frugal detergent causing me more work

[AmyMCGS]

Arrrggghhh. I found a great deal on cheap detergent a while back-- buy one huge jug at $12, get two for FREE. I figured that was easily a year's worth of detergent. I'd never tried that brand, but hey, detergent is detergent, right? WRONG!

This stuff is terrible. It does not get any visible spots out of clothes unless I pretreat them with stain remover-- even regular dirt like on the kids' knees or whatever. The worst part, though, is that it leaves blue stains on at least one or two items of clothes in every load I wash, no matter the temperature. (It's liquid, and the way my washer's dispenser is set up, it comes out in the middle, after the water fills up to the sensor's level. I can't prefill the washer with water & add detergent that way due to the high-tech sensor it has.)

I am so frustrated with this. I have to go through every load of clothes and rewash things, either because I missed pretreating something or because the detergent itself made a new spot. I'm seriously thinking of trashing this stuff and buying some Tide again, despite the wasted money-- I'm probably wasting just as much doing extra loads.

Any suggestions? Would that OxyClean booster stuff help? (Although it wouldn't put me ahead $$-wise, I guess.)

[bumplett]

wow, that sucks

can you take it back to the store you purchased from? ((get a refund, or exchange it for Tide))

I don't know what store you purchased from, but some 'big' stores (Kroger, Publix) will exchange a store brand for the name brand AND refund your $$

otherwise, do you have a friend/family member that has a reg washing machine that could buy it from you?

I don't have a front loading washer, so I have NO ideas on how to solve the laundry problem....

[jinx]

I too go stuck with cheap cleaning products that didnt do the job. Mine was window cleaner, that was just blue tinted water.
If there is fabric softener in the detergent that is the cause of the blue staining, as fabric softener spilled on clothes which can be tough to remove.
Laundry booster will probally help, but you now have the expense of buying something extra. How much of it have you used? If you only used a portion on 1 container try returning them. Even for store credit. It is worth a try. Please let us know what brand it is so we all can avoid it.

[Darlene]

Don't have any suggestions that would make what you have work better but thought that an animal shelter could use what you have left to wash towels, bedding or something.

[sdrjeolsen]

Not sure how it would work, but what about watering it down a bit to make the blue dye not so thick and concentrated. Use the same amount of detergent you usually do, but just add an equal part of water and stir it then put it in as usual. I do that with bleach because I've had clothes wrecked up and it always works well with that. Otherwise, I guess toss it or save it for washing rags only.

[baxjul]

I've had this happen. Mix some borax with water, and mix into detergent. Or the laundry booster, added to detergent works. I've also mixed baking soda with it to get it to work better! Hope these ideas help!

[AmyMCGS]

It's Dynamo brand. Do not buy it!

I'm pretty sure it's too late to return it... I bought it a couple of months back (February?), and it's just now rotated to the front of my stockpile. I don't have a receipt, and even if I did, the remaining two full jugs were the "free" ones.

Thanks for the suggestions... I may try a few more loads to see what I can do with it, using some of your ideas. I'm frustrated enough right now that I'm about to become that woman in the commercial who throws her whole washing machine out the window, LOL!

Don't have any suggestions that would make what you have work better but thought that an animal shelter could use what you have left to wash towels, bedding or something.

Darlene~ thanks!! If I can't find a way to make it work for me, I will definitely do this. I had thought about the homeless shelter, but I didn't feel right giving them something that was no good... but I guess the animals really wouldn't mind a few blue spots. I just checked online, and our local Humane Society actually has detergent on their wishlist right now. I wouldn't have thought of them!

[lwlynch]

Write the company, or find a website. Tell them how horrible it all was. I have done this a few times with things that I didn't like how they worked and the asked for the codes and sent me new coupons for other stuff. It is worth a try

[lwlynch]

I looked it up for you colgate - palmolive owns the company. Just write them or call them and tell them that you are dissatisfied..good luck..

[shadomoon]

The Dynamo brand is owned by P&G and you may want to try a letter to them about your results. The best info would probably on the back of the bottle for contact info
Just state the facts (with heart) and let them know you have been letting others know about what you are seeing.

[AmyMCGS]

You will all get a kick out of this....

I went to Meijer yesterday, where I bought this stuff in the first place. They are having the exact same sale again... buy one, get two free! I was so tempted to stand there and stop people from buying it, but I figured they'd just think I was some psycho.

[Holly]

Thats weird because I always buy Dynamo and have no problem with it.
I also get it when its buy 1 get 2 free. I stock up.
If I run out and theres not a sale I go with Xtra

[Darlene]

Darlene~ thanks!! If I can't find a way to make it work for me, I will definitely do this. I had thought about the homeless shelter, but I didn't feel right giving them something that was no good... but I guess the animals really wouldn't mind a few blue spots. I just checked online, and our local Humane Society actually has detergent on their wishlist right now. I wouldn't have thought of them!

Glad to help out! I bring them (animal shelter) our old towels and blankets. The pooches & purrballs just want a clean, soft and loving place and don't care about spots of any color.

[mommy4ever]

The joys of detergents. What works for one, won't necessarily work for another. One form might work, and then next might be junk to you.

Having had similar issues with detergents, dishwasher, clothes. I spoke to the manufacturer. And there are a few things to consider. For example, liquid cascade works best with soft water. Powder with harder water. Also temperature, some just don't do well in cold water(anyone here use hot water wash? I only do one load a week with hot). Also depends on the type of washer. Front load, top load, new or old. Each one will have it's own "preference".

I stick with gain or tide, but then we got the front load. And Gain doesn't have an HE, or didn't when I last bought detergent. So I bought tide, now looking back at receipts, the last tide I bought was nearly a year ago. My washer takes very little, so I don't mind getting a name brand that works well for me. I'm almost done, and I have a new bottle waiting, a new brand to me, so i hope I"m not kicking myslef later.

Sorry it's not working for you. I'm sure the animal shelter will be thrilled.

[pkellyc]

I have tried OxyClean and did not see any difference in my wash. I would try mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 with a better detergent.