Thread Number: 39762  /  Tag: Major Appliances
Older clothes washers and newer detergent 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 422079   3/23/2020 at 18:33 (1,494 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Has anyone figured out what has been happening to liquid detergents ever since they are "compatible with all washers" now? I highly suspect they have gotten watered down, now to half 'n' half proportions.

I have a Kenmore direct drive top loader I bought in 1995 and uses about 20-25 gallons a fill at max mater level. I plan to keep this thing running to the day we die.
A few years ago, Tide liquid was available for HE and non-HE machines. The not-so-large caps on the non-HE Tide bottle were filled about 1/2 way and I got suds. Sometimes too many suds. If I was not careful, and depending on the actual load, I could easily suds-lock the machine.

Nowdays, the Tide bottle caps are huge. There is no more non-HE Tide. The bottles are too tall for the cabinet so I keep refilling a bottle that has the older smaller cap. It takes over a full cap just to get a few residual suds at the middle of the wash. Sometimes I add more just to see some suds.

Our water is on the semi-hard side and always has been - I do not think that had changed much.

So is this detergent a non-sudsing formula or am I just not using enough?
I noticed the 'super-concentrated' term went the way of the do-do bird, so that seems to tell me something...

I know I will get some flack about sticking with Tide, but we trust it for all of our stuff and know we how it cleans. It cleans my dirty work clothes well, keeps whites white, and does not damage the lady's loads of delicates.

This machine is 25 years old and just last year I had to repair it for the first time. A set of agitator dogs for $5 and 10 minutes to install them. It has been a good machine for us. Just gotta figure out the detergent issue now..

Thanks in advance!

Post# 422090 , Reply# 1   3/24/2020 at 01:25 (1,494 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)        

madman's profile picture
The whole idea of high efficiency detergent is that it doesn't make suds. The 'efficiency' is in terms of water usage. In theory, a modern washer can use less water to wash the same amount of clothes, assuming the detergent doesn't make suds.

Also, in theory, a normal amount of HE detergent should wash just fine in any machine, it just won't make suds. Of course, I don't know for sure, it's naturally a different formulation in order to avoid suds.

Does it appear to clean the clothes well enough, though?

Post# 422144 , Reply# 2   3/25/2020 at 06:51 (1,493 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
We have a HE washer and it does not clean near as well as a conventional. I have to wash my work clothes 3 or 4 times in it to get them clean, when a conventional did it in one load.

Post# 422147 , Reply# 3   3/25/2020 at 09:28 (1,493 days old) by Lux_Luthor (Tennessee)        

I have a MayTag front load that’s 3 years old and it always cleans stains out of my clothes. I use either Tide or Charlie’s Soap.

For both cases, I recommend checking the detergent instructions as well as the washer instructions to see if something needs altered like the detergent amount or washer setting used. Your stuff should come clean. I’d also recommend using a pre-treat solution for stains.

Post# 422149 , Reply# 4   3/25/2020 at 10:29 (1,493 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
I use ALL "Free and Clear"

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture
pods in my 1992 Maytag set. All is fine. For whites, I add Clorox and "Muleteam" borax.


Post# 422151 , Reply# 5   3/25/2020 at 11:25 (1,493 days old) by Marks_here (_._)        

marks_here's profile picture
I am still amazed when I look through the glass top of the Maytag I have that uses hardly any water & detergent it gets everything clean. I still may get a Amana basic washer because I'm used to the agitator pulling the linen down. With the one I have now it just gets shifted side to side.

Post# 422155 , Reply# 6   3/25/2020 at 12:32 (1,493 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Well looks like my post from last night did not make it for some reason...

I kinda figured the HE stuff was non-sudsing, just because there is less water to rinse it out. Makes sense.
I am using twice the amount of HE detergent as my machine uses twice as much water.
Clothes seem to be coming clean just the way they should and water discolors, meaning it is keeping the dirt/dyes in suspension.
Everything feels good afterwards so I assume it is rinsing out okay.
I guess I will just keep doing what I am doing then.
Thanks for the responses!




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