Pros and cons galore. LoL

The biggest difference Between powder and liquid detergent that I see is in outcome . . . . . I swear my towels and sheets are softer after washed with a liquid detergent. Might be my imagination, IDK, but there we have it.

i think the shelf life of powder detergent is longer than liquid, but I am no expert.

The nice thing about liquids is you can close the cap and you're done. No way to do that with an opened box of powder.

Thanks, guys. LOVE the eco box! Who knew? Guess I really don’t get out much. I do have my giant jug of Persil on a shelf above my washer. It has the thumb tap, and I pour it into little silicone cups and drop the cup into the wash. Keeps drips down.

Does anyone know if either powder or liquid is better on septic? I haven’t been on septic for over 40 years. It makes me uneasy.

Hmmm... the eco pouches are interesting. They're not in our market area yet.

I wonder how one measures a 1/2 teaspoon or even a full teaspoon of detergent with a squishy floppy bag in one hand?

How do arthritic thumbs with tendonitis open the small cap?

Keep those big jugs to empty the squishy pouches into?

MizLizzie - I think (and I could be wrong) the only thing I've seen mentioned here about septics is the use of bleaches, whether LCB or oxy type, because too much can kill the healthy bacteria in the tank.

Powder vs. liquid detergent is of no concern regards to septic systems.

The eco boxes are only online sales. Tide made them for online retailers specifically for shipping purposes. Amazon has them so does Walmart and target online. It’s more concentrated they say. I have a couple boxes and so far it’s the old tide original scent (prior to them messing with all tides scents earlier this year).

You can buy Tide Pods in bags, as oppose to in the big plastic jugs. I've seen them at Target and other places.

hisown - I have read that same thing, maybe here. I use both liquid and powder and keep my fingers crossed. We use no fabric softener and have one or two 140°F hot wash with oxy bleach weekly.

I seem to remember someone — Mama Pinky? dadoes? — stressing that powder was better for the washer’s innards. Certainly it would seem to me that it is more environmentally friendly, in that you are not paying to truck around what are essentially bottles of water with some detergent in them? Happy New Year, all.

I prefer powder for more reasons, its simply cleaner, easier to use. I scoop out a small amount. pour into the holder no goopy mess in the cup.

Powder detergent keeps your washer in tip top shape. Liquid over time can gum up the insides especially for people who use cold water exclusively.

I use powder detergent almost all the time as I have super hard water and performs better with our water conditions. Liquid has a place in my laundry room but don’t use it too often.

Recently had a appliance technician out and he asked what I used in my machines to keep them so clean. I have 5 front load washer and dryers and not one of them smell or have mold in the seal. I attribute that to using hot water washes, powder detergent, wiping the seal down after the days laundry, and keeping door propped open after using it.

I use powder detergents, too, at least 95% of the time. The empty cardboard containers get burned in the firepit along with other combustible paper trash.

Ci-lantro I’ve been buying the tide eco box liquid detergent for times I want liquid on amazon. I burn the outside box too. Just throw away the bag inside which is much better than the big jugs. Bonus is tide original in the eco boxes is the old scent still. I’ve got four of five of them left and man I love that scent. Don’t care for the new tide original scent. I’m sure tide will change that too, just hasn’t happened yet. I bought one in late December on sale at amazon and still old scent.

Larissa, gotta ask. Why five washers? Not that I’m not envious . . .

Because I love them all so much lol we just built a new build home and my new laundry room to accommodate my massive laundry detergent collection and washer/dryers. I drove to Canada boarder where my birth dad lives and just recently got a octoplus Miele washer and dryer to complete my collection. Costco Canada sells octoplus machines :) they all are front load machines. Have two Miele, Maytag and two speed queen front load washer and dryers. We also built a two bedroom mother in law house to do Airbnb in and it has a LG front load set.

Larisa- well I don't feel bad anymore about the six sewing machines and two sergers that I own. LOL

Then there are all my vacuum cleaners...LOL

I seriously debated moving our old TL washer to the garage when we got the FL, but all the sub labor costs would have been too much to plumb. Oh well.....

I just ordered some dissolving sheets from the sheets laundry club. https://www.sheetslaundryclub.com/. All cardboard packaging and the sheet is supposed to completely dissolve in your wash. I haven’t received them yet but I thought it was worth trying. Not only do I like the no plastics but I am liking the idea of less bulk on my shelf in the laundry room.

I tired the laundry sheets and didn’t clean well for me. It left stains on clothing. Rewashed in a different detergent and all came out fine.

Cavium,

my husband thinks I’m nuts with all the washers and dryers lol our laundry room is the same size as our master bedroom (which is huge lol). Our contractor said he’s done hook ups for two washers and dryers before but never 5 lol. The octoplus Miele machines will he hooked up next week and I just can’t wait.

We have a central vac system currently and I hate it!! Actually just bout a Miele vac on Costco’s website and just can’t wait till it comes. I need a new collection of something besides washers and dryers ha. My husband don’t think so.

Vacuum cleaner addiction is serious stuff. LOL I justify it by having a two-story house and I'm not lugging canister and upright up and down stairs. Then I have one each for the garage downstairs, and basement, too. Then a mini canister in the sewing room. LOL

Both my canisters are Mieles and I like them a lot. So quiet, too!

Larisa, can't wait to see your new Miele set up! Please post when this happens.

I thought I should give an update since I have received the laundry sheets. I've done three loads so far and I thought they did as well as the liquid Tide I have been using. Even my husband's work clothes got clean. With my first load I put the sheet in my front loader after I added about half my clothes. I noticed that the sheet was stuck to the front glass after the cycle started. I stopped the load and opened the door to remove it. It had started to dissolve so that was a sticky mess. With my last two loads, I put the sheet in first and towards the back of the washer, that worked. Time will tell if this will be a long term product I will use but right now I am happy with it. It is more expensive than the Tide from Costco but only a dollar or two more per month which is worth it to do away with plastic.

This is a picture of the sheet. It completely dissolves and you can cut it in half if you have a small load.

So you can see the size of the box.

Anita - it looks like a great detergent for travel...no liquid or powder for TSA to freak out over, nor leak out into suitcases.

Anita, Thanks for the review of the sheets, those look interesting. Currently I only use powder because I dont want to but the plastic bottles. The eco box, is still plastic so its a non-starter for me.

I'm not a fan of liquid detergents OR fabric softeners. I found they increase mold issues. We now don't allow them in our rental properties. I've been using Biokleen Free and Clear powder for years. I have some Persil for special jobs, but in general am happy with the Biokleen. I store it in a Snapware container which makes it easy to scoop out a portion, but closes tightly enough to keep in dry.

I'm currently using Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder. I'm reading here because Charlies comes in a plastic bag. It cleans well and the small bag has 300 loads. A tiny scoop is all that's needed. I'm wondering about Sheets cleaning quality and environmental comparison. Also if anyone knows a good plastic free shampoo choice, I'd love to hear it. There are no refill-your- container stores in my area.

"Also if anyone knows a good plastic free shampoo choice, I'd love to hear it"

There is a whole topic here at the laundry room on bar shampoos:

Shampoo bars - discussion

Cathy, For a shampoo bar, I'm loving HiBar. Cleans just like shampoo from a bottle. Conditioner works great as well but takes a bit getting used to. Been using the Sheets for a few weeks now. I feel like they are working as well as the Tide but I haven't tried to clean really dirty muddy clothes.

My sister used a "septic safe" powder for years. That stuff set up like concrete in her tank!

I haven't tried the sheets yet, but did read on one products website that they suggest putting the sheet into your detergent tray. (Front loader) Kinda makes sense, water directly onto sheet & then diluted into tub.