Stains, 'green' detergents, and Tide
stbonner
12 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (43)
itguy08
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Charlie's soap, Tide or Sears detergent?
Comments (24)They may be fluffier, but are they clean? I donÂt know about CharlieÂs Soap, but I recently tried the Seventh Generation powdered detergent on the basis of a recommendation from another post. I had a pair of white shorts that had a grass stain from mowing the lawn. The Seventh Generation failed to get it out. Thinking that I might not have used enough, I rewashed the shorts in another load and upped the dose. It still didnÂt get it out. Inasmuch as the Seventh Generation detergent has oxygen bleach and enzymes in it, I would expect the CharlieÂs Soap to have an even more dismal performance because it has none of those things. "Toxic" it may be, but I think IÂm going back to Sears Ultra Plus With OxiClean. It would have removed that grass stain with no trouble. It really is the best detergent IÂve ever used. The idea of green detergents is great, but thereÂs no point to them if they donÂt work....See MoreProblems with Tide Detergent
Comments (35)Hi Chipshot- After I posted I went and checked my supply of Charlie's liquid and found that I needed some more. I called them and a very helpful gentleman steered me to the powder rather than the liquid. I'm going to give it a whirl. I also bought 3 bottles of the stain remover for my mother, daughter and myself. The Charlie's guy told me to buy some STPP or real TSP from the paint store and put 2-4 TBLSP in with a load of towels for 3-4 washes. He said that the "crunchies" would wash out and from then on I could use vinegar. He thinks that the water out here is harder than usual. The Miele installer ( from my dw) doesn't think so, but I'm willing to give it a whirl. Vinegar alone did nothing. I tried that for over a month with no results. I think you may have something there that DD is using too much detergent. She bought some soap from Melaleuca-- I think it's an Amway type of company. She was supposed to have 80 loads or something and the bottle was almost empty when I saw it. I can't imagine, even with 2 little ones that she did that many loads. I'll try and tell her gently... BTW when she used that detergent the kids clothes didn't smell!...See MoreTide detergent in HE washers
Comments (9)The thing I don't understand and nobody seems to be able to explain is how using non-HE will invalidate a warranty. How can they prove you used non-HE? Improper use of non-HE detergent is no different than improper use of HE detergent! So does that mean they'll honor a warranty for abusing HE detergent but not non-HE? I doubt it. I suppose they could send some residue to a lab to try to determine which formula it was to determine if they'll honor a warranty or not, but this too I doubt quite highly. What causes trouble is too much suds and eventually this can damage the unit. If a single overdose will invalidate a warranty, 3/4 or more of all first-time FL users will void a warranty and ruin their machine. I have trouble with this argument. Using a lower sudsing detergent in an HE machine IS important however. But as you can read from many many threads here from very experienced and knowledgeable people, there's lots of low sudsing non-HE detergents out there. After all, special "HE" detergents are relatively new to the market while front load (HE) machines have been around since the 40s at least! This hype over HE detergents gets a little out of line IMO. I will say though, that I'd be particularly careful with Tide formulas since historically, the regular versions can be a bit sudsy. The important thing is to carefully measure the detergent and that is often a problem with people. So many people overdose and don't know it. And with conventional top loaders you seldom know it, then there's thread after thread where people blame the detergent for not rinsing or something when it's clearly pilot error. Front loaders with the glass doors make it easier to see when you overdose. And there's a lot more involved which is why this isn't just a simple question. Your water chemistry, temperatures, machine, fabrics, soiling level, condition and type will make a big difference in the detergent needs and performance and that's why what works well for me, might not work well for you and vice versa. I would suggest getting the HE and even with that be careful on measuring your detergent. People seem to measure powders more carefully than liquids for some reason. Assuming you have a chain store you're buying from they probably can't special order the HE formula for you but there should be other sources to buy it. FWIW, I recently read that Tide's load calculations are based on the "line 2" of the measuring cap. I have a large capacity top loader and I seldom use more than to about line 1 and occasionally even less and I have excellent cleaning results. If the load is extra dirty I go to line 2 and rarely if ever have I used a line 3 dosing in nearly 2 years of using Tide Free/Sensitive Skin formula. Given this, I would think that you'd be using too much going to line 2 in a FL machine. I'm a firm believer that people use way more cleaners of all types than they need to and it's not always without detriment....See MoreTide Turbo Clean Detergent
Comments (54)Tide with Bleach IMHO is the absolute best detergent for white. It has a bleach activator in it so the oxygen bleach works very good...just if you can find the HE which I'm told is hard to find..I don't buy the HE..also Amazon sells Tide Professional with Oxi...its not cheap but works amazingly well. Its formulated for hotels so it has more Oxygen Bleach in it than what's on the store shelves, its also got a more neutral PH to keep hotel linens looking nicer longer, and although it has a wonderful scent in the box it only leaves a fresh clean scent on the clothes since hotels don't want their linen having a perfumed scent. There have been a few rumors that this stuff is the same as what's on the shelf just bigger boxes but that's not true. Did I sing its praises enough LOL....See Moresshrivastava
12 years agoizeve
12 years agostbonner
12 years agocharlyinfl
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agostbonner
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agohappymomof2kids
12 years agoCavimum
12 years agocharlyinfl
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agowestvillager
12 years agostbonner
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agomara_2008
12 years agosuburbanmd
12 years agohappymomof2kids
12 years agoCavimum
12 years agomara_2008
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agoCavimum
12 years agohappymomof2kids
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agoCavimum
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agohappymomof2kids
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agolivebetter
12 years agomara_2008
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years agomara_2008
12 years agosshrivastava
12 years ago
Related Stories
HOUSEKEEPINGGet Those Carpet Stains Out: Best Nontoxic Methods for Spot Cleaning
Banish blotches the safe way with pantry staples, to get your rugs looking as clean as the day they came home
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGOut, Darn Spot! Tips for Removing Carpet Stains
Know the right solutions and when to use them to prevent stains from pets, soda, chocolate, blood and more
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGDon't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This
Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react
Full StoryMOST POPULAREasy Green: 23 Ways to Reduce Waste at Home
Pick from this plethora of earth-friendly ideas to send less to the landfill and keep more money in your pocket
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Sea Grape, a Hardy Coastal Delight
Up to the high-tide line or even indoors, sea grape draws smiles for its looks and cheers for its tenacity
Full StoryHEALTHY HOMEDetox Your Kitchen for the Healthiest Cooking
Maybe you buy organic or even grow your own. But if your kitchen is toxic, you're only halfway to healthy
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESPro Finishing Secret: Aniline Dye for Wood
Deeper and richer than any stain, aniline dye gives wood stunningly deep color and a long-lasting finish
Full StoryLAUNDRY ROOMS8 Tips for Cleaner, Greener Laundry
Let go of harsh chemicals and hot water, and go easy on your clothes, your wallet and the planet
Full StoryEARTH DAYGrow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater
Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGVinegar and Voilà: Clean Your House the Natural Way
Ditch the commercial cleaners for nontoxic, inexpensive and versatile white vinegar
Full Story
sshrivastava