I've been using that detergent for the last several months. I switched from Seventh Generation's "no-nothing" detergent and from Arm & Hammer's liquid "no-nothing" detergent, primarily because neither was designed for HE washers.

I find the Sears detergent cleans the best of the bunch. And while I don't have particular sensitive skin, I don't believe the Sears powder has caused any more irritation to my skin than the other brands.

You may be interested in Seventh Generation's lavender liquid, which they are now touting as HE-compatible. I'm not sure the fragrance will be an issue for you, but it may contain fewer ingredients which could irritate your skin.

I've used this detergent - liked it very much - but no one here has sensitive skin so I can't tell you anything about that aspect.

In general I REALLY like the Sears HE powder detergents. I got the perfume free the first time because it was on sale and because I just despised some of my regular old detergent with the obnoxious fragrances. I've actually found that any of the Sears HE detergents I've used have been very light in the fragrance department. I got some with fabric softener to try out last winter with static cling and all - even that had very little scent and left no fragrance in the clean laundry - just fresh smelling almost like you hung it out to dry.

I think I have the one with Oxy clean or something like that now. It also works great and this stuff lasts forever. I use half a scoop as I have soft water. I watch for it to go on sale long before I need it so I have always bought it on sale - it's a great value.

I used it while my daughter lived with me; she has terribly sensitive skin and had no problem with the Sears HE Ultra Plus Free. It did take a while to use it up, but it works well.

Richard,

Sorry to hear you had problems with the soap flakes. Just for the record, you don't have to purchase fancy soap flakes. Any bar of pure soap without additives like Ivory is fine. It is the tallow and oils contained within soap which help surpress foaming. By the same token tallow/wax based fabric softeners,silicone and most oils in general will keep sudsing down. Tallow,fats and silicone are three of the substances used by the detergent industry to keep suds down.

A poster on another forum I belong to compared vintage Dash detergent (a very low sudsing detergent, long out of production), with Persil and found that with the exception of enzymes the fromulas were pretty much the same, right down to including soap. Dash contained hydrogenated fish oil as well as soap, a substance do not think is still around.

You may wish to try "Fresh Start" which is a low sudsing,but highly concentrated laundry detergent. Fresh Start is hard to find though, so may not be in your local shops.

As for Persil Sensitive, try calling around shops that sell Persil to see if any have some old stock without scent.

I found that Sears unscented detergent turned my whites grey so I stopped using it. Now I use regular Persil and my whites are back to normal. Regular Persil doesn't smell nearly as strong as the Persil Sensitiv...go figure.

I am currently using Sears HE dye/perfume-free detergent. I am happy with the cleaning performance. It is odor free. The detergent rinses out well and does not cause skin irritation.

I have many white towels and dish towels, which I wash together at high temperatures. None have turned gray.

I am beginning my third year with the front loaders, and my second full box of detergent. My first full box was "All" powder - but could not find it again when the first box was used up. I live in a major metropolitan area and finding a low sudsing, powder, perfume-free detergent was very difficult - hence I made a trip to Sears just to purchase the detergent after a few loads with a perfumed version of "Cheer" powder (which was purchased in desperation). Other posters here reported success with the Sears detergent and I am happy with it. I expect the tub to last me more than a year.

Update: We have been using the Sears dye/perfume-free HE powder for our last 6 washes, and we are happy with it so far. Cleans well, no odor, and no skin irritation. It is certainly a bargain at $16 for 14.4 lbs (or maybe everything just seems cheap after having used Persil!).

I have been to the SEARS web site and they don't sell the dye/perfume-free HE powder. I have looked at the local SEARS store as well and can no longer find it. Has any one purchased this detergent recently?

Thanks
Peter

I just purchased some last week at a west coast Sears outlet. But had been looking for over six months and not found it in the stores (multiple Sears). I was just about ready to ask one of the stores to special order it if possible, when I found the tub. And of course, the big box of non-free and also the tub with oxi were on sale, but the HE free was not! Seems to always work that way, LOL. Have only used it twice and trying to work out how much to use, not sure if I need more or less than the non-HE powders I have been using.

The Sears HE free powder is no longer available in Maryland or on the website. Anyone out there who knows the plan for sears? maybe someone who works there and knows can respond?

I was shopping at WalMart last week and I see now Tide has a Free formula in HE.

I know there have been various opinions in the forum on whether shaking detergent in a jar to check suds, etc. actually proves anything. But I decided to try it with the Sears HE free I have and also reg. Ariel. When I used tap hot water, shook and then observed and let sit, the Sears had very little suds--probably 1/4-1/2 inch. The rest of the water was very cloudy and there was residue (white specks) in the bottom that didn't dissolve. The water never did clear up after sitting some time.

I then did the same with the Ariel. It suds quickly to the top of the jar, but more like loose suds. After about 1/2 hr when I checked again, the suds had dissipated quite a bit and the water was clear although blue! There were also some undissolved specks on the bottom of the jar.

When I rinsed out the jar after the Sears experiment, the specks actually stuck to the bottom and wouldn't rinse out, I had to scrub them with a rag. Am trying it again tonight with the Sears and will leave it sit overnight. (I did try that once with cold water and there was a gelatin type substance in the bottom the next morning with the specks but the water was more clear.)

So does anyone think there is anything to the fact that the Sears HE stays cloudy and leaves undisolved specks? Would that hinder cleaning or rinsing well? I ask because since I have been using it I have noticed that the wash water (which I can see as it is programed higher) seems more cloudy than the other detergents I used but thought maybe it was suspended soil.

I gave away a couple other boxes of non-HE detergents, but think I may try to pick up a small box or two of other free versions and see if they all act the same.

I haven't seen the Sears free powder at my Sears in a loooong time. I went online to try to see if I could order it there, and pick it up at the store, but it's not online either. So I sent them an e-mail, and according to the higher-ups, it is still being manufactured, but it's up to each store what they want to have for people to purchase. At my Sears store, they said they are going towards liquid detergents, because all the new FL require them. I told them MINE didn't, as a matter of fact, mine said it's best NOT to use them. He immediately said, 'you have an Asko, don't you?' Which I of course answered yes to... So it looks like I'm just SOL... Tho' the others saying the scented is a really light, almost no scent at all... I might give it a try... Tho' with my luck, they will probably eventually not have powders at all... I've tried the one Asko makes, and wasn't very impressed. I love the Sears powder, and am somewhat desparate at the thought of it being gone...

Thanks for all the information. I just went to my local Sears and they didn't have it in stock or even understand what I was asking for. However:

1) My local Safeway grocery store now has Tide HE Clear.

2) You can order "Sears Ultra Plus Detergent, Dye and Perfume Free Formula, 100 fl. oz. Sears item #03209666000 Mfr. model #9666" online. Go to Sears.com, enter "9666" in the search box, and follow the instructions. You can pick up your order at any Sears (no shipping charge) or have it shipped to your home (with a shipping charge). The online description doesn't say it's HE, buy the picture of the bottle shows the label has "HE" on it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sears HE scent-free detergent order page

This detergent is readily available at my local Sears (multiple locations). You may need to request it.

A year ago when I could no longer find the Sears detergent (must have been temporary, judging from the last couple of posts), I switched to Charlie's Soap laundry powder based on recommendations on other threads. I'm very happy with it. Low sudsing, no odor, very concentrated, and cleans and rinses well. The price is also good -- $13 for an 80-load bag, and free shipping.

Here is a link that might be useful: Charlie's Soap

I found it in the paint and automotive dept at Sears.......????
salbwil

The LIQUID Ultra Plus free and clear is readily available at Sears. The POWDERED Ultra Plus free and clear is no longer available according to the customer service rep at Sears. This thread originally started in 1995. The powdered form has been discontinued since then.