Sears sells a detergent called Ultra Plus (some with softener, some with oxy clean, too) that I use. I spilled strawberry soda all down one of my favorite light colored shirts the other day, and about a week later instead of throwing out (like I usually would have done) I threw it in the wash WITHOUT PRETREATING... When I got done washing and drying, the entire stain was gone! no trace of it ever even being there.
This also works with my son's baby food stains (anything with carrots and sweet
potatoes stains) but all I do is throw them in the wash and BAM! like new again.
I use the Ultra Plus with OxiClean for my whites, and also for some of my light colors if they start looking dingy. The key is to follow the package directions and let the tub fill with water before adding the detergent on TOP of the water. If you sprinkle it right on the clothes it can bleach sections and make them funky looking.
Another use for powdered laundry detergent: in the fall when your
plants are dying back and things are becoming dormant, and again in early
spring, sprinkle a generous amount of powdered soap on your soil. It will loosten the dirt and make it easier to dig. Also, the cheaper the powdered soap is, the better this works