Never had to do it sparky. Its as clean now as the day I bought this machine over 3 years ago. Simple formula, use moderate amount of POWDERED detergent, rarely use liguid softner (mostly we use dryer sheets), use hot water for whites and my uniforms. We use LCB as necessary. I just started using Sears detergent a few months ago when I ran out of Persil and couldnt find STPP to purchase. I have now found STPP to purchase but since I purchased the Sears detergent in bulk Im going to see how it holds up compared to Persil. I like the smell of Persil better but I certainly like the price of the Sears stuff too. I do use more of the Sears brand as well but can cut that now with added STPP. Persil was about $50.00 for a 11 or 12 pound box.

I have 4 different varieties of the Sears...someone stop by with a truck and you can tak99% of it. I can't use all of this. I have never had a problem with this stuff disolving in my TL'ers. But I generally use hot water. I've heard complaints of it not disolving in cold and dubbed down warm. I've only used it 4 times in my Duet (I love saying my duet) all with hot water and again no disolving issues. I would just pre disolve it before adding it to the machine if its giving you problems, seems like a pain but it will only take a minute. Jody I think you need to stop by and grab a few hundred pounds of mine to add to your stash. LOL. I do plan to sell the vast majoriy of mine But will keep maybe 5 pounds of each. I really like it used with Wisk, STPP & Pure sodium percarbonate, Sins recipe..it does a fantastic job on whites and bedding. Have you tried that yet? Ajaynes2...I must have missed it..what machine do you have?

HappyMom, I'm glad you posted this and it wasn't just me. A couple of months ago I purchased a box of the powdered detergent with Oxy and a small bottle of the regular liquid detergent. When I opened up the box it had a very strong smell of plastic and when I checked the liquid it had the same plasticky smell and it was very thin! I don't know what happened. I've been using Sears detergent for many years and never had this smell. Always had a clean lemony smell. I had to transfer the powder to another box to get rid of the smell. The plastic lining could be the culprit.

I know there have been various opinions in the forum on whether shaking detergent in a jar to check suds, etc. actually proves anything. But I decided to try it with the Sears HE free I have and also reg. Ariel. When I used tap hot water, shook and then observed and let sit, the Sears had very little suds--probably 1/4-1/2 inch. The rest of the water was very cloudy and there was residue (white specks) in the bottom that didn't dissolve. The water never did clear up after sitting some time. I then did the same with the Ariel. It suds quickly to the top of the jar, but more like loose suds. After about 1/2 hr when I checked again, the suds had dissipated quite a bit and the water was clear although blue! There were also some undissolved specks on the bottom of the jar. When I rinsed out the jar after the Sears experiment, the specks actually stuck to the bottom and wouldn't rinse out, I had to scrub them with a rag. Am trying it again tonight with the Sears and will leave it sit overnight. (I did try that once with cold water and there was a gelatin type substance in the bottom the next morning with the specks but the water was more clear.) So does anyone think there is anything to the fact that the Sears HE stays cloudy and leaves undisolved specks? Would that hinder cleaning or rinsing well? I ask because since I have been using it I have noticed that the wash water (which I can see as it is programed higher) seems more cloudy than the other detergents I used but thought maybe it was suspended soil. I gave away a couple other boxes of non-HE detergents, but think I may try to pick up a small box or two of other free versions and see if they all act the same.