Tide has been around for over 50 years, and I have been using Tide for many of those years. For awhile I used Tide just because that’s what my mom always used. Once I had had a family I suddenly had a budget and questioned Tide because it is one of the most expensive detergents on the shelf. I have found that Tide is often on sale and no matter what store I shop at, I can always find Tide.

I began trying other detergents to see if Tide really was the best and always went back to Tide after trying another product. I have not found another brand that makes me happier than Tide. I do have problems occasionally with the performance which are mentioned below however this is my top choice for everyday performance.

I love the way Tide smells, Mountain Fresh is my favorite. Tide comes in a variety of scents such as Tide (original), Tide Mountain Spring, Clean Breeze, Tropical Clean, and Tide Free (no dyes or perfumes). Powders can be found in a range of sizes from 4-120 loads. If you like fabric softener they make Downy fabric softener that matches most scents.

Tide comes in liquid or powder. I typically get the laundry powder because it seems more economical and is easier to store. I never need a pre-treating solution; I just use the Tide detergent which can be used to pre-treat if necessary.

To use begin filling the washing machine with water and then dump the scoop of Tide into the washer and then put your clothes in. I use cold water and find that Tide powder works just fine in cold water and dissolves easily without clumping. Tide says that the temperature in cold water should be at least 55 degrees for detergent to be effective. I very hard water so that means I have to use a little more detergent than folks with soft water would. A measuring cup is included with every box of Tide and the cap is marked for measuring with the liquid Tide.

The majority of our clothes are cotton every day clothes but I use Tide on everything. If I have a gentle item it goes on gentle wash with Tide. I never had any problems putting Tide on different fabrics. I even hand wash with Tide.

I have found that Tide removes nearly all of the stains that I have. The only stains that Tide struggles with are mold or mildew but eventually it does come out after repeat uses and results would probably be better if using hot water. Set-in banana or chocolate will not come out. Occassionally two washes are necessary for grease from food. Another thing I found is that it is not useful for potty-training pants. I use tide with bleach successfully for that job.

I found that Tide easily removes challenging stains from things such as baby formula, blood, kid’s paints, dirt, crayons, paint, pencil, foods. My kid’s shirts always look like they were used as a napkin when they’re done eating. I have never had problems with perspiration stains or ring around the collar marks. Grass stains come right out too.

My girls wear Gymboree clothes almost exclusively and retaining the color is important so that the clothes continue to mix-and-match. When I am done I re-sell their clothes on eBay and always receive comments how they are like knew even though the girls wear them at home as play clothes. Most of the clothes have embroider, colored sequins, beads, rhinestones, and specialty fabric. Tide removes all stains from the clothes and has never damaged these features and keep them looking like new after tons of washes.

Tide is probably too harsh for a baby’s skin. The girls had very sensitive skin so to avoid irritation we washed the clothes in tide so the stains would come out then would either send through a second rinse or wash a second time with a baby detergent.

As a family with sensitive skin we do find sensitivity to tide if it’s not rinsed out well. Tide has only been a problem with our skin when used on our sheets and pillow cases. If I spin the sheets through a second rinse for items like sheets there isn’t a problem.

In my rationalization of the whole process of determining if I should pay more for Tide or use another brand I can only say that when I switch to another brand I start getting complaints from the family. I start complaining because the stains obviously don’t come out and I have to waste time trying to get the stains out individually rather than just throwing it into the wash. The kids see the faint marks and put the freshly washed clothes right back into the laundry basket which doesn’t save me any time or money, and my husband complains that it doesn’t smell clean.

Tide is biodegradable, safe for waste treatment systems, and safe for the environment. It doesn’t contain any bleach and contains no phosphates. The boxes are 100% recycled paper and the bottles are 25% recycled plastic and recyclable.

Proctor & Gamble
Cincinnati. OH 45202
Phone: 800-879-8433
Website: www.tide.com


Other Tide Products
Tide Coldwater
Tide with a Touch of Downy


Recommended: Yes