posted on
October 09, 2009 at 09:05AM
First, ALWAYS use HE detergent. Some people are still under the impression that using less conventional detergent is ok, but it's not. It will void the warranty, and damages as a result are not covered by protection agreements, either (it's considered abuse, akin to putting Diesel into a gasoline engine).
We use the UltraPlus detergents from Sears (the no dye/perfume and OxiClean versions). We've found they clean very well, and for a very nice price.
If you want a light scent, try the UltraPlus in the orange box. It's often on sale for around $12 for up to 180 loads. Definitely a great bargain. There are also versions with extra stain fighters and fabric softener added.
We generally use powder, but sometimes my wife likes to use the liquid, especially for cold temperature washes, like jeans.