Question for All the Mom's That Have.......

Sears has a fantastic powder front-load powder detergant. It is a HUGE, HUGE bucket and its about $25-$30 but well worth the investment, you will find it last FOREVER! Good luck!

I also have a front loader (and do not like it). I tried to use regular liquid detergent and found that it was too sudsy and didn't rinse very well. Haven't tried to use the powder because I didn't think the machine used enough water to dissolve it. (I have the Maytag Neptune model)

You can use non- front-loading detergents. Just use less. Much less -- like 1/3 the amount. Powders are okay, too.

Hope that helps.
J.

I have front loaders also. I use all types of detergent, powder and liquid. I also add a scoop of oxy clean inside the tub to the baby stuff to help with stains. I have never had an issue with using powder and have NEVER used detergent specifically for front loading machines. hth

I think you can use either powder or liquid, as long as there is the 'he' symbol on the package. I buy the big TIDE bottle whenever it's on sale for 10 $ and it lasts forever, since you can use a lot less detergent on frontloaders.

I read in the manual that you should only use the HE detergents or it could mess something up. I wouldn't chance it! I agree with the previous response that you can use a lot less detergent with the same results. :-)

We have had to use other types of detergents and nothing has happened so far. We have the duets and have used powders and things that weren't HE. We only do it when we're short on money and we mostly use HE stuff but nothing bad has happened so far.

I use the detergent from Costco. It is inexpensive and can be used for HE washers. The detergent from Melaleuca is great too. You get a great value for the money.

It must be a "HE" detergent(any brand). They have far less suds than other detergents, otherwise you'll make a mess and clog the machine.

I switched to Costco's brand of detergent that is much cheaper than Tide etc. It is good for me.
But no, you can't use the regular types of detergent or your clothes will have too much detergent and it can damage your washer.

I don't recommend that you use any other detergent than the HE for the front loaders. I have a friend that uses any kind and she has only had hers for a year and it is already messed up and leaking. i have had mine for 6 months and I use the HE and I haven't had any problems as of yet.

Hi C.,

I use non-He detergent (powder & liquid) in my washing machine all the time. I use about 1/4 -1/2 of what I normally would have used in a regular washer. I have had my machine well over 2 years now and have NEVER had too many suds, or have had a problem with my washer. My manual says you SHOULD use powder detergent when you use a pre-wash treatment, because the liquid flows into the drum right away with the prewash cycle instead of waiting for the wash cycle.

Hope this helps!

I've had a front loader for a few years. I would not consider using a product in my machine that is not recommended. You could possibly damage your warranty....

I use the little bottle (Small and Mighty I think) of All. You can find it on special at Tom Thumb often for $3.99 and that is a deal. It last a long time. I wash about 3 times a day. When I see it on special anywhere, Kroger routinely has specials too, I just stock up. I think I have at least 10 in my stash right now.

Susan

I have a top loader, but it's an HE washer, so I'm supposed to stick to the he stuff. I know ALL makes an HE line that I use regularly. And Costco carries an HE line, too. Both cost just as much as what I was paying, before buying the new washer. The thing is, with the HE washers, you use less detergent, less water, etc, so it all evens out. And you're not supposed to use regular detergent b/c (supposedly) it suds more and can end up ruining your washer. And if your washer breaks b/c of misuse (wrong detergent), it's not covered by warranty.

I also have a front loader and use regular powder Tide. Like the previous post said, you just use alot less. I was using liquid Tide and one day I was cleaning the machine up and took out the tray where you load the detergent, softener, etc. Underneath the tray was an enormous build up of liquid detergent that had accumulated. At that point, I started using powder and have had no problems.

I have a front loader and I was told that regular detergent suds more than front loading det. So I just go with HE detergent.But it really isn't much diff in price b/c you use less anyways.

I have had a front loader for almost 2 years now and use the "regular" detergents every time I wash. I have also used powder as well as baking soda when I had something that needed it. You should be fine.

I don't think it mater what detergent you use but I was using Surf.Now I use Arm and Hammer and I use the powder kind,and I raly love it very much.The rason I don't use Surf anymore is that it fades my clothes. Good Luck on your decision that you make.

Mine is an energy efficient one and I can only use detergents that say He. So I would consult the manual and make sure. I mean you wouldn't want to break it.
Also I think the tendency is to use more detergent than we need. I only ever use to the #1 line in the cap of the Tide and my clothes are always clean.
Good luck.

I have a front loader too. The HE type detergents are low "sudsing". If you use a regular detergent it will start to look like the typical washing machine scenes in the sitcoms and movies. If you use half the normal amount of regular detergent, it isn't enough to get your clothes clean. This is from experience. :-)

I once looked up about detergents for front loaders in consumers report and they were actually suggesting using powder detergent to avoid the excessive foam (which I was getting from using liquid).

I have been using tyde for over a year now and never had a problem.

Happy washing!

I would only use the front loader HE detergent. I already had one replaced because of using regular detergent. It also creates a musty smell after a while if you use regular detergent. The appliance repair man told me only HE detergent. Also said that liquid fabric softner is not good to use either. I still do, but water it down a bit.

Hope this helps!

The liquid Arm and Hammer is cheap and i love the stuff...i wont change to any other type of detergent. I am assuming, since it is liquid, you can use it for front loading.

I have noticed one change in the liquid though; they have made it more concentrated, so the bottle is smaller...but you just need to remember to use less detergent; you get the same amount of loads as the regular bottle.

hope this helps. A.

The detergent from melaleuca is great... you just use half of the recommended amount. It is naturally low-sudsing, works great and is a tremendous value. A 96 load bottle is about $15... since you'd use half, it would last just under 200 loads.

I tried the powder once, and it did exactly what the manufacturer said it would do...I had suds all over my garage floor. After buying my frontloader, I actually called the customer service line at GE and they said regular liquid detergent is o.k. if you use about half the normal amount. I like to shop at Sam's and buy the 2x Ultra All Free and Clear. It is really very cheap for the number of loads you get out of it (200 loads for around $10.00), and I like that my 19 month old son, who has eczema, does not have any reactions to it. Happy laundering!!!

I've been using regular detergent for the last 9 months, but I use half the dose. Kroger now carries a store brand HE detergent you might want to try, it's a lot cheaper then the name brands.

Arm and Hammer liquid is really cheap over here. Try purchasing your detergent at dollar stores. They have the name brands for about half the price.

There are some powder HE detergents. I know TIDE makes one ....

Good luck!

I use All HE in the small and mighty bottle. I have been told that you need very little detergent when you wash, so you only need 1/4 of what they tell you to use. Small and Mighty bottles last us for about 2-3 months and I do laudry about twice a day.
If you have something really gross (like dirty underwear), run on the santizing cycle (or super hot) but don't increase detergent. That cycle gets out everything and mean everything!
If you have really nice front loading, I would not risk putting anything but HE in there.

L.