Hi Peggy,
I use High Efficiency Tide Liquid. It is specially made for front loading washers. I have a Kenmore front loader.
I started out using powder when I first bought the machine 3 years ago. I noticed that the powder often got caught in the dispenser drawer, especially when using cooler water. It was a gummy mess to clean up(yuc!). I switched to the Tide HE and Love it! I think that our clothes are cleaner and the detergent rinses out better than with powder. You can also pour a little on stains before washing.
Hope this helps!
Jenna