Good "cheaper" laundry detergent?

[fakereadhed]

I use ALL or ALL Small & Mighty. I always have coupons and it's on sale a lot. I usually get it for under $4.

I agree. I don't like how my DS clothes look faded and pilled with the Purex. Never have a problem with All.

 

[SandrA9810]

We went through a few different degergants before kari settled for Arm and Hammer Essentials. It's a few dollars for a little bottle at Target, I've never seen it in a big bottle before.

But Kari liked it because it's one of the only ones we found that gets the sweat smell out of our her clothes for work. We use the mountain rain scent w/ dryer sheets and use publix brand mountain rain fabric softner.

I can't say we pay attention to how well it holds the color or anything most the clothes we have are all fairly old. But the black stuff doesn't seem to fading or looking any more worn than they should be.

 

[tmccullough]

I used Purex liquid for a long time and switched to Purex powder detergent sold at WalMart. It cleans well and seems to go further than the liquid... I think I use way too much of the liquid because you pour that little bit of liquid in there and think... no way is that going to clean all that. With the powder, I never add extra. HTH!

 

[budafam]

I have a GREAT tip for fabric softener if anyone is interested...
Just dump a full bottle into a plastic container and then refill that same bottle twice with water and mix it in the plastic container. Take a sponge, cut it in half and put both of them in the bucket. Soak the sponges. Take one out, wring it out good and throw it in your dryer. It will last you FOREVER! and it works great... saves lots of money!

I also have a recipe to make your own laundry detergent that I've been using for about a month now. It makes 10 gallons for about $3... SO CHEAP and it smells great!

 

[fakereadhed]

I also have a recipe to make your own laundry detergent that I've been using for about a month now. It makes 10 gallons for about $3... SO CHEAP and it smells great!

Give up the recipe!

Does the fabric softener in the sponge cause any spotting on the clothes?

 

[estherhead]

I make my own detergent also & that is because we have sensitive skin. Totally understand the eat your skin off comment about Tide someone made.

Here is my recipe: 6 cups hot water
1 bar Ivory soap
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 gallon jug of cold water

Step 1: In a saucepan heat up the 6 cups of water. Don't boil just heat.
Step 2: Cut up the soap into tiny pieces. I just do it with a knife & they aren't super small. Drop them in the water & stir until dissolved. This takes the longest, about 5 minutes. Don't boil.
Step 3: Dump the gallon of water into a bucket.
Step 4: Dump the soap/water mixture into the bucket.
Step 5: Dump the Borax & Washing Soda into the bucket. Stir.
Step 6: Leave overnight covered with Saran Wrap. Stir in the morning.

That's it. It's ready to use. It costs me well under $2.00 a batch and it makes 2 gallons. I use a All Small & Mighty cap to measure it out & I don't fill the cap up. It gets my clothing sparkling clean.

I've been using it for a few months now. I will say that the first go round I used vinegar in my fabric softener cup (1/2 cup) because the petroleum based detergents leave a film when you try to get rid of them. So my first three loads I did not think this stuff was successful. But then I read the vinegar tip & did that week's laundry in my new soap with the vinegar. Worked like a charm.

This doesn't really smell. But I keep a Tupperware container with 1 part Downy & 4 parts water near my dryer with kitchen sponges in it. I pull out a sponge & wring it just a bit and throw it in the dryer (we're allergic to dryer sheets too) with every load. It makes it all very soft & yummy smelling.

Just to tell you how well it cleans, I put my 2 year old's stuffed Mickey Mouse which she drags all over kingdom come in the wash today. I didn't pretreat it cause the whole thing was covered in grime, where would I have started? I just threw it in. He is squeaky clean (get it? Squeaky & he's a mouse?) and smells fabulous. He's all ready to be dragged around again.

Oh, one final thing. It looks kinda gross. Mine always has slime & chunks & I have to shake it each time. I don't mind one bit since it smells good and works well. But if you think this might gross you out, you might want to find a recipe for powdered homemade soap. I keep mine in my old laundry detergent containers. It fills 3 of them & a gallon milk jug (which I use for the cold water.)

 

[Goofyzgurl]

I was buying Ecos at Sams but then I made my first batch of laundry detergent two weeks ago. I love it! It does have a different consistency aka slimely but the Ecos was too so I got used to it. It makes a bunch and the girls and I had an interesting time making it. I don't think I'll be making my own detergent from now on.

 

[dolphinslady]

We have well water and an upper relief for the dryer...any suggestions on a good combination to make these clothes smell better? I am kinda likin' the All but plan on trying the Purex. I cannot STAND the smell of Wisk, it's gross.

We can't put downy in the washer b/c it stains the clothes. Crazy. But I still love Florida. All good.

 

[2BigKIdz]

I have been using Arm & Hammer for years without any problems. I don't think I have tried the Purex detergent but I have been buying their version of Clorox 2 and fabric softener. My clothes smell great and look normal!

 

[tpolock]

coupons.com (Use zip code 44514)
B1G1 Free Q Purex Coupon

There is a Sale @ CVS
Buy 1 at $6.99 get 1 free Purex

Thanks courtneyrtr!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Ok, I didn't read the whole thread here but wanted to say what I've been using. I use Melalucua brand laundry detergent & fabric softeners. I use 1 Tablespoon of each per load of wash, my laundry is clean, bright and smells good. I love it. I can buy a 96 oz bottle and it lasts forever.....

 

[NC State]

I use the Wal-Mart house brand in the green cap. It also received high marks on Consumer Reports.

 

[horseshowmom]

I use the Wal-Mart house brand in the green cap. It also received high marks on Consumer Reports.

I really like this too, but for some unknown reason, our Wal-Mart seldom has it.

 

[emh1129]

I used Purex liquid for a long time and switched to Purex powder detergent sold at WalMart. It cleans well and seems to go further than the liquid... I think I use way too much of the liquid because you pour that little bit of liquid in there and think... no way is that going to clean all that. With the powder, I never add extra. HTH!

That's what I've been using, too. It's like $3 for a huge box of the powder Purex- and I think it works just fine. The box that I have is almost out, but it lasted a very long time.

 

[ReneeA]

I stopped using Tide when DS was a baby - we couldn't figure out why he continued to get really bad rashes. After doing some checking, we (like others on here) discovered that Tide has the worst reputation for being super harsh and bad for those with sensitive skin.

Now I use All small and mighty, the free and clear version. It cleans fabulously - even gets out stains if I forget to spot something. It also doesn't fade clothing like some others that I've tried.

I clip coupons for it, and normally pay about $3 for a 32 load jug (that I can stretch to about 40 loads).

 

[budafam]

That is the recipe I use (posted above). It works great but you do get chunks so just shake it up before using it. I haven't had any problems with the sponge in the softener yet. I wring it out really good before throwing it in the dryer with the clothes.

When I did use the sheets, I always tore them in half to save. They say you only need about 1/4 of the size they give you.

 

[gvillemama]

I use the Walmart brand as well...but I use the kind that has the purple top...I think its a lavendar smell. There is also softener in that same scent.

 

[purplebelle]

Arm&Hammer with Softener is on sale at Jewel-Osco, buy-one-get-one-free ($6.99 for 2). I am not usually loyal to brands but this detergent makes clothes undeniably soft. I don't even know how to use softener so I like that this one includes it in the detergent. I like the orchard bloom scent (usually a pink cap) and I think it will last for 25 loads.

 

[Pigeon]

I use whatever's cheapest. I sometimes use Tide if there's a super deal on it and coupons, but normally I use what's on special. I have no brand loyalty for most things, and I don't notice any difference with the laundry.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Tide does work really well but the only differece I see between tide and other brands is on whites. It's still cheaper to use another detergent and then add a little bit of spray n wash or clorox 2 to the wash than to always buy tide.

I use all small and mighty or purex. I like the naturals version of purex just as much as the regular stuff.