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Arm & Hammer

9 years ago

Do you like this brand? littlegreeny? mamap? Anyone have any comments on this brand? I did a search but what is your opinion now? greeny, like the free version?

Comments (43)

  • 9 years ago

    Pat I've never used the liquid, but as for the powder..I love the scent but if you've ever used it you will see the powder is very heavy indicating its got more than its fair share of carbonates. It has a reputation of leaving clothes rough or scratchy which is another indication of carbonate overdose. It does a fair enough job cleaning light soils, but will require extra rinsing. But the scent is just lovely.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    Pat, sorry I've never tried it. The regular liquid F&C version is enzyme free. Costco has the liquid F&C formula with enzymes (amylase and protease) which I'm curious to try.


    Anyone else have an opinion?

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    By the way, Arm & Hammer will be coming out with a F&C liquid containing enzymes in the near future. It's being marketed as Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin plus OxiClean. I'll save Mama the trouble of saying it...It does not contain oxi. It has more surfactants than the regular F&C version plus the enzymes amylase and protease.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 9 years ago

    LOL Greeny.

  • 9 years ago

    George, thanks for your opinion. What scent is your favorite? They all seem pretty strong in the bottle to me.

  • 9 years ago

    @LittleG...

    The A&H Oxi scent is "Fresh Scent".

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked georgect
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks George.


    It looks like they already came out with the F&C version. Just found this at my local grocery:

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 9 years ago

    I've stayed away from this brand since I got a box of powder A&H years ago and it bleached a load of my clothes. There wasn't supposed to be any bleach in it, but some expensive Polo shirts and other clothes were bleached out. A&H had me send them the detergent at my expense and gave me a lousy $50 in compensation. No telling how many people got this batch of bad detergent.

  • 9 years ago

    Can't for the life of me understand how tha t could happen Jody as even a hefty dose of oxygen bleach won't bleach out. Are you sure a child or someone didn't decide to help by adding chlorine bleach lol.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    No the company admitted that there was a problem at the plant and the lot that I got was effected.

    I just went out to my garage and saw that I have bought a couple of bottles with the oxi clean for my kids. It is a liquid so maybe it is safe.

  • 9 years ago

    Jody did they say what chem caused it?

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think Larsi had a similar thing happen. I think it was with oxiclean pods, but could be wrong.

  • 9 years ago

    No mama they didn't say.

  • 9 years ago

    I have thought about trying A and H. Will not try the powder, thanks MamaP. Can anybody say how it rinses and is it sudsy?

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked beaglenc
  • 9 years ago

    beagle, I'm glad someone else is interested in seeing how effective this brand is now.

  • 9 years ago

    Pat, have you tried Arm and Hammer in the past? If you did, what did you think of it then?

  • 9 years ago

    I used it regularly about 8 years ago.... but that is an eternity in detergent-time.

  • 9 years ago

    Hi everyone, I use arm and hammer free and clear detergent all the time on my sensitive skin son's clothing as well as my own. I have been using it for a few years after switching from all free and clear. I found all f&c to leave the clothing dry feeling and fading the colors quickly. I find the arm and hammer free and clear to not fade colors nearly as much and the clothing come out smelling nice and fresh. I also use downy unscented as well as great value free and clear fabric softener sheets for static. I find it low sudsing. I am using it in a top loading speed queen. I do have to pretreat stains, and I usually let all the loads stop and soak for about 10-20 minutes. I would recommend this detergent to anyone that wants to try it. It goes on sale often, and there are usually coupons for it.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked estysmith
  • 9 years ago

    Hi Beth, how are you and the kids? I did think of you when this subject came up and was hoping you would pop in as I remember you use A&H for the kids. I suppose I should try the liquid variety,but I just have soo much detergent. LOL. You do know by now I was unable to resolve my SQ issues, not SQ's fault as they did stand up and sent a replacement..just too bad the dealer was a crook. I often miss my Queen.

    Anyway thanks for your recommendation and grea t to see you.

    Pat I think you should try the A&H as Beth knows her stuff.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    Hi Cheryl, hope all is well by you. I do check in and read the discussions from time to time, and I wanted to chime in here with my opinion and arm and hammer. It is a good detergent. Their scented varieties are much too strong for me. For anyone who needs unscented, this is a good one. I can't use the new one with oxyclean as it contains enzymes, which my son is allergic to. There is a good buy on it at Costco now for anyone who wants to try it.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked estysmith
  • 9 years ago

    greeny, I did use A&H years ago. I liked the powder on towels -- clean, fresh scent, was Clean Burst, I think. They smelled so nice. I used the Free liquid because a neighbor who works at EPA really liked/likes it for everything they washed. Then I got influenced on here by someone who thought A&H was not as good as other Free liquids like Tide, All, etc., so being an ad man's dream, I stopped using it. I use hot water on almost everything and I spray stains, so it should be just fine for us elderly who don't roll around in the dirt anymore. The new liquid with the (acceptable to us) enzymes should be good, so I will get some. Can't find GreenWorks anywhere around here and I just can't explain why I don't settle on the Tide Free. Something about Tide's over-use of chemicals just kicks me in the butt and even though I have two big bottles, I just resist using it. Maybe it's their monopoly, I don't know. Arm & Hammer isn't rated very highly by EWG, but it's not as low as Tide either.

  • 9 years ago

    I'm experimenting with A&H right now. The Clean Burst scent is really very good. For some reason, I just don't feel like Tide has been leaving my clothing as fresh as it once did, so I'm looking at alternatives.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked Jase
  • 9 years ago

    I have A&H Clean Burst liquid. .love it...no enzymes, but if I use STPP everything is clean, soft, and so fresh smelling. Shame that P&G can't make a great scent like the BOL companies can. Jase do you ever use STPP?

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Today I finally bought Arm & Hammer plus Oxi Clean Free..Couldn't pass up a great deal scoring a 35 load bottle for $1.99 (sale plus coupon). I like the almost nonexistent scent (much much less chemically than other F&C detergents). Washed a big load of towels and saw minimal suds. The final rinse was virtually clear. Towels smell nice and clean and are super soft and fluffy.

    I'm impressed with A&H. Honestly, it's been about 22 years since I bought any A&H detergent. And now I wonder what I was waiting for...

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 9 years ago

    I'm also gonna pick some of this up since my husband is requesting free/clear detergent for his laundry, his excema and dermatitis are acting up so we're trying to rule triggers out so good to know it's decent! I actually love all the AH detergents scents I used to use it all the time.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked miami mami
  • 9 years ago

    greeny, please, please let us know if you change your mind about this. I really appreciate your comments this far away from my original post. You are one of the biggest enablers for me on this forum, so please continue. I think I finally got it into my head that enzymes are important. I'm really eager to get away from Tide, but if it is the "best," then I'm there again. What I mean is, if you or Mama or anyone else whom are my "experts" think something is just as good as or better than Tide in any category, I'm going with it.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I hate that A&H no longer guarantees that their Oxi formulas contain enzymes. What kind of crap is "may contain enzymes"??

    I always end up going back to Tide. It cleans the best for me. I usually use scented but today grabbed the Ultra Stain Release Free to use on my face washcloths. Nothing beats the he Turbo Clean formulas for minimal suds and clear rinses!

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked Jase
  • 9 years ago

    Aww, thanks Pat! I'll continue to test it on different loads and will let you know if I change my mind.


    I still really like Tide Free but as others here like to do, I enjoy trying new detergents...I just don't try as many as Larsi or Mama. Haha!

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 9 years ago

    Pat...Thank you girl!!!

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    Pat I doubt there's much on the US market that could be considered as much of a workhorse as Tide. Thing is not everyone needs a workhorse detergent. Bedding for instance is for many people the heaviest soils they have unless your a farmer or auto mechanic or some job involving extreme grease and oils its my opinion bedding is indeed a heavily soiled load even the child's shirt covered in pizza sauce doesn't compare to a weeks worth of body oils rubbing into bedding. SO IMO sheets and pillowcases require a good all purpose detergent like Tide. I prefer a more powerful detergent than A&H because than I don't need to add boosters. I know there's been talk about detergent chemicals and kids but imo well rinsed clothing solves the problem. Pat my recommendation is almost always going to be in order.. Tide with Bleach powder. ..Tide F&G pods, powder and liquid...followed by all Tide powders, pods, and liquids..they are all good and can be relied on to remove stains if your like me and don't pretreat stains. Most other detergents require pretreating, and adding boosters.

    On the other side of the coin if your clothing is lightly worn you may be able to get away with a MOL detergent and just use a good detergent for bedding.

    I a nutshell Pat I like Tide I don't think there's much else in the US that does it as well...LOL


    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    I absolutely love sheets washed in Tide w/Bleach Powder!! The Tide w/Bleach Liquid is great for sheets too, but the powder is my first pick.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked Jase
  • 9 years ago

    Jase I LOVE the older scent of Tide with Bleach alternative and will use it on sheets once in awhile but since it has no bleach in it I don't use it often.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I agree with Mama about Tide. I prefer not have OBs on my sheets so I use Tide Purclean Free with a dose of Lemishine Laundry Booster. That combo is great at removing body oils from my dark gray sheets.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 8 years ago

    I am bookmarking this post because it always brings me back down to earth, thanks to Mama, Jase, Greeny, and everyone else. I"m even going to print it and hang it above my washer!!!!

  • 8 years ago

    And that wonderful Paulo waxed profusely on the same subject of enzymes. Where IS he?

  • 8 years ago

    Paulo...is a great and brilliant man.

  • 7 years ago

    BUMP. Just for posterity and reminder about boosters and pre-treating stains. And such good advise from a couple of great teachers.

  • 6 years ago

    Bump again. Same reason.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks for bumping this up, Pat. Enjoyed reading through it. I just finished up a small bottle of A&H Sensitive Skin plus Fresh Scent and have bought it a few times the last few years. Love the scent (which I think is the same as they used in their old “green/earth-friendly” formula called Essentials and I used to buy ~12 years ago), rinses well for me, and because it does not have enzymes I use it on puffy down layers and wool....

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked Jenny Island
  • 6 years ago

    I've been using the A&H 'fresh scent' powder.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked elbits
  • 6 years ago

    I recently tried A&H Free powder as I needed an enzyme free detergent to wash my down pillows. It did fine on my pillows but I'm really not impressed with it on my other laundry. It's hard to rinse out and left my towels feeling rough and dehydrated.

    Pat Z5or6 SEMich thanked littlegreeny
  • 2 years ago

    Can't resist bumping this up again for the great information and to honor mamapinky0's contribution to this Forum.

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