The message I get from the other posts and also the instructions seems to be that you should use it exclusively.

The instructions recommend that you use 2 tablespoons to clean your washer of previous detergent build up before using it on a load of clothes. This makes me think the intention is that you use it exclusively.

If the benefits of CS come into full effect after you remove other detergents' build up, then by using other detergents and forcing CS to deal with the build up all the time, you'll never fully realize the full benefits of CS.

So, yes, it's okay to use other detergents, but don't expect to have the results from CS that you hear about from others on this board. It really works best when used exclusively.

CS is advertised as removing old detergent build-up from your clothes. If that's the case, how will you know it's working if you use other detergents to put back the build-up that the CS removes?

If you want to get a sense for the CS, or any detergent for that matter, you can't judge it after just one load. You have to use it multiple times and observe what changes, if any, happen to your clothes.

I did clean the washer using about 4 tablespoons of powder due to my hard well water. I noticed suds of about 1 inch in height and thought that was good considering I've had the machine for 3 yrs. and although I use natural detergents now, I didn't in the first year or so.

I pretreated some bicycle grease stains and they came out using the Charlie's pre-treater. I sprayed it on and let it sit for 30 min. or so before laundering. It smells exactly like the green bottle of Soil-love (spelling?) that I got at Stater Bros. Maybe the chemical make-up is similar?

I didn't intend to make any assumption of the product after one wash.
My question was more along the lines of using the product to rid excess detergent buildup (if any) in the clothing and then on certain loads go back to using my other two natural products on just certain items and in the same load. I realize I may or may not achieve the optimal results as some have experienced, but I was just wondering if using this method would still be beneficial or a waste of money?

SS, Did you stop using Bio-Kleen? I wasn't sure if I'd read you are using Charlie's exclusively now.

Anyhow, thanks for the replies, it's nice to get some feedback to ponder over!
Have a blessed day!

Yup, I've relegated the Biokleen to the cabinet with the two or three other products that I've stopped using. The more I use Charlie's Soap, the more I love it. I get clean clothes, soft clothes, and great smelling clothes. After using CS now for a few weeks, I can say that my clothes look cleaner, brighter, and feel softer.

I've said for a long time that you need to try a product for a while and get used to it to truly evaluate it. That said, I've mixed laundry products all my life. I try it and see how it works. Change at times. I sometimes use powdered and sometimes liquid. I run a bleach load occsionally and have no sign of any buildup in my machine. If there's no buildup in the machine it's doubtful there'd be anything in the clothes. I sure don't see any. My clothes are clean, soft, fresh and I don't need to pay the high prices of vanity detergents and/or/including/not including Charlie's Soap. When I run out of my detergent stock, I may give it a try if I find a decent price but I'd be hard-pressed to double or triple my costs to use it.

There are some people here I respect who are happy with CS. Maybe I would be too. But in the big picture, I'm happy and spending much less (relatively speaking) with what I've got.

I know I'll get jumped on it but so be it. A lot of people are mesmerized by CS. I'm not sure I can buy all the hype. Same can be said for a lot of other brands, including homemade. There's also the as yet non-denied (by CS) claim that the knockoffs are the same as CS. But people don't rave about them.

I'm not suggesting CS isn't a good soap. I'm just questioning the end-all-be-all. And it's not worth the cost to me to try it. They don't have samples or small sizes at reasonable price to give it a try. I'll give them credit for good marketing. People are creatures of habit. According to FlyLady, once you do something 27 times it becomes habit. So buying an 80 load bag and assuming you get 80 loads (as covered in another thread) you're used to it and there's an increased probability you won't change. You will forget other things and stick with it.

I'm convinced it's far more important to learn correct dosing for your situation (machine, water, load size, hardness, soiling, etc) and learn how to wash clothes properly and how to use your machine than to go off the deep end over a particular soap. People use auto-sensing water levels and have to guess on the amount of soap. It makes it more difficult and more to learn.

Give it a try if you like. Use it if you like it and how you like to use it. The world WIlL NOT come to an end, nor will your car stop working nor will your cake fall or your dog get the runs if you use different detergents. OF COURSE they'll want you to use it exclusively! DUH! LOL Why could that be? Hmmm? Perhaps they'll sell more??? And while you're at it, triple or quadruple the doseage and throw a fistful over your shoulder will increase sales too! ;)

LOL, cynic! In more than one thread here, you're a breath of fresh air - dare I say a voice of reason?

I'm not knocking anyone who likes CS or uses it exclusively, etc.

I just know its cost is definitely out of my range, and I doubt seriously I'd pay for it even if I could rationalize the price - because my clothes are clean, soft, look great, feel good, smell fresh. In short, they are exactly the way I want them to be.

To the OP, I've been itching to say:

NO, you don't *have* to do anything - you're an adult! Just do what works out well for you. ;-)

You do what is right for you. I'm a CS fan myself, but what works for me may not work for someone else. On top of that, when I switched to CS I still had other detergent here I was trying. I'm not about to let the other stuff I had prior to the CS go to waste no matter how much I like the CS. To do so would be wasteful. I just figured out a way to incorporate different things into different loads and use the CS exclusively on my lil ones clothing and the hubs uniforms right now.

When I first got my HE washer, I got some Cheer HE to try it since the HE's were suppose to rinse better I figured the scent may not hurt. Everything seemed to be okay for a while. Then I got some Tide Free HE to help another poster as they were having a suds prob and wanted to see if it was the detergent. Found out it was as that stuff sudses a lot in certain machines. Then I got some ALL FC HE to see if that would do the same thing. It didn't suds as much and rinsed out much better, but it didn't get all the stains out either.

Now to use them up, I use the Tide Free HE on my and my hubs clothing because I can use an unscented fabric softener to cut the suds. I put a cap of the Cheer into a spray bottle with water to use as a pretreater on our clothes as the Tide washes out the Cheers perfume. I use the All FC on all of our bedding as they do not get stained. Like I said earlier, I use the CS on my lil ones clothes and hubs uniforms. As I use up all of my old detergent, other things will get switched to the CS.

CS was just the over all right thing for me as: I can't use scented things on mine and my kids clothing for very long, I can't use fabric softener on my kids clothing, Tide Free HE was leaving behind too many suds because of the way my washer works (very little water) and cutting it back too much didn't get my clothes clean, and the All FC wasn't getting all of the muck out of the kids clothes. As you can see, I have special needs for a detergent anyway. CS just fit the bill in my situation.

On top of that, CS does work slower than many commercial detergents so pretreating and presoaking are definitely a requirement here for me, but I use to do that before anyway so it wasn't that much of a switch. I can see where many would not like the CS for that reason alone and do not begrudge them for it. Also, the CS does have to be orderd online as it is not carried in many stores in many areas. Depending on where you live, it may very well be more expensive than what a person could find at the store. For me the CS happens to work out cheaper per load even with the multi purpose pretreater.

I'm a big advocate of finding what thing or things work for you. If you want to use more than the Charies go right ahead. You have to do what is right for you. There is nothing wrong with that. You may end up not liking the CS at all, so it would be good to have other things on hand. If that ends up being the case, use up the CS by cleaning out your machine with it occasionally or mopping your floors with a little or whatever you can think of. At least, in the long run, you will be happy with the results of whatever you do and that is what matters the most. : D

cynic,
This is why I like this forum and why I don't mind posting questions that may seem dumb for me to ask, but I do it anyway! =)
I know what I think, but it also feels good to hear it coming from someone else! Why? I don't know, it justifies my thoughts I suppose.

I agree with your post and think you are spot on IMO.

That said, I'm giving CS a try because I like to try out different products that pique my interest for my needs.
Being on septic IMO requires different products for increased longevity of the system.
Lastly, thanks for your humor, we all need to lighten up, it's good for the soul!

mara 2000,
If you have an itch, itch it! =)
Glad you took the opportunity to chime in! thanks for your thoughts.

happymom,
My feelings as well regarding using up other products on hand. Plus, I live in hot SoCal and the product will go bad sitting over time in the heat! ( My laundry room isn't big enough to store all of my products, so some have to be stored in my garage )
I'm not a creature of habit in the sense that over the years I have tried out different products to see for myself how they perform etc... I have had disappointments and some wahoo's (for lack of a better word) so I'm not stuck on any ONE product forever. Besides, products often change or get replaced by others depending on where you shop or live etc.. Plus, I'm a smeller and I love using Wintree because it leaves an ever so slight lavender smell on my sheets! It's relaxing for me. =) ( I have teenagers!)
CS was $30 or more higher than 6 mo. ago as I could have gotten the tub for $99 before! THAT was a big jump in cost IMO, so I found a online retailer that was significantly lower priced than CS site.
I will learn to use it for other things besides laundry, good thought!

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and posts, I appreciate them. I take no offense to your opinions as I think 2 heads are often better than 1! The more the better!

Hope this helps someone on the fence!

Blessings.

I use CS but not exclusively. I hae other detergeant to use up as well. I notice NO difference in how things wash. I bought CS because of son's allergies but also use cheapo Walm-Mart clear detergeant. no prob for me.

I should note I have 10+ year old TL Maytag.

For any of you that have detergents that you don't like, please consider making it a donation to an animal shelter. The animals don't care what kind of detergent gets used and it will be greatly appreciated.

bryansda,
Great idea and don't forget to include blankets and towels!!!

bryansda, that's a good idea. Someone at another board suggested donating unwanted laundry detergent to a local food/community bank to be given to people in need.

I have been using CS for about 3 weeks to a month now, I am not real happy with it, I have noticed that the clothes arent coming out very clean and armpits still smell like BO, YUK!

Mc58,

Give us a call. If can't fix your problem, then we do have the money back guarantee to fall back on. We do that because samples get expensive and just make us raise the price of everything else. Viva La Discussion!

Charlies soap,
Thank you.

Another comment on animal shelters, they can also use bleach donations and other things. Maybe you have some pet food your critter doesn't like, some extra cat litter, leashes, tennis balls or the like. There's a lot of things they can use. You might just have something lying around the house or about to be tossed that could help out a needy critter. You'll purr all the way home and go Woof, that felt good! :)

Oh, and thanks for the kind words... you have me blushing! :)