skip to main content

Speed Queen TL owners: Favorite detergent?

8 years ago

Those of you with the SQ TL, what are your preferred detergents for use in the machines?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

User
8 years ago
megamorph - that is a $10 million dollar question. I tried to use tide years and years ago (like 35). Broke out in a rash but prior to that was using Cheer powder. I think I tried the Tide because my mother in law used it. Anyway for some reason I changed to Wisk probably when it got to be well known and loved it. My husband is a welder/fitter and worked in the oil field. Wisk got his clothes very clean. Wisk dropped off the grocery shelf. I replaced it with Era that was supposed to be a good substitute for Wisk. It is not but since I no longer had any kids at home it is ok for the 2 of us and my husband is not doing the greasy type work much anymore. I have used Era probably about 8 years. I just picked up a very small bottle of Tide turbo this morning. I will only use it on the hubs clothes for now but I noticed that the water had the same cloudiness that I see occasionally with the Era. I was very careful with the dosage and saw no suds at all in the wash.
User
8 years ago
It looks like I probably didn't answer your question. I believe it is just a matter of your own likes. But I think you need to watch the dosage very carefully until you figure out how much is the right amount for the load.
Related Discussions
Speed Queen vs. Fisher Paykel TL
Q
Comments (37)
Plumorchard, we considered SQ, as we too like their simplicity of what they have to offer. We settled on Miele as a friend of ours runs an appliance store that sells them. However, we are still awaiting their arrival as they sold-out at the end of the year and they have received our washer, but no dryer, so we are still waiting as we would like both delivered at the same time. We are replacing a Fisher & Paykel Smart Drive washer model L03 and dryer model D04; both purchased new in November 1996 as F&P was starting to establish itself in the US. The washer has been flawless except normal wear as the agitator blades there are three) have a relief line in them (I suspect to prevent the drive mechanism from locking should a situation arise where a bundle of clothes binds against the drum and the agitator) and one fatigued to the point that it broke-off with another showing fatigue signs so a new agitator was in order (approximate agitator cost is $215 with shipping, and a DIY project). The other issue was, and still is, the one-piece plastic control fascia cover with all the button selections that cracked once and was replaced, and has since cracked again. I do not like this method of covering buttons as it leads to the same outcome time-and-time again. The dryer did give us issues, the main issue: It would not shut-off when it should after selecting an automatic selection (e.g., cottons, permanent press, etc.) causing the clothes to get super hot. At the time I contacted F&P providing a very detailed description of the issue, and F&P worked directly with me under the condition that I send them back the parts I replaced, I did. All functions worked well for about two years, and then the same problem reoccurred. Again, I contacted F&P and they had a record of me so they sent out the same replacement part only this time the part was made by GE versus F&P, I sent them back the old parts as instructed. All worked well until the five-year mark where the same issue occurred. By this time F&P had become established in the US, and they no longer allowed me to fix it, as they sent a repairman. The same part was replaced, and it too was made by GE; on each occasion the part had changed (as I photographed the parts each time). Since that time the dryer has worked without fail. There is simple workaround if the automatic selection does not work and that is to run the manual timer versus the automatic selection. The plastic fascia control cover also cracked over time, twice. Both the F&P washer and dryer are going to a needy family when our new ones arrive. The reason we chose not to go with F&P again is that I come from a family that will not own GE consumer products (GE's commercial and industrial products are excellent, their consumer products are typically below par). During that time I do recall something on how GE became involved with F&P, but because of all the acquisitions and mergers it is hard to put all the pieces together, but the bottom line is that I want nothing to do with GE consumer products. I can say, without equivocation, that I enjoyed interfacing with F&P as they were very accommodating.
...See More
How hard to work on a TL Speed Queen?
Q
Comments (7)
golferdude--I have a TL SpeedQueen---I bought it from a local longtime dealer that services them too---I feel ok in case I need service/parts. No, I don't know how hard they are to work on--my DH knows about car repairs but not washing machines. I did not receive a manual of diagrams/parts with this machine. I would suggest you call the dealer in your area with your questions. Also if no local SQ service I would call Sears repair guys since they advertise they service all brands.
...See More
miele vs speed queen TL
Q
Comments (11)
Hmm, I don't admit to idolizing my Miele W4840, but if some owners do, there must be a reason, no? Really can't lump Miele in with other front-loaders, and not just because they're apparently better engineered and constructed. The big differences, for me, are use of the internal heater to actually guarantee wash temperatures, the choice of wash temperatures, and the longer default cycles, with option to make them even longer. Those are big contributors to wash performance. In theory they shouldn't cost anything extra to provide, and any brand could feature them. But short cycle times are a selling point in the US market, and maybe all three features increase the energy usage numbers, and would cause the manufacturer to lose out on tax credits. Commercial laundromat FL's are designed for fast throughput, and probably aren't a fair representation of any home FL. And the kind with lots of water splashing around aren't even HE machines, while all home FL washers are HE as far as I know. Getting back to the OP's question: With the Extended wash option, and maybe some oxygen bleach depending on the load, I find that stains and dirt pretty much disappear. My wife prefers not to use Extended, and uses Shout on food stains and such. Even without Extended, her stuff is overall much cleaner than it was with our old agitator TL. And that's with cheap Sears detergent in the Miele, vs. Tide in the old TL. Yes, you'd have to get used to longer cycles. Assuming the general-use "Custom" cycle and three rinses (Sensitive option), somewhere between 1:20 for non-extended and 1:50 for extended...though those times get adjusted down during the cycle if the load is smaller. And add some time for heating if washing at a temperature above the hot water inlet temperature. However, if you use the maximum spin speed, as we do for most everything, the shorter drying time will make up some of the difference. Four deep rinses are indeed a hard to act to follow. But the Miele W4840 does have setup menu options for water-plus and extra rinse. I haven't used them. Also, Miele recognizes that spins, between wash and first rinse, and between rinses, contribute to rinse performance. So if you use Slow or Medium spin, an additional rinse is tacked on. It also adds a rinse automatically if the wash is too sudsy, or if it can't successfully balance for the spin after the wash cycle. I wouldn't want to go back to an agitator TL after 1+ year with the Miele.
...See More
Which speed queens are easier to service? TL or FL
Q
Comments (23)
I've used Affresh (not in my own machines). It didn't generate any foam or sudsing and I don't care for the residual scent, but that is not to say it isn't useful for maintenance. Detergent manufacturers are sly on dosing. Measuring caps have markers for Line 1, Line 2, Line A, Line B, etc. ... whatever may be the designations ... per the dosage instructions. The glitch is that the lines are usually impossible to see so the typical consumer blindly fills the cap to some arbitrary level, or fills it full for lack of any visible reference. Also not uncommon that (liquid) detergent is poured directly into the machine's dispenser to the marked Full or Max line, which is wayyy more than is needed. A key point to maintaining a clean washer that your sales guy didn't mention is washing in HOT water, which goes a long way to dissolving/clearing residue accumulation. The glitch there is that, with very few exceptions (SQ may be one), washers nowadays have what we on this discussion board refer to as "dumbed-down" temperatures. Instead of Warm being a 50/50 or 40/60 mix of hot and cold water and Hot being a full-flow of hot, control boards and temp sensors mix the hot and cold flow to target temperatures that may be as low as 75°F for warm and 85°F to 95°F for hot on most of the cycles ... for sure on the designated Normal cycle that majority of consumers pick as their go-to cycle. Warm is the new cold, and Hot is the new warm. Higher soil levels, Heavy Duty, Sanitary, or Allergy cycles are usually required to get a good, hot (or warm) wash. I cannot imagine that 1 teaspoon of either liquid or powder detergent is sufficient. I don't believe that's enough concentration of enzymes and cleaning agents to effectively deal with stains, sweat odor, body sebum, food soils and grease on kitchen linens, grease and grunge from mechanical work, dirt and grass stains from yard work, etc. Consider that while frontloaders certainly take less water than traditional toploaders, there's the same amount of soil in that water (or more in some cases of larger capacity/loads) that the detergent needs to handle.
...See More
oasisowner
8 years ago
Biokleen or Country Save. Two of the family have sensitive skin, and even the Free and Clear version of the regular brands (Tide, Cheer, All) cause a reaction.
smith02_gw
8 years ago
We use Tide Original HE. We wash warm except for whites which is hot, no bleach or fabric softener. No issues or problems with residual detergent after rinse (occasionally use extra rinse), detergent scent on clothes, fabric softness. However I do have suds problem with whites washed in hot as I probably put in too much as the whites are a smaller load.
stir_fryi SE Mich
8 years ago
I think you can use anything in this machine. I have been using a Kirkland brand detergent for years but Costco seems to have stopped making it. So, I am also on the lookout.

Something that has perplexed me is the SQ instructions to add detergent, then clothes, then start the washer.

I thought you want to dissolve the powder in the wash water before adding clothes. Sometimes I feel that by the time the powder dissolves, the clothes are heading into the rinse mode.
sparky823
8 years ago
Have you ever used the Sears brand detergent? It does very well and has been a good buy for years!
beaglenc
8 years ago
I have found that HE detergents work best for me. And I believe the new electronic models recommend HE detergents? Wisk HE (Not the safe for all) works really well as does Tide HE Turbo. Some of the pods are good. If I am using powders or pods I fill to the mini level and let it agitate a few min. then adjust the water level and add clothes. Wisk HE is hard to find but you should have luck with Tide.
pat_cola
8 years ago
I liked Tide but am now using sears powdered detergent

as it makes little to no suds and cleans very well. With this washer I actually prefer a low sudsing detergent. That flex vane agitator really stirs the clothes and water around powerfully.
gatesmannc
8 years ago
I used tide he, sears, and persil....like all of them. No issues with white rings and such and I have very hard water
Salmo Trutta
8 years ago
I have SQ AWN542, plumbed with soft water. I use Shaklee Fresh Laundry powder. One and half ounces per load. Used this detergent for years, never any complaints. Laundry is clean and fresh.
mamapinky0
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Oasisowner, I see up there ^^ you use Biokleen, I have been interested in ordering it, since I've heard good about it. Do you know if the one labeled Premium Plus is the one recommended for whites? And can you tell me how the scent is? Also since I don't think this is sold in stores can you recommend a good safe online source? Thank you .
mamapinky0
8 years ago
I forgot to answer the original question, now that I'm the owner of a SQ, for whites, bedding and towels I have to say Tide Professional with Oxi for whites, and Mexican Ariel with Downy for colours, darks get powder Cheer...however I'm not loyal to any brand so sometimes I use whatever I'm in the mood for out of my stash, I have found STPP will make almost any detergent clean well.

When I first got the SQ I thought it might kick the suds up, but I find that not to be the case, expecially compared to my old Roper (whirlpool) direct drive which could kick up a suds cake in short order.

Related Stories

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD World of Design: 11 Book Lovers and Where They Like to Read

Bibliophiles across the globe reveal their top books and favorite reading spots, from a 2-story library to an artfully curated book nook

HOUZZ TV FAVORITES My Houzz: New Life and Style for a 1976 Airstream

The owner of this 1976 Ambassador Airstream embraces flexible furniture and clean, organized spaces

APARTMENTS Houzz Tour: Personalizing a Miami Bachelor Pad

By Becky Harris

Meaningful artwork and other taste-specific touches make for a masculine home that happily fits the owner

BEDROOMS 13 Simple Steps to a Perfectly Made Bed

By Lisa Frederick

Drift off to dreamland in a delightfully soothing, artfully dressed bed worthy of a posh hotel

TASTEMAKERS 3 Extreme Chair Makeovers — Plus DIY Reupholstering Tips

By Vanessa Brunner

Spoiled seats and forlorn frames get kicked to the curb by a Philadelphia reupholstery whiz with a flair for salvaging and artistic designs

PHOTO FLIP 71 Dream Bathtub Views

By Bryan Anthony

Soak in the sights with this collection of tantalizing tubs and inspiring vistas

COLOR Best Ways to Use the Soft Yellow Color of 2014

By Jennifer Ott Design

You may fall for PPG Pittsburgh Paints’ Turning Oakleaf if you like your hues warm, mellow and cheery

PETS So You're Thinking About Getting a Dog

By Alison Hodgson

Prepare yourself for the realities of training, cost and the impact that lovable pooch might have on your house

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Pushing Boundaries in a San Francisco Victorian

By Mary Jo Bowling

If the roll-up garage door doesn’t clue you in, the blue cabinets and oversize molding will: This kitchen is no ordinary Victorian galley

BEDROOMS Bye-Bye, Boring Bed

By Christine Ciarmello

Looking for the bed of your dreams? Think outside the box spring with these fanciful roosts

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bosch ventless dryer questions…

3

Modern brass wall hooks?

11

Seeking comments on Laundry Room renovation

3

Not Enough Floor Tile :(

38

Above-Bench Storage

0