What Type of Washing (Laundry) Cleaning Product Do You Use?

anotheruser

Sorry to bump this.

Thought I'd report back from the liquid tests, which were as expected. My clothes came out clean, smelled for as long as the powder stays. However I did put the liquid in the drawer just before turning it on. There seems to be no actual guidelines of where to put it and I'd rather not have a piece of plastic churning around in the drum.
There are also more suds... :P

Smart Price powder was a no go as it kept clumping in the drawer. Not tried the gel yet but I expect similar results to the liquid - although that will have to go in the drum.

anotheruser

Thought I'd get back to you with an email reply I had from P&G about their products:

Q: Can you give me an over view of the different types of products you make and sell?
A:
· Powder: The most popular form of detergent. This –as it always has done- goes in the machine drawer; you can also use powder for pre-washing stains. Powders can be used at temperatures as low as 20 degrees.

· Liquid: Liquid detergents have been on the markets since the 1980’s. They can be used in the drawer and in the drum of your washing machine with the dosing cap. Liquid detergents can be used with temperatures as low as 20 degrees, and are also able to pre-wash with them.

· Gel: Introduced in 2008, this is a best seller across all the ranges. You can wash economically as low as 15 degrees. The bottle comes with a dosing cap, and you use a 37ml shot for your laundry load. They have fantastic cleaning abilities, and are recommended by consumers.

· Liquitabs: These are a pre-measured liquid, which you place straight in the washing machine drum. You use one liquitab at a time, and you place it in the drum first under your laundry. You can use liquitabs on washes as low as 30 degrees.

· Tablets: Tablets are the powder form of liquitabs. These are placed straight in the drawer of your machine using two at a time. You can use tablets on washes as low as 30 degrees.



Q: And what abut the brands, how are they involved?
A:
· Ariel: Ariel Biological detergent with Actilift, is a great all round detergent. It can be used on colours or whites and does a great job on both. It is available in all 5 forms to purchase. Actilift products all contain Daz so you get 40% better stain removal power.

We also have a Colour and Style Ariel. This is specially formulated to be used on your coloured garments. This comes in bottles and boxes with the purple banner. Ariel Colour and Style is great to use as it keeps darks dark and your light colours bright.


· Daz: Daz is known for keeping whites white. It is a Biological detergent that contains bleach, so it is specially formulated to bring out stains on your white clothing and garments.


· Fairy-Non Bio: Fairy Non- Bio is the softest Non-Bio on the laundry market today. It is British Allergy Foundation approved, and you can get it in all 5 detergent forms and a fabric softener! Fairy is best to use on children and people with any skin complaints. Perfect for grandchildren!



Q: What would you say is your best product and why?
A:Gel detergents are the most economically sound products, as you can wash garments at as low as 15 degrees and still get fantastic cleaning results. So you are saving money and getting amazing results.



Q: I've heard washing machine engineers suggest gels and liquids clog up pipes and cause all sorts of problems. What say you P&G?
A: In reference to your comments about pipe clogging whilst using gel or liquid detergents; If you are using the product correctly, and preforming regular service washes on your machine you should have no such issues.



Q: I'm worried the plastic dosing devices will ruin my machine. Have you consulted washing machine manufacturers to make sure they are safe?
A: Any of our plastic dosing devices are perfectly safe to use in any machine. The only way we not advise the dosing device to be used is in in a washer/dryer on a wash and quick dry cycle.

-- ENDS --

Not heard back from Persil as yet.
Also didn't realise Ariel contained 40% Daz. I wonder what cheaper version Asda's own brand takes after.

Also don't understand how they call powder the most popular, then say gel is the best seller? :S

However kudos to them for giving such a great response!

Solarjunkie

Interestingly, I have heard that it is powder than bungs up the machines. I know of several people who have had such problems.

My washing machine empties into a sink and while I usually use liquid as I can pour it directly onto any marks, I did use some powder I was given. The amount of filler left in the sink after the wash sent me straight back to the liquid.

My best tip is to put muddy things through the machine on rinse first, then if it still needs washing it won't be washed in "mud soup".

Downsizing__for_sanity

I've finally worked out why my husband has been moaning about his washing "not smelling like when my mum does it" (after nearly ten years married). I work full time too so we take turns doing the washing. He has been telling me it's because I tend to buy the Aldi/Lidl/Tesco brands rather than Ariel/Lenor combo, until today when I found him putting the softener in the prewash compartment! How do you expect it to smell then? Only the ten years then....

Bartelmy

I just made my own laundry powder today.:) One bar of grated soap, a cup of washing soda, and a cup of borax (sodium borate, not boric acid!) I'm about to do my first load with it, so we'll see how it compares.:)

Until now, I've been using Tesco's own brand powder, but it just ran out.

WeegieWumman

My washing machine instructions recommend using powder only

applepad

Sure I remember reading a Which report which said powder cleans best and think the Aldi one came out top.
I must admit I use Aldi tablets and tend to use just one in a full load and break them up in a half load.

I did buy the powder but it did not have a measure inside and my co ordination is not good so ended up with powder every where.

Also think when Superscrimpers recently did a washing thing Aldi came out top?

MrsE_2

good_advice wrote: »

I wash with Ariel gel. £4 for a big bottle when on offer. There is a cup in the lid bit that you fill and put in with the washing.

Years ago, I did use a powder but when I switched to washing at a low temp. the powder did not dissolve. It came out all over the washing.

I've been using this for years.
But I'm planning on going back to powder as I think it washes better?

kboss2010

I use gel because my OH is allergic to most powders and softeners.

Purple_kitten

We use Kirkland's washing powder as considering we are allergic to most things it works perfectly and is very mse for us as we have a lot of animal bedding to also wash.