Community Forums

maddog45 · 03-19-2015, 07:18 PM

What brand of washing detergent do you think works best in your RV washing machine? Mine recommends the little premeasured packets. Can I use loose powder detergent without a problem? Thanks.

Ray,IN · 03-19-2015, 08:03 PM

The lack of information makes responding difficult. What brand/make do you have now? For front-loaders the use of HE washing machine detergent is mandatory. For top-loaders almost any detergent works-liquid or powder.

vsheetz · 03-19-2015, 08:06 PM

We just use whatever says ok for HE. Box of Tide currently.

djbmsu · 03-19-2015, 08:14 PM

Liquid Tide

Mr_D · 03-19-2015, 08:20 PM

In the stick house we've been using ½ a scoop of normal Kirkland brand detergent in the Samsung front loader. I don't think it's even HE rated. Haven't had any troubles with it at all. Haven't used the Ariston one in the Magna yet.

**TonyDi** · 03-19-2015, 08:46 PM

We have been using Tide HE. No problems and it gets the clothes clean. As long as it's HE you're okay. Just keep the sudzing to a minimum.

Dutch Star Don · 03-19-2015, 09:58 PM

I read something in another post about detergent that I really never thought about. Most RV washers are smaller than most home units, so you may want to be careful how much soap you use. We've just been throwing in the Tide packets and never really thought they might be too much soap.

Gary RVRoamer · 03-20-2015, 04:47 AM

Many RVs have the Splendide washer/dryer combo and that is very much different than the typical home washer and different than any top-loader. If that's what Maddog45 has, a very low suds detergent is a necessity and it also needs one that won't gum up the dispenser tray. The liquids seem to cause less problems with the dispenser and we mostly use Tide liquid for that reason.

paz · 03-20-2015, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddog45

What brand of washing detergent do you think works best in your RV washing machine? Mine recommends the little premeasured packets. Can I use loose powder detergent without a problem? Thanks.

The packets may be too big for an RV washer, especially if you have a combo unit, because the combo units have very small drums. Using too much detergent can make it difficult to get all the soap rinsed from your clothes. Splendide models have an extra rinse option, which I would recommend if using packets.

Since most washers installed in RVs are front loaders, you need to use HE detergent (high efficiency = low suds) as others have said.

We use Tide HE with good results. Tide HE is available in small boxes (sometimes you have to search for them), which is a plus for limited storage space in RVs.

Wizard · 03-20-2015, 07:01 AM

We have Splendide washer/dryer combo and use liquid tide HE. Our machine says to use 1 to 2 tbs of detergent

Ray,IN · 03-20-2015, 07:53 AM

paz makes a good point. Too much detergent can cause a buildup of soap in the drum, which greatly reduces efficency, and can cause othe problems if the sensors become coated or plugged.
Like Wizard said, 1-2 Tbs of are the maximum amount for Splendide unites.
I wonder if the OP is reading the replies?

flaggship1 · 03-20-2015, 08:41 AM

We just opened the second box of Splendide detergent with our Splendide Combo 2000 S. 1 scoop per load. We got 4.5 months of full time use from 1 box, 2 people.

We use less than a tablespoon of Downey fabric softener in all loads except towels. On heavy dirt will add a 1/2 scoop of the detergent to the prewash.

The thing works great. Annie took a load to laundry here in the park and said never again. The Splendide does a better job. We do have a water softener and Metal Trap Ultra Duo filters on our water which may be why it does a better job - better water cleans better.

mel s · 03-20-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddog45

What brand of washing detergent do you think works best in your RV washing machine? Mine recommends the little premeasured packets. Can I use loose powder detergent without a problem? Thanks.

maddog45
My wife. (THE "laundry expert" of my family), uses "a table spoon" of "liquid Tide HE" detergent per load in our Splendide w/d:
Tide HE Turbo Clean the recommended detergent for high efficiency washers

BTW, she says "one table spoon of Tide HD powder also works".

Mel
'96 Safari

maddog45 · 03-20-2015, 02:41 PM

Thanks everyone for the good info. We have a Whirlpool stackable, front load in our 2011 Excel. I've been using the Tide HE packets, but wondered about same size packet of soap for smaller loads. You've answered my question. Love this forum!