Best all-'round detergent?

[aikigypsy]

We are going to be moving into our own house soon (at last!) and I want everything to work perfectly on the housekeeping front

Anyway, I'm looking for the perfect detergent for CDs and everything else. We are a newborn with a varied collection of flats, prefolds, and fitteds, an almost-3-year-old who is in diapers at night (pockets and fitteds), a welder-man who is not at all gentle on his clothes, and myself, who cannot cross a room without spilling tea or wine on a white shirt. So, we need something that can really clean.

I'm looking at Country Save, homemade detergent, soap nuts, Charlie's, and Allens, but leaning towards one of the first two. Is it fair to test these in a machine which is often full of other detergents, and on clothes which might have residue from those other detergents? Is there a good way to get samples of these without spending an arm and a leg?

Thanks in advance!

[Monkey pants]

I like Charlies soap. Works great, gets things clean, and you only have to use a teaspoon full for a full load. Its good for diapers too.

[somegirl99]

I use Country Save for everything and it works well for us. I started out testing a small box that I got from alice.com before doing the larger order through Amazon.

[cristeen]

I use country save for everything w good results. You do have to pretreat stains w pretty much all natural detergents though. I keep a bottle of Dr Bronners for that.

[AKislandgirl]

We use Country Save too. Works just fine!

[A Mom's Love]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I use country save for everything w good results. You do have to pretreat stains w pretty much all natural detergents though. I keep a bottle of Dr Bronners for that.

What kind of Dr. Bronners do you use? Baby or regular liquid castile soap?