Is Tide worth breaking the budget?

[dzneelvr]

My DH is a working rancher/farmer and I tried the new Purex sheets (wash and dryer) when they were introduced. LOVe LOVe LOVe themI just bought a packet of their new "balls" and will try them next. I find the price of brand-name detergent to be insane!and stopped using them years ago. with Purex the whites are white and the stains come out easily. for hard to clean loads I soak them while at work, and I spray Oxiclean on any stain from chocolate to blood immediately anyway, but I'd be doing that cocktail with Tide anyway.

 

[Kathi OD]

IMO, the cost of Tide is not worth the extra price you pay for it. I've used it and found it no better than All Free & Clear, which is quite a bit less.

However, if you can fit it in your budget, and think it does a better job, then go for it.

 

[bumbershoot]

So I usually buy whatever laundry detergent is on sale. For $1.49 or so I'm able to get Ajax or store brand on sale. The price of Tide seems ridiculous to me, but does it really clean your clothes better? Lately, my whites and sheets seems gray and dingy. Would Tide help? Or can someone recommend something to get the dinginess out of my sheets/pillowcases?

Only difference I have noticed with Tide is that the clothes smell like Tide. Since that is a smell that usually assaults my nose with a vengeance, and makes my body hurt like I have glass dust in my clothes, it's not something I enjoy. (I've used it as an adult at my brother's place, where it mysteriously does not bother me, then I bought it at home and the reactions started)

 

[Aurora D]

OP here, thanks to everyone for the advice.....someone mentioned "hard water". I think I do have this. If this is this case, what can I do? Will liquid fabric softener solve the problem?

 

[ilovemk76]

OP here, thanks to everyone for the advice.....someone mentioned "hard water". I think I do have this. If this is this case, what can I do? Will liquid fabric softener solve the problem?

We have hard water and wash all but whites in very cold water. Tide is all we need. We use vinegar for the fabric softener and use the dryer balls (about 5 years old now) in the dryer.

 

[sksjasams]

I only use powder too. I always use Tide with Bleach powder for whites, towels etc. I had always used Cheer Free and Gentle for clothes, but it was getting harder and harder to find in powder. A couple months ago I switched to Tide Free and Gentle powder and I have happy with that as well.

I did try All Free and Clear for a couple months because it was cheaper, but the powder did not dissolve well for me at all. I would end up doing a second rinse to get the powder off that was left on the clothes.

I think Tide is worth it!

 

[SaraJayne]

For us, no, Tide is not worth $15+ a bottle. Not only the price, but the smell makes me nauseous. Yick.

We use either Purex or All Free and Clear and I've noticed no difference between the other detergents and Tide.

I don't know about the powder detergents, as we only use liquid.

 

[Sadie22]

OP here, thanks to everyone for the advice.....someone mentioned "hard water". I think I do have this. If this is this case, what can I do? Will liquid fabric softener solve the problem?

We had hard water before we got a whole-house water treatment system. Prior to that, we had a filter in the line from the well which was collecting particles which we did not want in our laundry and bath water, let alone our drinking water.

Using fabric softener can cause a dingy buildup on clothes and make towels less absorbent. We do not use fabric softener yet have no problems with static or stiffness.

I use Wisk HE in my frontloading HE washer. Very little is needed per load yet my husband's work clothes come clean. We put a little Wisk on tough stains and a tiny scoop of OxyClean in especially dirty loads. I buy both on sale with coupons. With those cheap brands, I used more detergent. Wisk is less expensive for me.

 

[Danibelle]

I use All Free and Clear for allergies and have no complaints with how white the whites are. I do use bleach from time to time and Spray and Wash for tough stains.

I'm happy with All Free and Clear, too. For tough stains, I use Shout and/or Oxi Clean spray. That takes care of clay and mud from the softball field!

 

[pixiewings71]

I used to use Tide exclusively, then switched to a more eco friendly (but much more $$$$) brand, then when I lost my job I started to make my own. My family much prefers my homemade laundry soap.
If I was to go back to buying it from the store I'd go back to Tide tho, it really is the best IMO. The smell has never bothered me either.

 

[Mic]

No. Not worth the cost. Many other brands do just as well. I used be a Tide-only girl, then found out my friends (who are both married to firemen) swear by Arm and Hammer. My daughters were all cheerleaders, so I had to use a more gentle soap on their uniforms, and discovered Purex. But the real savings began when I learned to make my own detergent. A little trial and error resulted in the perfect laundry detergent for us. My relatives have tried it and love it, too! I wish I had known I could make my own detergent years ago when all my kids were in cloth diapers...I kept Dreft in business for 7 years!

 

[North of Mouse]

No. Tide, to me, is a rip off. I have used it before because I coupon shop and get what ever I can for the cheapest price. Occasionally I have gotten a good deal on it. That being said, I would NEVER buy it without a mega sale and coupons. It isn't any better, IMO, than any other detergent out there. That includes Shaw's cheap brand. BTW, I do only try to get unscented. I have noticed I do have better luck when buying the less expensive ones on sale if they are unscented.

I agree! I also coupon, but only buy name brands - not store brands. I have a FL and never have a problem with clothes not getting clean or turning dingy. Sometimes hard water will do that (just add some 20 muleteam borax to your wash if hard water is problem). I will never pay the high price for Tide. I always use a small amount of my detergent on any stains and it all comes out - just bought two 50 oz. bottles of Wisk today for $2 a bottle (sale + store coupons + Manufacture coupon). Usually use that plus All, Gain and Cheer. Tide has VERY good PR (lots of advertising and makes people think it's so much better) but we have proved through 3 kids and lots of gardening and playing that the other brands work just as good with our front loader ( and with cold water at that). I would compare my washed clothes with anyone elses.

 

[AnninIowa]

I buy Target's Up & Up brand as well as Sam's Club Members Mark. Both cost less than Tide but work just as well!

 

[the4fishes]

We have hard water and a problem with dingy whites. I find that adding White Brite to the wash (works best for a top loader) and letting it sit helps a lot. You do have to be careful about clothes that aren't 100% white... I've ruined a few shirts by letting it soak too long.

 

[NYCDiane]

So I usually buy whatever laundry detergent is on sale. For $1.49 or so I'm able to get Ajax or store brand on sale. The price of Tide seems ridiculous to me, but does it really clean your clothes better? Lately, my whites and sheets seems gray and dingy. Would Tide help? Or can someone recommend something to get the dinginess out of my sheets/pillowcases?

I'm like you --- usually buy the store brand or whatever happens to be on sale. However, last week, the new Tide Pods were on sale so I bought a small bag (14 pods). They are AMAZING.... they got my clothes super-clean and the smell was wonderful! For the price of the small bag of Tide Pods, I would have spent the same amount on store brand or sale detergent and it cleaned the same amount of laundry. I'm switching over to Tide Pods from here on out --- now, I just have to find coupons for them!!!! LOL!!!

 

[DawnM]

What do the pods have in them that the regular Tide doesn't?

Costco has them for .25 per pod (90 count for $23).

I have been spending less than $23 per YEAR for laundry soap. I was thinking these would be great for our Disney trips though....just take some pods and not liquid soap.

Dawn

I'm like you --- usually buy the store brand or whatever happens to be on sale. However, last week, the new Tide Pods were on sale so I bought a small bag (14 pods). They are AMAZING.... they got my clothes super-clean and the smell was wonderful! For the price of the small bag of Tide Pods, I would have spent the same amount on store brand or sale detergent and it cleaned the same amount of laundry. I'm switching over to Tide Pods from here on out --- now, I just have to find coupons for them!!!! LOL!!!

 

[DOOM1001]

I get either Surf,Gain or Arm and Hammer,whichever of those comes in the biggest size for about $12-$15.Usually it's about 10-14 pounds of detergent.

 

[threecrazykids]

I'm like you --- usually buy the store brand or whatever happens to be on sale. However, last week, the new Tide Pods were on sale so I bought a small bag (14 pods). They are AMAZING.... they got my clothes super-clean and the smell was wonderful! For the price of the small bag of Tide Pods, I would have spent the same amount on store brand or sale detergent and it cleaned the same amount of laundry. I'm switching over to Tide Pods from here on out --- now, I just have to find coupons for them!!!! LOL!!!

I actually bought the "trial" size to see if I liked them...3 pods for $0.97. WOW is right. I absolutely LOVE them! I have had a terrible time (with Tide included) of having those little grease type spots on my dark clothes. I have been back and forth with several different detergents and just kind of accepted the darn spots.

I tried the pods with 3 loads...none of which were white because I was more worried about the spots, but didn't have ONE spot!

Not sure if I'll hunker down and spend the $$ but I will say, they get rave reviews from me too!

 

[rdevine10]

We exclusively use powder tide from Costco (the biggest box you can get). I believe it costs around $30 for the box.

That being said, I have a front loading HE washer. I just put in 1/4 of the directed amount of powder. Clothes are very clean, and one box usually lasts about a year for us.

Warning, using non HE powder in your HE washer may void your warranty. My washer is coming up on 8 years old (past warranty). I have done this since the beginning and had NO troubles. YMMV.

I make my own fabric softener and dryer sheets.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I guess you all have heard about people actually stealing Tide by now. Can you believe this?

http://starcasm.net/archives/148202


I do use it, but only when it's on sale. The main reason I don't always buy it is because I have not found it any better than any other kind that I have tried. If it were, I would buy it all the time.