Woolite in the UK?

[auld argonian]

Did I read in one or another post that the laundry detergent Woolite is not available in the UK? This popped back into my mind earlier today while I was thinking that I should probably get the "special DARK fabrics" type of Woolite to hand wash a wool blend kilt. Woolite has been around at least since my childhood (50 years) so I guess that I took it for granted that, in this "Global Village", everybody had it.

Alaways interests me what is or isn't available in different countries. We actually have an "Irish" section in the ethnic foods section of my local supermarket so my daughter can pick up Jaffa Cakes and I (the old Dr. Who fan) can get a box of Jelly Babies. The shoe polish "Dubbin" came up a while back and I find that I'd have to mail order a tin of it from a sporting goods store in Australia if I really wanted it.

What other products have any of you been suprised to find were unavailable in other countries?

.....besides your local brands of beer, I mean...

...and I don't apply this to stuff like "Chicago Style Pizza" because every place I've gone in the world there's been a frickin' "Chicago Style Pizza" joint that's making something that sort of looks like "Chicago Style Pizza" but isn't. And I've had the "Pub Food" at those Elephant and Castle joints...much to my regret.


Best

AA

[Paul Henry]

I was also surprised that Hamish didn't know about woollite, it's available in tescos, adsa the co-op and lots of other places, as a child my mother used dreft (flakes)for preference , but I suppose I would use on of the eco friendly brands now!

[Freelander Sporrano]

Any good wool shop should have gallons of it

[davedove]

I was also surprised that Hamish didn't know about woollite, it's available in tescos, adsa the co-op and lots of other places, as a child my mother used dreft (flakes)for preference , but I suppose I would use on of the eco friendly brands now!

I figured the product had to exist over there, although it might have had a different brand name.

[Hamish]

I was also surprised that Hamish didn't know about woollite, it's available in tescos, adsa the co-op and lots of other places, as a child my mother used dreft (flakes)for preference , but I suppose I would use on of the eco friendly brands now!

Truly, I have never seen it over here, Paul - and I do most of my weekly shopping at Tescos too!. It is 'shopping day' tomorrow, so I'll look out for it then. I do remember 'Dreft' flakes, but for as long as I can remember I have used, and still do use, 'Lux' soap flakes for hand-washing. The trouble is, the number of rinses it takes to get all of the soap out of the garments/hose!!

[ronstew]

How about Zero? Isn't it Woolite with different packaging?

[auld argonian]

I thought that Woolite was a product of Procter and Gamble but I guessed wrong.

http://www.homesolutionsnews.com/

Reckitt Benckiser is the manufacturer and has this web page that hooks you up with their stuff no matter what country you're in. This would have come in handy the times I've been on vacation and found myself in laundromats in Amsterdam and London...I highly recommend doing this, by the way, it's actually a great way to meet the regular folks from wherever you're visiting.

Please note that I am not affiliated with Reckitt Benckiser...or have any of their stock...not even sure if they issue stock...I just thought that their webpage there was one of the few really functional company webpages that I've ever seen.

Best

AA

[Hamish]

Truly, I have never seen it over here, Paul - and I do most of my weekly shopping at Tescos too!. It is 'shopping day' tomorrow, so I'll look out for it then. .................................................. .............

Well, I cruised the appropriate aisles at our huge Tescos (Shoreham-by-Sea) and could see no sign of Woolite! Eventually, I tracked down a Supervisor and enquired if they normally stocked Woolite. "What is that?" she asked! I told her that I understood it to be a washing powder for woollen items. The Supervisor shook her head, "Well, I've not heard of it, but I'll check the stock computer for you." I thanked her and followed her to her 'station'. After several searches, she found it but informed me that only certain stores are permitted to order it, and Shoreham-by-Sea is not one of them! Unfortunately, she was unable to tell me which stores did carry it, so I'll have to keep looking.

The nearest ASDA store is the other side of Brighton, about a 30 mile drive, so that's a non-starter, and I am not aware of any Co-Op stores in this neck of the woods at all. As I say: I'll have to keep looking now that I know it is available here in the UK.

Many thanks, Paul, for the leads.

[auld argonian]

Only certain stores are allowed to stock it? The Woolite Proscription Act?

Best

AA

[Ruanaidh]

I told her that I understood it to be a washing powder for woollen items.

Just for your info, Ham, woolite is a liquid. Best thing I've ever found for hand washing wool. Easy to rinse out, too. Keep up the search, you'll find it.