Powder or liquid?

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Courtney Chicago, IL posts: 258

posted on April 01, 2009 at 04:13PM Inappropriate? Quote Reply

So I seemed to have stained my white shirt with my liquid laundry detergent. I still like using liquid since powder can sometimes clump and stick to my clothes. I've always used Tide. Any ideas on some other products that do a great job and make you clothes smell nice too?

replies: 2 latest post: April 24, 2009 at 08:22PM by gridlock48

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BlueCrewGuyInMA
Lowell, MA
posts: 4631

posted on April 13, 2009 at 06:36AM

Not to get all "company man" on you, but have you tried the Ultra Plus detergents at Sears? We've switched to those, and they do a great job (we used to be Tide people, too) for much less money. If you want your clothes to smell good, focus on the fabric softener side of your laundering, and use dryer sheets with a scent you like.

As far as powders clumping, is your washer a conventional top-loader or a high-efficiency machine? If it's conventional, you may be putting the detergent in improperly. You'll see the washer manufacturer recommends waiting until the washer has filled with water to add detergent, to prevent the clumping you mentioned.

If your washer is a high-efficiency machine, are you putting the detergent in the dispenser or in the tub? It should only ever go in the dispenser. In either case, you may want to start using water that's a little warmer, as that not only helps with dissolving but also aids in the detergent's effectiveness.