Ok...so I've been a loyal TIDE girl all my life but since starting couponing I've been reading that "all detergents are essentially the same and to not be brand loyal".

My question is: Are they all the same? Do the "cheaper" ones really work? Ex. Xtra, Gain, Era, etc.
I have this vision of dingy, colorless clothes if I switch detergent brands...

I think the cheaper brands are not as "effective" as the more expensive brands like Tide. I know there is a huge difference between regular detergent and HE. A person with an HE washer should only use HE products. It has to do with the suds and the machine working harder. I googled this and called P&G about 2 weeks ago and I realized my washing machine is actually working harder with regular detergent because the suds it produces sends a signal to the machine that there are more clothes in the machine then there really are. That is why HE detergent is low on suds.

I have used Xtra, gain and home made laundry soap. To me the only diff is the smell. (I have a plain washer).

It truly boils down to a matter of opinion, I find. Some I have spoken to say NOTHING gets their clothes cleaner than Tide/Era/such-and-such a brand, others say it doesn't matter because it's all just soap. For a little more info, here is how laundry soap actually works:

"Like soaps, detergents have hydrophobic or water-hating molecular chains and hydrophilic or water-loving components. The hydrophobic hydrocarbons are repelled by water, but are attracted to oil and grease. The hydrophilic end of the same molecule means that one end of the molecule will be attracted to water, while the other side is binding to oil. Neither detergents nor soap accomplish anything except binding to the soil until some mechanical energy or agitation is added into the equation. Swishing the soapy water around allows the soap or detergent to pull the grime away from clothes or dishes and into the larger pool of rinse water. Rinsing washes the detergent and soil away. Warm or hot water melts fats and oils so that it is easier for the soap or detergent to dissolve the soil and pull it away into the rinse water. Detergents are similar to soap, but they are less likely to form films (soap scum) and are not as affected by the presence of minerals in water (hard water).and stuff."

tomato - tomato

I also love Hellman's.....its the best mayo!

I have 2 sons who played every sport under the sun. I always used whatever was on sale PLUS a scoop of Oxi-clean type product. That stuff works miracles. I sell old linens on Ebay and I find tablecloths with 50 year old stains. A soak in Oxi- clean over night makes them whiter than white. You can buy the generic oxi- clean at dollar stores for super cheap.

I have found that the smells in the cheaper brands are REALLY strong and fake smelling if that makes sense...Like fabric softener for example...Downy leaves a fresh smell that lasts but is not offensive, Snuggle's smell is a little bit stronger and a little more overpowering. Suavitel, which is a cheap brand, has a very strong smell that almost hurts your nose. It smells like someone dumped a strong air freshener all over your clothes. I will use the cheap stuff for the dog beds that are kept in the garage. It kills the doggy smell but it's outside!

I like tide , wisk, xtra and they all work the same. I think some of the above comments were perfect and the same that i do. Use oxyclean and some of the detergents do smell to strong, so a matter of what you like .

I have never been brand loyal to much of anything. Before couponing my preferred brand was Purex because I liked the smell the most. I have noticed differences in some of the pre treaters though. I thought some worked better than others on stains. My whites aren't as white as they could be, but I don't bleach anything because I get a rash if I do.

"The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to its level of sagacity, but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his"--- James Thurber

I thought of the the same thing. I even gave the Xtra to my MIL but I kept the Wisk. But years ago I only bought Purex and my DH didn't like it and we switched to Tide. So I have used Tide ever since.

=^.^=