| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/26/2008 10:37:38 AM | I live in Canada and I've just bought a front loader high efficiency washer. I can't tell the difference between using he (high efficiency) laundry detergent and regular detergent in terms of effectiveness of cleaning. There is a lot of info, advertising and dire warnings about NOT using the regular detergent in my new washer. In fact, my laundry seems softer when I use the regular laundry detergent, which maybe suggests better rinsing. Regular detergent is way cheaper than the high efficiency type.
The main reason for not using regular laundry detergent is supposed to be foaming, which is not good in the front loader, but I don't use enough to cause foaming. I learned many years ago that the volume guidelines per 'normal wash' can be greatly reduced. When I lived in the Scottish Highlands with the soft water you needed only about a tablespoon of detergent per wash, and this taught me to experiment with using less ... in any location.
Does anyone have an opinion or actual knowledge of this issue? I don't buy into the concept anyway, but I'm prepared to be persuaded.
A.
P.S. Should have bought a front loader a while ago - it's great! Way easier on your clothes and uses 1/4 of the water compared with a top loader. They have only recently become commonplace and affordable in Canada. Weird, since we had them in the UK since the 1970s! | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/26/2008 12:05:21 PM | In my opinion the companies want you to use the high efficiency detergents cuz they cost more. I found that you can actually just use less of the regular detergent to get the job done. That's just my opinion and what I've been doing for a couple years now without an issue.
P.S. I have a front loader Maytag Neptune and I'm from Canada. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/26/2008 8:49:04 PM | | Lol I'm such a nerd that I know this. "HE" laundry detergent creates less suds during the washing cycle and that's necessary because of the decreased amount of water used by the front load machines. You CAN effectively, however, use regular laundry detergent if you use 1/4 of the amount. ... come to think of it, I need to go do laundry. lol | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/26/2008 9:17:25 PM | | Yes....it is necessary...in front load washers......regular detergent foams too much......however if you are using alot less regular detergent then is recommended....you are probably ok...... | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/26/2008 10:14:43 PM | I bought a front-end washer a couple of years ago, and buy the high-efficiency detergent (I read the manual, and the explanation was that the washer uses significantly less water, and it would be excessively foamy with regular stuff - hence not getting a thorough rinse). I kind of believe it - when I wash things by hand in my bathroom basin, even with a tiny bit of soap, the rinsing out is a major undertaking.
I'm not sure why it's more expensive for some of the above posters. The price is the same where I shop, and the only difference is there are fewer options in fragrance.
I also agree with one of the posters in that it's probably about the same if you use regular detergent and just use less. I never thought of that, and in fact that would be a bonus savings on top of using less water. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/27/2008 10:31:17 AM | | Actually, there were a lot of front loader washers in Canada for years....almost every coin-op laundry had rows of them. The top loaders came into vogue in the 70's. All of them used regular detergent. This idea of using HE detergent is a con by the manufacturers in order for you to buy thier exclusive product. The regular laundry detergent will work fine...in smaller quantities. It isn't as if the soap is going to eat away at the rubber seals or anything. Same as a dishwasher. Use the wrong soap in the same quantities, you get an overabundance of suds which don't go away, and may leak out. Use small quantities of regular soap. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/27/2008 12:30:21 PM | I have a front load washer and have been using the HE Sunlight detergent (sensitive skin one)- it seems to do a great job. Out of curiosity I recently purchased the Tide Coldwater and switched to washing in cold (for energy savings). Tide Coldwater is NOT HE but it does just as nice a job as the Sunlight HE. I've reduced the amount of detergent recommended to 1/2 the lid.
I'm on the fence right now as to which one to stay with too!!!
I found no price difference between HE and regular detergent. I'm in Canada too. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/28/2008 7:10:07 AM | | One other point I'd like to make is that I have found in using a liquid fabric softener in the dispenser area (where the soap goes), I have found that you need to water it down otherwise it stains the clothes. I have been filling a water bottle 1/2 fabric softener and 1/2 water to avoid the problem. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/28/2008 2:28:56 PM | I noticed that there is a Tide coldwater HE detergent also.
I am using about 1/10 of the full lid of normal liquid detergent (Tide scent free regular) and it seems to wash well.
I'm going to experiment with reducing the volume of HE detergent I use and see what happens - I currently use half the recommended amount.
A. | |
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| high efficiency laundry detergent - necessary?
Posted: 2/28/2008 11:30:58 PM | 1 grated bar of ivory soap. (or soap flakes if you can find them)
3/4 cup of Borax
3/4 cup of washing soda
1 tablespoon per wash. Maybe alittle more for really bad stains. | |
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