Need some help and advice on washing please.

[napkin]

I have recently been having a lot of problems with my washing, it has got me so down! My old washing machine broke down in May. Since then i have purchased a Zanussi, indesit, samsung, bosch, beko and now hotpoint washing machine. Managed to get most returned but two! Each one has left my clothes badly bobbled/pilled and is making new clothes look old after one wash. I have tried all sorts of settings on each one. Different detergents. I use comfort- the original blue one but dilute it. I mainly have found Persil non bio powder tablets to work best and prefer to use non bio as one of my sons has slight eczema and don't like too strong of a smell either. Liquids i find rinse away better but leave some stuff more worn looking like more heavy items. I mainly use the extra rinse cycle as most modern machines don't rinse well. I am wondering if this could maybe be something to do with the low water usage in new machines meaning more friction on clothes. Has this been happening to anyone else? Has anyone got any advice? It would be much appreciated as i have thrown so many items away and am scared of washing anything else and ruining it.

[SlatternismyMiddlename]

What temperature are you washing at?

[napkin]

I wash at 30 most of the time, bedding and towels at 40 or 60.

[napkin]

bump

[TheJanuaryProject]

I've not had that kind of problem, but I thought regular washing powder was the best for machines. I only use about half the recommended washing powder and my clothes are perfectly clean. I have tried liquids and tablets before but always been really I satisfied with the wash performance. We use fairy for everything, but I do add soda crystals for whites, work shirts, and towels. I don't use any softener at all but I do live in a soft water area. If I didn't, I'd probably use white vinegar rather than softener.

[napkin]

Thank You for your advice TheJanuaryProject. I do live in a hard water area and have tried white vinegar but with no different affects. Have tried reducing powder and using soda crystals too. Wish i could solve this problem.

[AlbertaCampion]

Try soap nuts. They're marvellous: they grow on trees and are sold dried. They are infused with natural soap and very gentle, as well as being Eco-friendly. Google for stockists.

[MinimalistMommi]

Are you buying good quality clothes? Cheap clothes tend to wash badly. Most high street clothes don't tend to be amazing quality, some are better than others.
Ae you tumble drying ? Tumbling clothes can fade them quickly.

[napkin]

Do you use conditioner with soapnuts AlbertaCampion? Are they good with stains? I thought it may be the quality of the clothes but it is happening to every item no matter the cost of the item. Only tumble dry bedding and towels. Thanks everyone, much appreciated. Getting me down clothes only lasting a couple of washes.

[TheJanuaryProject]

For stains, white wonder is amazing. Available from Lakeland, and it lasts for ages. Can be used on all sorts of things, not just clothes. I got some food stains out of a white top recently very easily, even though the top had already been washed and dried. And honestly, it sounds odd, but white vinegar is a great softener substitute. Cheaper too! I used to use it on DS's washable nappies when we were at that stage.

[TheJanuaryProject]

Oh sorry, napkin, just saw your earlier post to say you'd tried white vinegar.

[TheJanuaryProject]

I noticed in your op that you're using an extra rinse cycle. Do you still get some suds at the end of the first wash? If so, you could still reduce the amount of washing powder. Although I said I used half the recommended washing powder I probably use even less than that. I do most things on a gentle cycle too (though not towels, bedding etc).

[napkin]

How much washing powder would you say to use? I do use the extra rinse as modern machines don't seem to rinse that well. Some clothes do seem to have residue or smell strong of detergent at the end of the wash. I don't know if it is the powder at thought as my old machine was fine? This is why i think maybe there is more friction on the clothes from less water being used in new machines or maybe less water needs less powder? If using fabric conditioner how much does everyone use? Are these new machines you all own or older models? Do you separate cottons, synthetics, delicate's or wash all together? I will take a look at that white wonder, thanks.

[PigletJohn]

Are you using the amount of powder/liquid recommended on the box or bottle, or some other amount?

What are these clothes made of that you are throwing away? I have only seen pilling on synthetic fleeces.

[napkin]

I use the amount shown for hard water as i live in a very hard water area. I only use the least amount possible the box tells me for hard water or just two powder tablets. I have had to throw all sorts of fabrics away including cotton. The worst material i have found to pile is my sons jogging bottoms and things like jumpers and wool.

[TheJanuaryProject]

It's hard to say how much I use, I just kind of judge it iyswim. Definitely no more than half the amount recommended for my water area. Newer machines need a lot less powder I think and regular powder is much easier to reduce than tablets.

Re: the strong detergent smell, I find that fabric softener leaves a very strong smell (MIL uses it, and sometimes washes DS's clothes when he stays over). I know you said white vinegar didn't stop the bobbling of your clothes, but unless the conditioner is noticeably more effective at softening I'd be tempted to switch back to vinegar and drastically reduce how much powder you use. If you do a wash with half the recommended powder, check for suds at the end, and if you're still getting them reduce some more. Soda crystals can be added in for really dirty clothes, towels etc. if nothing else, you'll save money on detergent, cut out the extra rinse cycle thus saving energy costs and hopefully prevent that strong detergent smell!

[TheJanuaryProject]

Oh and my machine is newish, not an old one.

[napkin]

I will try reducing the powder even more and see what happens, i think i will stick to conditioner as it makes things a whole lot softer. What machine do you have TheJanuaryProject? Do you separate all your clothing you wash?

[TheJanuaryProject]

I do separate washing. Quite religiously by colour, but not so much by fabric type as I do most clothes on a gentle wash (i.e the one with a line under it) at 30. Towels/sheets at 40 or 60. Ours is a hotpoint machine. Good luck with reducing the powder.

[napkin]

Sorry for so many questions TheJanuaryProject but what model is your hotpoint? Do you wash cottons and clothes with two lines under it on the delicate cycle too?

[WhateverTrevor]

If your ds has eczema then won't fabric conditioner make it worse?
I was told washing towels with clothes makes them bobble.

[TheJanuaryProject]

I have no idea what model. I have a one line setting which is used for most things, but I also have a two line setting for stuff that has two lines. Basically, I never was hotter than the label and often cooler, and if something doesn't have a line I will probably wash it on the single line setting.

[napkin]

He only has very slight eczema so as long as i don't use anything too highly perfumed it is fine. Yes i heard that about towels, i do all my towels on a hotter wash. So you mainly use the synthetic cycle for one line items (synthetics) and wash no line (cottons) on this too and everything else with two lines on delicate? Does everyone wash with a full load in the machine?

[TheJanuaryProject]

Pretty much, as these are the shortest washes on my machine bar the specific fast wash setting.

[TheJanuaryProject]

Oh and the load size varies. I reduce the washing powder a bit more if it's not a full load.

[HiccupHaddockHorrendous]

I have a newish machine. I think I've had it about a year but haven't noticed a difference in my clothes. All colours go on at 40 and whites, bedding and towels go on at 60. I use 'Simple' tab-things but no fabric conditioner as DS also has mild eczema. I do tumble dry about 50% of the time with no obvious deterioration to clothes.

I tried washing at 30 but found that it wasn't hot enough so dissolve the wash tabs properly and the clothes would come out with power on. Also, at 30 my clothes weren't coming out very clean either so 40 is the minimum that I wash.