New front loaders and HE detergent

[coupondink]

HI!
I wasn't sure where to put this new thread. Hope it is ok to start it here.

I have a question and need some advice.

My washer is 20+ years old. I am sure it will die any day. Plus it is small, and vibrates a whole lot in spin, and sometimes leaves a pool of water in between loads. Before it dies and I HAVE to run out and buy a washer in an emergency, I am thinking of buying a new one soon. Isn't that the whole concept of what we do here at hcw.com? :-)

I bought a new GE dryer about 3 years ago because the other one died, but I hate it. I wouldn't mind replacing that one and selling it on craigslist for $100 or something.

So, I was thinking of buying those fancy new front loaders. I see tons of great deals all the time for the pair, all within my budget.

My only concern is the detergent. So I was hoping to get advice on that, hence I come to the experts on HCW.com.

I understand you HAVE to use HE detergent in these new machines.

Is that true?

I have the equivalent of 22 bottles of detergent stockpiled, that I got for free or cheaply. It is enough for about, oh I don't know..maybe 2 years of laundry for the two of us. Of that, only a few bottles are HE.

So you see my dilemma. Do I donate the stockpile to my Mom and go out and buy HE detergent just to get a new front loader?
I find it difficult to stockpile detergent, and the bottles I do have I had to work pretty hard over the span of 5 years at stockpiling. Detergent is rarely free or cheap.

I have read tons of google knowledge on HE detergent and front loaders and the consensus is that some folks get away with using regular detergent, just less of it....but the majority feel it is absolutely necessary to use HE or you will mess your machine.

What are your thoughts?

[cybilx10]

I use regular detergent all the time in my front loader Maytag. never had any problems with it. You will learn that you use less which is great. I even had a repair guy out to check it out before my warranty expired and he said there was nothing wrong with using regular detergent.

[3timesoccermom]

The purpose of the HE detergent is that it makes less suds, so less to rinse out, less water used, better for your fabrics because there is less soap residue left in them. If you do use regular detergent maybe you could use the 2nd rinse option if you have any problem with suds remaining at least til you use all your current detergent.

I am on my 2nd front loader and I only use HE because that is what is advised for the machine. It only takes a very small amount so though it is more expensive it does last a long time. However, on this same site there is a thread that someone from 7th generation has stated that in most cases detergent isn't even necessary so you may be able to get away with using just a tiny amount of regular detergent.

One thing to consider about these machines. When my first one started having problems - after only a couple of years I might add (don't remember the brand either) - it was VERY hard to find someone who worked on them. We are in a somewhat rural area so maybe if you are in a large city it won't be a problem but it's something to think about. Make sure there is nothing about the warranty being voided if you don't use HE.

The machine I have now is an Amana and I love it so I want to take the best care possible of it.

[leqet]

I've used regular detergent in mine for over 3 years now and had no problems so far. I just use much, much less. I use about a tablespoon of detergent per load instead of the full cap. If I use too much I get a "suds" error message and I just have to run an extra rinse cycle. I haven't gotten that error though since when I first got the machine.

Sometimes the HE detergent is on sale for the same price as the reg and I will get HE if I can, but I've used regular most of the time and I even used homemade detergent for a couple months with no problems. Just use less and you should be fine.

[$Saving!]

Love, love, love the front loader with vibration control - you don't even know it's spinning anymore!

On the HE detergent, it's all I have ever used and like some have pointed out, you use so little it's amazing. I suppose you could use reg detergent but I never had to make that decision, I just donated my detergent to a neighbor in need.

I actually spend much less using HE detergent because it takes such a small amount to get the clothes clean and much less water used too (hence the need for low sudsing detergents).

[434Teresa]

I have had a maytag for front loader for almost 6 years(no problems)...I have always use regular detergent in it I just use alot less than it calls for about half the amount. If you do buy one besure to buy the stand for them also becasue they are very low on the floor otherwise and is hard on your back becasue they are so deep. Other than that I like mine pretty good but due to back problems when it gose out I will buy a top loader next time.........but there is really no need for HE many people on here use regular and just cut back on the amount a box of 40 load will get me about 80/90 loads so save money on that..

[manders13]

HI!
I wasn't sure where to put this new thread. Hope it is ok to start it here.

I have a question and need some advice.

My washer is 20+ years old. I am sure it will die any day. Plus it is small, and vibrates a whole lot in spin, and sometimes leaves a pool of water in between loads. Before it dies and I HAVE to run out and buy a washer in an emergency, I am thinking of buying a new one soon. Isn't that the whole concept of what we do here at hcw.com? :-)

I bought a new GE dryer about 3 years ago because the other one died, but I hate it. I wouldn't mind replacing that one and selling it on craigslist for $100 or something.

So, I was thinking of buying those fancy new front loaders. I see tons of great deals all the time for the pair, all within my budget.

My only concern is the detergent. So I was hoping to get advice on that, hence I come to the experts on HCW.com.

I understand you HAVE to use HE detergent in these new machines.

Is that true?

I have the equivalent of 22 bottles of detergent stockpiled, that I got for free or cheaply. It is enough for about, oh I don't know..maybe 2 years of laundry for the two of us. Of that, only a few bottles are HE.

So you see my dilemma. Do I donate the stockpile to my Mom and go out and buy HE detergent just to get a new front loader?
I find it difficult to stockpile detergent, and the bottles I do have I had to work pretty hard over the span of 5 years at stockpiling. Detergent is rarely free or cheap.

I have read tons of google knowledge on HE detergent and front loaders and the consensus is that some folks get away with using regular detergent, just less of it....but the majority feel it is absolutely necessary to use HE or you will mess your machine.

What are your thoughts?

thanks OP for bringing this up, i have over 100 bottles of ALL and one HUGE reason we havent gotten a new washer is because i thought i wouldnt be able to use my ALL

[enginerd]

I got a new front loader about 2 years ago and only use HE detergent. I was like you and had a big stockpile of non-HE detergent that I didn't know what to do with. I sold it on my MILs garage sale and started all over again stockpiling the HE. It sold well at the garage sale and made my money back that I paid for it.

[mnnice]

Add me to the not using HE detergent club. I have had Maytag front loader for about five years and never specifically bought HE soap for it. I use about 1/4 of the suggested amount and typically also to an extra rinse. I have naturally pretty soft water (our cities water comes from a big lake).

I think you'll be fine, but your stockpile just grew from a two year supply to a six year supply.

[isis]

Whenever detergent goes on sale, HE is included, so thats what I buy. I don't find it any more expensive than non-HE, other than the prices between the brands (tide being the highest and while Tide is my preferred brand, I will buy anything HE, esp when combining coupons with sales!)

I know others above have not had problems, but a friend of mine did. She was using regular Tide in her washer (b/c she liked a certain scent and its not in HE). Even though she was using well less than the 1 line mark on the cap and running it through an extra rinse, she noticed her drum started smelly funky and then her clothes started to smell too, esp the towels. She called in for a repair just to check b/c they were under warranty and the guy told her the regular detergent was the cause. HE has a different formula, and no matter how much you cut from reg detergent, reg detergent produces suds and an extra rinse does not always get the leftover detergent from the clothes. She had to run alternate hot & cold water cycles to remove the detergent build up from the shoot. Now she only uses HE and no problems since.