Laundry Detergent

[NYCDiane]

It's his baseball uniform, so it's washed a few times a week. I wash almost everything in cold water & I hang dry the uniform (I'm afraid to shrink it).


Thanks for the suggestions so far ~ keep 'em coming! I'm going to pick up a new brand tomorrow to try.

It's probably too late for this year since it's already faded, etc. For next year, though, try a gentle detergent, wash in cool water, hang it up to dry. I did that with my DDs karate uniforms and they always looked brand new.

 

[NYCDiane]

Another thing you can do..... If you buy a store brand and want to give it a "boost", you can add some baking soda to the wash cycle. It kills any smells and it's great on getting stains out. A small box is 30 cents at Wal Mart.

 

[3_disprincesses]

Oops

 

[3_disprincesses]

Also be sure you are not using too much detergent. I wear a lot of black clothes for work (so interchangeable!) so I am washing the couple of pair of pants I have at least 2x a week. I turn them inside out, use whatever detergent I know does a good job but is on sale, cold water and a little less than the recommended amount of detergent, always hang to dry. I think using too much detergent and putting them in the dryer is what fades clothing the most. I should also point out I wear my clothes for YEARS (single mom with deadbeat dad as an ex so I can't afford to replace). Be gentle with your clothes and they will look good for a very, very long time!

 

[KAMKIM]

I will only use Tide - they make the best HE formula, I also use Bounce and Downy - love the way our clothes smell

 

[eduk8r26]

Another vote for Tide. I've tried everything on the market, but now only use Tide. I don't have to use as much of it as other detergents.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Tide.
It's often on sale, there are always coupons, so it really isn't much higher than the rest. I am also allergic to many other detergents.

 

[ameraumi]

I used to be a Tide girl and only used it. But then when DH was diagnosed with cancer and went thru his treatments I wanted to switch to a more natural detergent.

The two I found that I love (and work great!) are Method and Jenny's Simply Clean (http://www.jennyssimplyclean.com/).

 

[shortbun]

Ditto Loreli...
Melapower is the only 6 times concentrated on the market and it contains no NTA(carcinogen) It works great, no fading and great stain removal plus is a great value, $29 for 194 loads of laundry. I used to use Tide until I found out it does not dissolve in water and contains a carcinogen linked to breast cancer.

gasp! I've been using Tide for years and I'm in a high risk breast cancer group. Where do you buy this 'Melapower?'

eta: I just found the Melaluca site. I've used other Melaluca products. I wonder if Whole Foods carries anything like this.

 

[Nette]

I'm in WalMart all the time and didn't know they have their own brand of laundry detergent! I will absolutely check it out next time I go.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BTW.... on one of those news magazine shows, they did a comparison of expensive name brand detergents like Tide, etc versus no-name brands/store brands and the verdict was that the no name/store brands cleaned just as good, if not better, than the name brands

When I was newly pregnant with DD, We bought a thing of Bravo (HEB generic "Tide"). For days I was itching like crazy thinking that this must be some sort of pregnancy thing. I mentioned the itchiness to my OB and the first thing he asked me was if I switched laundry soap. When I said yes, he asked me if I was using Bravo... Apparently a LOT of his patients were having trouble with it.

That's not to say all generics are bad... just that I know that that one is...

Tide.
It's often on sale, there are always coupons, so it really isn't much higher than the rest. I am also allergic to many other detergents.

Really? I never see coupons for more than $.35 and HEB doesn't double/triple coupons... We buy Tide Free which NEVER seems to go on sale anywhere. Oh well... I prefer to not itch and I hate laundry soap smells on me.

 

[Alexander]

I would question your water before your detergent. We have a well, thus no chlorine in our water. However, when my mom washes my kids clothes at her house (she has municipal water-thus chlorine) their clothes fade fast--sometimes even after one washing.

I use Tide on my boys clothes. I have tried many others, and absolutely nothing gets out those grass stains like Tide does!

I use Purex or something that is on sale for the other clothes (those that the boys haven't worn outside to play in!)

We have never had a problem with fading clothes regardless of the detergent.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

We use the Kirkland brand from Costco and haven't had a problem with fading or stains (I usually pretreat). My DD10 is allergic to alot of laundry soaps and we have never had a problem with Costco's.

 

[PinballFamily]

Surprised no one yet has mentioned the Sears brand 'Ultra Plus" powdered detergent - we got turned on to it a while ago because of SO many DIS budget board folks who sang its praises!

It comes in big 180-load boxes and goes on sale from $24 to $12 at times during the year - watch this board for those announcements! We bought three boxes during a sale (free pickup so no shipping costs at a local Sears store) for $36 and are barely into the first box, despite buying it months ago. (We have a HE Asko brand front loader washer, so only need to use a tiny bit of detergent for each load - the "180 load" boxes will last us forever!

We're really happy with how it cleans and only add a tiny bit of OxyClean for some stubborn or really bright white loads.

 

[kashley5]

I use Tide and happily pay the price because it's the only thing I've found that doesn't fade.

Ditto. I use Tide. The money I save in clothes not fading and getting out stains is well worth it to me. but, I will tell you that I have been know to use Dawn dish soap on my whites once in a while. It cleans fantastic, but I'm sure it would fade my colors and darks. Just a squirt will do ya. :

 

[dex08]

For many many years I have only used Tide liquid. Recently I decided to try Costco's Kirkland's brand to save money. While it does smell good and washed okay, I don't care for it and cannot wait to finish this huge container of it so that I can switch back to my beloved Tide liquid HE.

 

[kashley5]

I haven't read the whole thread, so I apologize if these has already been sugested, but I have a great recipe for fabric softner. I got it from the Duggar website ( you know the family with 18 kids on TLC ) You take your regular liquid fabric softner ( non concentrated) and add one part to 2 parts water. I usually make a container up of 1c Downy & 2c. water and drop a sponge in there, squeeze it out and throw the sponge in my dryer. Works great! I'm washing clothes for 6 people and a bottle of 32 loads last me at least 4 months.

 

[3girls4me05]

Just started making my own. I will let you know but so far no fading noted.

 

[DisneyDazed]

I use whatever is on sale between tide and All free and clear. If I had teh money I would get SA8 from amway or quickstar or whatever they call themselves these days. That stuff rocks and blows tide out of the water. Just a tad to steep in price.

 

[jinia]

Been making my own for the last year and love it. Quarter cup of white vinegar in rinse load pulls out any left in soap, softest clothes ever, and reduces static electricity!

 

[sherry7]

Surprised no one yet has mentioned the Sears brand 'Ultra Plus" powdered detergent - we got turned on to it a while ago because of SO many DIS budget board folks who sang its praises!

It comes in big 180-load boxes and goes on sale from $24 to $12 at times during the year - watch this board for those announcements! We bought three boxes during a sale (free pickup so no shipping costs at a local Sears store) for $36 and are barely into the first box, despite buying it months ago. (We have a HE Asko brand front loader washer, so only need to use a tiny bit of detergent for each load - the "180 load" boxes will last us forever!

We're really happy with how it cleans and only add a tiny bit of OxyClean for some stubborn or really bright white loads.

Ditto on the Sears Ultra Plus powdered detergent. This stuff is awesome, and VERY inexpensive...especially if you catch it on sale. The big buckets are the best value, but the smaller ones are a good price as well.

I was previously a fan of Cheer liquid, but started getting a awful scummy buildup in my front loading washer. After doing an internet search, I found it was because of the various chemicals in the liquid detergent, and that it was better to use a powder. But...high efficiency powders are very hard to find, except for the Sears brand.

Not only do my clothes get cleaner now, but they aren't faded and the funky buildup in my washer is now gone. The Sears detergent has virtually no scent at all...but I like that. I'd rather smell like my perfume than like an apple orchard, field of flowers, etc.