The cheapest laundry detergent I ever bought gave me a net profit when I bought it since it was on sale, I had a coupon and there was a rebate. I think I made $1 on the bottle. And last summer I bought 5 bottles of Tide for 36¢ each, including tax. So for me, Xtra is probably a pretty expensive detergent! Had I not had so much I probably would have bought some of the cheap brand from Walgreens that was on sale a few months ago to try out. It was a 52 load bottle, on sale for $2.50 and buy-one-get-one.

As far as what I'm guessing the point you were trying to make, I'd suggest you try a bottle and see how it works. For everyday stuff, not too dirty, hey, it might work just fine.

Additives can add up quickly for cost so I've found that a good detergent doesn't need them, at least not often. When I bought cheaper detergents and had to add to it, as said, it raised the cost so why not use the more effective from the start?

I used to use multiple brands often. 20 years ago, I used Wisk for my dress shirts (the ring around the collar needed it) for sport shirts and pants I'd use something like ERA or Arm & Hammer and then for jeans, socks and stuff that didn't really matter I'd use the cheapest generic whatever I could find. But there too it got to the point that the costs changed and I decided to use one mid-range and at that point didn't need the dress shirts due to a job change.

When I used Oxi, I bought the Sun brand from Family Dollar. $3.50 for 52 oz if I recall. Many have reported it works for them as well as OxiClean.

There's lots of ways to save money around the house. Fewer loads for one example. Just be careful you don't wind up spending more on trying to save! Good luck.

BTW, you might be interested in the Money Saving Tips Forum. Might give you some ideas for other ways to cut expenses.

Purex is actually pretty good, and Arm & Hammer...those are the two I would buy if I was pinching pennies...

How about the big plastic tub from Costco (Kirkland brand)? I would think it would clean decently as I find all Kirkland products nice.

Or, what about a big box of Sears detergent when it goes on sale - also economical.

I would bet the 6.6lb bag of mexican Ariel at Walmart (depending on what part of the country you live in as far as availability goes) would be more economical in the long run. The stuff washes great at low temps and I bet the amount of detergent required would be far less than Xtra.

Another very inexpensive brand is SUN. It is sold at most dollar type stores. I get the Classic Sun with color safe oxygen bleach in it and I have been very happy with it's performance.

It does not have the HE symbol on the box, but on the side of the box are instructions for using it in front loader machines. Of course I use even less of it then they say to use. It's quick dissolving, low sudsing and rinses out completely. It's even recommended for diapers on some diaper forums because of it's clean rinsing and lack of unnecessary additives.

Janet

Here is a link that might be useful: Sun Detergent

Doesn't the company that owns Sun also make the detergent for Sears??

sparky that could very well be correct as Huish is a leading manufacturer of detergents for private store brands.
Their company also acquired the Unilever laundry business last year.

Janet

Here is a link that might be useful: Huish Acquires Unilever

Sorry to be late to this post but I must comment.

Firstly, having seen many of the OP comments on this forum, I figured when she asked about XTRA she was also looking for clean clothes.

Thirteen days ago we moved in to our new "McMansion" and it was just shy after eight o'clock. Our daughter, Bekah, came to me and said all the clothes she could find were in the hamper that had been moved from her old room. Ofcourse, all my laundry products were in a box that I still haven't found. So, the closest store being RiteAid, I dashed there. That's where I found XTRA. Since Tide was about 2x what I normally pay for it (and despite my husband and I both being well paid physicians, I still remember my mother saying how you should never spend more than you have to for things that you are going to use up every day!) andI decided to give it a scent test. Opened up the cap and it smelled GREAT!(It's the Scent-Sations, Bright green bottle with a darker green cap). Bought a bottle, grabed some liquid Clorox 2 and Downey and headed back home.

So far, I don't know if it's my new Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer or if it's the XTRA but our clothes look great. Granted, our good stuff goes to the drycleaners now (It's cheaper than paying someone to come in and iron) but everything I wash at home smells good, looks good and isn't showing any signs of fading or wear.

All in all I am very pleased. I caught our local CVS having a sale on it for $1.79 and picked up all five bottles that they had in stock. I plan to use this for a long time, or until they change the forumla and ruin it! :)

Best Washes from our house to yours!
Justin

wow justin...

Sears is made by Desoto. I purchased some Sun powder and it is the consistency of washing soda. Thats probably why it is inexpensive. Tide powder left a scum 'film' on my darks. Sun powder did not.

I've never had luck with cheap detergents. Arm&Hammer was the latest one I tried and it was pretty much worthless, even with STPP added. I have boys who pretty much stain everything they wear, so I really do need a good, strong detergent. I use coupons and buy the good stuff on sale to help with costs.

Tracey

Justin,
Just curious, did you previously post under the screen name DaveNP? A quick search of your current screen name brought up a ton of posts that sound exactly like topics he used to talk about...owning many makes of washers, being a "well paid physician", having maids in one to six days of the week depending on the thread, moving into a luxury condo June 18 '08, and now a "McMansion" Feb 2 '09...

jonsgirl, you read my mind. :)

OMG..DaveNP?

Hi jonsgirl!!

Another good cheap detergent can also be found at Walmart. FOCA. It's a mexican detergent and it cleans really well. It will even remove set stains from fabrics. It's only $3.22 for a large bag. I estimate one bag will last us a year!
It's rather sudsy, but it rinses out very easily. If you have a FL machine, make sure you only use a teaspoon or so.

Bobby! I have missed you on here, seems like a lot of the regular posters are gone...and some are back! LOL I could be wrong, but if anyone were to do a search on all the forums, they would see what I'm talking about. Something just seemed very familiar with the bragging and grandstanding...Who calls their condo a 'luxury' condo, and then six months later moves into a 'McMansion'...I don't think anyone who actually lives in that type of house would refer to it as such...but what really was interesting was about three years back, he referred to his 'wife' in a thread but now refers to a 'husband'??? I just don't get it.
Anyway, I'm so glad to see you back, I'm emailing Lifesabeach to see what shes up to...maybe we can get her to start "Are you an Overnighter2!?"

I recently started using Xtra and I'm a huge fan of Oxiclean. From my experience this combination works fine for me. But I must admit I have lightly soiled clothes so it may be a bit different depending on your particular needs.