I also only use about half the recommended amount of soap for all but the most soiled garments and find this works just as well! Also if you use fabric softener sheets, use only half a sheet. It does the same job. If you have jeans, etc. Be careful not to inhale and ventilate the area. You will be amazed at what a great job it does. I think your water and your machine have a lot to do with how clean your clothes get too.
I have used less expensive brands also. I think the heat of your dryer fades out clothes just as bad or worse than washing them. Also, I like to dry clothes on the line whenever the weather is nice enough, but direct sunlight fades colors too, especially bright colored cottons.
My degree is in Textiles and Marketing, and I have a partial answer to your question. I buy generic brands or national brands with a sizable coupon for best values. From Textiles clothes last longer if you dry outdoors and turn inside out to prevent fading.
The dryer can be hard on your fabrics, especially if you repeatedly dry them past the point of dryness. I also try to launder similar fabrics together and usually in cold water. Avoid washing terry towels with garments, as fuzz collects on the clothes, making them look dusty or less-than-clean. Consumer Reports recently ran tests on the national and non-name-brand detergents, as well as fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
Their basic belief and mine, as well—after many years of experimentation, is that it is worth the extra money to buy the national name-brand detergents and fabric softeners.
While some may disagree, the tests proved conclusively that fading was significantly lessened by using their No. I have found similar results. While it is more expensive, by using coupons and waiting for sales, the prices I pay are comparable to the non-name-brand stuff that I used to buy.
But the important thing is that it saves our clothes and makes hand-me-downs seem less like hand-me-downs and more like new apparel. CR claims that if you allow the basin of the washer to fill up with water and detergent before putting clothes in, that it makes the detergent that much more effective.
Subscribe to The Dollar Stretcher , our free twice-weekly newsletter aimed at helping you live better for less on the money you already have! Your Email:. We often get asked about the effectiveness of cheaper laundry detergents. Here are a few. Tam Dear Dollar Stretcher, Just wondering if you or your readers have seen anything about whether a cheap laundry detergent read: not the national brand in the orange box fades colors or wears out your clothes faster than the heavily advertised national brand.
Cheap Detergent for Whites Only I learned the hard way that some of those super cheap detergents do, in fact, ruin clothing. Money-Saving Laundry Tips Here are my money saving tips for doing laundry: Always use cold water, except for towels and underwear. It does not do a good job of getting smells out of laundry.
My towels get a musty smell after they are a few years old, but Xtra doesn't work to keep the smell under control. I also don't like the scent of any of the kinds of Xtra. The price on this detergent is hard to beat, so I do buy it to use for some of my laundry.
It is frequently on sale at my grocer and each bottle does a large amount of loads. Performance It just does an average job of getting clothes clean. Scent I do not like the scent of any variety of Xtra. The Mountain Rain is by far the worst scent. Warm Vanilla Comfort is the one I like best. Throughout the years I have used many laundry detergents, from the higher priced brands to inexpensive brands like Xtra Laundry detergent. I have found that if you have children, you work a dirty or a job that causes you to sweat, or are just plain messy, most of these cheap brands are not going to get your clothing clean.
Xtra is probably one of the cheapest brands, sometimes even cheaper than store brands. Sadly, I found it was more costly to use this detergent because it does not clean. The loads I cleaned with Xtra smelled about the same as they did before washing them.
They also weren't much cleaner after washing these in Xtra. So, it didn't save me any money by purchasing this detergent because I had to use a booster to get clothes clean and the grungy look from my families socks.
Performance This brand just doesn't get clothing clean. I would only recommend it to those that don't get their clothing very dirty, like the elderly. It definitely will not work for those that have children, or those that get their clothes even remotely dirty. It may also help to wash smaller loads in this detergent.
If you do purchase this, I would suggest purchasing a stain remover as well because it doesn't do anything to tough stains like mustard, chocolate or grungy socks. Scent The scent isn't lasting and doesn't stay on clothing through the wash cycle. I have previously and in the past purchased and used this Xtra Laundry Detergent and I was not to happy with it. Good Product that Can't be beat for the Price.
I bought this once to save money and was surprised at the results, I have sensitive skin and I have no problems when I use this product, it also has a nice smell that last which is not always the case for lower costing products.
Worth a try for sure. Megan Newton Falls 6 Reviews. Megan Newton Falls 6 Reviews 0 Upload. This is the detergent I always buy. Its super affordable which is a must with the amount of laundry I do and it leaves my clothes smelling fresh and clean! Great price, but poor results. Very watery. You have to use twice as much to even begin to get clothes clean. Smell of the laundry detergent is terrible! You may think the other brands are more expensive, but in the long run THIS is more expensive!
Load more reviews. They left stains and used extra water. Largely, their poor ratings were due to stains left on fabrics and excess amounts of water used. But what is it exactly that makes on dryer far worse than another?
But a money-wasting dryer might take longer, use higher heat, or over-dry laundry when you want clothes a bit damp. All of this is harder on fabrics and uses more energy. So, there you have it, folks. Those are the absolute worst and least cost-effective laundry products you can buy.
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