WDF People; What's your favorite detergent?

[Sunflower]

WDF People; What's your favorite detergent? What do you like about it? The smell? The cleaning power?

(Even if you're not wdf, I'd like to read your opinions on brands.)

I've heard that Arm & Hammer and Purex are good cleaners and they are inexpensive. (Maybe because they don't spend billions on advertising...)

Also, which is best, liquid or powder?

[CharlieS]

I'm generally a "use the best" kind of guy. I was using a high end soap from my distributor. I never had any customer complaints with that soap.

But, on a whim and because I was out of soap, I bought a bucket of Sam's club soap. Guess what! Cleans just as well, far less expensive than anything else, and most importantly - never had a customer complaint, plus my WDF business has grown consistently.

I buy 3 or 4 buckets at a time at Sam's, along with the big bottle of Downy (1 per bucket). Works just fine.

Charlie

[DuboisLaundry]

I usually use Cheer for the brighter colors because I had a customer complain about fading from Gain, I use Gain the most. I just bought some Arm & Hammer and will be trying that along side Gain because it is so much cheaper. In a few weeks I'll probably make a pick between them for ongoing. I think I'll keep with Gain for the Fabric Softener because I bought into the marketing that the fresh scent lasts longer - Is it true or would a cheaper FS be just as good?

Borax is really cheap and stretches the detergent quite a bit, so I use it too quite a bit.

I don't have a Sam's membership, and the nearest one is over 3 hours one-way, so I don't see myself switching to that, just sticking with what I can get at Walmart or KMart (only 90 minutes one-way instead)

[JimG]

Because of a poll on this site (must be 2 years now), I switched to Gain liquid from All liquid. At the time, responders to the poll cited tests they'd personally done to test the stain-fighting power of various detergents, and Gain came out on top. I've been happy with Gain since then. But, in an attempt to improve the bottom line, I recently switched to Sam's Windfresh from Gain. Much more cost effective. No comments/complaints from my customers. My attendants swear it doesn't work, but I've chosen to ignore them.

[Sunflower]

If anyone locates that poll, please post a link to it. I searched for favorite laundry detergent before posting this thread.

[DuboisLaundry]

this one?
http://www.coinwash.com/mb/showthread.php?t=1012

this is one is not a poll, but still interesting
http://www.coinwash.com/mb/showthread.php?t=2107

[Sunflower]

Thanks Dubois!

Is anyone a member of Consumer Reports? I'd like to hear about their latest findings on detergent. I know there was a study done in 10/05.

[Gatorlenny]

I stock the Sams club Windfresh. and for softener we use Gain. Our customers think we have the best smelling clothes and laundrymat around!. My attendants use some of thier own remedies for stuff, nothing like Dawn for grease and oil, and baking soda, and Shout.

[anonymous]

I use gain for wash with Clorox2.Sam"s Club works as well .Gain just smells better Never a complaint so far

[TLR]

Surf from Sam's

TLR

[PeterH]

Powder all the way. Cleans better, rinses better and stays put in the soap dispensers so you don't have to redose the machines when they go from prewash to wash.

Surf from Sam's. I prefer Lever products over P&G.

However, nothing beats the FREE detergent left behind by customers for use in WDF service.

[Tom@Troske.com]

we use premium liguid laundry detergent and softner from a supplier that comes around. Buy 30 gallon drums. Cleans great we switched from Sams detergent to this works better and is cheaper.

[Sunflower]

I just tried Gain and that addicting smell is easy to love. It actually STAYS in the clothes. I quite using softener as the scent factor was the biggest reason for it. I couldn't even dream of a Sams Club. The closest Costco is 2 hours away. Some of you folks out in the middle of nowhere might think of asking your local grocer for a bulk discount. Mine did it for me. You'll probably still pay more but if you factor in drive time or shipping you might just be ahead.