Dirty Laundry

[Hannibal]

I went on a 3 week trip for work and found something interesting. I usually use Tide detergent to wash my uniforms / clothes. While I was away, I had to do laundry and the store was out of Tide, so I used Gain.

I really liked the smell of the Gain detergent, but I am not sure if I am ready to switch brands. I am mostly concerned about excess fading of my clothes, etc.

I did some research and the Gain brand boasts its fragrent smells. I use Tide because that's what my mom and sister always bought.

So, what say you? What brand of laundry detergent do you use on your uniforms / clothes and why?

[Jenna]

I use CVS store brand "Free and Clear" detergent. It cleans my fleece gently, keeping it soft, fresh, and free of perfumes and dyes!

[irishmick]

I use Arm & Hammer in one of the "girly" smells. Smells great and does a great job.

[Rhino]

Hannibal, are you trying usurp Brad's title as poster of the gayest thread ever? I don't think he'll be pleased...

[Buttercup]

I use Arm & Hammer in one of the "girly" smells. Smells great and does a great job.

That's what I usually use as well! It does the job and it's generally cheaper than the other brands.

[Terminator]

Hannibal, are you trying usurp Brad's title as poster of the gayest thread ever? I don't think he'll be pleased...

He's just posting what he's freely thinking without worry about being judged as something he isn't based on the miscontrued thoughts and opinions of others on an internet forum. And there's nothing more honest and pure than that.

P.S.- It's detergent. Who cares what brand you use.

[Jenna]

And there's nothing more honest and pure than that.

It's pure as the "Free and Clear" detergent I use!

[Ducky]

Gain here, I like the way it smells and does a decent job. Alternately, Arm & Hammer.

[Hannibal]

Hannibal, are you trying usurp Brad's title as poster of the gayest thread ever? I don't think he'll be pleased...

Brad will never admit defeat.

[Rhino]

Too true. Too true.

[jmur5074]

I use the cheapest stuff I can find at Wal-Mart.

I think it's mostly a bottle of blue water.

No joke.

[2 Blue 4 U]

I like Gain, but also use Tide, Wisk and Woolite, along with Clorox bleach for colors. Can't use Arm & Hammer am allergic to something in it, get very itchy from it.

Consumer Report Ratings of Laundry detergents, name, liquid or powder, and cost per load, score

HIGH-EFFICIENCY(HE) DETERGENTS

Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated With Bleach Alternative With Color Clean HE, liquid, 17, 87
Cheer 2X Ultra Concentrated Color Guard for High Efficiency HE, liquid, 17, 81
Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated Original HE, liquid, 22, 78
Gain 2X Ultra Concentrated Original Fresh HE, liquid, 16, 67
SA8 Premium With Bioquest HE, powder, 23, 66
Method Fresh Air 3X Concentrate HE, liquid, 20, 61
Seventh Generation Free & Clear, liquid, 28, 61
Wisk Dual Action 3X Concentrated HE, liquid, 17, 61
All 3X Concentrated Small & Mighty Free Clear HE, liquid, 16, 50
Purex Ultra Concentrate HE After the Rain, liquid, 13, 46
All 3X Concentrated Small & Mighty Fresh Rain HE, liquid, 16, 45

CONVENTIONAL DETERGENTS

Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated With a Touch of Downy, liquid, 27, 85
* Tide 2X Ultra Concentrated for Cold Water, liquid, 19, 79
Tide With Bleach With Color Clean powder, 23, 79
* Gain 2X Ultra Concentrated With Bleach Alternative, liquid, 19, 78
Cheer 2X Ultra Concentrated Dark Formula Color Guard, liquid, 21, 74
Tide Cold Water powder, 18, 67
* Great Value Everyday Elegance 2X Ultra (Wal-Mart), liquid, 11, 65
Tide With a Touch of Downy, powder, 23, 64
Arm & Hammer Clean Burst With Color-Safe Bleach, powder, 13, 62
All 3X Concentrated Small & Mighty Stainlifter, liquid, 16, 62
Gain plus a Touch of Softness, powder, 18, 61
Purex Plus Fabric Softener, liquid, 15, 58
Purex Ultra Concentrate Plus Renuzit Fresh Scent, liquid, 13, 58
Purex Ultra Concentrate With Color Safe Bleach Alternative, liquid, 13, 56
Cheer Original Color Guard, powder, 20, 55
ShopRite Ultra Free 'N Clear, liquid, 9, 55
Purex Ultra Concentrate Natural Elements, liquid, 13, 54
Arm & Hammer New 2X Concentrate Clean Burst, liquid, 11, 54
Sears Ultra Plus Stain Fighting Formula 9835, powder, 11, 54
Arm & Hammer New 2X Concentrate Essentials Mountain Rain, liquid, 11, 48
Arm & Hammer New 2X Concentrate Free of Perfume & Dye, liquid, 11, 48
Xtra New 2X Concentrate SentSations Spring Sunshine, liquid, 6, 43
Sun Burst Clean and Fresh 2X Double Concentrated, liquid, 5, 41


How we tested. To measure detergent performance, we used 306 8x16-inch industry-standard cotton flags (shown), each with eight swatches. One swatch on each flag was left unstained; the other seven were saturated with blood, red wine, sebum (ring-around-the-collar stuff), dirt, chocolate, grass, and tea stains. Then we machine-washed the flags in hard water with each detergent in 6-pound loads.

Using a special instrument called a colorimeter, we determined how well each detergent cleaned the stains, how it kept washed-off soil from redepositing on white swatches, and how it kept dyes from coloring white swatches.

What we found. Some products performed especially well on certain stains. For example, among HE detergents, SA8 Premium is excellent at removing ring-around-the-collar, grass, and tea stains, while Gain 2X excels at getting out chocolate and clay stains.

But because you're likely to see a wide range of stains, you'll want a product that does well overall. The good news is that all of the cleaners we tested did well overall. While all were decent at preventing dirt in the wash water from resoiling clothes, there were few, if any, differences in dye transfer.


HOW TO CHOOSE

First, choose a detergent that's right for your type of washer. Manufacturers recommend HE products for front-loading washers and high-efficiency top-loaders because those detergents are made to work with smaller volumes of water. Use conventional detergents in a conventional top-loading machine because HE formulas would be too weak.

Then see which products fit your budget. Among the lower-cost good choices are Cheer 2X Concentrated Color Guard for High Efficiency HE, Gain 2x Concentrated Original Fresh HE, Tide 2X Concentrated Coldwater, and Gain 2X Ultra Concentrated with Bleach Alternative.

[CTR man]

We use Sun Detergents. http://www.huish.com/sundetergents.html Cheaper than buying a name brand like Tide or Gain which is made by Proctor & Gamble. Sun manufactures their product under store brands as well.

[JLK]

what ever my wife wants to use. its her job to do the laundry.

[pgg]

I get what ever is cheapest. Just be thankful I'm wearing clean clothes

[MacLean]

Laundry?

You mean to tell me you are supposed to wear clothes more than once?

[adroitcuffs]

I, too, seem to have an allergic reaction to something in the Arm & Hammer brand detergent. For my general laundry, I prefer to use Tide. However, I tried the Seventh Generation (trying to be "green") the last time I purchased detergent and found it to be okay, but not as good as Tide. I'll go back to Tide next time.
My wool uniforms (class A & B) go to the cleaners. My dept. allows BDU's for daily patrol wear, so I wash those in Woolite dark.

I think Gain just has a lot more perfumes but Tide cleans better - IMHO.

[Kittylynn]

To add a bit to what CTR said, we prefer to use Sun detergent. I like getting the large bucket, it lasts us over a month! Both Tide and Gain cause an allergic reaction in me. I have tried a few store brands, but because of my sensitive skin I generally like to stick with something that I know won't make me itch!

[SPD]

Whatever's one sale. I couldn't care less.

It's all about the fabric softener anyway.

[ryan36002]

I don't really pay somebody else, my agency pays the somebody else.