This is what About.com has to say about HE detergents:

"Washer manufacturers recommend that only HE detergents be used in their front-load and high-efficiency washers, and most will even recommend a particular brand of HE detergent.

There is a good reason for using detergent that is specially formulated for these newer front-load washers. HE detergents are concentrated laundry detergents that are low-sudsing especially for use with low water high-efficiency washers.

If regular detergents were to be used in front-loading and high-efficiency washers, the presence of too many suds could 'confuse' washing cycles, cause delays and make proper rinsing of clothes difficult.

Similar to why dish detergent does not work well in a dishwasher which requires specially formulated non-sudsing dishwasher detergent, performance can be severely affected by the use of improper detergents in low water washing machines.

HE detergents can readily be found where regular laundry soap is sold - look for the 'HE' symbol the next time you shop. There is no difference in price for this particular type of detergent, nor is there any reduction in loads per container. Buying in bulk can reap savings and ensure you have it on hand for all your washings."

Look for the blue and white "he" swirl logo on detergent containers...it's made for HE washers, both top and front loading.

Thanks Georgect - perfect response - it is all clear now. Thanks again.

Do you use less of it than the regular kind?

Yes. I'm using 1-2 Tablespoons for each load of laundry (Two if it's really dirty), and about 1 teaspoon fabric softener. How much are you using in your TL?

The point was made very clear as I accompanied my friend through a warehouse club with her gigantic, very heavy box of laundry detergent. I started to laugh, and told her I'd stick with my 2 Tablespoons per load for now.

Why would a particular set need a special detergent?
High efficiency washers use much less water so think about it, less water should require much less detergent. The other issue as said is low sudsing however it's a myth to think you cannot use regular, low-sudsing detergents in a high efficiency machine.

Do you use less of it compared to the traditional kind? Well, common sense says you should, but it sounds like many people use a rather high amount of detergent when you consider the low volume of water in the machine. Part of it seems to come from a concentrated formula of detergent to offset the lack of water. Many people talk about 5-7 gallons of water in a front load verses 35-40 gallons in a top load. Math tells you that you should use about 1/6th (roughtly) the detergent in that case. Most suggest using 1/2 to possibly 1/3.

What is the cost of this detergent compared to regural version.
It's difficult to really compare. Bottle for bottle, essentially the same. How much per load? In theory it should be substantially less. In reality, it's questionable. And of course people will argue to the end about it too.

Do you HAVE to use HE detergent?
No. However IMO, it's a good idea to start with it. But as said, there's a lot of good quality low-sudsing detergents out there that aren't labeled "HE". There's also "HE" labeled detergents that users will say are high-sudsing. A lot has to do with the water you're using and other variables.

Low sudsing isn't the only difference between HE and regular detergent. From the link below: "HE detergents also hold soils and dyes in suspension in low water volumes, so they donÂt re-deposit onto cleaned clothes".

Re the notion that less water should require less detergent: Detergent contains cleaning agents that work on the soiled clothes, and water conditioners that work on the water. Compared to a similar capacity traditional washer, an HE washer contains the same amount of soiled clothes, and less water. So common sense tells me that the need for cleaning agents is the same, and the need for water conditioners is less. Presumably HE detergents are formulated with different proportions of cleaning vs. conditioning agents, for this reason.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.cleaning101.com/laundry/HE.pdf

I was wondering: FLs have been around for a long time but HE detergent has not. Why?

As pointed out by SuburbanMD, the amount of water involved is not the only consideration for detergent dosage. The amount of soil in the clothes, and thus that ends up suspended in the water, is also a factor.

Frontloaders have always used less water than toploaders, but the HE frontloaders AND TOPLOADERS on the market nowadays use even less water than in the past.

It takes only 5 quarts of water, 1.25 gallons, in my Calypso toploader to satisfy the water level sensor. The machine does take more water than that for a fill, but the additional is for absorption by the clothes to the point of saturation, and to make up for what's "in the air" so to speak for the recirculation shower.

In Europe, where front load washers have been the norm for decades, all laundry detergents are formulated similar to what we call HE detergents on this side of the pond. The major difference is that European detergents are formulated for very hard water, which is typical throughout much of Europe.

Over here, using less of a non-HE detergent in a front loader will not deliver optimum wash results. Under-dosing with a non-HE detergent (to limit over-sudsing) will only result in less-effective cleaning because there won't be sufficient concentrations of cleaning agents in the wash water.

HE detergents are formulated to reduce sudsing while still providing adequate levels of detergent cleaning agents, they also contain chemical surfactants that are optimized to keep soil suspended in a small volume of water. HE formulations will also rinse out more thoroughly with less water. Proper dosing with an HE formulated detergent in a front load washer will assure you of optimum cleaning results.

People have been using non-HE detergents for years decades upon decades. People on this forum have been raving over "Charlie's Soap" which to this day is not an HE detergent. (It's only recently been labeled "HE Compatible" and they do not have separate formulas for HEc and non HEc). Many credible people here have used "non HE" detergents in their front loaders for decades and get perfectly fine results. The fact is, many have also reportedly tried different HE detergents and have not been happy with them. So I simply don't accept the claim that the world will get sucked into a black hole if someone uses low sudsing detergents in their front loader.

Presumably HE detergents are formulated with different proportions of cleaning vs. conditioning agents, for this reason.
To my knowledge there is no regulation at all as to what constitutes the definition or formulation of an "HE" detergent, nor even what is "HE compatible". So to make claims as to what they are and what they do is, simply put, naive. There's a big difference between theory and fact.

Just like the people who are going to argue that you MUST use a front loader or you'll walk around in smelly, shredded clothes, there's also those who are equally naive about detergents. There's a chemistry involved and what works well in one person's house will not work well in another. It's my feeling that someone new to a front loader should try a good quality truly HE detergent, but a compatible, essentially low sudsing version should be fine too. It's just an issue of removing some variables if you can, and give yourself the best shot at fewer troubles. There's a learning curve if you change to a different technology and each machine works differently, water is different, type and level of soiling is different and making blanket claims simply do not help someone new to the technology.

cynic, I don't think HE machines have existed for decades. I have a bunch of old CR magazines here. The July 1997 washing machine test includes the Frigidaire FWT445GE, a front-loader which used 34 gallons max per cycle, compared to top-loaders ranging from 37 to 46. It probably sloshed the clothes through a pool of water "laundromat-style", not the same situation as today's HE FL's. Wisk offered a special low-sudsing detergent for FL's, not called "HE", available only by mail. Tide HE was "due in stores soon", maybe getting ready for the true HE machines soon to appear on the market. An Asko was also tested; it used 21 gallons, but was a much smaller machine.

OK, some credible people here use non-HE detergents in their FL's (are there non-credible people, e.g. trolls in this forum? I haven't noticed any). But like you said, everyone's environment is different. And people's priorities differ too. Some are happy to be able to buy an inexpensive non-HE detergent, multiply the savings by cutting the dosage, and get results that satisfy them. Others aren't as price-sensitive.

According to the cleaning101 link, a true HE detergent is one with the HE swirl logo. Naive or not, my common sense tells me: 1) HE washing process is indeed different enough to require a different product (apparently you think the redeposition-protection feature is just a sham); 2) If HE and regular detergents were the same, they wouldn't sell different varieties, rather they'd simplify shipping and inventory by selling a universal formulation. But if you have some industry inside knowledge you can share (without them coming after you :-)) please do so.

"Start by following your washer manufacturer's directions" is a blanket statement, but a legitimate one IMO. My LG said to use half of the amount recommended on the HE detergent package. Miele says to use the recommended amount. If results aren't good, many of the manuals include troubleshooting charts.

As for agitator TL vs. FL (Miele) cleaning ability, is it naive to believe my own eyes? Results in FL with Sears detergent are far far better, in appearance and smell and feel, than in agitator TL with top-rated Tide detergent.

When you can and cannot use the HE symbol is based on what the SDA (Soap and Detergent Agency) allows. If you, as a manufacturer meet their criteria, then you can use that symbol if you so choose. If tomorrow comes and "bottom sided" washers are all the rave and the SDA comes up with a BS logo (you like that?), then a company can seek to have their detergent approved for that as well. That does not mean, unless their marketing department deems it necessary, that a company has to make one detergent for all types of machines. In the land of reality, a company doesn't HAVE to make one formula for normal machines and one formula for HE machines if the one formula works equally well in both types.