Are the big brand names of laundry detergent really any better than the cheaper ones?

[raccoon]

I've been using a store brand for ages. My sister uses Tide.

Your thoughts?

[mainegreen]

1. Consumer Reports a while back said Tide was one of the best for the buck.

Even better than the expensive ones.

We use Tide. I like it.

[Strawman]

2. I'm banking on no

$2.50 for "Value Brand" generic store brand detergent. $9 something for the same amount of Tide on sale. Kind of a no brainer to me until I start itching or something.

[chaska]

3. NO. And you can even make your own.

[applegrove]

4. Don't buy the really really cheap stuff. But a brand name may be okay.

[trof]

5. Well, a flat rock down by the crick is good enough for Miz t.

She don't need none of that store boughten stuff.
;-)

[dembotoz]

6. cheap is good

my biggest problem is getting the boys to put the dirty stuff in the laundry basket.
Fresh dirt and smells are always easier to remove that dirt and smells that have "aged"

[chaska]

16. I agree. I drive a big rig (locallly - 4 to 5 loads a day), I get pretty damn dirty....

and the cheap stuff works just fine on my jeans.

[youthere]

7. I've been using the Tide HE in my machine...

because it's supposed to be good for front loaders...I've tried the regular cheap stuff, and'the clothes fon't come as clean. I recently found an "off" brand for front loaders that was almost $4 cheaper than the Tide HE and tried it, it works great.

[meow2u3]

8. Era is the best brand of detergent I've used

I tried to use store brands to save money, but the clothes didn't come clean unless I used twice to three times the amount recommended. It's not worth the short-term savings.

Era may be a smidge expensive to buy at first, but you use less and the clothes come clean the first time. The enzymes they put in Era gets out the stains, plus the clothes come out smelling great.

[LeftyMom]

9. I won't give p&g my money.

I use either BioKleen or Method.

[TommyO]

10. It's Method for me as well

Triple concentrated, scentless (at least that's what I buy), easily found at Target which just happens to be on the way home from work, and it works great in my front-loader.

[LeftyMom]

11. Their dryer sheets are the only ones on the market that aren't made with animal fat.

The waxy texture of other dryer sheets comes from tallow. Eew.

[chaska]

13. No offense, LM, but why on earth does anyone need dryer sheets?

My mom used them. I hate the damn things. They leave your clothes greasy ... but nice and flamable. And forget about trying to clean your glasses on a shirt that's been in contact with a dryer sheet.

[LeftyMom]

17. Yeah, these ones aren't like that.

They've just got a little scented oil in them, they don't leave clothes greasy or flammable or make towels less absorbant (it's the tallow that does that.) I don't know if they effect glasses, nobody in my household wears them.

[chaska]

18. Okay two eyes, let's not get ... glassist.

Okay, THAT was bad. I must apologize. Please forgive.

[TommyO]

19. Since I don't use dryer sheets, I never even looked at the "ingredients"

I'm far from vegan or even vegetarian, but "Eew" does capture the idea of tallow in dryer sheets quite well.

[GirlinContempt]

12. I don't know.

I try to buy super concentrated enviro-friendly detergent. It's WAY more expensive if you look at it on a purchase level (say, $20 vs $10) but lasts longer, and makes me feel better about using it.

[AlCzervik]

14. i use tide because almost every other brand i've tried gives me a rash.

yes i'm a delicate flower.:D

[chaska]

15. Can we at least agree that powdered is better for the environment?

Liquid detergent is heavy and cost a lot of diesel fuel to haul around the country. Same as with bottled water/soft drinks.

[GirlinContempt]

20. I don't know about that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7559372&mesg_id=7559386

[grace0418]

21. No, all of them have harmful chemicals. If you're going to spend more, buy green

laundry detergents. I wait for them to go on sale then buy a bunch. I like them much better.

[AirmensMom]

22. I agree.

My favorites are Seventh Generation and Ecover. :thumbsup:

[grace0418]

23. Yeah, I like those too. I haven't found too many I don't like. Which is great because there

are a lot more choices nowdays and I can buy whatever is on sale.