Laundry Soap

[kdabbler]

I've been using Costco's Kirkland brand liquid soap because it was highly rated in Consumer Reports. But that information is a few years old and I want to review it.

What brand has the best value? When I say value I'm would like these qualities:

• Good for the environment (I've read powder is better then liquid)
• Excellent/top-rated cleaning
• Low in cost

[Katheda]

It really has so much to do with the water quality for where you live. In soft water, anything will work well. If you have hard water, powders will not work as well as liquids and well, most detergetns don't work that great in hard water, hence the need for softening agents.

good site for more info:
http://www.tidbitsandstuff.com/artic...etergent.shtml

[GenB]

PP is right; it depends on where you live and the quality of your water but I live in the sw part of Georgia and we have the hardest water in the world. I usually make my own detergent and have had alot of luck with it but I also love Arm and Hammer's Essentials. Comes in a small green bottle, is enviro.friendly and does a good job. Plus its CHEAP!! I use half the recommended amount and add some washing soda and borax to boost. So far we've been happy!

[Naturalyst]

Consumer Reports last reviewed laundry detergents January 2007. The best at cleaning was found to be SA8 powder with Bioquest (made by the company formerly known as Amway), but it was also the most expensive - 61¢ per load - and only available online. They found that Tide Free HE and Gain HE performed almost as well for a lot less.

In their ratings charts, Consumer Reports did list whether products contained NPEs (nonylphenol ethoxylates - surfacants recognized as toxic to aquatic plants and animals) and noted when manufacturers refused to reveal.

In making quick recommendations, Consumer reports considered not just cleaning. They also took account of price. For HE machines, their quick recommendations were: Gain HE liquid, Kirkland Signature Ultra liquid and Method Fresh Air 3x concentrate liquid. For conventional machines, their quick recommendations were Tide with Febreze Freshness liquid and Wal-Mart's Great Value Ultra Glacier Breeze liquid.

Below find a list I extracted from their ratings of detergents for HE machines, showing overall cleaning of "Very Good" or better (with the best listed first):

SA8 powder (no NPEs)
Gain HE liquid (no NPEs)
Tide Free HE liquid (no NPEs)
Cheer Color Guard for HE liquid (no NPEs)
Kirkland Signature Ultra liquid (no NPEs)
Sears Advanced Formula powder (contains NPEs)
Method Fresh Air 3x Concentrate liquid (no NPEs)


Below find a list I extracted from their ratings of detergents for conventional machines, showing overall cleaning of "Very Good" or better (with the best listed first):

Tide with Bleach Alternative liquid (no NPEs)
Tide with Febreze Freshness liquid (no NPEs)
Tide Cold Water powder (no NPEs)
Wal Mart's Great Value liquid (no NPEs)
Wisk Dazzling Whites & Colors liquid (no NPEs)
Arm & Hammer Clean Burst with Color-Safe Bleach powder (mfg. wouldn't reveal whether NPEs were present)
Tide with Bleach powder (no NPEs)
Gain with Bleach Alternative liquid (no NPEs)
ShopRite Ultra Free and Clear liquid (contains NPEs)

Consumer Reports put Seventh Generation Free & Clear much further down the list. And, I note that they did not rate Bi-O-Kleen, Charlies Soap, or Ecover.

- Naturalyst (who uses her own homemade concoction for most laundry along with Bi-O-Kleen Cold Water liquid and Arm & Hammer Essentials liquid for the rest)

[Slabobbin]

We use Ivory bar soap, baking soda and white vinegar.

We keep a bar of plain Ivory soap and a cheese grater in a bin beside the washing machine. We load the clothes, grate a few grates of the soap, add a small scoop of baking soda and put a glug of vinegar in the rinse hole.

Our clothes come out very clean, smelling good and static free.

We are on well water and I'm not sure of its hardness, so I don't know if this method would work for everyone.

It is very inexpensive for us though, more so than any commerical detergents that we tried...not to mention a lot better for us and the environment!

[SleepyMamaBear]

Charlies

[rabbithorns]

I also use grated Ivory bar soap with just washing soda added.

It's about 30 cents for a bar and 2.49 for a box of washing soda. The washing soda lasts 5 months, and a bar lasts us about 3 weeks for a family of 3 - 2 adults and one 17 year old. So I'd say that's 24 cents per week for laundry soap.

I only do wash once a week and do between 3-5 loads, not all huge loads either, some small or medium.

I had to be careful with laundry soap because I can't handle perfumes but my husband didn't think the no dye/ no scent laundry soaps were getting the clothes clean smelling (you could still smell sweat). The Ivory soap makes everything smell "clean" if there is such a smell! The washing soda helps the soap work and rinse out completely.

[kdabbler]

Thank you all. Definitely something to think about. And Naturalyst, wow, thank you for all that info. Since dh and I can't afford any new appliances or cars right now, we've let our subscription lapse.

I'll have to check out Charlie's. I'm not sure if I'd be saving any money by buying it online. However, I see that they have a local retailer.

I get free shipping with Amazon and came across Maggie's Soap Nuts. However, $.50/load seems expensive when compared to about $.17/load with the Charlie's.

Is there a difference between washing soda and baking soda? I'm totally new to this.

[spiderdust]

Ah, someone else recommended Charlies! It's a great bargain, and we're all happy with the way it cleans our clothes. I was never happy with the results that I got with the homemade laundry soap recipe (borax, washing soda, Fels Naptha, etc.), but Charlies really does a great job.

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by kdabbler

I'll have to check out Charlie's. I'm not sure if I'd be saving any money by buying it online. However, I see that they have a local retailer.

Check online and compare. I'm pretty sure Charlie's includes shipping and, since you are buying direct from the manufacturer, it's hard to think buying retail would be cheaper.

[SleepyMamaBear]

Charlies is free shipping, even on the HEAVY 5gallon bucket of powder.