Have you asked over on the washer forum? I saw the sun bleach as well and started to get it but changed my mind.

Do you mean automatic washers. Org?? No I didn't ask there. But thank you

Yes, that's the one. I also saw on the website for Era (I think) that they made a powder. It might be pretty good but haven't seen it in my small town.

Someone told me its not in production in the usa anymore so I don't know...I haven't used mine yet but I'll crank it open and try it on the next load of garden clothes..there's no oxy in it but there is enzymes, so it may be ok. I will probable have a nasty load tomorrow so I'll let ya know...thanks

I have seen the Era powder--never tried it because I was thinking what I saw said something about high sudsing or something like that on front of the box. Family Dollar had it in a 120 load size only, but later saw smaller ones at a grocery store. Have used the Dollar Tree Sun bleach. Really couldnt tell any difference in it and the other stuff to be honest.Been a while since I used it though.

Sparky I read the box of Era its not for HE, I don't see anything about suds, but it probably will suds a lot since its for standard washers.

Thank you all for your response.

Been long time since I saw that so I guess they have changed it by now--OR my mind has changed. Don't doubt that either. Lol.

I do remember Chuck Norris promoting it. Supposed to be as tough as he was or as Walker Texas Ranger.

While lurking on AW, I seem to remember that Laundress (Ibelieve) said that as long as powders were kept sealed or stored in air tight containers have an extremely long shelf life. Could be wrong though. So it's probably still good.

Lol no chuck norris on my Era, but its from 2010 so could be wrong year for that promotion.

Beaglenc, your correct about laundry detergent being kept sealed. I keep all of my detergents in a hall closet away from bathrooms and I put the powderd boxes in the space bags that you use a vacume cleaner to extract the air..I do have some of each in wide mouth canning jars for easy access.

Last night I tried the Era powder, I did a medium load of whites..socks, tees, underwear on 130 degrees, let them agitate 5 min and shut off till this morning when I finished them they were very clean and white encluding the socks. Typically I would not use a non oxygen bleach detergent on whites but I wanted to test this detergent. I had some suds, but not too many I could still see the water between the suds, and rinse water was clear..the scent in the box was a floral sweet scent, I didn't care for it, but they came out of the wash just smelling fresh and clean. I will try it on a load of dirty sweaty garden clothes, but so far very good results. I may grab another box. Thank you all for your input on this. Lol I love trying new to me detergents

I saw an ad for Era Powder. Had Chuck Norris on front and said "Chuck Norris approved". Also had on the front Era Laundry Detergent with Suds Action. It had 2 reviews both 5 star. One of the reviews said it worked better than Tide. Reviews were in 2012.

I knew I remembered something about suds on the box and it was Suds Action.

Yes it does say with suds action I seen it this morning. I would assume by that it would be sudsy, but it wasn't overly sudsy for me. I can't say it works better than Tide, not yet anyway, but it did get these whites very white, which surprised me since my grandkids always wear their socks on the patio and always end up out in the yard in just their socks. I have a load of pale pink towels and white facecloths washing now in the era, and some grimy white hand towels I wish these boys would learn when they wash hands they should be clean when they dry off. Lol. It will be awhile before there done as I almost always stop and let soak awhile.

Ok the towels all came out clean and the rinse water was clear....today I did a load of gardening clothes of hubbys and sons they were covered in mud, grass, and sweat, I did do a prewash with sears (orange & green box mixed together) in warmish water, than I did a 30 minute soak and 18 min wash with Era powder in 125 degree water, ( no additives) everything came out clean and fresh smelling. I did tumble dry for 10 minutes than hung on the line. I'm really liking this powder Era...I hate the scent in the box but when there done they just smell fresh.So ill pick up another box. Now time to decide what's next in my stash to try.lol.

Do you have Family Dollar stores where you live? If so, they carry Oxydol in a big box that says, Classic 1 cup formula. $5 a box or was). I have tried it and it is low suds and cleans well. Kind of an odd smell but its gone at the end of the wash. Then there is an Oxydol in the small box(ultra) smells real perfumed but it does ok. I have never seen it at FD. Dollar General used to have it but mine doesn't anymore.

Years ago, my Dad was a diesel mechanic. His clothes would be a mess. Maybe a high pressure fuel line blow out and cover him in diesel not to mention grease and oil. My Mama was a full believer in Oxydol Powder(still made by P&G back then) had the bleach in it. She would spread out old newspapers on top of the freezer(chest type). Then she had a big bowl she would mix Oxydol, Wisk and a little water to make it similar to a paste but runnier.Then she would lay the clothes on the newspapers a piece at the time and apply the paste to them with a paint brush. She would do the front then do a half fold and do the back then another half fold for the rest of the back, then roll each piece up. After finishing all of them she would put them in the washer and wash on Hot. Sometimes she would let them sit rolled up a while before starting the washer. She didn't add any extra detergent other than what was painted on. Sometimes she would add Arm&Hammer Washing Soda when she started the washer. These were washed in a top load Maytag and for the most part was always clean.

Sparky, I do have Family Dollar stores but no one sells that huge box of oxydol anymore. I seen it before but when I went for it-it was gone. I searched everywhere, but since p&g sold it the formula and scent changed so I wasn't too disappointed in not finding it. I did find the 63 load box of Oxydol with Biz, ingredients are biodegradable surfactants, (anionic and nonionic) sodium percarbonate, and biz enzymes. It does have the HE symbol on the front of the box. It does a very good job on whites and pastels and cost between 4-5 dollars which I think is a good price for a detergent with enzymes and sodium percarb. Throw in some stpp and it will rival tide with bleach. Heck maybe it would even without the stpp- I'll have to try. My mom also used Oxydol when I was a kid (omg that was a longgg time ago) she swore by it. I think back than a huge difference in the detergents was they were loaded with stpp. If you are a fan of oxygen bleach I recommend you try the oxydol with biz....when I ever run across the big box 1 cup formula I will grab one.

My mom used Oxydol as well. Nothing like the smell of that vintage one.

I agree maylingsmom, the vintage laundry detergent all smelled soo good, like laundry detergent should smell. No bubble gum, cotton candy, tropical, mango tango, star light, star bright, stay with you all day and night scents, just clean and fresh laundry. We did have lemon fresh fab, which smelled so clean. Now I often wonder with all the fruit scented laundry detergents why can't there be one with a lemom scent, the one fruit that most people associate with clean and fresh.

My Mum and her Aunt Dorothy used Oxydol also and ya'll do not want to know how long ago that was. Lordy, girls.

Sparky, loved your description of your Mum's procedure.

Lol Pat...I'm almost 60 so you all kmow I'm old enough to have used those great vintage detergents. Lol

Straight STPP has a pleasant smell, which I suspect contributed to detergent smell in the really old days, like when we were kids. The stuff used in place of STPP probably doesn't smell as good.

I'm confused..are there 2 different kinds of stpp? I have straight stpp it has no scent. And where can I find info on this I'm quite interested. ..thanks

Pat...did your name used to be Pat z6 mi. ? I ran across a thread titled Build-up in washer tub where a Pat stated **house isn't as clean as it should be, but I'm driven to have perfect laundry* ..

That made my day, I laughed till tears poured. So if that was you thanks for brightening my day...I know just what you ment.lol.

Sorry folks f or getting off topic a moment.

Havent been in Family Dollar in a while. We have a Dollar General Market so you can get groceries there too so when I need something at the dollar store I usually just go there now. I will have to check it out(Oxydol at FD).

After P&G came out with Tide w/bleach it wasn't long till they sold off Oxydol (name)but kept the formula of course. I think the Tide is the old Oxydol with a different scent and maybe another tweak or two.

mamapinky0, you might have to stick your nose into the container of STPP to smell it. Smells a little sweet to me, for lack of a better word. I do have a strong sense of smell, so maybe not everyone notices it. My STPP is from Chemistry Store if it matters.

Suburbanmd, yes I smell that very faint sweet scent..I buy it from Amazon as its cheaper. Its still pure STPP only difference is its a light density stpp like the laundry detergent manufactuers used to use...in other words its more fluffed up in order to disolve easy. Frankly I haven't seen a difference in texture or how it disolves in the ones on Amazon compaired to the chem store. But I do see what you mean about that faint scent.

Yup, mama, that was me. I was patann before Houzz took over GardenWeb. Then I was the aforementioned Pat z6 MI, now I am Pat Z5/6 SE Mich. I belonged to both Houzz and GardenWeb before the take-over, so somehow my sign-ons got screwed up. I go back very far. Old as dirt. Would love to be 60 again. Always been OCD about clean laundry, but my house is a pit. The Cleaning Tips Forum never got to me like this one. Go figure.

Pat I know what you mean, I've always been the type that my house and laundry had to be clean, but about 4 years ago someone told me about homemade laundry soap so I researched it found laundry discussions on the net and became obsessed with having the cleanest laundry, and trying every detergent I could get. Lol I don't know what the h3!! Happened. My family is sick of my talking about detergent, washers, ect...my husband won't go in a store with me unless I promise not to go into the detergent isle. Lol...I say everyone has their own interests, I realize our interests are unique, but its not hurting anyone and there sure are worse things to be interested in. Holy crow, I sound like I just entered a 12 step program ....Hello my name is Cheryl and I'm addicted to clean laundry. ..hahaha

Hi, Cheryl!

Lol...a big hello back at you Pat