If Only They Knew

moggins · 6 April 2005 at 11:21PM

I've started using just one washing tablet in my wash, I had rather a lot to begin with thanks to a Co-op BOGOF. I moved on to to the 2 in 1 tablets about a week ago and have done three loads today, one tablet each wash, the washing is now drying on the radiators and clothes horse and the scent through the house is incredible.

My washing machine doesn't smell anymore and my washing is just as clean and even nicer smelling, if everyone only knew that their box of 16 tablets would actually do 16 washes instead of 8 the detergent companies would see their profits dropping rapidly.

Bargain_Rzl · 6 April 2005 at 11:41PM

are you in a hard water area moggins?

moggins · 6 April 2005 at 11:47PM

I really don't know! How would I find that out? Should that have made such a big difference (especially with my smelly machine?)

My house smells so lovely though. I'll definitely buy these Co-op ones again

Curry_Queen · 7 April 2005 at 1:02AM

I decided on a similar compromise as you moggins, only I bought the Bold big box powder instead (not used powder in years!!!) and I'm only using half the recommended amount on the box (so should get 90 washes a box) but my clothes are all clean and smell as lovely and fresh as ever! I also use vinegar as softener but I was missing the smell of fresh washing, as I have to dry indoors, so the Bold solves that problem

Queenie · 7 April 2005 at 8:27AM

moggins wrote:

I really don't know! How would I find that out? Should that have made such a big difference (especially with my smelly machine?)

My house smells so lovely though. I'll definitely buy these Co-op ones again

If you live in a hard water area, you'll *know* ... the water leaves a limey scale on everything - eventually! If you have to descale your kettle of white stuff once a week, you live in a hard water area.
(Use a denture tablet to clean off the white chalky scale from your kettle

)

People living in a hard water area need to use more detergents because the chalky scale in the water won't give you the suds that living in a soft water area does.

At my MIL house, I could use just a dash of shampoo and get a sudsy lather - in my own I need a double dash!!

My sinks/basins/baths and toilets all get a quick build up of limescale so I need to be extra diligent in keeping them clean before the limescale gets hard.

My iron also needs descaling more often.

jordylass · 7 April 2005 at 8:31AM

I also bought poweders, (I was going to make my own this time, but Makro came to my rescue with an offer).
This is one of the very large boxes and I expect it to last at least six months. I have stopped using the cup provided and use a tablespoon instead. My kids make very dirty clothes, so I put two tablespoons into the main wash and if they're even dirtier than usual 1 tbls in the prewash drawer.

swampytiggaa · 7 April 2005 at 8:37AM

i have been using one tablet in the wash for ages - even gets dirty nappies clean

think we live in a medium water area [near brum] so the limescale build up isn't too bad.

I usually keep some soda crystals in and if i am washing something filthy [ie DH work overalls] i put a scoop of those in the washer to help the powder out.....

we got some boxes of ariel tablets - the 48's on offer ages ago and they are still going strong

btw it took me a while to convert DH to only using one tablet when he puts the washer on - but he does now and is happy with the results

soon2bjobless · 7 April 2005 at 8:48AM

We have nice soft Scottish water here - I use Tesco blue value label soap powder - 1 dessertspoon for normal/dark loads and 2 dessertspoons for dirty/white loads - use Tesco blue label fabric conditioner (1/2 the amount ) and 1 dessertspoon of vinegar on towels.

Never had any probs (dd has really bad excema and has never had probs with this soap powder) - works out around 2p per wash.

Lillibet_2 · 7 April 2005 at 8:58AM

Queenie wrote:

If you live in a hard water area, you'll *know* ... the water leaves a limey scale on everything - eventually! If you have to descale your kettle of white stuff once a week, you live in a hard water area.
(Use a denture tablet to clean off the white chalky scale from your kettle )

People living in a hard water area need to use more detergents because the chalky scale in the water won't give you the suds that living in a soft water area does.

At my MIL house, I could use just a dash of shampoo and get a sudsy lather - in my own I need a double dash!!

My sinks/basins/baths and toilets all get a quick build up of limescale so I need to be extra diligent in keeping them clean before the limescale gets hard.

My iron also needs descaling more often.

Sorry Queenie, hope you don't mind but I have to disagree. You do not need to use more detergent in a hard water area. I live in the second highest hard water area in Surrey, you can see limescale build up in sinks & on taps in about 4 days! However, I use only one heaped tablespoon of detergent per full wash load & it cleans without any problems at all. I also use a dash of vinegar in the rinse cycle which softens clothes & keeps the washing machine free of lime scale. Vinegar also acts as a deodriser, removes sweat stains & is an antiseptic so just add some to the main detergent compartment for sweaty or "soiled" items. I hardly ever use a pre-wash & usually cold wash everything. I do have a very powerful washing machine & I think this is the key, the agitation cleans far better than the detergent in my opinion.

Just my 2'pennyworth of experience.

Queenie · 7 April 2005 at 9:30AM

Lillibet - I don't mind you disagreeing

I live in a very hard water area - hey, I'm still having a whale of a time with the HM powder! You may note from other posts in the past that I am a huge advocate of the powers of soda cystrals/borax/vinegar for cleaning/laundry

The fact remains:

A study conducted by the American Institute of Laundering determined that detergent and laundering costs are twice as much in hard water compared to soft water.
Hardness minerals combine with soap to form an insoluble "curd" which can remain as a residue on washed laundry. This is similar to the difficult to clean residue found on tubs, sinks, and tile in hard water areas.

Hardness also counteracts soap's alkalinity, which reduces it's cleaning ability and requires the use of more soap to get laundry clean.

A Purdue University study found that fabrics washed in hard water tend to wear out 15 percent faster than fabrics washed in soft water. The study also found that hard water has a negative effect on colors and whites, and that they become resoiled with greater ease.

If anyone wishes to know if they live in a hard water area (or not, as the case may be) you can find basic info HERE

Austin_Allegro · 7 April 2005 at 9:44AM

I use Sainsbury's economy powder (about £1.65 for 4.4kg) and use half the recommended dose. I live in a very hard water area so use vinegar as a softener, but have no problems getting anything clean, apart from collars and cuffs which I put Vanish prewash on.

The only thing I do miss is the 'fresh' smell of laundry drying indoors, but as I said in another post, we are conditioned to think that this smells 'cleaner' - but of course if something is clean it has no smell at all!

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