Efficiency Washing Machines

[Marg Webb]

A suggestion for those that have new washers.
There is a new Tide efficiency detergent.
I used it and thought it did not get the clothes clean, so went back to regular. Well today I had to rinse my load six times and it still is not satisfactory.
So back to the efficiency detergent unless someone has a better suggestion I would like to hear it. THANKS!!!

[Kathy Jones]

Marg,

I never heard of "high-efficiency detergent before! Well, hooray. Do you suppose there's a version for people who are hyper-allergic/sensitive? (definitely NOT Tide)

Do you have front- or top-loading?

The difference I've noticed with our new Kenmore/Whirlpool washer is that there's not as much lint in the dryer. Well, not until I washed a chenille throw for the first time today. But that's another story.

Blessings!
Kathy

[Marg Webb]

Kathy, we have a top loader washer.
This washer is now ten years old and I never realized just what the problem was with having to rinse extra until I found the new Tide efficiency.
The water here is very hard.
What detergent do you use? I need some suggestions. Since moving here I have been like a Detective watching very closely the rinses.:)

The water bill in this home is beyond discussion. We had a well at three of our homes and of course softeners, so of course I would notice the price of water.
My nephew calls me "the laundry nut".:)
My Grandmother taught me to to do laundry. That was on the board with her homemade soap.
I often wonder just what Grandma would think of all the types of washing machines we have today, especially the laundromats.
We know several single Mother's with many children and the most thankful gift they can receive is an envelope with money and a drop of and pick up at the laundromat.
Those Mamma's come out of there with the most contented smile.!!!!!

[Barb Bouldrey]

What was wrong with clothes after rinsing them 6 times? Do you still have soap in the water? I would think rinsing them 6 times there would be no evidence of soap anymore.

Are you using liquid soap or powdered?

Tide has always been hard or septic and sewage systems when used in the powdered form. We have had friends who lived out in the country that had to have their entire sewage line dug up and cleaned up because it was caked with Tide residue.

I always use liquid laundry detergent.

If I still felt my laundry had soap in it after just one rinse I would either wash a smaller load, reduce my amount of detergent or add fabric softener directly to the rinse water. I would also increase the water level in my washer...for example, if it was a regular size load I would put the setting on large load.

Sounds to me that you are not getting enough water into your machine to rinse your clothes adequately.

Barb

[Dana Grant]

What was wrong with clothes after rinsing them 6 times? Do you still have soap in the water? I would think rinsing them 6 times there would be no evidence of soap anymore.

Are you using liquid soap or powdered?

Tide has always been hard or septic and sewage systems when used in the powdered form. We have had friends who lived out in the country that had to have their entire sewage line dug up and cleaned up because it was caked with Tide residue.

I always use liquid laundry detergent.

If I still felt my laundry had soap in it after just one rinse I would either wash a smaller load, reduce my amount of detergent or add fabric softener directly to the rinse water. I would also increase the water level in my washer...for example, if it was a regular size load I would put the setting on large load.

Sounds to me that you are not getting enough water into your machine to rinse your clothes adequately.

Barb

I agree, Barg -- Marg, it sounds like you need to have more water and less clothes in the load. If you do that, then you probably wouldn't have to rinse 6 times -- also, maybe you're using TOO much detergent? We have hard water here in Tucson, as well, and I don't have a problem with rinsing. However, if I put a regular load in, I set the water level to "large" so that the clothing will be able to move around and get rinsed better the first time. I don't recall ever having to rinse anything more than once.

[Marg Webb]

Barb.
I use liquid Tide, the efficiency kind now.
I thought maybe there was not enough water coming into rinse so watch very closely. It was ok.
That is why my nephew calls me the "laundry nut".
As you have written I wonder if there is something wrong with the sewer lines. This is a new, well comparatively new Condo, it is ten years old, but who knows.
Although other's must have trouble, for Tide to put out another soap.
It is explained on the container.
When we had septic tanks we had to use Amway soap. No sud's.
You have given all the reasons I had and checked all except the sewer lines.
Will have them look into it.
Thanks for your suggestions.
We think alike but I have not solved the problem, except to use just a tiny bit of soap. I think I will go back to Amway.
Thanks again for your interest.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we purchase efficiency.:)