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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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High Efficiency laundry detergent?
My energy/water saver front loading washer requires low sudsing "HE" detergent. So far they haven't had it at CCC or Walmart in La Paz. I'll try Super
Ley in Constitución next week- any other suggestions for the Comundu/La Paz region?
Exciting topic isn't it?
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Fascinating. The shelves are full of HE detergents up north, to go along with those newer high efficiency washers that cost a king's ransom. Just
wondering as to whether you imported your washer, or bought it locally.
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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I have that type of washer. Just use less of the regular detergent - half or a bit less.
nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Fascinating. The shelves are full of HE detergents up north, to go along with those newer high efficiency washers that cost a king's ransom. Just
wondering as to whether you imported your washer, or bought it locally. |
With solar power and lack of city water, I had narrowed down the washer models to just a few that would be feasible and finding those specific models
required some research even in the US- I knew they wouldn't be available in BCS. We brought down the washer when we moved and I got it 6 months ahead
of the move so it would be a "used" household item at the border. This LG model was only $700-800.
I don't recall the watts it requires to do a load off the top of my head, but it ranked high on the energy star list.
Mainly I was looking for the best water saving washer and this LG was highly rated. The washer is in a temporary location during construction and I
collect the drainage in 5 gallon buckets to spread on the plants. It uses 13-15 gallons for a full load. I've read older model washers and present
day top loaders use up to 40 gallons per load. Every drop counts out here. When the house is finished, it will be hooked up to the greywater system.
The drawback is the HE detergent requirement, but that's do-able. I stocked up before we moved in case it was hard to find and am just planning ahead
for the next trip to the big town.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Thanks Nena, glad to hear 1st hand experience. I may have to use the regular kind at some point as a last resort.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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I looked at one of those washers but just decided that we would be better off running the regular washer off the generator (wired it that way) and not
have to worry about it. We designed the house with a split drain system and send all our non-toilet drains to a secondary drain tank where the water
can be used for irrigation. Adds a lot of life to out septic tank and saves water too. I am in the process of configuring a sand filter system with a
solar powered pump for that tank that will allow us to set up a drip irrigation system down the road...
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oldlady
Banned
Posts: 1714
Registered: 10-31-2005
Location: BCS
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I bought one in La Paz over 2 years ago. Have been doing just what Nena advises since...no issues.
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Mulegena
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Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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I love my Lavadora
My house is on the river in Mulege. Sometimes (when it floods due to hurricanes) my house is IN the river in Mulege. I am beginning to think of
myself as a River Rat.
I have replaced and/or rebuilt my electric washing machine after each flood. This time Hurricane Jimena went one step too far. (Actually she was
over-the-top-- in many ways) My washing machine ended up on the roof of the house, and upside down with a fish in it!
I now have a new ultra-modern concrete side-by-side tub and washboard in the backyard. Gotta love it! Its plumbed with hot and cold water and has two
drainage options: direct to sewage or diverted to the garden. Three hundred thirty pesos at the local ferreteria. Its inexpensive to operate and is
going nowhere come the next flood; its cemented to the ground.
The solar dryer is great, too.
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ecomujeres
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Posts: 299
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Mulege, BCS & Oakland, CA
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Here's an interesting and informative article a friend sent recently.
"For the Dishwasher’s Sake, Go Easy on the Detergent"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/your-money/13shortcuts.htm...
We have an HE washer (al otro lado, not here in Mulege) and use HE detergent, but we always use at least half of what is recommended, with no
noticeable difference in how clean the clothes are.
Mulegena: good for you!
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Mulegena
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Forgot to mention: The hot water that is plumbed is solar-heated, too. My lavadero love my lavadora to the max.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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i do ALOT of wash
some people don't know what clean cloths really look like
we also have a water saving frontloader
it only uses the right amount of water for the weight of the load...average 40 gallons a load...don't be fooled
excess foaming from incorrect soap damages the washer and gives poor laudering results
do not use regular detergents in a high-efficiency washer.
i would never use powder with the hard water we have
high efficiency washers are made for low water level and a tumbling washing action
using other kinds of detergents in a high efficiency washer,
not only confuses your washer cycle but prevents it from washing or rinsing properly
i imported a pallet down awhile back
no "he" around here
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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That's a good article ecomujeres. When I started collecting the washer run-off by hand I noticed how sudsy even the final rinse water was and now I
use much less than the bottle recommends. We'll have cold water (from a below ground cisterna) washes for at least the next year so the clothes aren't
sparkling clean, but man is it nice to have a washer! The towels and jeans are stiff off the clothesline so I'll try the test they recommend because
maybe I'm still using too much.
Mulegena, sounds like your set up will withstand anything. One less thing for you to worry about 
Kate, is yours a Bosch made in Mexico? I wonder if they knew that low-sudsing HE detergent wouldn't be readily available so they tell you to use less
? Interesting it says not to use liquid- in fact the HE mine insists upon I've only seen in liquid form? Maybe we have different drum technologies.
This washer will need to last a long time so I've got the instructions like a bible next to the machine Bob&Susan and am trying to follow them
religiously
 I've still got a few bottles and will try to make it last.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
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Bigwooo says the place where he got our greywater recycling system stresses the importance of alternating which plants get the first, most
concentrated batch of washer run-off water. It's tempting, especially when carrying the buckets by hand, to dump the water on the closest plants.
Don't forget to rotate it around.
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bajabeachbabe
Nomad
Posts: 150
Registered: 9-11-2006
Location: Loreto,
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Mood: Loving life
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I have had a front load HE washer for 15 years. It is a Frigidaire and one of the first ones on the market. When we purchased it you couldn't even
find the HE detergent. I've been using 1/4 cup of regular detergent (Tide) since it was new and have never had a problem with the machine and the
clothes are really clean and last longer than with an agitator washer. Our water is very soft however, so I don't know if that makes a difference.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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My wife has been using Justone Liquid detergent from, City Club or Costco just uses a capfull per load, 2 years no problem front loader also uses 1/3
less water.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
Bigwooo says the place where he got our greywater recycling system stresses the importance of alternating which plants get the first, most
concentrated batch of washer run-off water. It's tempting, especially when carrying the buckets by hand, to dump the water on the closest plants.
Don't forget to rotate it around. |
Are you guys just recycling the drain water from your washer or are you also catching the sink/shower drains?
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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i'd forget the sink and shower drains...
you NEVER know what goes down those drains with the water
remember "george" on sienfeld got kicked out of the health spa for doing something incorrect in the shower
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Edguero
Nomad
Posts: 112
Registered: 6-13-2006
Location: O\'side/Punta Final
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Just my 2 cents, I use an old maytag (free on the curb), fire up the generator and I use SALT water until the rinse cycle comes around then pour in a
5 gallon bucket of fresh well water then hang to dry, the used water goes on my DG driveway.
Nice and clean, soft, easy and cheap.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i'd forget the sink and shower drains...
you NEVER know what goes down those drains with the water
remember "george" on sienfeld got kicked out of the health spa for doing something incorrect in the shower |
Maybe in your case with all the guests you have! 
A lot of folks don't know that the most damage you can do to your septic system will probably come from your washer and kitchen drains. Soap and
grease are two big septic killers. All the more reason to manage your grey water IMHO.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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sooo... you're telling me you NEVER...yada yada yada
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