which laundry detergent to buy?

Question

ok i'm a early 20's male and i've been doing my laundry since i moved out at 19. anyways...does it really matter what detergent you use? I mean tide is like over 7 dollars for like a 32 load and then there's purex which is 2.50 for the same amount of loads. So is there a big difference? should i stay away from the ones with bleach in them? does the bleach wear out the clothes faster? i'm kinda lost on which kind to buy thx

Answer 1

Avoid Bleach
Because it will deteriorate your clothing and it polutes our water supply
Same thing is true of "fabric softner" - it isn't good for your clothing either.. and it is even worse for your towels (anything cotton)

I hate Tide and Purex... neither of them wash out of the clothes well

If you must buy commercial laundry detergent, use Liquid Surf

Powder Detergants have phosphates (also bad for water supply)

I make my own the old-fashioned way... my son is 19 & he uses it as well. My boyfreind does historic home plaster work. The home-made version is not only cheaper, it is safe for water supply and it gets clothing cleaner than anything else I have ever tried

How-to make home-made laundry soap
1 bar of Octagon Soap.. grated
1/2 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Borax

As stated... grate the bar of Octagon Soap (Fels Naptha works even better if you can find it.. if you can't find either, grate a bar of Ivory)

Put into a large pot or bucket
Add 4 cups of boiling water... stir until the soap is melted.
Allow to cool (very important so you don't foam over)
Add in Baking Soda and Borax
Stir... add in 4 more cups of water.. this time cold
Stir
Pour into bottles (I use 1 gallon juice bottles)

use 1/2 cup per normal - large wash load
add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse water (I just put vinegar in a Downy Ball)

Total cost = less than 4 cents per load

If you buy 6 bars of Octagon
1 - 1lb box of Baking Soda
1 box of Borax
and 1 gallon of vinegar

You will spend a total of $12 and have enough laundry supplies to last you over 300 loads

Answer 2

I alternate my detergents. I get to used to the smells so I buy 1 of three...Tide w/Downy, Era, and Gain. They all smell great and are good for your fabrics. To boost up the cleaning power I add 1/2 a cup of baking soda to the load.
If you're worried about the affects of bleach then you have to try the baking soda. Bleach will eventually "eat" your clothes.

While all brands are labeled "laundry detergent," Consumer Reports recently rigorously tested them, and discovered that some clean much more effectively than others. The best, testers discovered, contain enzymes, which are especially good at removing protein stains such as blood, milk and sweat. The best-performing detergents in their test were Tide with Bleach and Tide Cold Water, with a special "best buy" mention for Costco brand Kirkland Signature Ultra.

But while using a good detergent is important, it isn't necessary to buy the most expensive.

Answer 3

The main brands like Tide and Cheer really do wash clothes better, especially in cold water (which is what I use most). You can increase your luck with cheaper detergents though. First, add about an inch of hot or warm water into your washing machine (no clothes yet.) sprinkle or pour the cheaper detergent right into the water and let it dissolve for a couple of minutes before you add your clothes and finish filling up the wash tub with any temperature water you choose. By doing this your soap will be just about as effective as the more expensive brands. Use a couple of boxes of the cheap stuff, then switch to Tide or Cheer for one box, then go back to the cheap stuff.

Answer 4

I think that Tide with Downy is the best of the best. Your clothes will also smell nice. Yes, if you use a lot of bleach on white clothes, the fabric will eventually thin out. Tike is the best cleaner out there so do not buy the cheap junk.

Answer 5

No. I make my own laundry soap. It's very easy & it only takes me about 15 minutes to make 3 months worth of soap. I would say I spend only about $20 for a year's supply of soap. I think a lot of people WOULD pay for homemade laundry soap, though. Especially with it being so cheap. I would think you could easily get someone to pay $70 for a year's supply, but you would have to get a GOOD recipe that really works. I used Fels-Naptha & that stuff stinks! It didn't get most of my stains out & it made a lot of my clothes, literally, stink. I switched to Zote & never went back.

Answer 6

I use Arm & Hammer, have for years - works great and a whole lot cheaper - Under $4.00

Answer 7

I use this cheap brand called "Brisk" that we get at Mills Fleet Farm. It is affordable & make my clothes really bright.

Answer 8

I use arm and hammer because it has no phosphates. Better for the environment.

Answer 9

i like tide