laundry answer (stains)

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There have been several questions lately about laundry, laundry detergents, how to clean tough stains, etc etc etc.

I've been using liquid Tide for my nice clothes lately, el cheapo brand for towels, bedding etc etc etc. Once I had tried the liquid Tide on a really tough stain that nothing else could get out, I was impressed and hooked. I would not ordinarily buy an expensive detergent like Tide, but when it was priced at half-price in a store sale, and I had a dollar coupon and they doubled it, well lets just say I ended up buying 4 big jugs. what a sale !!!

Anyway, that's the history, it's already been said and is in the archives. Here's the newest.

I had noticed that the stores had a thingamig called a "TideKick" next to the detergent. Looks sort of like a measuring cup, but it's real purpose is a holder that one uses to pre-treat stains. Price was about $1.50. One fills it with liquid Tide, and it has a knobthing that one rubs over the stain, it applies the detergent and works it in. Then toss the Tidekick in the washer and run it through with the clothes.

Anyway, in my email mailbox was a "freebies on the web" letter, and it said I could get one for free !!! WHOPPEE well it's not a big deal saving $1.50, but hey, it makes my day.

Folks, either buy 1 of these TideKicks, or even better go to Tide.com and click on the free sample. They will send you a TideKick free, along with a coupon!!

I am not necessarily trying to be a walking endorsement for Tide, but this stuff is good. Not only did it get stains out that nothing else would, now I no longer have to buy the pre-treatment stain treaters, such as Shout or the stuff in the green bottle, forgot its name.

If you have a stain and it doesn't come out on the first try, when you pull it out of the washer and you can still see it, don't put it in the dryer, that just sets the stain in. Treat it again, let it soak for a day, a few days, a week or whatever it takes. Use a bucket instead of tying up the washing machine. Once I had a stain that would not come out, no matter what, so I soaked it for about 2 months. Changed the water and detergent about once a week. Finally it came out. Saved a favorite article of clothing which I still use!

Have a great day and be well.

Gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), December 15, 2001

Answers

This may sound strange but back when I was doing scrap metal work, complete with rust, grease, caked on dirt, I found that Ajax dish soap was the only thing that would cut the mess out of my clothes. The bottle said "Do not use for laundry because of too much suds" but I found finally something with enough suds.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 17, 2001.

I use the homemade laundry soap for all my laundry. For tough stains I have a rollon deodorant container that I cleaned completely and filled with Dawn dish soap. I seldom ever have to wash an article a second time because a stain doesn't come out.

-- Grannytoo (grannytoo@somewhere.com), December 17, 2001.

Won't be a granny until July, but do agree with Grannytoo. Though nothing I really meant to start doing I have watched to infants in a row this last two years. Both Moms asked me how I kept the clothes so clean, when the clothes they washed were stained. As I take off dirty, usually food stained clothes, I put Dawn dishwashing liquid on the stain and throw it into the hamper, once washed, usually sat for a day or so, they are spotless, even red from tomatoe sauce. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 17, 2001.

I rub Goop on the stains on my clothes. Gets rid of everything, grease, grass stains, you name it.

-- Stacey (stacey@lakesideinternet.com), December 17, 2001.

I'm not beholden to any laundry soap or dishwashing liquid. But, per the Dawn liquid, I heard they recently changed their formula and people are not happy. We use the commercial version at the bakery and I'm not too thrilled with it. I wonder if this commercial version is the same as the 'new and improved' version that I've heard grumblings about.

I've always used Fels Naptha bar soap for stains. Maybe I'm a creature of habit. But, it always seems to do the job for me.

-- pc (jasper2@doglover.com), December 17, 2001.



Instead of the tidekick (which I thought was okay until I saw there was no optional lid on it--I know it goes in the washer, but wasn't sure about using it in a front loader), if you want something with a roll-on just for adding a little extra just on stains, you could also reuse a roll-on detergent bottle (check before you buy, Ban had one that could be reused, but not some other brands.

Another option is to just dip an old toothbrush in and rub quickly across the stain to work it in.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 17, 2001.


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