Egads! I'd never do that -- the ingredients are fairly different due to the different usage patterns.. The DW detergent has lots of bleach and will likely eat holes in your clothing.. I'd avoid it like... you fill in the blank..

Not all automatic dishwasher detergents contain bleach. Generally those that have enzymes do not have bleach. However, I would not use dishwasher detergent as the main cleaning agent for clothes, but rather as an enzyme booster on loads/items that call for it. It can also be useful at stronger doses for cleaning the machine of scrud/residue buildup.

From what I've read, people who use cascade in the wash do so to make whites whiter etc. It's used as a booster I think, and to also keep the mold problem down. I have used it directly on white football pants to treat stains and it works wonderfully without yellowing them like bleach would do.

Thanks to all of you! I will not use it as detergent, but will use it only as a booster.

I thought Tide with Bleach is just a convenient mixture of Tide and non-chlorine bleach, so you could use regular Tide instead, and add your own bleach.

Good point, suburbanmd. However, my family includes guys who get white T-shirts and socks really, really dirty. When I used Tide w/bleach in a conventional washer, I also used LCB (with equal part baking soda which gives same whitening power but reduces stress on laundry). The combination got their laundry super-clean (and very fresh-smelling, thanks to the baking soda).

I also wash some white laundry on which I cannot use LCB. That was another reason for my question. Would washing soda help with this, as well? It's hard to find it in my area.

Since I'm alergic to bleach I used Cascade powder w/ all my detergents in past. We have hard water and it works good. I usually put at least 1/2 cup in for full load-right in the drum plus little detergent. My washer is 4.00. I used it only on hot and sanitary only. After the experiment w/ CS for few months, our whites were dingy so I used full cup of cascade-sanitary cycle in my litle fl(194 degrees),then I rewashed it again w/little Persil. All whites came out white. Now I use Persil only b/c of the hard water issue.
I was sick and tired adding baking soda and other stuff to my laundry, Persil is just a no brainer.

I've used dishwasher detergent as a booster for a long time. I haven't used it much since switching to Tide Free & Sensitive though since it cleans so well I just don't need it. But when I used it, I didn't really measure it too accurately, I'd start the water filling and take the box and make about a swirl and a half around the agitator. I now keep it in a plastic pail and use a scoop from powdered detergent so I'm not sure what the measurement is, but I'd guess I'm using between 1/2 cup and a cup, probably closer to a cup.

From everything I've read (including a recent thread here), STPP is the ultimate laundry booster, 25% phosphate by weight. It used to be a major ingredient in laundry detergents, so it would seem to be safe on clothes. At least you know what you're using, rather than dishwashing detergent whose formulation could vary. And if you would use dishwashing detergent in your washing machine, you're already willing to do laundry with phosphates.

Yes, I've read about STPP here, but I'm not sure what it is, what's in it - or if it's available in my area. Another consideration is, is it safe for use with septic tanks? My d/w detergent doesn't adversely affect ours.

I have septic tank and I am usually carefull about what I drain in, cascade didn't cause any problem yet. Once every blue moon I buy the stuff for septic tanks and dump it in the drain. Makes me feel like I'm doing some good to it.

Once every blue moon I buy the stuff for septic tanks and dump it in the drain. Makes me feel like I'm doing some good to it.

This sounds exactly like my dear hubby. ;-)

Have you ever used STPP?

czechchick2...you mentioned using only Persil in your wash because of your hard water. Do you feel Persil cleans better than any other HE product out there? We do not have hard water.

The Wikipedia article about STPP says it's used in detergents (except domestic laundry detergents in the US, of course) and toothpastes and foods, and is on the FDA Generally Recognized As Safe list. Given all that, it sure seems unlikely to impact the functioning of a septic tank. There's more reason to worry about LCB...though in household quantities it's diluted enough to not be a problem.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_tripolyphosphate

I hope STPP is safe -- it is in Mac-n-cheese!

Here is a link that might be useful: Spot the STPP here!

I used many detergents over the years, and I feel that Persil is the simpliest. One dose, no extra additives needed and everything is clean. It rinses out great.
I like Gain and Woolite too but I usually had to use more of it to get proper results and/or add other stuff to it.Same w/ Tideor others. Since I went back to Persil, I don't have to use the Cascade either to keep whites white. So for me it is worth the money. I'd say buy small bag and try few other detergents too and compare. I buy it from ABT.com w/free shipping.

Well, I just ordered some Persil. Hope it is as good as everyone says it is. For $50 it should be carrying the laundry for me too. LOL Not having to add a zillion different additives is enough reason to try it. Glad I came and learned. Thanks

Wow - what a lot of info! Thanks to all who've contributed answers. If anyone else has more info, keep it coming.

mysteryclock, I'm amazed to see that STPP is in Kraft mac-n-cheese. I do hope it's not unsafe, since so many kids eat it so often. We don't buy Kraft's m-n-c anymore because it just doesn't have much taste (to us) anymore. Instead, we buy Annie's. We buy it in bulk, get a good deal on it at the warehouse store.

czeckchick, I just can't see spending that kind of money on laundry detergent. To each his/her own.

I washed a load of whites yesterday and used Cascade as a booster. It took maybe 10 seconds to put it in the washer. The whites came out beautifully clean and white. I'll definitely stay with that. Now I have a box of Cascade and another in the kitchen so they're convenient to use wherever I am.

When I used all the extras like cascade , borax, baking soda I always just dumped it straight in the drum before putting clothes in. Sometimes I put detergent in like this too.This way I have no soapy splatter in drawer or around it(nothing to clean). We have very high water pressure and it would get soapy drops everywhere and on the side, specially w/ liquid detergent. I even closed the water valve little too but it is convenient just to put it in drum. Mara,it is lots of money for me too. I don't make that much but I'm frugal in other ways so I feel it's O.K. I love clean fresh smelling laundry.

My washer (Maytag Bravos HE TL) doesn't have a drawer; it has a detergent dispenser. I did put the Cascade directly into the drum because I used liquid detergent. The laundry came out very clean and smelling very fresh.

I think Cascade is the new secret among us. Wait until some companies figure this out, they probably change the formula so it won't work in the laundry and we will be forced to buy what they make.
Cascade works very well in really dirty clothes,the best for boiling white cotton, baby food stains etc.

I've heard that d/w detergents will soon no longer have phosphates in them. For this reason, I've been stocking up on Cascade (whenever it goes on sale) for some time -- especially at our local warehouse store. I especially like the formula with Dawn. It's really great for greasy dishes and pots/pans. And of course it's a boon for laundry.

So is the general consensus that it is the phosphates, enzymes and various other surfactants that seem to be giving the extra boost to white load and NOT bleach? Has anyone done an A/B comparison with an oxygen bleach or just STPP to see if they work as well as boosters?

So how much Cascade is used in a FL machine? 1 cup, half cup, quarter???

Does Persil fade colored clothes? I notice they sell a formula just for darks. That's why I'm asking. I ordered some of the regular formula and don't want to fade my husband's work jeans and T's that are dark blue.

I use both the regular and color formula.Many times when I run out the dark formula I wash darks and blacks in regular one in hot water and didn't notice any fading. My BF has almost all t-shirt black-for work, I have black cotton shirts, pants and aprons and socks cotton and polly, all without fading. All the clothing above is more than year old.I don't know if water chemistry could add to the fading, so far I have no problems.
I do have several sets of black sheets and some of them are little faded but they are like 13 years old and I used many kinds of detergents for about 5 years before I went back to Persil.Also Age and many washings will eventually fade some fabric, I guess.

Thanks for the information. I'm anxious to get my detergent and see how it works. Yes, I'm a laundry nerd or as some call us "laundry nuts."

I generally wash whites in my front loader with 140 degree water with Kirkland (Costco) detergent, some Oxyclean and a little 40 Mule borax. Finish up with a vinegar rinse. It seems to work very well for getting whites well.. white.

I'm not stuck on Kirkland detergent, but it is a lot less expensive than Tide.

osxaddict~ D/W det. will not eat up your clothes... I had heard this too, but tested it & it's not true. When I switched to a FL I wasn't sure how to get my DH's filthy work clothes clean as I had been used to using Dawn liquid in my conventional TL which worked great. So, I tested 3 different kinds of d/w det. (Cascade powder, Cascade Action Pacs & Electrosol tabs) on some denim I had in my sewing room, letting a piece set in a bowl of water w/ the det. over night... All 3 pieces of fabric were just as strong the next day as they were when I put them in. I realize 1 night doesn't equal 100+ washes, but I think if it was going to do something it would've shown some signs... Also the mixture was very concentrated, in a washer it would have more water mixed w/ it.

Mara~ Have you ever used Oxi Clean? I use that on whites & lights, & my DH's work clothes & really like it. But, I also use the Cascade Action Pacs on my DH's work clothes & it really works good too. I've never actually put the Cascade powder in w/ clothes, I only use it to clean my washer periodically, I may have to try this w/ DH's greasy jeans.

I also use the Sears det. w/ Oxi added... It's cheap & does a good job IMO.

Good luck!

Shannon :)

Shannon, I haven't bought OxyClean, though I've considered it. I have used Sears Oxi formula and was not impressed -- ended up giving it to my DIL -- though I really like their Stain Fighting formula. I used Borax 20 Mule Team additive years ago and may try that again, if need be. I wonder if Cascade and Borax have the same ingredients, or not?

The other advantage of the 20 Mule Borax is that it adds a very nice fresh smell to the laundry.

I used OxiClean and was never impressed with it. A friend raved about how great it was but for the price I decided to go with the Sun brand of oxy cleaner. Granted, the Sun brand is more "diluted" with washing soda but I used more of it since it was so much cheaper. I still am not impressed. Feel better about DW detergent and Borax, still one of laundry's unsung heros.

And if DW detergent was going to damage clothes I would have known about it LONG before now! I just have to be careful not to get the "lemon" version. But some might like it.

I've been using the Cascade with a horrible detergent I bought from Sam's. It's a liquid HE, suppose to be all natural and has a lavender fragrance. I'm glad it has all those attributes because when you put it in the washer, it doesn't clean and I doubt the claim that it's HE because I see bubbles when the cycle is finished. The Cascade has boosted its' cleaning ability but I noticed my handtowels washed with this detergent and the Cascade were not white when they came out of the wash, yet the ones I washed with the Tide liquid HE and Cascade, did come out white. I should be receiving my Persil this week and am looking forward to it. I do hope it does all I want it to so I don't have to add other things to boost its' ability to clean and whiten.

cz, I am so glad I listened to your recommendation on the Persil. I received it today and OMG, it is the absolute best detergent. No bleach or other additives are needed to wash anything, even the stinky things. You rock!! Thanks. I had previously tried Charlie's and it just never quite did it for me on some things, I'd still have to add bleach, etc. With the Persil, there is no need for anything else. Of course I still use vinegar in the rinse. If I don't, my clothes come out "rough" feeling. I feel like I've died and gone to laundry heaven!! Thanks again.

brutuses, I'm glad that you are happy. Yeah the Persil is just no brainer and does ferfect job without anything else added to it. Even though little costly, I think it is worth it. And our clothes will last longer too.