Laundry detergent suggestions

I found a few really old threads on the subject but wanted more current opinions.

I'm currently using Woolite Everyday and Woollite Darks. I'm on my last two bottles of the old Clean Fresh Scent for the Woolite Everyday. The new scent, Sparkling Falls, smells horrible Super perfumy, almost industrial bathroom cleaner-like (to me) I used it once and had to rewash everything using the old Woolite scent that my Mom still had (and I ended up taking her bottle ). The scent of BJ's brand of laundry detergent is even worse and it was only a sample packet I tried.

Is there any similar liquid laundry detergent to the old Woolite Everyday scent or something that isn't overally perfumy but still works well to clean? I previously used Tide but it got too pricey for me and the detergent horribly dried out my hands when I hand washed items. Maybe a "free and clear" detergent? Or a baby one? Do natural detergents work just as well? I'm looking at this one: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/laundry-soap I'm not interested in pods / pacs or powder detergents.

Recently I've been using the All free& clear liquid and like it.

Well not being interested in powder or pods can limit your choice and some times powder can be cheaper I used Purex free and clear while I was living in the USA it was around $6-$7 bucks for a bottle that would do 100 loads.

I found the scent of the "unscented" detergents to be worse than the scented ones! ("unscented" doesn't always mean "no fragrance added". Sometimes they add a neutralizing scent to cover up the natural smell of the ingredients). And my clothes always smelled dingy. . .maybe the water is weird here. So right now I like Tide Pods (Spring Meadows) and Gain Flings (purple---I forget the name of the scent). Before pods were available I used liquid Tide with Febreze.

A lot of the natural detergents cost considerably more per use than Tide. So if price is a concern that's something to think about. Also (something I read on a frugal living website ), the price of detergent is not normally significant enough to worry about. For instance, the pods are expensive (probably the most expensive among normal detergents, some of the natural brands cost more though), and cost about 25-30 cents each. Even if I do a load daily, that's only $7.50-$9.00 per month. Even if I cut that cost in half, I'd be saving---at most---less than $5 a month. Which may or may not be worth it, depending on the individual/family. If you find one you like, it might be worth a couple extra dollars to you.

I don't know which detergents smell like original Woolite, sorry. But I've been known to stand in the detergent aisle for a long time, unscrewing the lids and sniffing every different scent. . .it probably amused store security but that's the best way to find a scent you like! :lol3:

Willowy said:

I found the scent of the "unscented" detergents to be worse than the scented ones!

("unscented" doesn't always mean "no fragrance added". Sometimes they add a neutralizing scent to cover up the natural smell of the ingredients). And my clothes always smelled dingy. . .maybe the water is weird here. So right now I like Tide Pods (Spring Meadows) and Gain Flings (purple---I forget the name of the scent). Before pods were available I used liquid Tide with Febreze.

A lot of the natural detergents cost considerably more per use than Tide. So if price is a concern that's something to think about. Also (something I read on a frugal living website

), the price of detergent is not normally significant enough to worry about. For instance, the pods are expensive (probably the most expensive among normal detergents, some of the natural brands cost more though), and cost about 25-30 cents each. Even if I do a load daily, that's only $7.50-$9.00 per month. Even if I cut that cost in half, I'd be saving---at most---less than $5 a month. Which may or may not be worth it, depending on the individual/family. If you find one you like, it might be worth a couple extra dollars to you.

I don't know which detergents smell like original Woolite, sorry. But I've been known to stand in the detergent aisle for a long time, unscrewing the lids and sniffing every different scent. . .it probably amused store security but that's the best way to find a scent you like!

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I'm with you on the Tide pods. I LOVE them. They frequently go on sale at Target and coupons.com has coupons for them all the time (including right now   ).  

I do the standing in the detergent aisle checking scents thing all the time. I was in Target yesterday trying to figure out which scent of Downy fabric softener I liked best. I spent a good 10 minutes on it before I picked one.  

Purex baby is a good laundry detergent. I used it for my son until he was a few months old. I love the smell of it.

LTS3 said:

I found a few really old threads on the subject but wanted more current opinions.

I'm currently using Woolite Everyday and Woollite Darks. I'm on my last two bottles of the old Clean Fresh Scent for the Woolite Everyday. The new scent, Sparkling Falls, smells horrible :sick: Super perfumy, almost industrial bathroom cleaner-like (to me) :nausea: I used it once and had to rewash everything using the old Woolite scent that my Mom still had (and I ended up taking her bottle :lol3: ). The scent of BJ's brand of laundry detergent is even worse and it was only a sample packet I tried.

Is there any similar liquid laundry detergent to the old Woolite Everyday scent or something that isn't overally perfumy but still works well to clean? I previously used Tide but it got too pricey for me and the detergent horribly dried out my hands when I hand washed items. Maybe a "free and clear" detergent? Or a baby one? Do natural detergents work just as well? I'm looking at this one: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/laundry-soap I'm not interested in pods / pacs or powder detergents.

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I've never used the Woolite detergents you mention... and I don't know how much you currently are spending on them -- but I've been using Seventh Generation Free & Clear liquid detergent for many, many years. I cannot stand perfumed detergents and purchase accordingly. I use the Seventh Generation dishwash liquid as well (we wash our own dishes in the sink but we also use it for handsoap in the bathroom). You can usually save some money by buying the 100 FL OZ bottle versus the 50 FL OZ bottle (although the latter is easier to carry when doing laundry, so I have a spare 50 fl oz bottle I just keep pouring into from the 100 fl oz bottles I purchase over the years).

We use All Free & Clear.  Both my kids have eczema (so do I; but it's not exacerbated by most detergents for me).  I've never used baby detergent; it's overpriced and over hyped IMHO.  I've used the All Free & Clear since they were newborns.  I do add a small scoop of oxyclean to some loads if I know there are some particularly dirty/stained items.  Like when the kids were babies and spitting up; I'd add some to the load with towels and bibs.  

MIL is sensitive to the point she had to work with her allergist looking at the ingredients in every brand of soap. She ended up doing well with Arm & Hammer's powdered detergent.  DH and I used to use their liquid.  We also liked Tide; but like you say, it's expensive.  I try to shop with coupons.

MoochNNoodles said:

...  I do add a small scoop of oxyclean to some loads if I know there are some particularly dirty/stained items.  ...

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I use Oxyclean for these instances as well, the only powder I use... it's the Oxyclean with the green lid (supposedly "Chlorine-free, color safe" Free of Dyes and Perfumes).

I use the tide pods and gain flings also there the only detergent that cleans in my high efficiency washer. When I'm on a budget I like the arm and hammer brand there fabric softener sheets are excellent also if you can find them.

I am looking for a cold water front loader laundry detergent. I do not mind the smell of original Tide or of All or Wisk. The other scents are terrible to my allergies. 

I cannot find a cold water Tide without the fresh scent--that one really bothers me. 

For some reason cold water laundry detergent is not carried around here. I use it for my dark clothes and the ones I do not want to shrink....

any ideas...

I cannot use Tide as it make me itch! Grrrr.... I am very sensitive to most artificial scents and have found that Arm and Hammer Sensitive skin, free of dyes and perfumes works well in the liquid form.

I use a detergent called X-tra.  It is not a top name brand but it works for me and the different smells are delish.  I've tried a few of the different scents and I love them all, my clothes come out so clean and smelling wonderful. It is a liquid, I stopped using powdered brands a long time ago.

Artiemom said:

 
I am looking for a cold water front loader laundry detergent. I do not mind the smell of original Tide or of All or Wisk. The other scents are terrible to my allergies. 

I cannot find a cold water Tide without the fresh scent--that one really bothers me. 

For some reason cold water laundry detergent is not carried around here. I use it for my dark clothes and the ones I do not want to shrink....

any ideas...

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Artiemom, any HE laundry detergent can be used with cold water. It doesn't have to say "for cold water" on the package. I have a HE front loading washer and I just use the cold setting for everything.

Willowy said:

 But I've been known to stand in the detergent aisle for a long time, unscrewing the lids and sniffing every different scent. . .it probably amused store security but that's the best way to find a scent you like!

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I'm so going to have to do that the next time I go to Target or Walmart  

I'll give a couple of the suggested brands a try. Whatever I don't like my Mom can probably use

Remember when P & G bragged about how they were able to reduce the ounces of detergents, but you still got a clean wash? That was their excuse for the smaller containers (at the same price, of course). P & G started it, then the other manufacturers followed along. You were able to use less, but still get the same amount of wash loads from a container. And the detergent seemed to be a little thicker? Well, I have noticed (and maybe it's just me) that Tide is a lot more liquid-y than it used to be. And I find myself having to use more detergent to get the clothes cleaner now. I don't know why.

We just bought a bag of Tide pods and I'll see how they work. The bag of 16 pods was on sale last night for $4.99. I had a store coupon for $1.50 off and then I had a national coupon for another $1.00 off. Our store will take their own coupons, plus one national brand coupon for the same purchase, so I take advantage of that whenever I can. Anyway, I got the Tide pods for $1.99 (plus tax). That was a good deal; I will try the pods tomorrow night when I do laundry. I've never used the pods before, but I didn't want to pass up the bargain. I hope the pods work OK.

We tend to stick with Tide and with Wisk. Usually whichever one is on sale AND whenever I have coupons to go with the purchase. If I have to, I'll go with Cheer. 

I don't buy powdered detergents and I don't use powder in the dishwasher either. We have a very, very old washer and I don't think the powder dissolves well sometimes. I don't buy fabric softener either. I do use a bit of bleach when I'm washing white towels, washcloths, and dishcloths. 

My DIL uses Seventh Generation products and she really likes them.

LTS3 said:

...
I'm looking at this one: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/laundry-soap ...

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LTS3 said:

...

I'll give a couple of the suggested brands a try. Whatever I don't like my Mom can probably use :lol3:

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Well, you mentioned this one and that is the one I have had experience with

LTS3 said:

 
Artiemom, any HE laundry detergent can be used with cold water. It doesn't have to say "for cold water" on the package. I have a HE front loading washer and I just use the cold setting for everything.

I'm so going to have to do that the next time I go to Target or Walmart

 

I'll give a couple of the suggested brands a try. Whatever I don't like my Mom can probably use

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thanks, I feel so dumb for not knowing that!!  it was not my idea, I rent, to get a front loader....It will save me from looking for it!!

and I will try some of the otheres...again, as in All and Wisk.....I do not have really stinky dirty stuff...but just regular laundry...

Tide or Gain.  HE pods. Nothing else seems to really clean the clothes.

I like the Kirkland brand pods from Costco. They are fairly cheap for a huge container and go on sale all the time.

I think the Kirkland pods work great but I don't like the scent. Since I don't do a lot of laundry I'll splurge for the ones I like . But yeah, if I had a pack of kids or another reason for doing a ton of laundry I'd definitely use them. I think they're only something like 10 cents a pod? I'd have to look at the price/size the next time I'm there. A good value, for sure.