Powdered Laundry Detergent...?

[AKL_Megs]

My mom and I were at Costco sitting in the food area giving DD a bottle when we witnessed a woman buying a HUGE box of Tide powered laundry detergent. My mom questioned why anyone would still buy powered detergent, and went on to explain what a pain it was to mix it and how it never dissolved properly if you didn't mix it first. I've never used powder, so I had no idea what to tell her, but I told her you all would know!

So... Why the powder?

 

[happygirl]

My mom and I were at Costco sitting in the food area giving DD a bottle when we witnessed a woman buying a HUGE box of Tide powered laundry detergent. My mom questioned why anyone would still buy powered detergent, and went on to explain what a pain it was to mix it and how it never dissolved properly if you didn't mix it first. I've never used powder, so I had no idea what to tell her, but I told her you all would know!

So... Why the powder?

I prefer powder, What is she mixing it with? I think powder last longer I have never had it not dissolve

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I've always used powder, if she has trouble with it not dissolving, either the washer is too full, or she's used too much!

To answer the question, why not?

 

[lemondog]

I think powder is cheaper. I used it for years but really started having a problem with it not dissolving properly. So I switched to liquid generic (Kirkland brand) which costs about the same as the powdered Tide did.

 

[lizabu]

I hate powdered detergent too. I think it's a personal preference thing. It's cheaper and you can buy bigger boxes of it but I've had the problem where it didn't dissolve properly too and then I had powdery residue all over my clothes . I won't use it again unless I was really desperate and had no other options

 

[AKL_Megs]

I prefer powder, What is she mixing it with? I think powder last longer I have never had it not dissolve

I guess, back when she used it, she would "pre-dissolve" it with water in a measuring cup. This was in the '80's though, perhaps it's come a long way...

 

[Alsobrook]

Tell your mom to get one that uses electricity and she won't have that problem.


In other news..... touch tone telephone!

 

[Imzadi]

I guess, back when she used it, she would "pre-dissolve" it with water in a measuring cup. This was in the '80's though, perhaps it's come a long way...

The powdered OxyClean does NOT dissolve fully unless it is added to boiling water and stirred for a couple minutes.

I make a mixture of equal parts OxyClean + Borax for get tough odors out. They also brighten colors & whiten whites without needing bleach. I hate the added step of having to boil the water though.

For regular detergent, I have been using liquid for the past few decades.

 

[happygirl]

I guess, back when she used it, she would "pre-dissolve" it with water in a measuring cup. This was in the '80's though, perhaps it's come a long way...

I have never had any problems, maybe like pp said maybe she using to much or putting to much laundry in the machine

 

[MarineVet]

Tell your mom to get one that uses electricity and she won't have that problem.


In other news..... touch tone telephone!

When I was a kid, all we had was powered, and sometimes Mom bought a brand that included a free washcloth or a towel right in the box. We had a ringer type washing machine, which was a BIT more advanced than your picture, but not by too much.

 

[Straitlover]

Liquid detergents are supposedly not good if you have a septic tank. Supposedly it re-gels in there and can clog the tank and/or the lines.

In an old school washer, you can put the powder in the bottom and turn the water on to get it dissoling before adding the clothes. Can you even use powder in the new HE machines? Mine doesn't have a detergent cup, you pour it in the bottom of the washer before the clothes, but I don't think it would work well unless you dissolved it in a cup like you say.

I do have a septic, but I'm taking my chances now w/ the liquid. You use so little w/ the HE now, maybe it won't cause a problem.

 

[tar heel]

I've not had any trouble with powdered detergent or Oxiclean dissolving unless I had overfilled the washer so that the clothes couldn't move around. I've honestly never heard of anyone dissolving powdered detergent in water before they put it in the washer.

At regular price, powder is almost always a better deal. If you watch the sales, sometimes liquid is cheaper. I do whichever I can get the best deal on.

 

[shortbun]

I prefer powder, What is she mixing it with? I think powder last longer I have never had it not dissolve

Not dissolving was a huge problem for me and I'll never go back to powder. It got so I felt like I had to half fill with the powder then stir with a long spoon or tongs until I felt like it was dissolved before I put my clothes in. Love liquid!! My friend who worked for Procter and Gamble in Cincinnati told me that powdered detergent had lots of addiditves that had nothing to do with cleaning clothes and were the reason powdered clumped up and didn't dissolve.

 

[dzorn]

My mom and I were at Costco sitting in the food area giving DD a bottle when we witnessed a woman buying a HUGE box of Tide powered laundry detergent. My mom questioned why anyone would still buy powered detergent, and went on to explain what a pain it was to mix it and how it never dissolved properly if you didn't mix it first. I've never used powder, so I had no idea what to tell her, but I told her you all would know!

So... Why the powder?

The HE repair man told me to use powder as the liquid builds up in side the machine.

Denise in MI

 

[VAfamily1998]

I have an HE washer, and I prefer powder detergent (I buy the kind that has the HE symbol)

1. I hate that the cap of the liquid detergent gets all gunky from detergent. I don't have a sink in my laundry room so it's not convenient to rinse the cap out after each use.

2. The scent of powdered Tide is so good! It's different than the liquid.

3. I've never had problems with the powder not disolving.

 

[formill]

We have an HE washing machine as well and use TIDE for HE machines all the time- it is usually cheaper than the liquid. I found cheaper powdered laundry detergents would not dissolve as well. I also found the kids doing laundry use more of the liquid- too much-easier to scoop powder.

 

[Alsobrook]

In HE Machines.... get some of that Tide Machine Cleaner.... it's pretty good.

Also, those beads that Amy Sedaris pimps, from Downy, are awesome... makes clothes smell like pillows from heaven.


Oh yes it does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ2oLTowUEk

 

[Fire14]

I prefer powder but use liquid now as I found powder wasn't disolving right in our mnachine. I'm sure our water played a factor. I also think brand was a factor.

 

[clarabelle]

I have what I think is a really good reason.
The container
I hate putting that big ole plastic container into the landfill
and I don't have that kind of plastic recycling locally.
I have a newer front loading washer. I use either Tide HE powder or Gain HE powder. I don't pre-dissolve and it always dissolves.
Maybe the people who have had trouble with dissolving have hard water?
I have used powder for a long time and not had a problem with dissolving

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

I use powder in my HE machine when I want the start time to be delayed. I can set the timer to start the wash from 1 to 8 hours later. You can't use liquid detergent if you are using the delay feature. Also, I find that the scent from the powder lasts longer, so I usually wash my towels with powder so they smell good!