I dance to my own beat when it comes to doing laundry. If you are a laundry maven, you may want to stop reading this now. I don’t want to send you into shock.

I do not sort. That’s right. No separate piles of whites, darks, colors, jeans, or towels. Nope. I mix it up. Whatever I can cram into the washer is what gets washed. Jeans rub elbows with shirts, and towels cavort with the socks. It’s laundry mayhem … and it works for me.

That’s one reason why I use Cheer ColorGuard Laundry Detergent.


Description

Cheer ColorGuard is designed to wash both colors and whites. Its formula also protects colors and keeps them looking newer longer. This detergent neutralizes chlorine in the wash water.

The liquid is blue and has a slight fragrance. My nose is sensitive to perfumes and this scent does not bother me.

Cheer ColorGuard comes in a variety of sizes in both powder and liquid. I use the liquid. The plastic bottles are a distinctive bright blue. The back of the container contains simple instructions for basic laundry cleaning. The bottle cap has lines inside it to measure the appropriate amount of liquid for the size wash being done. There are also instructions on the container for how to measure the liquid into the cap.


Loading the Washer

Is this where I admit that I don’t follow the instructions? Really, I’m good at following instructions … honest. I’m just a maverick when it comes to laundry. I want it done fast and cleaned well. This product does a great job for someone who isn’t laundry disciplined.

My clothes tend to see normal daily use. I do garden and have washed some serious ground-in dirt. I also exercise and, as can be expected, have cleaned sweaty clothing.

The packaging states to turn items inside out when washing and drying. I actually do turn my clothes inside-out.

The instructions say to pour in the Cheer ColorGuard liquid as the washer fills with water then to add the clothes.

Instead, I pour the detergent into the cap and then pour the cap’s liquid into the bottom of my top-loading washer. My washing machine is designed so that the liquid detergent flows into a well so that the clothes do not directly rest in it. Then I fill the washer with clothes. Yes, the clothes are all mixed up … no rhyme or reason. I don’t over fill the washing machine. Next, I shut the washer lid and turn on the water.

I do cold water washes. Cheer ColorGuard always mixes well in the water. I’ve never had a problem.

Once the clothes are finished washing, I switch them to the dryer. I don’t notice any perfumy smells on the clothes. The clothes are wet and clean. I use Bounce fabric-softener sheets in the dryer.


How Much Soap to Add

I measure the Cheer into the cap. Again, I don’t quite follow instructions. The lines inside the cap indicate where to fill the detergent for large, medium or more “heavily soiled loads”. I do large loads of laundry to conserve on water and energy. But I don’t fill the liquid to the line for large loads. Instead, I stop the detergent short of that line.

Don’t worry. My clothes always wash clean. The lesser amount of laundry liquid also stretches out how many loads I can wash per container of Cheer ColorGuard.


Does Cheer Stop Colors from Fading?

I’ve compared Cheer ColorGuard to other detergents. Cheer ColorGuard works. I have clothes that are two and three years old that have been washed exclusively in Cheer ColorGuard. The colors look phenomenal. The clothes wear out before the color does. I can’t say enough nice things about this detergent.


What About Whites?

I am currently wearing a white knit top covered with a bright blue and purple floral print. This shirt is two years old. The white is very white. Does Cheer whiten as well as bleach? I would have to say no since bleach is powerful. Most of my white clothes look very white using the Cheer. Where I notice a slightly grayer-white is in clothes that are very old and where the fabric is not top quality.


Pre-treating Laundry

The instructions state that Cheer ColorGuard can be used as a pre-treatment. Just pour the detergent onto the stain, testing inside the garment first to make sure the material is colorfast. I have never used Cheer as a pretreatment. If I have a stain, I will sometimes treat it with Shout … but I only do that when the stain is really awful.


Cautions & Ingredients

* Keep out of reach of children
* If swallowed, drink a glass of water & call doctor
* If there is contact with eyes, flush eyes with water
* Do not reuse the container for other liquids or beverages

The plastic bottle is made from 25% or more post-consumer recycled plastic.

According to the packaging, the ingredients include: “biodegradable surfactants (anionic and nonionic) and enzymes”. Contains no phosphates. This detergent is safe for septic tanks. I have a septic tank and have had no trouble using this product with it.


Purchasing

I buy Cheer ColorGuard at my local grocery stores. I have purchased it in the 80 fluid ounce size (20 loads), which is a nice size for lifting and carrying. I have also bought the 150 fluid ounce size (39 loads), but the container is larger and heavier, making it awkward compared to the smaller size.

I even own the 300 fluid ounce size (96 loads), which comes in an interesting package. Unscrew the cap on top of the container to pour the liquid, or turn the container on its side and use the push-button dispenser. Just hold the cap under the dispenser spout and push the red button to allow the liquid to pour out. I use this huge size to refill the smaller Cheer container.

The 80 fl. oz. size costs $6.99 at my local store. When I last purchased the 300 fl. oz. size, it cost about $17.00.


Summary

I will continue to buy and use Cheer ColorGuard Laundry Detergent. I like the way it cleans and keeps my colors bright and the whites white. The slightly fragrant scent does not bother my sensitive nose, and I have never had an allergic reaction to the product. It’s a winner for this maverick laundry washer.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,

Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Additional Information

Procter & Gamble
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Toll-free Phone # 800-632-4337


Please read my other reviews:

Bounce Dryer Sheets -- Fabric Softener

Tide To Go – stain remover

Clorox Bath Wand

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

Windex Wipes for Glass & Surface

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo

Mr. Clean Magic Reach Starter Kit

Ultra Dawn Dishwashing Soap – Apple Blossom scent

Hefty Serve 'n Store Disposable Tableware

Ziploc Containers with Snap ‘n Seal Lids

Ziploc Freezer Bags

Pyrex 14-Piece Round Storage Set

Sterilite Hinged-lid Storage Boxes



Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart


Recommended: Yes