DD4 with sweat food and dirt. I don't pretreat, but I do put their laundry on a soak cycle when I wash it. I, like others, only use 1/2 of the amount of soap recommended on clothes. I know some brands use optical brighteners, but honestly the clothes don't just look cleaner....the stains and spots are gone with Tide....they really are cleaner. I have tried other brands, but never get the same results. I have tried Kirkland's detergent but wasn't impressed. I may try it again sometime, as products do change. For the poster who asked, HE=High Efficiency. It is made for front load or other high efficiency machines. It suds less than other detergents and is more concentrated for the machines that use less water to wash clothes. You can use it in a regular machine, but since it can cost a bit more that regular detergent...it isn't necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4one Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I use Tide HE coldwater. For colors I add a scoop of oxiclean and wash in cold water. For whites I wash in warm/cold cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 This thread is making me re-think buying the cheap-o brand. I've been using Sun. But the mention of the grease stains brought to mind that dd has a lot of shirts, nearly new, with stains. Why grease? I have no idea! :confused: I haven't used Tide in years but I do love the way my mom's clothes smell and would love to get rid of those grease stains. Hmmmmm. I use homemade and I'm very happy with it EXCEPT I have the same problem with JUST grease stains and ONLY on DHs shirts. I think I'll try going back to tide for his shirts only and see it that makes a difference, or if the recent round of polo shirts are just made of stupid fabric :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Someone gave us a couple boxes of Gain laundry soap. I was so appreciative, but it made me realize just how much I dislike powder detergent, even though that is typically the cheaper choice. With that being said, before I received the powder detergent, I was making my own and loved it!!!:001_smile: If I can at all help it, I will not go back to buying laundry detergent. The only thing I miss is the scent; however, I know I can add my own. I just haven't in the past. I really would like to find a recipe for making my own dishwasher detergent as well. I haven't looked very hard, but I heard they are out there. Ive had excellent results with my homemade laundry detergent (except DHs grease stained shirts) but I could not get good results with homemade dishwasher detergent even after adding salt and lemonade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I had poor results with my homemade laundry and I used fels naphtha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I wasn't brand loyal to any particular detergent (including homemade, which I tried....ended up with gray whites) until I tried Tide HE powder. It's all I use and for my washer/water combo, it does the best job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I use a store brand or All. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineW Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Tide Free for Cold Water. Love it! Except for sheets and towels, those I wash in hot water with Tide Free & Clear. I do need some scent but I use Myers dryer sheets for that--my sensitive skinned kids seem fine with that. Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I need to use the Free/ unscented versions of laundry detergent. I do notice that the name brands are better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmomof2boys Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I like Charlie's Soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 My favorite detergents are the ones that do not give me rashes or hives. Seventh Generation All Free and Clear Charlies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herbalgirl Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 We switched to Tide HE and it really seems to help get the clothes cleaner and the stink out of the armpits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 We recently switched back to Tide after years of using "natural" detergents. I can't believe how much cleaner our clothes are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I just found a really great "Green" detergent that I love at Sam's Club. It is called Ecos and it smells like my fresh lavender blooming in the garden. Just lovely. :) http://www.ecos.com/ecosliquid.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 Is this a good deal for Tide (at Target from the Krazy Coupon Lady's site)? Buy 2 Tide Liquid Detergent, 100 oz. $12.00 Use 2 $1.00/1 Tide Detergent from P&G 7/31 Pay $22.00, Receive $5.00 Target Gift Card Final Price: $8.50 each when you buy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I use to use the cheap stuff until I attended a few school science fairs, where comparing laundry detergent is a popular project, and switched to Tide and haven't looked back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 What does Tide have in it that the others don't? Dawn I use to use the cheap stuff until I attended a few school science fairs, where comparing laundry detergent is a popular project, and switched to Tide and haven't looked back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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