[Jon-and-Lou]

Have scrutinised the aisle with the powders etc, and I'm at a loss so figured you guys could help.

We've bought a front loader, but the only "front loader" powder we can find is Surf?

Can I use anything else? How do I tell that it is suitable? Also, have liquids made it here yet as have always used liquid before in the UK (filled plastic ball, in the drum)?

Lou

ps. We are in CHCH if that helps ...

[benandclare]

We've a front loader we brought from UK and we use any powder we fancy , seems to do the job "Sweet as" :nice1

[sizzlingbadger]

The Warehouse usually has front loader Persil :nice1

[Tia Maria]

Persil do one, so do Reflect, (a budget brand that works fine), and you can use Ecostore laundry powder for front loaders also.

Here's a link to the brands Foodtown sell, not sure if the laundry powder page will come up or whether you'll have to search again:

http://www.foodtown.co.nz/HomeShopping/Shop.aspx

Cheers

Tia

[Jon-and-Lou]

I heard that you had to use powder specific for front loaders (low suds) cos the other ones knacker the machine? Is that not true?

[Mels]

We have just had to buy a new washing machine and got a front loader again. I used Persil sensitive low suds and when the washing cycle was going hardley saw any bubbles at all.
I know it was low suds!!! but in the UK with are old front loader there was always a couple of inches of bubbles on the front plate. Where have my bubbles gone or is this normal??

Mels

[Milliemoo]

I've switched to the Eco Store Low Suds, from the Persil Sensitive Low Suds, and have noticed a huge difference in the amount of suds.

I find the Eco Store uses less powder and washes the clothes better :nice1

Milliemoo

[Georgebulldog]

Is that it then Persil or Eco store?
I'm having real trouble getting my whites white, mainly baby stuff, it's managed to stay white for one but all of a sudden I don't know if it's the milk I'm using or Persil sensitive but I have yellow staining & it's ruining my chances of selling it on :wah

[sizzlingbadger]

Have you tried adding Napisan powder into the wash as well the powder ?

I've used it a couple of times and seems to work really well in getting the stains out :nice1

[Georgebulldog]

Have you tried adding Napisan powder into the wash as well the powder ?

I've used it a couple of times and seems to work really well in getting the stains out :nice1

Thanks I think that's my next trip to the shops sorted out :nice1

[Silverwing86]

Also, have liquids made it here yet as have always used liquid before in the UK (filled plastic ball, in the drum)?

Hi Lou,


I too favour liquid detergent and yes they have made it here ;) although they are sparse. I have found three so far that are okay to use in front loaders.

Down to Earth - 1.25 ltr. (bought at Foodtown I think)
Am-O-Lin Sensitive - 1.25 ltr (bought at New World, again, I think)
Pam's Heavy Duty Brave (orange bottle) - 2 ltr (bought at Pak-n-Save, I know :D)
After having tried all three I'm now sticking to the Pam's as it does a good job and I much prefer the 2 ltr. amount so it lasts me longer before I have to shop for it again.

What I haven't seen here yet though are the plastic balls to put it in. Luckily I brought a few over when we moved here so I just use those.

Hope that helps...

Cheers,
Silver

[Mels]

I've switched to the Eco Store Low Suds, from the Persil Sensitive Low Suds, and have noticed a huge difference in the amount of suds.

I find the Eco Store uses less powder and washes the clothes better :nice1

Milliemoo

Sorry for being dense here, (I'm sure emmigrating is like being pregnant - half your brain cells go on strike :exit) but do you mean that you get more or less suds with Persil low suds?

Mels

[Familyofmonkeys]

We use the ecostore washing liquid.....it is suitable for front loaders and we found we need to use even less than the recommended amount.......says you get 25 washed per bottle but we get about 75. First time we used to recommended amount and it took 2 days to get all the suds out of the machine :o

Also in UK we used to use the ecover laundry bleach stuff (as I don't like the idea of stuff with optical brighteners that build up in your skin) which is available here but only in small tubs so we are trying the ecostore equivalent at the moment (think it's called pure oxygen whitener??).....so far used in on some oven gloves and dishcloths and they were much cleaner, but haven't tried it in a general white load yet.

[Caroline and Dave]

We use the ecostore washing liquid.....it is suitable for front loaders and we found we need to use even less than the recommended amount.......says you get 25 washed per bottle but we get about 75. First time we used to recommended amount and it took 2 days to get all the suds out of the machine :o

Also in UK we used to use the ecover laundry bleach stuff (as I don't like the idea of stuff with optical brighteners that build up in your skin) which is available here but only in small tubs so we are trying the ecostore equivalent at the moment (think it's called pure oxygen whitener??).....so far used in on some oven gloves and dishcloths and they were much cleaner, but haven't tried it in a general white load yet.

Back this up 100%. after FOM reccomended to us to use the Eco liquid washing liquid we have used it and will use nothing else now. Lasts far longer than any other powder we have used and we use about half the reccomended and its fine.

[shakyle2906]

We use Reflect for our front loader - its nice and lovely aroma on clothes.

Sharon
x

[Derv]

I agree with others about Ecostore washing liquid. We never liked powders, or found them effective, in the UK and we usually used Persil capsules; when we first arrived in NZ there wasn't anything but powder available for frontloaders and there was hardly any choice of that! Now there are lots more options and, after some trial and error, Ecostore liquid wins out for us. It works well, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, is very economical and smells nice. We use far less than it says on the package too!

We buy ours at Bin Inn but it's also available at New World.

Having - briefly - had a top loader here (which didn't wash at all well) we can confirm that the "top loader powders" create a lot more suds than "front loader powders"; so we assume that if you use the "wrong" one, suds might come out of various openings of the machine :eek: or at least you'd have to rinse them again to get the suds out. But it's only an assumption, as I've never tried it!

[victoria]

It's a fact that manufacturers state too much amount. A tablespoon of powder is generally enough for a usual load surprisingly.

[KerryS]

Do you need a ball thingy to use the EcoStore liquid? I'm getting a front loader in my new house so am having to change from my usual powder.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Do you need a ball thingy to use the EcoStore liquid? I'm getting a front loader in my new house so am having to change from my usual powder.

You can usually just put it in the liquid compartment of the draw on most machines, although I did try it in one of our ball things and it works just as well either way.

[Lara Croft]

We use 'Reflect Sensitive' in our front-loader. It is the closest we can find to Persil Non-Bio on our sensitive skins....

J

[veronica]

we've got frontloaders and use either the powders mentioned above or Surge liquid from pack and save, all seem to work although do have a preference for the liquid cos it doesn't make me sneeze :-)

[Philip10]

Be a Kiwi and get a top loader there're great

[dilanium]

I could be wrong- but aren't front loaders generally more efficient and better at cleaning?

[jubjub]

I could be wrong- but aren't front loaders generally more efficient and better at cleaning?

:) in my opinion, yes. Even though they can take up to 4 times as long to do a wash (depending on which model you have and wash programme you choose...) I still wouldnt have a top loader, I hated our rented one...

[dilanium]

I've only owned top loaders, but I did research on them in the states. I used to sell vacuums and was interested in buy one, so when there was no one in the store I'd walk to the washers and read all their pamphlets, and look at their efficiencies. Then I did outside research (because I never trust what a store will tell me) and found that the front loaders have a simpler motor, use less soap and water, and typically clean better. Though they have problems with seals and with mold growing in crevices (so can top loaders, which is why I run an empty hot load with vinegar about once a month).

The only problem I would have with front loaders is stooping so low to get the clothes out (they would need to be on a stand for me), and they cost more (I bought the cheapest possible washer when we got here).

[M-Squared]

I go to The Warehouse and get the huge big bags of Persil Front Loader - Low Suds. When we got the washing machine we were told we MUST use low suds or ... face the consequences. :laugh

[JandM]

I've never had any automatic washing machine BUT a front-loader, and am of the older generation from a lot of you, but must say stooping for the clothes has never been the slightest problem. I put a basket on the floor in front of the door, and lean forward to pull the things out into it. I don't fully crouch down - I just lean forward from the hips with slightly bent knees, much as I would do if needed to pick up my bag if it was on the ground. There's no strain involved, and even a full load only takes three 'pullouts', maximum.

[dilanium]

The problem I have is that I'm so much taller than everyone that I can't naturally lean down to that level. It's like my current mailbox- I have to almost be on my hands and knees to see into it? Why are they so short here???

[JandM]

How tall are you, Liz?

[dilanium]

188cm. my inseam is 92 cm, which means that my knees are about 46cm off the ground, that's not really conducive to me bending down to do things.

[JandM]

Sympathies... son and d-i-l are also tall people, and grandchildren look to be heading the same way. :)

[canajanz]

Also, have liquids made it here yet as have always used liquid before in the UK (filled plastic ball, in the drum)?
.


There must be at least half a dozen varieties of liquid laundry detergent on the supermarket shelves.
We are in a small town so whatever we can get here you can get in Chch

I have been using liquids for years ... the repair man suggested using a bit less than the recommended amount.
Just make sure you get a low sudsing one so you don't have airlocked pumps.

[canajanz]

I could be wrong- but aren't front loaders generally more efficient and better at cleaning?

front loaders are heaps more water efficient and as a direct result are heaps LESS efficient at cleaning.
A top loader also lets you add (or subtract) items after the wash has started

[canajanz]

I've only owned top loaders, ....use less soap and water, .

Has anyone cpomapred the amount of soap and water used to clean an equivalent amount of laundry.
most research quotes litres or gallons of water per wash and grams/ml of soap per wash.
On that basis a front loader is cheaper.
I have lived with both types (LOL I have also lived with an old agitator wringer non auto washer) and IMHO you can do 4 times the laundry AND get it cleaner with a top loader.
The washer was just about the most frustrating thing about my years in Europe .. such SMALL loads. Unless you cram it full and then it doesnt get the clothes clean.

The repair man says ... If you MUST use a powder only use half as much .. he makes most of his money on repairs that could have been prevented by not using powder or not using so much of it

[canajanz]

It's like my current mailbox- I have to almost be on my hands and knees to see into it? Why are they so short here???

To let the postie push the letters in without reaching too far from their seated posi on the bike ....
and of course there are a few where the installer must have been a midget LOL

[IanW99]

front loaders are heaps more water efficient and as a direct result are heaps LESS efficient at cleaning.
A top loader also lets you add (or subtract) items after the wash has started

This statement is simply incorrect, front loaders may use significantly less water but that does not mean that they are less efficient at cleaning.

The method of cleaning is different, but the end result is at least as good as a top loader under most circumstances and are better on average.

They also cause less wear and tear on the clothing and can also spin the clothes drier.

Ian

[dilanium]

My current washer is a top loader and it is TINY!!! It's also crap for efficiency but when you need to get something cheap...

It washes okay... I have to put really dirty loads through a couple of times (and most of these loads get rinsed off by the hose first) to get rid of the lingering smells.

I often can't get the best detergents because I can't find them without scents (allergies).

Ah well, when I have more money I'll look at all washers (and hopefully driers too!) and see what's the best.

[Gemini]

I have always found frontloaders much more efficient at cleaning than a top loader.

[YouMeAndThree]

front loaders are heaps more water efficient and as a direct result are heaps LESS efficient at cleaning.
A top loader also lets you add (or subtract) items after the wash has started

My Hotpoint Aqualtis arrives soon :bluebanana and it lets you add or subtract items :nice1, so it's not only top loaders that provide that feature.