cheap washing powders/liquids

melie3

hi all,
just wondered what people have tried and found good in ways of own/cheap brand washing powders or liquids.
i normally use ariel liquid, but im on such a tight budget that i need to find a cheaper alternative this month. i almost bought some sains own liquid, which wasnt much cheaper. ive a box of dreft, which i use for handwashing, but only handwash in summer and an unopened bag of soda crystals in cupboard, anything i can do with these to get me by perhaps for a few weeks??:rolleyes:
kind regards mel

belfastgirl23

I was using tesco value there (just under £1.50 for 3kg) and it seemed fine to me. I'm using the asda equivalent now (50p for 1kg) and it also seems to be doing the job well....I use it half and half with soda if washing is particularly smelly (gym stuff especially) and rarely use fabric conditioner except for sheets. Can't believe now I used to waste money on the premium brands.

Also I only use about a tbspful for most washes

clairewp

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I was using tesco value there (just under £1.50 for 3kg) and it seemed fine to me. I'm using the asda equivalent now (50p for 1kg) and it also seems to be doing the job well....I use it half and half with soda if washing is particularly smelly (gym stuff especially) and rarely use fabric conditioner except for sheets. Can't believe now I used to waste money on the premium brands.

Also I only use about a tbspful for most washes

hi also sometimes use tesco value but in liquid form seems to work ok for me

shelby161

I use the same as belfastgirl23.Sometimes i put a couple of t spoons of fabric conditioner on a flannel to act as a "bounce" type alternative if tumbledrying.If i want fabric conditioner smell i only use half the amount now and that seems fine[i.e a 28 wash concentrate will now do 56 washes]hth

Pink.

Hi melie,

These older threads should help:

Alternatives to washing powder???

Own brand washing powder ?

Help - need washing but run out of powder

saving money on washing powder

Washing powder/liquid/soda cystals

Washing Powder cheaper?

Mixing washing soda with laundry powder???


There are lots more threads that may help....too many to list here but you can find them if you do a search of this forum with washing powder in the title.

Pink

Seakay

Dreft is pretty much soap powder, if I remember rightly, so you could use 2 tablesppons of dreft and 1 or 2 tablespoons of soda (depending on the amount of dirt) per load. You could probably do 1 load of not very dirty stuff with no powder before you start and make use of the residue that is bound to be in your machine.
If shirt collars or anything else are very grubby, damp it and rub with a bar of soap before it goes into the machine.
If you go back to a specialist washing powder, make it last longer by at least halfing the suggested amount - sometimes you can use even less - they always suggest too much which is why it is so hard to rinse out and why there is bound to be some residue in your machine.

Jo_anne_2

The Aldi own brand washing powder is very good (Almat) and it's about £2.80-£3.00 for a big 4.5kg box

adsk

Another vote for Aldi detergent. I've used their tablets and liquid detergent and been very happy. Lidls own brand washing tablets/powder is also excellent.

I know its a almost heresy on these boards to admit to using fabric softener but I really like Lidl's senistive concentrated fabric softener. It smells nice but it's not overpowering. The label recommends 1/3 cap for a machine wash - it's a 1 litre bottle so lasts for AGES (over 6 months for me).

Discount-Diva_3

I bought and used a yellow 2 in 1 from the 99p shop, its great and smells lovely

jammy_dodger

another thumbs up for aldi i use almat liquid very pleased with results

Sassamac

im interested in this too as Im on a mission to find a cheaper solution. I have been using Tescos own brand for a while along with soda crystals (and vanish for the tough stains) and find it mostly does the job.

I am just about to switch to T value as I noticed its less than half the price, so was going to mix it with the remains of my current box so I dont notice any difference in quality.

Im intrigued by soap nuts too but not plucked up the courage to try something so radical.