I have a front load washer and my clothes and towels smelled awful after washing and drying. Tried the HE washer cleaners to no avail. A client let me try her high end powder detergent and it seems to be working! So relieved as I was beginning to hate my washer and was ready to buy a top load washer. The detergent isn't cheap but you use so little that it's a wash... had to say it!

Ive have tried all kinds and always go back to powder. The liquid forms always end up making your washing machine smell bad. I put a washing machine cleanser through each month on a hot wash. It kills any bacteria lurking in your machine .

Folks you CAN use dry powder (and it doesn't need to be HE) in front load machines, just use less because of the low water used by front load machines. DRY out cleans liquid hands down EVERY TIME! Dry is way less expensive per use than liquid to top it off. Read Consumer Reports and do an experiment (like I did) if you must. Liquids cause build up in machine, lines and septic systems. The ingredients in dry are not available in liquid, therefore, it will always be inferior. Pods don't dissolve in front load machines if lighter or delicate cycles are used and they cause the buildup also. Top line powders dissolve in cold water if not better than lower brands. Personally when my front load washer dies I'm going back to a top load, they clean better.

I own a Miele front loading washer. I use Persil Universal Powder for whites, and Persil Color Gel for colors, so I use both powder and liquid. I'm in my sixties. Laundry detergent has changed through the years. It doesn't matter if the detergent is liquid or powder, as long as it cleans and the machine rinses well.

Top loads rinse better....no way to get soap out of clothes with the little bit of water used by a front load!

Even top loads that are HE use just a little bit of water. The secret is getting rid of the HE and going back to a regular washing machine, only problem is finding one.

Years ago I bought one of those weird NASA-inspired enzyme-filled plastic things, about twice the size of a hockey puck. I can't imagine how or why it works, but it does, and feels so much healthier than detergent.

My brother, a psychologist, calls it my placebo. However, since it gets out not only stains but odors, I'm very satisfied. I only wish I'd bought more. Apparently they stopped marketing them and sold them all off for pennies on the dollar because the placebos have a slow leak but had been touted as having a lifetime guarantee. Wah. However, since you can now get "Awesome" and/or other enzymatic cleaners at the dollar store, I think that using a small amount of that rather than detergent might work just as well.

At any rate, scented detergents as well as dryer sheets are incredibly toxic. Younger people might not yet realize that. But the more burdened one's system becomes with environmental toxins, the more sensitive one becomes, and I now get a headache simply walking down the detergent aisle in the supermarket. Young people, beware!

I use the All pods, I've been using them for about a year now. We were using pods in Europe for several years before moving here in 07, not sure why they took so long to come out over here. They're so much handier, although I did find the occasional half dissolved packet in the door rim of my old front loader. Luckily I'm using a HE top loader instead now and don't have that issue.

We also don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets. They coat your clothes with a substance that actually eats away at the fabric, plus my husband has psoriasis so we can't use any of that stuff anyway.

Make my own liquid using washing soda, borax and Dawn. Use 2 cups boiling water to dissolve 4 tbsp. each of the powders 9use a whisk to dissolve), add a tbsp of Dawn, pour it into a gallon Arizona green tea jug, then fill the jug the rest of the way to the top. Use 3/4 cup to a cup and a half for each load depending on size and dirt. Clothes seem to be as clean as when I used powders or store bought liquids. Use a little Dawn as a pretreater or stain remover instead of Shout with good results. Cheaper than either at the store even with most coupons... hand my laundry to dry outside 8-9 months out of the year, so it smells fresh; I machine dry our towels for 20 minutes before hanging to finish drying outside - keeps them soft. Fabric softeners seem to cause skin problems, so we steer clear. We bought the least expensive, largest Kenmore top loading washer about 6 years ago and so far it has worked well for our family of 6. No problems with clogged pipes...

I researched making my own but read that I could not use washing soda with a septic tank.

My plumber told me to use 1 dishwasher tablet/pod and 1/2 to 1 cup of bleach on the hottest setting. On mine that's "sanitize" NOT "clean washer" because it's cold water. And to clean my front loader every month. No odor in the washer or hoses if if I remember!

I use those pods things! Love them and so not messy. Worse thing is you need to have a full tub even with a small amount of clothes. Still love them tho!

Some girls use powder, others use cream, but gr. aunt Gert beats them all, she uses margarine!

My front loader instructions say only to use powder.

Tide Pods for my HE machine. I guess it's liquid, but its not messy.

i do like the pods, but we typically use liquid detergent

I did use powder until I ran out of detergent and borrowed some from a neighbor. She uses liquid so I gave it a try and have been using liquid ever since. I just find it's not as messy trying to put a liquid in to the washing machine dispenser as it is a powder.

I find that powder just naturally gives a better wash. I only use liquid for baby clothes.

To Susanne_m: Please don't wash your brushes in powder detergent. I am an oil painter and the best way to clean and condition brushes is to use liquid palmolive after you have cleaned them in water (acrylic paint) or turps (oil). Believe me, I spend a fortune on brushes and the natural hair ones will not stand up to anything harsh. Some of the cleaner can stay on the brush and be mixed into your next project. Palmolive isgreat for cutting grease (oil) and it also conditions and helps re-shape your brushes to their proper state. Always let your brushes dry with the brush-part up, wood part down. Wishing your brushes a long life!

Thank you kaak. I am going to try with Palmolive. I usually buy good quality of paint brushes that I end up throwing in the garbage after 4 or 5 uses because they become stiff after cleaning them with water only.

I thought that cleaning them with detergent might reduce their longevity and I wanted to test it. So far, I have used the brushes that I have cleaned with powder detergent at least 3 times and they area still soft and have no sign of damage. Maybe at the end, they won't last as long but so far it looks like I can use them a reasonable amount of times and they are still a charm to work with.

I will try Palmolive for sure. Maybe I will get a soft paint brush that I will keep even longer. Thank you for the tip.

Never use powder and I don't think I will but never say never

Switched to "pods". I will never look back.

Actually, I use both liquid, powder and pods according to the need. But I will say that I use pods 95% of the time.

No "he" machine, but I always use liquid. I fill the machine/add detergent & softener...once machine is full, then I add my clothes.

Gone from Powder, to liquid, to tabs. Back on Powder as it lasts sooooo much longer.

i always use liquid!

Hi everyone: for sceptic systems you should ask your sceptic expert; not a plumber. I have spoken to many pricey experts and they all say no TIDE. also no phosphates, toxic chemicals and especially NO BLEACH because they kill the good bacteria in your tank that is breaking down everything for you.
Fat is bad, yes, so don't wash butter, oil, or fry pan stuff down your drain and you should be fine. Just wipe it with a dishcloth.
Also don't clean paintbrushes, or anything like that in your sink - it doesn't matter if the paint is water soluble, it is the toxins that are in all paints (even watercolour) that will kill everything in your tank. (Cadmiums, for example). I learned that the hard way. (I just wash up paint in a bucket and throw it in the yard after wiping all my brushes off with work towels. Better to kill a few weeds than to replace your whole system!
Treat your sceptic tank like your stomach - it's the same concept. Nothing but food & 100% biodegradable things should go into your system.

Pods are a great way to get your kids to do the laundry if you're worried about them adding too much soap. The extra $.10 per load can be worth the time saved. I've heard Kirkland (Costco) pods are cheaper than Tide and work as well, but I haven't tried them. I use powder except when I travel (somewhere where I can do laundry). I buy pods for the convenience. Also, I use vinegar in the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener for bath towels, kitchen towels, and any time I've used bleach. It's cheap and works really well, especially if you have hard water. I do use fabric softener on my clothes b/c I like the scent.

I work for a plumbing supplier. From our pump and septic guy:

Many powdered laundry soaps contain Bentonite clay as a filler. One of the uses for Bentonite clay is to seal abandoned wells. When you use laundry detergent that uses Bentonite as a filler it will eventually seal your septic system. In that case, you will need a new one. How long this takes depends on how much soap you use and the amount used as filler in your brand. You can check yours on the internet.

I have used Arm & Hammer powder for many years, as it does not contain Bentonite, comes in a fragrance free version and does a great job in my front loader.

I have also read on money saving websites that you will save money using powder as it is easier to control when measuring. For most loads in my front loader I only use 1/4 cup. A box goes a long ways at that rate.

Years ago I was told by an appliance repairman to use 1 cup of vinegar in a load of laundry at least once a week to help prevent soap and hardwater deposit build up. (At that time I had extremely hard water.) Since then I have read that vinegar is a great fabric softener and deodorizer. I use it in every load instead of softener, it does a good job, doesn't contain toxic chemicals and it is inexpensive. As a bonus, I have never had an odor problem with my front loader.

And, did you know that fragrance free and unscented are not the same thing? I didn't. Unscented products are just regular scented products with additional chemicals added to "mask" the scent. In other words they actually contain MORE chemicals or irritants than regular products. Fragrance free products do not contain fragrances. So be sure you are purchasing Fragrance Free, not wasting your money on unscented as I did for so long.

now i'm completely lost :) do I hafta print this whole thread just to remember it? runs in circles...

For jdemaster

FACTS: Bentonite clay is not used as a filler in laundry detergents, soda is....guess what Arm & Hammer is? Bentonite clay is used sparingly as a softening agent. Your comment that "Tide is particularly bad" is not based on fact, and does not use Bentonite or any other clay as a filler. Soda is very abrasive to machines (ask your plumber about that). Unscented soap (fragrance free) is soap with no perfume AND NO additional chemicals. On open forums people should be careful and give facts, not hearsay.

Liquid is water downed powder, therefore more expensive than powder

well, Jeannie, I think this thread is done.

I second that, mouse.

I agree mouse that this has degenerated to bickering.

That said, texasblue4 you have also posted with out checking facts or reading carefully.

Regardless of the other uses of bentonite, it IS a fact that Bentonite is used in some laundry soaps as well as being used professionally to seal wells and WILL ruin your drain field in time. Here is a link to one of the many government publications detailing the use of Bentonite to seal an abandoned well there are many such publications available -
http://www.abe-research.illinois.edu/pubs/factsheets/AbandonedWells.pdf

I did state "I hear" Tide is bad. I did not offer that as a confirmed fact. I agree I should have confirmed, I have edited that comment.

If you re-read, I did not mention unscented soap. I refered to the difference between unscented and fragrance free product. No mention was made of soap.

I am aware that Arm & Hammer contains soda and that it is abrasive. What does that have to do with anything? Washing machines and clothing are relatively inexpensive to replace vs replacing a drain field.

And finally, I would not expect a plumber to have much knowledge about washing machines. Aside from the installation of a washer box and drain pipe, it is pretty far outside of their area of expertise.

I've used powder and liquid. Really liked Method as it takes up no space. Now, my husband discovered PODS. I keep Wisk and Woolite on hand and use mostly Tide. Love my new front loading Whirlpool Duet. Maybe it's good to use a variety of laundry detergents for specific reasons. I'm sure if my husband is shopping, it will be PODS! (yes, he does help with the laundry).

Ladies,
I simply was offering facts on ingredients in soap powder, what is used as filler and what is not. Your post is changed so we can't look to see I was just addressing ingredient inaccuracies.
Have a lovely evening.

Good grief didn't know that a simple question would cause world war 3. It's just a fun site. Don't stress.

Two words - inhalant allergies. Liquid all the way - unscented, of course.

Kari Doak? are you still on this thread? I have a question :) are you able to find Fels N. in powder form? I haven't been able to, although I might try ye olde hardeewaree storeee :)
I took your suggestion and I've got the other stuff..except someone mentioned that A&H tests on animals..so I don't know what to do. thanks!!

I like liquid because it is simple. However, I switched to a powder that dissolves instantly in the washed because of cost.

I was advised many years ago to switch to liquid detergent by an appliance repair man. He said that he sees a lot of machine malfunction due to the build up of powder detergent residue that does not break down properly, especially in cold water. It collects and continues to build up in the bottom of the drums.

Front loading washers are notorious for having mold. You have to keep door from closing tight by placing a hand towel over the door after you remove your last load of wash. Wipe the rubber gasket down and remove any hair or lint from the drainage grooves. Leave the drawer slightly open so the water can evaporate from the reservoirs. If your washer has a filter, once a month you should drain the water off into a bowl and rinse the filter to keep it clean of residue and mold. Water sits in the filter and is a prime area for smelly water odor. But above all run the "clean tub" cycle at least once a month with recommended amount of bleach. I love my front load washer and dryer!

To those with HE front loaders I would highly recommend using powder. 12 + years ago when we purchased our machine they did not offer to my knowledge HE detergent at the grocery. I was told at that time to use 1/2 of the recomended amount of regular powder. At that point I started using powder. A year later liquid HE became avalible and I switched. 2 monthsmlater I noticed my clothes weren't as clean, nor was the washer, it was slimmy and started getting a few moldy spots on the seal. At that point I switched back to powder.

I use the individual pods and I love them. They obviously are pre-measured and are so easy to use.

because of sensitive skin and severe allergies, allergist said All free and clear liquid and extra rinse cycle.

It depends, I use washing powder mainly for clothes and shampoo for silks as far better delicate textiles as such.

Pods

I was told by a repairman that liquids will leak into the machine and gum it up, especially if you use the delay feature. He recommended only powders for front loaders. As a result, when we recently had the dryer fixed, the repairman was surprised that my washer was in such great shape after 8 years. I never close the door after a load but let it dry completely before doing so. Also, every once in a while I throw a cup of white vinegar in with the load or put some in the fabric softener tray. I too was disappointed that Costco stopped selling their powder detergent. It was cheap and excellent.

So, some people were told by a repair man to avoid powder because it doesn’t dissolve well in cold water & will build up in the bottom of the drum. Then others were told to avoid liquid detergents because they’ll gum up your machine over time. I have a newer front load set & usually wash colors in cold. I’ve used pods but there was a time or two when they didn’t dissolve correctly & left detergent splotches on my clothes. So I switched to powder. I’m using tide with color safe bleach powder & arm & hammer with oxy powder. While both seem to clean & devolve well, you must make sure to use a lower dosage to compensate for the he machine. Add a second rinse if needed. Lately I’ve been considering trying persil the European detergent that has become available in the USA. It’s always getting high praise from reviewers & wins awards for the best laundry detergent. It comes in liquid or powder I believe.