Good Morning All, After trying ALL WEEK I was able to log on using my own name! I am so miffed that I can barely speak about it. I am just so frustrated at the process and not knowing what to do. I even tried to set up a new account to no avail!! Not much new for me. Been busy sending resumes and actually have an interview next week. I am SO ready to go back to work now that DH is doing well. Although, he went to see the surgeon this week and his graft site is doing well but he has an enlarged lymph node in his groin. The node that she took the biopsy from. She told him if it's still enlarged ten days from now it's coming right out and biposied. I am trying really hard not to worry. I know that worry changes nothing, except for adding more lines to my face! LOL The weather has been so nice and mild. In the low 30's everyday. We have had two small storms that have laid about 6" of light fluffy snow which makes it safe to ride my horse once again as it's covered the ice. So that has been my sanctuary this week. Riding. I love it. Sounds like everyone has plenty of resolve to stay on track right now. I have been doing a detox diet to rid myself of all the toxins I dumped into my body over the holidays. I am starting to feel better but still craving some sugar. It's so evil that sugar; it's everywhere. I will pick a day next week to fast which makes me feel much, much better. I am thinking of joining a local gym who has a six week weight loss and exercise program. I am not doing so hot on my own and maybe this will get me going in the right direction. I get alot of exercise doing barn chores and riding but there is alot to be said for group exercise like step aerobics which I love. I want to try pilates too. Okay, who's doing laundry today?? I am not. I am trying hard to get my office squared away and decluttered. I am failing miserably! This is an important baqua for me too as it is helpful people and travel. I almost feel like I am smothering in all the books here so a big lot of them has to go. I have three floor to ceiling bookshelves full of books I haven't touched in years!! Dust collectors now. I am going to box them up and bring them anywhere that wants them. I hope you all have a great day.

Hi Turbo, Like you I don't visit the forum too often these days and I rarely post messages (been there done that) and yes I am very busy too these days with my business life and taking care of my mother every other week etc - it gets pretty hectic sometimes on those weeks but it's worth it. I sometimes check for fun though just to see what's going on here and noticed a few posts by you - so it's good to check in with you. For anyone who is interested, I posted my wash performance comments because unlike some who say that they don't have to wash clothes that are very dirty - I do wash clothes that are very very dirty - so I have some experience in this regard. Of course I'm not saying that a front loader couldn't wash them clean but am just saying that a standard agitator machine also does just fine. For those of us who have been around here a while, we've been through this sort of thing time and time again (no need to go at it again) but the comments about CR's latest ratings made me curious. I did get the June issue and they pretty much say that TL machines are struggling to get good results while meeting the 2007 energy standards. That's a curiousity since I'll bet that you can override many or all of those energy restrictions if you want to - for example I know that you can override them using a Fisher Paykel machine. Turbo, your comments about more people giving realistic assessments about real life FL performance is something that I'll have to check out - as I said I haven't combed through here for a while. I'll check it out when I have a bit of time. Take care Turbo and good luck to you and your family.

I received my shipment of Miele detergent (for whites, colors, delicates, and fabric softener) in mid December and compared it against PERSIL MEGAPERLS (for whites and colors. I have used PERSIL since 2003 when I first purchased my machine, but have tried other brands during this time. As I mentioned in my previous post I looked up the Kreussler Company on the web, which is the maker of this detergent. Kreussler is the private company Miele uses to manufacture their commercial detergents which are sold to laundries under the brand name of Trebon. Powder Detergent Product Consistency: Persil consists of small beads. The Miele detergent is similar to fine grain sugar. Fragrance: Persil is scented when you sniff the product in the container but does not leave a scent on clothes. The Miele product is described as the smell of flowers and there is a scent when in the container. No scent is left in the clothes and since my washer drains into the sink I have to say that there is no trace of a scent in the discharged water. If anything it smells rather acrid. Dosage: I purchased my current boxes of PERSIL in the early spring of 2007. I compared those boxes to my previous box from 2006 and found that the recommended dosage had been increased by 1 ML. This doesnt matter since I ignore recommended dosages, and use amounts I have found to be right for my soil levels and water conditions. The Miele detergent comes with a cup which does not match the dosage lines on the PERSIL cup and does not match a standard USA cup either. I compared the recommended amounts by following the PERSIL dosage using the PERSIL cup, then pouring that amount into the Miele cup. The Miele recommended amounts for each soil level are slightly less than the PERSIL amounts. The Miele box contains recommended amounts for small and larger washers. Even though I dont use recommended amounts I found that I could decrease the dosage amount when using the Miele detergent, so I can use slightly less of it for each soil level. Cleaning in temps of 85F, 104F, and 120F: I did not do any scientific-like comparisons or do any strip tests. I have the same type of typical or heavy (ground in, body, oily) soil in most loads. I got very good results in warm watereverything was cleaned. I did do a load of white cleaning clothes in warm water instead of hot(190F) and got very good results. Oily dirt was handled well in warm water. Rinsing: One reason I use PERSIL MEGAPERLS is because it rinses well in my water. The Miele detergent rinses a bit better. The wash discharge water is milky and contains no suds. During the first rinse water will be clear with slight bubbles on the top. As the spins and rinses continue these dissipate. Liquid detergent for Delicates: Persil for Delicates is a creamy thick liquid. The Miele Delicates is like a creamy water. I understand there may be an issue with the W11XX or W12XX dispenser and I guess it is different than the dispenser on my W1986 because it will hold back water. This consistency is good for me because I have trouble with the thicker products in the winter. I think this is because my incoming cold water is about 40 degrees and it cannot flush thick products as well. With the dispenser I had to add hot water to it to get it to flush. I dont even use the dispenser anymore even with the Miele product. If I am not going to do a prewash I just move the clothes away from one of the fins in the tub, pour the product onto and into the fin, close the door and start the machine - works fine. Delicates come out clean. Fabric Softener: The Consistency is like water and it easily flushes from the dispenser leaving nothing behind. Clothes are left soft. There is no scent that I recognize and I dont smell anything in the clothes hours or days later, although clothes smell clean, fresh and good.

Roc, I'm in a small country town and the old sheets sell at thrift stores mainly to the underprivlaged...most people around here would walk past the sheets thinking..I don't want someone else's stinky bedding LOL. Ebay often has a ton of old sheets, but they might be pricey. Personally I don't mind paying for good quality American made sheets even if I have to subject them to torture to get them clean. I recently felt a set of sheets at Bon Ton and looked at the edging..shoot they wanted 140 $ and that was on sale, I wouldn't have paid 10 $ the edging looked like something I would do nowadays with my crooked fingers, LOL and they had a underlying roughness...I pay 30 $ for the twin size at Target without a sale and their much better made than Bon Tons over priced, rough bedding. Roc, I love Target but I'm glad its an hour drive from me or I'd be there often when I can't afford to. I was there yesterday and finially got the Mrs Meyers Lemon Verbena FS..haven't used it yet so no review yet lol. I do plan to order more Vaska lavender laundry detergent tabs as I did end up enjoying them on towels.