I use similar products in my front loader. I just add them/it along with the detergent and use the heaviest soil on whites or sanitize. If you use liquid detergent, then simply add the powdered additives to the drum before you add clothing. Just make sure your washer has an onboard heater. My washers, on whites with max soil level is 30 to 35 minutes due to heating water. If I use allergene or sanitize cycles, the wash cycle can be anywhere form 50 minutes to 70 minutes. I haven't used a "soak" cycle in the last 7.5 years I've had my Whirlpool Duet.

I don't use any additives and have no issues with whites in my front loader. An onboard heater -- guaranteed by an allergen cycle -- is the key. "Sanitize" is a marketing term.

The only "additive" I use is powdered Biz. My whites & light colors detergent is presently powdered Tide with bleach alternative. I'm beginning to experiment with the new Tide Heavy Duty 10X liquid and will probably also check out Persil 2-in-1 Stain Fighter liquid (MamaP is probably rolling over in her grave). I'm fortunate that my washer is old enough it received NSF certification for both the Allergan cycle as well as Sanitize wash temperature (which is supposed to heat to 153 degrees. And I use both cycles. Depending upon whether I want 131 of 153 degree washes, respectively.

Thank you for your replies! That's good to hear that your are not having any issues with whites in your front loaders. Do either of you live in an area where iron in the water tends to give an orange hue to whites over time?

I do. Back in 1986 when I had my new Lady Kenmore washer, I remember the first time the bleach dispensed, I saw an orange streak enter the water. But it went away quickly. It didn't turn the whole tub of water orange. But I do live in an area with somewhat hard water.

I add all my additives to the drum before adding clothes. I exclusively use powder detergent but find that there isn’t enough room in the dispenser for both (for myself). My manual states to add them to the drum before clothing too.

Biz is a great additive. It has everything you need for a powerful clean.

I don’t have issues with hard water when I use STPP. We have very few dingy appearing clothing because of this.

I generally increase the wash time when oxygenated bleach is really needed. This increases exposure time and thus improves cleaning and sanitization. Front load washers generally are more gentle and clean better, so increasing wash time isn’t a bad idea when you think you need it. Tide Powder has a bleach activator that helps to increase how effective oxygen bleach will work as well. Remember oxygenated bleach only work in hot, unless you happen to be using a detergent with the bleach activator.

There is a product called White Brite that helps to remove some of the hard water and mineral stains you are describing.

Let us know if you have any other issues!

I add Calgon water softener to every load.

Thank you so much, everyone, for all the information. It is really helpful. I've been scouring the Laundry Room forum for the past couple days, looking up some of what has been mentioned and I now have a good list of a few things to try. I also agree that it's probably best to start from scratch and see how the new machine performs with just my water and a good detergent.

One suggestion that may have already been made, is to not add any detergent to your first loads, use hot water and see how much if any suds you get. In all likelihood you will find residue detergent. I do this from time to time and towels are the worst offenders. I have very soft water so it is hard to dose enough to get items clean and still get all the detergent out of the fabric.

As for iron in the water I used to have the same problem due to a well with iron pipes. We added some kind of water filter that made a world of difference.

Enjoy your new machines