need help on how to do laundry please

[cyphercat]

okay. Whatever I put in the washing machine seems to come out paler in colour.

I put towels and bedsheets and high temperature to kill germs 60 to 90 degrees. (comes out bit grey)

I mix colour that I don't think runs which is most of our clothes....and put it in 30 degrees. (which all seems to come out paler and grey in colour.)

New clothes and deep colours I wash separately. (Although I forgot red shirt last time and everything came out pink..and have no idea what to do with stripey clothes...)

I use tumble dryer could that be the problem..??

And all my husband's wool jumpers seems to shrink even though I wash them in handwash cycle in cold water..???

I really need help as I want to keep our clothes nice.

[pinkthechaffinch]

Don't think tumble dryer is likely to be problem. How about washing towels etc on a 40 degree wash?

Sorry can't be of more help

[cyphercat]

well. It's just that everything fades in colour...and we are all getting a bit down about it.

[cyphercat]

especially nice clothes...

[GentleOtter]

Wool - handwash in tepid water with some soap flakes, do not scrub and pummel or it will shrink and felt. Rinse well, dry flat.

What sort of soap powder are you using? Try one without 'optical brightners' (bleach) and a lower temp wash.

[pooka]

I never really wash anything apart from towels at more than 30.

For stripes I use the colour run sheets you can buy - like bounce, but go in the machine and "mop up" colour runs to stop the colour bleeding into the white.

For colour clothes that I want to stay pristine rather than fade I have in the past used the specific colour washing powder.

The tumble dryer unlikely to be the problem. It may be your washing powder.

WRT your husband's jumpers, my personal experience has been that the handwash cycle of a washing machine is never as good as actually handwashing. Hence the fact that I have gradually managed to stop dh having handwash jumpers!

[Clary]

Don't machine wash wollens - I never do. Nor bras (mine cost ££££) nor anything silk etc (not that I have uch in taht category .

It only takes a few mins to handwash them through.

I tend to do blacks/greys/blues together then a separate wash if I can of reds and pinks.

Stripes I wash as the darker colour. Really only a problem with DS2's red and white footie kit.

Whites I wash separately. I use Persil as it's the onyl stuff that doesn't seem to affect DD's eczema. Have you tried the colour detergents which are supposed to prevent fading?

Of course in the end everything fades - was looking in amazement at the inside of a pair of DS2's stripey shorts the other day and how bright the blue was...but then he has had them 4 years

[Clary]

Also wash and line-dry coloured stuff inside out. I am sure that must help.

[cyphercat]

hmm thank you I use one detergent (non bio) for everything but I'll try colour washing powder ones and separate more... oh...my DH has SO MUCH handwash jumpers (cashmere - all he gets for his christmas present from his parents every year..) I'm sick of being told I'm not good at it....well..I'm not..but I'll try my best again.

[TheProvincialLady]

Let DH deal with his own cashmere the ponce.

Separate more. Don't wash towels with other things as it makes bobbles. Use a colour runs catcher and detergent without bleach. If you dry on the line don't leave things too long.

[Heated]

I try to wash clothes carefully which makes a difference to their longevity.

• use powder with a built in softener (not liquid as it gums up the machine/get black bits and no additional clothes softener as both seem to take the shine of some fabrics) - I use Bold
• put delicate items in a knotted pillowcase & turn clothes with buttons that catch or have logos/transfers inside out
• have a whites, a pinks/purples/reds, a yellows/green/blues and a blacks wash
• wash majority at 40, occasional woolens/delicate at lower temp, only towels and bedding at higher temp
• stained dc's items sprayed with Shout prior to washing(Vanish is a waste of money)
• air dry bras, delicate fabrics, woolens - reshape or hang on hanger

Can't quite believe I can write so much about washing! Hth

[Littledawley]

I use biological powder which does make a difference. Don't wash whites over 60 degrees or they will go grey - I sometimes make an exception with towels. I also run all of my tea towels at 90 degrees every so often to make sure that the machine is really clean.
Ace bleach is good for stubborn stains.
Need loads of colour categories!! White, pale pinks, pale blues and lemons, brights, reds/oranges/ purples, darks!!!

[Clary]

LOL @ us all with our colour categories.

Red/pink wash much easier if you have DD and/or red school uniform (I have both).