Which non bio works?

[ribbitTheFrog]

Normally I use bio liquid detergent as seems to work best, but with a newborn I'll need to use non-bio.

I bought some Fairy non bio which was appalling, may as well have washed with water! I had a sample of Persil non bio which seemed much better. Is Persil tge way to go? Or any other gems out there?

[HelenF35]

I use persil, it's really good. The Aldi non bio liquid is supposed to be good too. Fairy is crap, wouldn't clean my clothes.

[LamppostInWinter]

We've always used tesco non bio tablets for the whole family and they work fine! I did notice they struggled today with a spag bol encrusted bib though...

[dementedpixie]

You don't need to use non bio with a baby...its not the law!

I did use it for the first 2 or 3 weeks and then switched back to bio with no issues. Bio works better for us.

[RiverTam]

I've always used Fairy since DD was a baby. I think it's fine. Of course, it doesn't contain bleach but it cleans the clothes, it depends if you are after them being actually clean or visually clean.

[dementedpixie]

If it's fairy powder it does have bleach but the liquids don't.

[RiverTam]

You are quite right! I didn't know that. I only swapped to the powder as the liquid is pretty expensive and I thought powder would be better for the machine. Well, you learn a new thing every day.

[PigletJohn]

One of the good things about powders is that you use them at higher temperatures than liquids, generally. This is better at dissolving them and preventing resident sludge, so you end up with a cleaner machine, less likely to smell.

Powders are better for whites as (apart from a few "for colours" powders) they contain bleaching agents.

[rabbit123]

In my experience, Persil Non Bio POWDER is the only one worth using.
Not to put a spanner in the works, but non-bio being better for babies and sensitive skin is a myth. We've used bio consistently since ours were born and never had any irritation or skin problems. Just avoid using quick washes as they don't rinse things very well.

[RiverTam]

So you write something off as a myth simply because of your experience with your babies ? If someone in your family who was a heavy smoker lived till 90 would you conclude that smoking causing lung cancer is a myth? FWIW we started with Fairy, dd did have eczema as a baby. When she seemed to have got over it we switched to persil non bio and it flared up again. That's my personal experience which is why we've stuck with Fairy.

[RumAppleGinger]

I also go with fairy liquid capsules. DS2 has quite serve eczema and it's the only thing that keeps it at bay.

[ribbitTheFrog]

Thanks all. I will try the Persil as the sample I had was good and the Fairy doesn't seem to get the dirt out of older dc clothes. Id rather only buy one detergent for us all, hence wanting one that sorts stains as well as good for sensitive skin.

[PigletJohn]

We have used Persil non-bio for years on the understanding that it was better for sensitive skin, and many people change to it from other powders.

However I understand that the latest view is that skin irritation is more likely from the fragrances and other components of certain brands rather than the enzymes, so changing brands will often do the trick. I am told that outside the UK the idea that bio powders cause skin irritation is viewed with bemusement.

[eckythumpenallthat]

Where limited to non bio cos of DH and DD sensitive skin. We've found Aldis non bio gel to be best

[overthemill]

We use tesco non bio tablets or powder ( which ever is on offer) for everyone as dd is super sensitive and all other powders irritate her skin. Did stop using detergent altogether at one stage though wasn't 100% on wash! Her asthma flares up if we use any other brand and bio is an absolute no no for skin and asthma. Stopped using softener or stain removers years ago ( she is now 16).

If someone comes home from university having used a different brand her asthma flares and if she sits next to/ cuddles them her eczema rages. She is, clearly, a sensitive soul.

In hospital she is allergic to bedding so we bring own bedding in ( she is ill, a chronic severe illness). Before she was ill we found this in hotels too.

I wouldn't risk a bio powder- but everyone is different.

[PigletJohn]

A water softener cleared up eczema here. It does leave skin, towels, sheets, hair and clothes softer, and cuts down the amount of cleaning products you need, but also dissolves away soap scum residues. I don't know which of these features did the trick.

[rabbit123]

RiverTam, not at all. I used to work for Unilever.

Non bio doesn't exist anywhere else in the world except for the UK. The myth of bio causing irritation comes from the early days of testing when the dust in the factory cause allergic reactions in some of the staff, but that formula never made the market. The press got hold of that and British mothers went mental.

Go anywhere else in the world - non bio just does not exist. Do you think everyone else in the world just puts up with itchy skin?

Allergic reactions to detergent are not caused by enzymes. The enzymes used (protease, amylase & lipase) are natural products that are found in the body anyway. Reactions are triggered by the artificial chemical perfumes used in detergents & fabric softeners. The bio element has nothing to do with it.

Ways to avoid reactions are:

• avoid detergents & softeners with strong smells, such as Surf, Bold, Lenor Unstopables, Comfort Exhilerations etc.
  
• use full cycles and not quick wash. Quick washed usually cut out a rinse so leave more residue in clothes
  
• use extra rinse where possible. Modern washers use a lot less water than older ones and it's not always sufficient to remove all the detergent
  
• don't overdose on detergents. The more detergent you use and the more foam you get in the washer, the more difficult the detergent will be to rinse out.

[SonceyD0g]

3 eczema sufferers here. We use Persil, Asda or waitrose own brand non bio powder. All clean really well and don't give us flare ups. We also use supermarket own brand softeners as the ones which are highly scented seem to set us all off

[rabbit123]

More info on the biological myth

www.nhs.uk/news/2008/05May/Pages/Biowashingpowderrashesamyth.aspx

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2004321/Washing-powders-cleared-of-causing-rashes.html

[PosterEh]

I've just tried switching to tesco own brand bio and it did cause an eczema flare up in me and my son so we've gone back to fairy non-bio powder.

[PosterEh]

I'm not saying it's the enzymes and it may be that there are some nonbios that would also cause a reaction but I am yet to try a bio that hasn't been bad for my skin whereas fairy non bio is ok.

[Baddz]

Dh and ds1 have excema.
Use Aldi own brand non bio and softener.
No issues, cleans well.

[rabbit123]

PosterEh, as above, that's likely to be linked to the perfume used in the bio's that you've tried. It could also be a perfume in a fabric softener.

[nowttodowithme]

I've tried loads and Persil non bio is the best.

Aldi still makes DD itch so I'm sticking to Persil. It gets most things out first time and I only wash on 40.

I can only use pure softener as well and the Asda and Tesco ones smell lovely.

[rabbit123]

DD can be quite sensitive to detergents. I can't use Daz Citrus, Bold 2in1, Surf or Ariel with Fabreeze. I can use any detergent as long as it's original, ie plain Persil Bio, regular Ariel, original Daz etc. Same with softeners too - we can use any of the "normal" ones like blue Comfort or the blue & yellow Lenors, providing I don't use too much, but the infusions, Exhilerations, Unstopables etc are a no no

[RiverTam]

That's very interesting, thank you rabbit. I'm guessing that it's the perfumes for us, I find that Fairy has virtually no smell at all whereas everything else, bio or non-bio, absolutely reeks, to the extent that when I washed our bedding in persil non-bio the smell gave me a thundering headache!

Are there any unperfumed or very lightly perfumed powders out there?

Oh, the other thing I like about Fairy (sorry, it sounds like I work for them , I promise I don't) is that there's no need for softener, even in a very hard water area.