Great article in New York Times about laundry and dishwasher detergent

Cordy

JackieO wrote: »

...I hang my bits on the line I have never owned or wanted a tumble dryer as fresh air is the best and cheapest 'tumbler' that I know

I even saw a washing line advertised in the Range recently as an "Eco Dryer" :rotfl:

meanmarie

Have just had to turn my wm to rinse and spin the load that had finished and in final spin there were lots of suds to be seen....will take advice from now on and halve the amount of soap I use.

Marie

rach

i think there are some other threads about the amount of detergent to use around, I am sure a lovely BG will merge them later. I definitely use less than recommended and use tesco value powder on my towels...I may switch to this for everything as we're trying to economise with a little one on the way!

having read the article I reckon I can cut down a lot more on the amount I use - I tend to be much more generous with the value stuff which probably makes it a false economy!

I have to say that I do use fabric softener on bedding, but a tiny bit and I keep topping the bottle up with water so it lasts forever!! I don't use it on clothes or towels, just a splash of white vinegar (sometimes just value dark vinegar if there are no whites. I do swear by persil whites for my bedding though, with a bit of ecover laundry bleach...our bedding just didn't look white without it!

bargainbird

Blimey just read the article bit of an eye opener, I obviously use too much as i like to see bubbles , I also use fabric conditioner for the scent. But next time its on the list i'm swapping to value and vinegar.

PS i do often rinse DW and WM with vinegar

Thanks OP

meritaten

do any of you use the huge scoops which often come with the big packs? I dont - I use this little scoop which started life as a kiddies playset teacup! it holds about a third of the recommended dose.
detergent manufacturers often make the scoops too large - cos they know we will fill them! ditch the scoops and use your own!!!

csarina

Fabric softner is a by product of the fuel industry, it puts a layer plastic on the fabric. I have not used it for well over 5 years. I use Tesco cheap washing powder and mix a box of washing soda in with it and then 1/4 of the measure I have had for years and my washing has never suffered. I use white vinegar in the conditioner drawer.

I had a friend who was sceptical about using less powder and vinegar to kill any remaining soap in her clothes. I put the sheets from her bed in the washer without any powder, the suds left in the sheets was sufficient to wash them. She could not believe what she saw. From then on she used the same method I did.

Debt_Free_Chick

I use one of those spoons that you get with a cafetiere. I think it holds 5ml

katholicos

Thanks for posting the link to the article, it confirms what i have always suspected, that manufacturers want us to use exhorbitant amounts of product so that the consumer makes more purchases.... this is uneccessary and employing a bit of old style know how proves (as so often it does), that less is in fact, more.

ginnyknit

I use gloop for towels and bedding, a splash of cheap Tesco's own for us and non bio for Dgs but use as little as possible not only for the price but for the planet. People seem to think the more expensive the powder the better the wash??? That goes for dishwasher tabs too i think - have you seen the price of the fancy ones, I buy the reject ones off Bury market and the last lot seem to be quite expensive ones, they are a bit crumbly or mishapes but work perfectly well.

dom300186

I have made gloop for my laundry, I made 4 litres for £1 this will last me a while we are a family of 3, i use asda smart price bio powder for whites Quater measure and abit of conditioner sometimes vinegar.
Believe it or not vinegar is a de- oderiser and cleans the gunk out ya washer!!!!
I use bio powder but do on an extra rinse as my 3 year old has eczema and no more flare ups, it's shocking to think of all the crap that's in them.