@CharterOps -- Where do you live in E TN? Back to the topic: Maybe I need to try the Sears detergent again; I didn't notice the 'fresh' smell everyone mentions when I tried it (which one should I try?). I've noticed the lack of 'freshness' with Tide, and just thought it was my nose. I've been using liquid Wisk HE with very good results, and fresher smelling clothes. I'm finishing a box of Tide powder HE, but do notice it's still not the same as the original Tide powder. For all of you who have detergents you don't want, consider donating to your local Animal Shelter, or even your local Vet's office. =)

Alex, consider Tide Pro, its formulated a bit different than what we buy off the shelf. Its formulated to be near neutral PH in order for hotel laundry to hold up to daily washing, so it would be a good choice for a less caustic detergent yet still have great whitening properties. It does in fact have extra sodium percarbonate in it. So all in all it will whiten and be gentle at the same time. Le Blanc and Forever New are both boutique detergents, which I've never found to be anything more than perfumed water, but these two are actually good at what they are intended to do, clean the sheets gently, leaving them with a *finished* feel to them. If you do decide to try one, I'd suggest you try them first with no FS, I think you will be impressed with the silky smooth feel of the sheets. Also ment to say the Tide Pro has a near neutral PH where the Tide with Bleach powder off the shelf has a PH of about 11.

Thank you for the replies! We have a whirlpool cabrio- it's new and as the very first not hand me down washer we have ever owned, we love it! I don't believe it has a heater, but our water temps are set around 125-130 I think. I always choose the hottest setting for both washes. I do use extra rinses, but not as consistently as I could. STPP? Help a girl out...what does this stand for? The regular Tide doesn't seem to bother Bubs- he's one now and we've only ever used the scent free variety, until this round. But as he has gotten older, having more solid foods... Let's just say I want to stay proactive in having a great wash routine, haha! biokleen and ecover are both mentioned in and around the diaper forums, too, but tide is the go to one size fits most recommendation, and it does work very well since I increased the amount per load. I will take a look at the pods- the diapers get a no detergent rinse and spin and two consecutive washes, so it would be hard to dissolve them first before adding the dipes. We love the cloth! And actually find it less gross than the sposies all around! thank you, again! I'm going to see if my walmart has a large box of the un scented powder and the pods and give each a try!

Larisa, I forgot to mention, the reason I asked Henkel about their Persil Sensitive fragrance situation, is because if someone is trying to avoid chemicals in fragrance as a whole, it is also good to avoid masking fragrance, which can possibly use MORE chemicals. I use traditional products since green ones didn't clean to my standards, but I still prefer limiting unnecessary ingredients. I have 5 little girls and my youngest has previously reacted to Tide Original liquid. Fragrance is full of hormone- disrupting, cancer-causing chemicals that companies do not have to disclose due to trade secret laws. Fragrance as an ingredient can contain 100+ different ingredients itself. I'm really not liking the way Henkel states "Perfume-free" on Persil's label, but "fragrance" is an ingredient. So, perfume is not fragrance now? I'm sure it's legal due to loose laws, but it's misleading. I just expect better from a company I'm supporting. Okay, end rant. Surf was recently purchased by Henkel (over a year ago, I think). So, if anyone currently uses Surf, don't be surprised if it changes. Or, maybe it has already changed and is worth trying again? I FB'd Henkel a few days ago to ask if "all Oxi" liquid has been changed. They stated that it hasn't undergone any recent changes. Well, it smells entirely different. I sniffed it at the store yesterday after reading an inquiry about it here. I have also read complaints in various other places, including their Facebook page. Someone else publically inquired, and they received the same answer I received. I asked about WHEN it was last changed, but they didn't respond to that part of my question. I tried "all Oxi" after going to a fire station open house and seeing that our local firemen use it. The fire station tours are really nice for laundry room creeps like me. Actually, their W/D is right out in the open, so I wasn't creeping around at all, LOL. Anyway, I'm not sure what to think of this (or any of these companies anymore really), because I trust that my nose knows.