I have found that WalMart has the best local selection of powdered laundry detergents. And they will ship for free orders $35 and over. ( I recently bought my new and favorite Eucerin body wash for half the price from WalMart online. They don't even carry it at the store.)

If you have stores like dollar general or family dollar, there are lots of powdered laundry detergents. I also like powdered detergents the best, and my favorite is Purex.

I could not cope without my Tide powder with bleach for my whites. W-M always has it but not a big display.

Monica,

I put my powders into plastic bins I got from the dollar store. I can't deal with the open boxes. I find the powder stays tidy in the plastic bins vs kept in the box.

I'm glad to hear you are liking a return to powders. :)

Only liquid or pods for me. Tide powder is the worst for my sensitive nose. It’s good to have options that meet the needs of everyone.

SEA SEA, I'll look into something like that. I don't have a lot of room in there. It's wide enough for a w/d...oh WHY didn't Iisten to mom! LR will get a glam makeover next weekend and when I reorganize the shelving, I'll see about a different container. I'm just waiting for the inevitable spillage having to handle that open box :o Thanks!

areyano_cs, I have a nose of a bloodhound but I guess it's not "sensitive". I really haven't had anything against liquids but dadoes has convinced me that powders help keep a machine cleaner and that Tide powder with bleach won me over with the grungy t-shirt test. Come to think of it, I think he's the one that also turned me on to liquid Persil...hummm LOL

Monica,

The plastic bin (with fitted lid) removes the spillage factor, or the dribbles of powder that sprinkle out from the creases of the box. In my experience, it makes it as tidy as liquid in a fabled no-drip bottle. Hope your re-do on your LR gives you a shelf or a cupboard. I've been there with no shelves or cupboards and it does make it hard to have powder in use. I have a shelf now and I'm still tickled about it as I have a place to put all my bins of powder, oxi, borax, etc...yes, they all go in a labeled bin here.

I first noticed this first a few years ago with dishwasher detergent. I absolutely won't use liquids in the dishwasher or pods. I order my Cascade online. I still use powder in the washing machine, but am thinking of switching back to a liquid. Even with a double rinse cycle the HE washing machines sometimes leave powder residue on our clothes. Husband likes pods, but I can't stand the smell of them and worry about the environmental impact. Plus they are more expensive so there is that.

I also laugh at the environmental impact that liquids tend to have over powders. I agree with the notion that a recyclable cardboard and not shipping a liquid around is much better. But i'm not how true it proves since manufacturers are attempting to reduce their impact as much as they can at a low cost. What it really boils down to is how the person disposes of that package afterwards. I'm sure a majority do not recycle it.

Nephew and girlfriend-now-wife use Tide pods. I had opportunity couple years ago when helping them move to disassemble their washer (which is my 20yo Fisher & Paykel toploader) for an exam/clean-up. The tub sump (at the drain outlet) contained a layer of slimy orange-ish gel ...

I always use liquid, and when I ordered a bottle of White Brite from Amazon, and I shook it a bit before using it, and when I opened the cap I got blasted with powder dust. I don't miss powder. :)

Oh no! I have used White Brite for quite awhile. The dust from that stuff is lethal..or it feels that way!

SEA SEA, I already have a 3ft wire rack and a 15" wire bin on the walls of the LR. Hoping to find something the Tide Powder can go in and that fits on the wire rack.

rrah, I have a TL and always use the Deep Rinse no matter the load. Rarely, if it's just a super small load, I'll use the regular rinse, maybe extra rinse if it's dark colors.

monicakm_gw--my machine doesn't have deep rinse, but I do use a second rinse.

I use either one or the other but right now it’s liquid form. tide ( without bleach or perfumes ) or liquid Persil.

dadoes, I might be sorry I asked this since I've gotten comfortable with powders. You've told and showed us what liquids are doing to our machines...bleh! So what are the downsides, machine wise, of powders (if any)?

Nothing directly of which I'm aware ... just follow the same guidelines of sufficient dosage and avoiding cold water.

I shill Hanover to give powdered tide with bleach a try for whites. I’m not giving up my liquid Persil though! I mix some of the Persil with water in a spray bottle to spot clean! Best thing ever, especially on synthetics!

I meant to say I will give powdered Tide a try! Finger not working tonight;)!

Every now and then I look at the supermarket for powdered Cheer, which I remember being recommended on the laundry forums ( in particular with mamapinky may she rest in peace).

I think only once did I see some and for some reason I did not buy it that day. Since then, whenever I look, I swear there is none. So I keep using liquids and have yet to try the powder.

So far I have had no issues but just saying.

Cheer powder is not widely-found but can be ordered online from Walmart (and usually found in the stores). The local/regional grocery chain here carries it, I keep a box on-hand. Other powders can also be ordered online from Target and Amazon.

I was surprised and pleased today to see that Target had quite a few boxes of Tide powders on their shelves. I bot 2 huge boxes of Tide+Bleach powder just in case.

Years ago here on Gardenweb, I was introduced to Charlie’s Soap powder. Unscented and hypoallergenic too. Find it at Sprouts, Amazon and used to see it at Whole Foods— it may still be available there.

I stopped using liquids last year in my top load Speed Queen. My washer doesn't smell anymore.