I used to toss the desiccant packages (that often come in other packaging) in with the powdered detergent so that the detergent stayed powdery....you have to be careful and not put them in the wash by mistake but they worked well.

Mama is right. Just how much Sears detergent do you have?

Lol...Greeny, I think I've tried before to find out exactly how much detergent Jody has..don't think she's spilling the beans LOL

Jody, I know how much you LOVE Ariel with phosphates. You must now be loving the Sears to be stockpiling it, gosh I have an unbelieveable amount of Sears, and I rarely use it except as a prewash...tell us what you like about the Sears and do you add your trusty STPP to it?

Sears seems to be a love-it or hate-it detergent. Larsi, I know for a fact, hates it. If you read the AW forums (I sometimes read but wouldn't dare attempt to contribute) many people have a love affair with Sears Ultra Plus. MamaP was kind enough to send me a generous supply with her care package earlier this year. In my Samsung I felt that it didn't rinse out well and left clothing a bit scratchy, so I put it to the back of the shelf. Now that I have deeper rinses, I've pulled it out and have been using it on guest sheets and cleaning rags the last few weeks. I don't hate it! For one thing, it's extremely low sudsing. Not much scent, but I've been using Up&UP Spring Bloom FS to counteract the scratchiness, anyway, and that gives me plenty of scent. And it does clean well.

So in the end I'm contradicting my thesis of it being a love-it or hate-it, because I'm right in the middle. Oy. Friday yet?

I've always had some Sears detergent around. I never noticed a rinsing issue. It's just a good basic work horse economy detergent. I keep it in the bag that is in the box sealed and have never had an issue. If powdered detergents clump are they ruined?

Clump ruined? Not exactly....but you have to break the clumps up because they don't dissolve which is a problem if there are a lot or if the whole box is a giant clump...

I don't know exactly how much Sears Ultra Plus I have at present because I have used some, but I have bought 8 of the 180 load boxes, 1 -120 load box and a pail that washes 300 loads. As for the Ariel, I have 100 lbs of it stored.

I do like the Sears, it does a really good job on it's own, but I do add STTP on heavily soiled loads such as whites or anything with grease stains.

The reason I am stocking up on it is because Kmart has it on sale for $9.99 a box for the 180 load orange box right now and I am too afraid that both Sears and Kmart are about to go under.

I had looked back on past posts and Larsi used to love the Sears Ultra. I wonder what changed?

Jody, $10 for a box is a great deal! My mom used this detergent for my entire childhood. It always seemed to work well for her but I've never personally used it. I assume you like (or love) it? What kind of washer do you have?

i have a top loader Whirlpool. I don't believe I have ever seen a single sud in using this detergent. I have heard others say the same thing. It works very well.

My husband and I had to use a dolley to get the tub in the garage. It is bulging at the sides, LOL.

LOL Jody...did you transfer out of cardboard? Remember dampness will cause the enzymes to activate. I'm sure your being careful...tell me sweet Jody...what's hubs think of you detergent obsession? Haha.

Mine fluxuates between a sort of anger, and looking at me as if I'm sick..to surprising me with detergent. Lol. I do like the Sears, its a nice zero suds detergent with duel enzymes, but being almost scent free I think the scent lovers won't go for it.

Sin once told me to try the Sears, Wisk, sodium percarbonate and STPP together..what a powerhouse that is. It will whiten the dingiest whites and strip old body oils out of bedding amazingly well.

And your right with all the sears and Kmarts closing around the country, if you really like it, stock up. Lord knows the price is great.

My husband doesn't care. He has obviously noticed but never says anything. He is pretty accomodating in most respects. As long as we have money in the bank and creditors are not looking for me, he is open to anything I want. He also knows I seldom go overboard on anything financial wise.

I've been keeping my spare powdered detergent in a 5 gallon plastic can with tight lid. It resides in my unheated garage for several months with no issue.

I remember it being sud free even when I was a kid 30 years ago. I'm somewhat hesitant to try it as someone on here (Larsi?) said it fades colors.

I don't think the Rubbermaid tubs are air tight. I would use a 5 gal bucket with sealed lid.

@Littlegreeny - It is the cleanest rising detergent I've ever used. It may fade colors and/or leave some clothing scratchy (to be determined), but I have to give it credit on rinsing. Last night I did a load of cleaning rags that had been used during the day and I way overdosed on detergent -- as in suds 3/4 of the way up the glass, worried that sudslock was around the corner. The first (of 3) rinses was absolutely clear and pure. Many times I will say something has rinsed out well as long as there are almost no bubbles in the final rinse and the rinse liquid is nearly clear (but maybe has just a slightly milky tint to it). This is 100% like drinking water clear. Again, not an endorsement because I think the other criticisms are probably legitimate, but a clean rinser it is.

And we have to take into account water conditions and fabric type as far as scratchy goes. I have never noticed any scratchy feel which would indicate sodium carbonate residue. I've also never noticed fading.

Thanks Jody, Alex and Mama for your thoughts on the Sears powder.

I have been using it for months now and it hasn't faded any of my clothes that I can see. I don't have a scratchy problem either, and I only use FS on towels, sheets and sweaters.

I use FS on bath towels, and loads with lots of poly...I never use it on any bedding, jeans, or tees that are 100% cotton, well for the tees sometimes 1T but its a full fill.

Jody..I have never noticed fading with Sears, or scratchyness.. the scratch would be from the sodium carbonate residue. Isn't it great how we all have different likes and dislikes.

@mama, it could be the fact that you and I have TLers and some others have FLers, which use less water, so maybe the detergent isn't dissolving all the way, maybe that is causing irritation.