This question gets mixed opinions. The thought is liquid detergent can cause mold growth. But I think as long as you use a good powder once in awhile and use hot water washes it should be fine. Mold can grow in top loaders also. I'm sure someone else with more experience will chime in here.

Also liquids tend to do better on oil/grease and powders on everything else..what do you use?

Liquids can sometimes be easier to control the extra additives that can be found in powders. Important for people with sensitivities to preservatives, artificial dyes, and artificial fragrances. Most important thing for any washer, TL or FL, is the regular use of HOT water to keep things fresh.

I have always preferred powders, even though I can make a mess with them sometimes, LOL. I love the convenience of the pods, and they worked brilliantly in my Electrolux washer, but I had 3 not fully dissolve in the new Miele (odd, since it uses more water). So no more pods for me.

I always feel my clothes are cleaner with powders, and I have not had a problem with oil/grease not coming out using powder.

MamaPinky sent me some Tandil/Aldi liquid detergent, that I like very much, even better than Tide liquid! I used to like Persil, Made in Germany Persil, but I have not used it in at least 3 years. USA and German Persil pods I hate!

Always1,I think it's a matter of what your prefer. Powders do work better on dirt soils and liquid on grease and oily soils. Powders tend to leave my clothes not as soft as with liquid, even using FS. If you do a lot of cold water washes, powders MAY be harder to dissolve. Using warm and hot water will help keep your washer mold free, as will occasional use of chlorine bleach. Oh, and be sure you leave to lid open for several hours to dry out after your last load. If I'm saying what you already know, forgive me.

I usually use a liquid detergent and a liquid softer. Sometimes Oxi-clean. Stain remover like Shout on grease spots. I switch around with my detergents anything from Sun, Purex, All, Wisk, Kirkland. I honestly don't see much of difference good or bad. The only time I was unhappy with a detergent was an Arm & Hammer that left a residue on the clothes. I use the cheap stuff because I honestly didn't think it would make much of a difference but I'm starting to realize that maybe a better detergent is important. I've learned a lot just this little time I've spent here. So I'm open to hearing tips, opinions good or bad.

@ always1stepbehind.....OMG, we must not EVER discuss or bring up Sun detergent. Xtra and Oxi clean powder are also on the verboten list!! It unleashes a sh*t storm!! LOL ;) ha ha ha ha

always-you will like Ariel. It's just Tide which is pretty darn good stuff.

Two different washing machine repairmen have told me to always use powdered detergents, as the liquids are bad for the machines. So I stick with powders. I think they work better too.

I actually spent the afternoon babysitting and did a load of dishes & four loads of Laundry.

Of Course, they had the ever so controversial Sun Liquid. But.. despite all the commotion, I didn't think it was that horrible. It's extremely low sudsing... but seemed to do a very good job on Towels & Sheets. It definitely was lacking though in the stain department, but, with a little shout spray, everything seemed to come out wonderful :-)

Not something I'd write home about, but... everything came out really soft, with no fabric softener, so at-least it rinses well. And with proper pre-treating, it wouldn't be so bad.

I guess I'll be shunned in 5-4-3-2.... lol.

No, no, no Mitch-LOL! Good sense of humor you have there. I tried Sun or maybe it was Extra one time before I came on this forum. Wish I could tellyou how it performed but I have slept since then...

Well that's what I get for bragging about going to Wal Mart...Ariel was ALLL gone except a couple bags of 3 n 1 Ariel packs. I was surprised by how little powdered detergent there was...Tide, Gain, All, Purex, Fab, Surf and S#n. There were a couple other brands I had never heard either, Roma, Foca and Pinal. Ever heard of Roma, Foca or Pinal? They also had Zote Flakes next to the Zote bars. I came home empty handed from the laundry isle :-(

Foca..is absolutly wonderful on whites. But needs to be used in a traditional top loader. I used to be able to get Foca with phosphates, no more but even without the lovely phosphates Foca is a very good detergent.

@alwaysonestepbehind, you should go for the Mexican Ariel. It's much, much better.

The one reason I've been advocating Ariel USA/Classico, is I like its cleaning potential, due to its older Tide Formulation.

With that said, the Mexican Verison still has a chockfull of phosphate. And will out clean anything you can find at Walmart ;) just trust me on that.

And it has a nice, distinct clean smell to it. :-)

Larsi: I see above that you haven't let it go. And to be completely honest, you were one of the last ones I thought would ever mention it again. I see I was wrong.

Sorry I caused so many upset feelings here. I will not be posting anymore.

Enjoy your forum.

@ Sparky823...I thanked you for letting us know about the Oxi powders not dissolving. I mean, I genuinely was happy that you let us know!

It's not that I'm not letting it go..just making light of a totally silly situation, where a few got their feathers ruffled for NO reason!

It will be sad for you to leave the forum, but of course it is up to you. I genuinely felt you would be one of the last ones to behave like this :(

Please don't leave Sparky. I have found your posts very helpful. I know nothing about this old dispute, but I would hate to see you leave because someone tried to be funny at your expense. Please stay.

@laundry Mitch, when you say to go for Mexican Ariel, does that mean some bags will be from Mexico and some will be made in the US? I haven't given up, I'll keep checking Wal Mart. There's one near my work and there a quite a few little Mexican markets in my area I can check.

ALways..you will find Mexican Ariel in a Mexican grocery. The Ariel in walmart is not whst your looking for.

I use liquid because that's what is easy to find around here. Wisk is my favorite but I'm not too picky as long as the scent isn't strong. Also, my W/D is in the kitchen and I don't like my kitchen smelling like a laundromat. With liquid detergent the scent doesn't seem to get airborne as much. Except for Gain - they must add way more fragrance to it because that stuff reeks :(

FIshcow, I really like Wisk, I just can't be loyal to one brand and I'm a powder fan, but I pull the Wisk out once in awhile, its great on bed sheets. Gain I think is all about fragrance.

Hi fishcow, Wisk is my go to also. Does a fantastic job.

Laundering in Hard Water

It may depend on your water. Good study to read is the link above.

I tried using powder based off recommendations here. But I have hard water. Catch 22 - that will require more detergent (than needed for soft water) which may lead to not all of it dissolving.

I don't have any real complaints with the cheer powder, but I don't see any improvement from the gain flings I was previously using either. I am trying to use up the Wal-Mart Persil Pearls. I don't like them. I'm using them on hot cycles and I even turned up my water heater.

My husband prefers the Tide pods. No mess. I'm probably going back to liquid after my detergent supply gets a bit lower. That will let me control my amount a bit better than using a fling/pod.

Water hardness/ softness is a huge factor. I have more on the soft side 1gr/ gal, so I can generally use anything and get good results.

And I am in the Very Hard range. :( I wonder if this could be why the availability of powders is lower here (maybe 10 boxes of powder out on the shelves to 100+ bottles of liquid and pods). It's also probably why I've never known anyone locally who uses powder.

I used to live in a hard water area up till 6-7 years ago, I used powders than also without a problem. Sure there was much less suds but suds arnt an indicator of the detergent working. I did however add a tiny bit more detergent at that time. Its true though hard water makes it harder for detergent to work...STPP will solve peoples hard water issues.

I don't know aa, I live in a soft water area, powders are almost obsolete here. Really irritates me. I've heard a lot of people across the country complaining powders are hard to find.I have a feeling the day will come when powders will be a thing of the past, maybe every 10 years P&G will produce a Anniversary Edition of one of the Tide offerings in a small box with a ridiculously high price tag. I can't understand why jugs of liquid detergent that are a large amount of water is preferable to ship. Thats another thing some day the liquids will probable come in a tiny 4 ounce bottle with directions to add 32 ounces if water to it. Lol. Ya powders are hard to find.