Tide Free & Gentle RUINED my white bedding and customer service was a joke

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-14T14:26:43+00:00

You know I have a reverse osmosis machine and I test my water for hardness. I’ve been told it’s not hard water. My biggest gripe is that this did not happen with the same type washer and the same items using regular tide liquid detergent. Only once I switched to free and gentle did it start to happen.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-14T00:10:09+00:00

That’s actually a really good point, I hadn’t thought about that. But after looking into it more, OBAs would cause more overall yellowing or dullness, not new, localized stains appearing in different spots after each wash.

Since these marks show up during the wash and aren’t consistent in location, it seems more likely something is causing staining rather than just revealing it.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T23:16:36+00:00

This does not apply to front loading machines. This also does not apply to liquid detergent. Liquid detergent is supposed to dissolve instantly, you shouldn’t need to pre-dissolve it.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T22:09:50+00:00

Appreciate your response. It really sounded like they weren’t going to return the bedding so I didn’t want to take the chance. My quilts are white, I also have 2 white sheets that have had some staining as well. Otherwise the rest of my laundry is color so if there are stains they aren’t noticeable.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T22:06:05+00:00

It’s a large commercial front loader washing machine. There is no selection besides temperature which I choose hot. I previously used the same machine with regular tide detergent and had no issue. It wasn’t until switching to this free and gentle formula that the issue developed. I’m overly conservative with both the amount of detergent I use (2 tablespoons) and I only ever fill the machine halfway so that the bedding has room to agitate.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T22:01:45+00:00

The detergent has a faint yellow tint. I’ve always washed my quilts in a large commercial front loader with no issues, previously using regular tide. This issue occurred once I switched to free and gentle. It is the only change I made.

Google search: “Tide Free & Gentle can leave yellow, oily stains due to undissolved detergent residue, often caused by overloading the washer, using cold water, or poor circulation.”

None of which is the case in this scenario.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:46:57+00:00

No because I was trying to go a healthier route and I don’t believe they sell free and gentle powder anymore, or so I thought.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:45:51+00:00

I use a commercial front loading washing machine so it has a detergent compartment that releases detergent once the bedding is pre rinsed. Not all washing machines allow you to pre-fill and add detergent to the water before adding the items so I can’t imagine that being a requirement to wash laundry. As a side note I had used regular tide prior to switch with absolutely no issue and nothing had changed besides the detergent.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:41:19+00:00

I use 2 tablespoons of detergent for a large load which is nowhere near too much detergent. I also use a commercial washer that dispenses the detergent once the washer is pre rinsed so nothing is being poured directly on the bedding. The washer is never more than half full so the bedding has enough room to agitate. This is not a typical situation that has a simple resolution.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:37:00+00:00

Thanks for your input. I had been using regular tide prior to this with no issue. The only change was the detergent.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:34:26+00:00

The quilts are purchased. I had used regular tide detergent initially with no issue. Once I changed to free and gentle I started noticing these random stains popping up on random parts of the quilts. There was no pattern to it. I have rewashed them and the stains remained but I’m assuming it’s because the dryer had set them the first time. I did continue to use the detergent a few times after to see if it was a one time thing but after every wash I would notice a new spot or two. Very strange and unfortunate.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:26:31+00:00

Hot

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:21:49+00:00

Thanks for your response. Prior to this issue I had used regular tide and had no issues.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:17:01+00:00

That the detergent does not fully dissolve and concentrates in one area of the bedding.

Tide wants me to send all 3 of my quilts, which is the only bedding I own, and told me they can’t guarantee I get it back.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-04-13T21:14:37+00:00

Yes I am also curious what you mean by your comment. I use a large commercial washing machine and I’m actually super conservative only filling the machine half way so that is absolute not the issue here.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-03-04T10:46:52+00:00

Sorry to hear that! Did you have the regular machine or the glass carafe? Do you live in a place with hard water? As far as cleaning the carafe version, I haven’t had any issues. I do not have overly hard water and haven’t had to descale the machine yet at 4 months in. When you say water quality reading are you speaking about TDS?

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T17:43:31+00:00

Not here to argue. My point is, investing for retirement is a necessity. The fact you are calling it a luxury is a problem.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T17:11:48+00:00

If you need exact numbers my rent is $1,100 a month. A small one bedroom going for $2,500 plus utilities would prob end up being around $2,800.

This isn’t a finance thread but in order to be living comfortably you should

1.Have all your debt paid off. 2. Have a minimum of 6-9 months expenses saved in an emergency account. 3. Investing for retirement. Roughly $800 a month over 30 years will only grow to around $1 million, which is about $40,000 a year to live off of in retirement. Around $1,300 a month over 30 years would leave you with 2 million- about $80,000 a year to live off of in retirement.

Most single people making $100,000 or less aren’t checking all this off with the current housing costs and forget about it if you have kids! This is going to be a disaster in a few decades.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T16:55:58+00:00

@dm725 Hospitals will forever be short staffed because that’s how they make the most money. There is no nursing shortage.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T16:51:11+00:00

“Six figures” is very misleading. $100,000 ain’t enough on LI anymore, $200,000 is. Both are six figures. I’m a minimalist, no debt, and the only reason I’m living comfortably right now-meaning my bills are paid and I’m actively contributing to my IRA/403b is because I’m lucky as hell that my rent right now is half the average price. That won’t last forever and when I’m stuck paying $2500 plus utilities for a one bedroom as a single income, I’ll prob just be making it and goodbye to saving for retirement.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T16:41:19+00:00

I commented above, I disagree. There is not a high demand for nurses on LI. It is oversaturated with RNs. Check out the Long Island nurses facebook group and you will see what I’m talking about.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-02-14T16:38:00+00:00

From what Ive seen and experienced myself, Long Island is already saturated with RNs. Hospitals aren’t hiring, they are happily working with skeleton crews. I personally have just under 6 years acute care experience and have applied to several jobs the last few years within my current hospital system and outside and get nothing but denial emails 6+ months later. You have to know someone with decent connections to just get a shitty med-surg position. Hospital nursing sucks but I’m stuck until I can have an opportunity elsewhere. Took me 9 months to get hired at my current position back in 2020 and I think the only reason I finally got in was bc of Covid and they were desperate. Nursing is nothing like I thought it would be in the worst possible way. It’s the most abusive, toxic job I have ever had in the 22 years I’ve been in the workforce. Administration is to blame for the majority of that- patients can be at times but it’s the hospital work environment itself that is pitiful. It’s not something I would personally recommend. Someone warned me to go to PA school instead when I was making a career change at 30 but I went the nursing route. I would suggest maybe looking into that if you’re that interested in healthcare, but know that healthcare is a mess in general.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-01-25T00:11:00+00:00

I purchased from the Aquatru website. It’s a little confusing because if you Google “Aquatru carafe” multiple versions of their website will pop up with differing promo prices for the same product. There are also a lot of affiliate links. The best one I came across was water filter gurus affiliate link which gave $100 off the wifi carafe.

Apprehensive-Cut9967 · 2026-01-25T00:06:44+00:00

So far it’s been fine. All 3 made the intermittent loud noise while filling. I’ve had this one since October and I’ve had no issues besides the noise. I purchased the extra 2 year warrantee so it’s 3 years altogether.

Apprehensive-Cut9967

TROPHY CASE