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Post by Nonny Mouse on Aug 18, 2010 19:30:12 GMT -5
Powder detergent can really mess up washers - it tends to not dissolve or it cakes back up and can stick to the tub internally and in between stuff and corrodes the mechanisims. This is so very true, especially if you use high efficiency front-loading machines. Mine uses only quarts of water, not gallons. It's supposed to be able to use powdered detergent, but I don't trust it. I used a liquid, but I only use an amount the size of a dollar coin for most loads - for very large or very dirty loads I might use an amount the size of a $2 coin. No more. I find my clothes come out perfectly clean and softer if I use less.
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Post by luckyleprechaun on Aug 18, 2010 21:56:09 GMT -5
I live by tide liquid...yes they have concentrated it and I prob use too much...I need to consider learning to do it all over again...
my mom uses only cheer powder...and some clorox dry for colors or maybe that is liquid I forget...
I usually use a fabric softener that is liquid too...I like that stuff for some reason.
I really could use more skill in washing...really...honestly...hugs lucky
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Post by lizzie on Aug 19, 2010 3:03:06 GMT -5
tissues! i want to add tissues to the list! It really makes me mad - once, most tissue boxes held 220 tissues, now even though the boxes are still the same size, some brands now put as few as 75 tissues in their box - which represents a huge increase in cost...
Some supermarket chains here have started pricing per unit, I too love to compare them - interesting to see it so clearly stated just how much more it can cost to buy a smaller container of something, and how the 'cheaper' brands can be even more expensive once the sizes are compared
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bonnie
New Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bonnie on Aug 19, 2010 11:20:31 GMT -5
I am forced to use liquid laundry detergent as the washing machines where I live only accept liquid. They have three dispensers that you have to pour into and then the machine releases the soap and bleach for "presoak", the wash, and then softener. This bugs me because while I do like powder I suppose I can cope without it. But this system keeps me from using 20 Mule Team.
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Post by messymimi on Aug 19, 2010 16:05:23 GMT -5
I had to switch to liquid detergent, as no matter how hard I tried to predissolve the powders, they were leaving streaks on the clothes. This happened no matter which brands I used. We have such soft water that I barely use any anyway.
The unit pricing is useful if they do it right. Around here, however, they will show the price per ounce on one brand, and the price per pound on another brand. Or do the price per ounce on one size and price per pound on the other size. That way, you still can't compare the prices at a glance, you have to get out your trusty phone/calculator and figure it up yourself. They know most people are not going to bother.
I agree with Eagle, they are just trying to make a profit, so they take advantage of the fact that most of us don't bother to recalculate when they won't. They know we aren't stupid, but they also know that people react immediately and negatively to any and every price increase, whereas we usually take much longer to notice that the size has changed. So when the cost to manufacture and package and ship goes up for them, they have two choices. Raise the prices for us and get a backlash, or try to slowly and imperceptibly give less and less product to make up for keeping the price the same, which we don't always see right away.
Either way, I don't see an end in sight for this kind of thing.
messymimi
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Post by eagle on Aug 19, 2010 21:24:21 GMT -5
Bonnie, if you really want to use 20 mule team borax, you can make your own liquid laundry detergent. There are many recipes online for laundry detergent and most of the ones I have seen use it as one of the ingredients. I make my own laundry detergent and find it quite easy to do, although I don't make the liquid kind, because I prefer the powder. The liquid recipes look a bit more complex, but the cost and being able to use the ingredients you prefer may make it a more desirable option for you.
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Post by success19 on Aug 20, 2010 1:27:11 GMT -5
Ham salad all gone now - I was tired of it by the third day - . Glad not to have 4 more ounces - but I paid the same for 12.
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Post by urocyon on Aug 20, 2010 9:52:45 GMT -5
Bonnie, if you really want to use 20 mule team borax, you can make your own liquid laundry detergent. There are many recipes online for laundry detergent and most of the ones I have seen use it as one of the ingredients. I make my own laundry detergent and find it quite easy to do, although I don't make the liquid kind, because I prefer the powder. Worst case, you could just dissolve the borax in some hot water and pour it in the wash dispenser. I used to make a soap gel "liquid" with borax and washing or baking soda, but that doesn't work so well with the liquid chalk that comes out of the tap here unless you want a lot of soap scum in your clothes. (Even using vinegar in the rinse, the clothes get dingy after a while.) Just a borax and soda combo works pretty well on most loads too, and that's pretty easy to dissolve in water. Either option is really good if you're allergic to a lot of things or bothered by the perfumes in most commercial stuff; you can leave it plain, or add whatever scent you like. I usually put a few drops of lavender oil in there, which doesn't add much to the cost per batch either. Thanks for the suggestion, eagle! I hadn't thought of making powder, but it looks very doable with a food processor--just a little finer version of what I was dissolving in hot water to make the gel. After we move to where the water isn't so hard, I'll probably try it, because I like powder better too. Does it dissolve OK in cooler water washes, or do you need to predissolve it?
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Post by eagle on Aug 21, 2010 12:02:33 GMT -5
Urocyon, I have no problem with the homemade detergent dissolving at cooler temperatures. Also I only use 2 Tablespoons or less per load, so there is never too much powder.
Is a water softener out of the question for you? Here (meaning in this part of the country), it is unusual not to have a water softener.
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Post by urocyon on Aug 21, 2010 22:37:43 GMT -5
Eagle, thanks for the suggestion. Oddly, I hadn't even considered a water softener, but I don't think there's a good place to put one in our (non-rental) apartment. Not that many people seem to use them here (London area). There's a lot of calcium, but it's not much of a problem except for needing to do a lot of limescale removal and the soap scum problem. At least there's no worry about calcium deficiencies. We're also planning to move to the Bay Area before too long, so are avoiding doing much around the house besides desqualoring and some repairs. Glad to hear that the DIY powder dissolves OK in cooler water, since I try to save energy that way when it's feasible. Some commercial powders will clump up and not dissolve properly unless the water is pretty warm, but I have no idea what a lot of them are using as filler. My mom got hold of some that seemed to be full of coarsely ground corn cobs and left the clothes covered in specks. Edit: From a quick search, apparently ground corn cobs are not an unusual filler. No wonder some of the powders don't dissolve well!
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