Firstly, I did not recommend OxyClean (nor would I do so). I have never used it and cannot comment on it. I have used PURE sodium percarbonate purchased under the brands (Ecover and BioVert). PM2, the fact that this article refers to sodium carbonate as baking powder (more than once) shows the lack of understanding (and fact checking) by its author. Sodium carbonate is washing soda (or soda ash) - DIFFERENT than baking powder (sodium bicarbonate). There is also a difference in using liquid hydrogen peroxide and dry sodium percarbonate. I think further investigation by PM2 would be in order. This article contains inaccuracies. While hydrogen peroxide solutions have the advantage over powdered products of being sold ready to use, powdered bleaches are easier to handle, have better storage stability and do not need any added chemicals to enhance stability. Powder versions also contain higher percentages of hydrogen peroxide (liquid versions are a high percentage of water).

(May I pause for a really big chuckle here ...?) Truly, I have been using regular Cheer powder in my Asko and Miele (all 220v) machines for well more than a decade. Back in the day (c 2002-ish when I discovered this forum) I used to report using regular Cheer powder here and received almost universal condemnation ("it's guaranteed to ruin your machines, foster bio-flim, leave dirty clothes, mold outbreaks, scale on my heating elements, ground down bearings and water seals in the machine, etc.") And you know what? NONE of those things happened, except that I got tired of being harshly chastised by all the "experts" here so I became quite cagey about what I did use. I generally described it as just a "plain-Jane, big brand, non-HE powder", and refused to be more specific than that. Cheer is a great powdered detergent and I have nothing but praise for it. The only place I can reliably find it now is at Target, however. I orginally choose it because it was low-sudsing, long before there was such a thing as HE formulations. Those of you who have signed on to FL bandwagon more recently know only about HE stuff. Prior to that you looked for the words "low-sudsing", if you wanted a good product for FLs. All those holdover, pre-European invasion FL machines needed low-sudsing for the same reasons we need it now. Cheer powder was one of the mainstays in those days. That it also has enzymes and no OBAs and excellent rinsing qualities makes it just about perfect for me and my water chemistry and my wash habits. It's also quite inexpensive, and I find that I can use much less than called for, but that may be mostly a function of my water chemistry, YMMV on that. Anyhoo, welcome to the Cheer-powder fan club! I hope you will be as pleased as I have been. BTW, I have "cured" a couple of cases of stinky (bio-film/mold) machines simply by getting their owners to wash a couple of loads per week in hotter water, using Cheer powder almost exclusively, and generally less than a full dose at that. My only worry is that if it gets too wildly popular some product manager at the factory will notice and think that it needs "improving" to furtherr increase sales and alter (ruin) the current formula to fancy it up. L

I was thinking, maybe Persil has the science just right, that's why it cleans so well. Why can't USA produce detergent like this? Tide is overrated IMO and I hate it anyway. There is few manufactures for Persil in the world, why not one here in USA? It might be cheaper, the shipping is what is killing the price here.

Yo Ken, if your still around your up on this one. Far as Composites go I am with the Larry/whoever We are for the most part. Composites are really no longer using recycled material because there is just not enough of it so most of the raw stuff is virgin,the energy used to make composite is an enviro no no, when its time to remove the project composite is not real big on bio degrade its tricky to burn shreading it would be silly. Bottom line composites are not so enviro freindly. Info like that might suggest its not all that good to clean it either, with anything. I dont agree>> composites will out last Ipe, left to go silver/gray Ipe is as close to no maintance as a person can get. With the softer composites like Choice/MoistureShield even trex= tjunk I have found a coat or two of TWP 116 seals up the decking,locks in the color and keeps mold,mildew,stains from causing major problems. Of course not needing to do this is the reason the Wallet goes for composite in the first place. I my own self dont like composites at all for the reasons stated in several posts here and on other sites. Welcome aboard Larry!!! Sorry I dident understand your intent at the begining . John