High Efficiency Scam
Last spring, our ancient, decrepit washing machine finally broke down for good. So we had to buy another one.
We decided to purchase one of the high-efficiency front-loaders that uses only a fraction of the water that regular top-loaders use. Of course, there are low-sudsing detergents out there that are made specifically for these front-loaders. The service guy that installed our machine informed us that we could use regular detergent, but we only needed to use half as much.
So why would I purchase the high-efficiency detergent when I can make regular detergent go twice as far?

So where's the part of the story where the regular detergent foams to an alarming extent and consumes the entire house like in that brady bunch/partridge family episode?
Low-sudsing detergents sound like less clean. I like a full head on my wash before rinsing. And those front-loaders can make a mighty froth.
My Dad has one of the early models before they got all sexy. His sounds like a jet engine when it starts spinning out the water. Scares the hell out of his cat and I think it might have caused the end of his ferrets out of fear.
Save the money and don't buy into some marketing VP's bonus increasing idea.
I wish we had a washing machine. I'm tired of saving quarters. Sigh...