Powder often has the edge over liquids. Oxy bleach, which really whitens whites and removed bleachable stains, is usually a powder so liquids don't have it. They rely on optical brighteners to make clothes appear brighter. Among Tide detergents, I could not find one liquid that contains oxy bleach (besides the liquid Stain Release).

I haven't found a connection between liquid detergent and residue if you use it correctly. Residue is more of a problem if you overdose and/or run too many cold washes.

Persil's Free and Clear version is called Sensitive. It's lightly scented, though. Sears detergent gets very good reviews from what I have seen - also on other laundry-related forums.

I would not worry about pre-treaters as one only uses small amounts per load. A good powder might even do away with the need for pre-treating.

HTH, Alex

I don't know - sorry. I recall that some people recommended Cheer detergent for darks but the Cheer web site doesn't list ingredients, so I can't tell whether it has brighteners or not. Persil Megaperls and liquid with the addition "Color" is free of brighteners but it's also very expensive for you over there.

Alex

In my old TL, I used Kirkland Free & Clear AND OxiClean with all darks and blacks, and it did not cause any fading that I've noticed over the last couple years.

I believe Kirkland Free & Clear contains no optical brighteners. I've checked our clothes with a UV light (because of my husband's paranoia about optical brighteners making his hunting camo glow in the eyes of the deer. LOL.)

Kirkland is also the best-rated free & clear detergent in CR recent tests. And a super value around 9 cents per load.

Kirkland also has a symbol that says "Your colors protected by Color Secure."

Alas, I can no longer mix OxiClean and Kirkland Free & Clear in my new FL. So for oxygen bleach cleaning, I'm using Gain. It also has OBs, and the sheets come out just sparkling.

But I currently have no formula for a Free & Clear AND oxygen bleach clean! Looks like Seventh Generation Powder fits the bill...it ranks slightly higher than Kirkland on CR (2 points, probably not noticeable to humans)...but is 4 times the price.

According to Consumer Reports Tide HE powder is the best soap they tested. It was superior to Tide liquid too. I haven't used it because it costs more. Supposedly Gain HE powder is a close second for a lot less money (1/3). I made the mistake of going to get some and the only version I found was the liquid. I got some but it is full of blue-green dye and perfume----and it is nowhere near as good as the powder. I am a cheapskate when it comes to laundry products and we have no allergy problems. I have used Kirkland (Costco) Free and Clear too. It works the same as Gain but is nearly colorless and no smell.

I have a Maytag Bravos washer. I use both powder and liquid detergents, depending on the type laundry I wash and wash temp.

I always use liquid detergents when washing laundry in cold water, as powders don't seem to dissolve as well in cold water. When I wash white/light delicates in cold water, I use Woolite HE liquid detergent (I've been using a BIG bottle I got at BJ's warehouse store on sale and w/a coupon, and I still have more than half the bottle). When I wash sturdier whites/light clothes which must be washed in cold water, I use Tide HE w/bleach liquid. I wash comforters and blankets in cold or warm water w/liquid detergent.

When washing laundry in warm water, it depends on what I'm washing. I prefer liquid detergents for dark clothes. I really like Woolite for Darks, but it is hard to find in an HE formula, and I cannot find Cheer HE for Darks anymore, so I usually use Tide HE Total Care. It works well.

I generally use powdered detergent when I wash in hot water, as I think it performs best in hot water. I always wash towels and white cottons like guys' socks, undies, and T-shirts in hot water (sometimes sheets). I do like to use ERA HE liquid on dirty/greasy jeans and other such laundry.

It sounds like I have a veritable store of detergents, LOL. I've "collected" them over the last couple of years, buying most of them at BJ's in great big sizes that last for months and months. When one runs out, I look for one of these on sale and almost always use coupons too.

"I believe Kirkland Free & Clear contains no optical brighteners."

I checked a few sites that indicate it does contain OBAs.

I think Free & Clear usually means no dye or perfume. It doesn't say anything about enzymes or optical brighteners.

Here is a link that might be useful: Detergent Chart