Thread Number: 86310  /  Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Downy Defy a Dud?
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Post# 1108805   2/19/2021 at 20:06 (1,161 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

Was just at Kroger's and came across 3 tubs of Downy Defy in the clearance isle. Marked down to $3. I picked up 2 to try, at that price it's less than regular Downy that I do use sparingly. Hope it's worth $3.




Post# 1108806 , Reply# 1   2/19/2021 at 20:25 (1,161 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

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Fabric softener added to wash cycles in various forms comes and goes ever since Rain Barrel of old. The idea just doesn't ever seem to take and products soon discontinued.

Downy Damage Defy is basically a quat based fabric softener added to wash. Unlike back in the day many more washing machines sold in USA now have automatic fabric softener dispensers. So need to add same to wash in order to avoid missing rinse cycle is moot for most households.

Defy doesn't do anything that Downy FS in many other configurations for rinse cycle won't do. It does cost more than liquid Downy FS, and supposed benefits take several laundering with product to take hold. More importantly if one reads marking and advertising material carefully Defy is all about laying down a coating on fibers. This has been one of the chief arguments many make against using fabric softeners for a start.


Post# 1108808 , Reply# 2   2/19/2021 at 20:29 (1,161 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

With my shirts and such I add a very small amount of Downy, not much but I only buy cotton shirts so a touch of softener helps and reduces the touch up ironing.

Post# 1108814 , Reply# 3   2/19/2021 at 20:34 (1,161 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Many won't admit it but all commercial/industrial laundries add a bit of something to final rinse for linens, shirts and other things that will be ironed.

Every fabric softener or conditioner both industrial and domestic have advertised for years one benefit of product is "makes ironing easier", which is true.

Only other way to get things to glide through ironers or hand iron over fabric is to wax heated surface of mangle or hand iron.


Post# 1109886 , Reply# 4   3/1/2021 at 09:35 (1,151 days old) by lakewebsterkid (Dayton, Ohio)        
Clearance

I am not shocked that Downy Defy is a dud.
However, during my recent trip to Meijer, I witnessed quite a bit of P$G products that were on clearance. Downy Defy was marked for clearance! But Tide plus Downy FREE was one of them too! I purchased a 92 load bottle for $12. I just hope they do not discontinue it!


Post# 1109889 , Reply# 5   3/1/2021 at 11:04 (1,151 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA)        

jamiel's profile picture
Saw the same thing, expect that they're doing a purge of the aisle in advance of a re-use.

Post# 1109909 , Reply# 6   3/1/2021 at 12:15 (1,151 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

There was a starch some years back that touted easier ironing and it had an iron with wings as a logo. Magic Spray Sizing made ironing easier, too.

 

Does the quat increase or decrease suds?


Post# 1109932 , Reply# 7   3/1/2021 at 15:42 (1,151 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Going back to days when starches were first used as routine part of laundering all sorts of things were added to make ironing easier. Butter, lard, candle wax, spermaceti, etc...

Object was to provide some sort of oil or wax substance that would allow iron to glide freely across fabric. This was no small feat back in days when an "iron" was just that, a big heavy piece of cast iron.

If something wasn't put into starch, or even if it was the irons themselves were waxed with some substance for same reasons.

Modern starches for some time now use silicone or some other lubricant that won't stain fabrics, but also will wash out at next laundering.

In theory laundry that is going to be starched by hand or machine should be well rinsed and free of soap or detergent residue. If the starch in question used in bath has any sort of oil or wax yes, it will cut suds to some extent.

All spray starches and sizing also have some sort of lubricant for reasons given above. Again usually silicone and is why directions on container warn about getting the stuff on floors or surfaces. Those oils or waxes will make them slippery.

Main difference between Tide with Downy "Free" and regular Tide "Free and Gentle" is the former contains cellulase enzymes, but not the latter IIRC.

P&G once included cellulase in all Tide detergents (containers had that Cotton registered trademark), but now it seems they pick and choose.

By chewing up bobbles thus making cotton textiles smoother the working theory is laundry will be softer as well. Hence the "Downy" or "Lenor" effect.

There usually is more to it than just the addition of cellulase enzyme. With detergents containing polymers and other substances meant to relax and smooth fibers. Tide Total Care and other products that advertise help protect things from stretching, keep fibers smooth, etc.. all have some version of these systems. Henkel has an entire Perwoll range dedicated to those sort of benefits.



Post# 1109942 , Reply# 8   3/1/2021 at 17:11 (1,151 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Thank you, Launderess!


Post# 1129620 , Reply# 9   9/26/2021 at 02:04 (943 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
It's official, Downy Defy is a "dud".

launderess's profile picture
Saw local Rite Aid shops are not flogging Downy Defy which previously was restricted to better supermarkets.

Rite Aid doesn't normally get entire P&G laundry line, Target has a better selection as do most supermarkets. Think it has something to do with pricing.

Any who the stuff sold because there was only one canister on shelf. But then again this particular RA store has been very short on inventory lately. Endless rows of empty shelves in some sections. If you don't get something early in week when trucks first arrive, it may be sold out by middle of week. More so for items that are on sale.


Post# 1129659 , Reply# 10   9/26/2021 at 13:07 (942 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

I've been using the tubs I bought at Kroger and find that I actually like the product.  Not at it's $9.95 original cost, but $4-5 I'd buy it again.  Clothes come out  of the dryer with much less wrinkles and my hang dry stuff is marginally better.

 

Anything similar  available?



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