Sebo_fan
That is something I have done a few times in the past now. If I have bought a washing powder where someone in the family has an allergy to etc, it can still be used for cleaning other things! I assume its the Northern waste-not-want-not aspect kicking in!
There was one case of this recently where I bought some Sainsbury's Biological powder which didn't quite cut the cheese so I spent a good couple of hours one afternoon scrubbing down some rugs and doormats outside with it in warm water, it did a great job, and none was wasted!
Back on topic, it's powders for me. I don't know what its like over in the US but it is well known over here in the washing machine trade that liquids/pods/gels ruin some of the innards of the machine, and can ruin some clothes too.
I spent a week last week working at a recycling initiative in Bradford where washing machines that are either taken to household waste sites or picked up when Currys for example drop off a new machine, and from there the machines are brought in, tested with several washes and electrical safety tests, repaired if needs be, and then cleaned and sent off to charity shops across the Yorkshire & the Humber reigon. Its a great recycling scheme, not endorsed by the British government in any way. Anyway, whilst I was there, myself and one of the highly skilled repairmen were discussing the whole liquids/pods/gels debarcle, and we did indeed see many machines that were stinky and ruined from such products. He had been doing this sort of thing for over eight years and was suprised at how many people just ruin their machines by using these products. It's absolutely disgusting.
I myself use powders. A biological one for whites, and a colourcare one for coloureds. I don't underdose or overdose on powder. I am currently using Biological Almat from Aldi, which costs £2.49 for 25 washes - around 3.80$ - and Persil Colour, which I must admit I only buy on offer at £5 - 7.70$. Therefore I now don't expect anything less from my machine than a good, clean wash.
