Washing powder recommendations

[SarfEasticated]

Hello GH ladies, just wondered if you could recommend good washing powders to
a) remove toddler stains and make whites white
b) remove toddler stains and keep colours bright.

Eco would be great, but I don't mind as long as they work.

Thanks everyone

PS where does the term 'fly' come from?

[cazboldy]

Bold works here

[TheChilliMooseisyourfriend]

Another vote for Bold, or Daz.
(great offer on massive boxes of Daz powder in Sainsbury's at the moment. It's £8 for 90 washes)

[crockydoodle]

I use Ariel bio for 4 very dirty children.
(their clothes that is)

[foofi]

It's FlyLady - a mad American who advocates doing housework in short bursts.

Personally haven't used powder in the washing machine for 10 years or so - I use liquids. I use Daz for whites and Aerial for colours - and I use Vanish inwash stain remover on the whites most of the time.

[foofi]

here

[SarfEasticated]

ah interesting, thanks everyone, I don't think I every really understood the difference between non bio and bio, bio works best doesn't it?

[norktasticninja]

Ecover washing powder/liquid is crap. It's not that bad at cleaning but anything that's been stored for a week or two starts to stink. It smells a bit like someone who doesn't wash regularly.

It's a real sham, all the other products of their that I've tried have been great.

[norktasticninja]

sham shame

[saltyseadog]

I use Formil from Lidl - exceptionally cheap and shifts all stains.

[Fayrazzled]

I was reading the Miele website the other evening (rock 'n'roll, huh?) as I was researching washing machines. Anyway, apparently powder is better for white washes because they contain bleach (as yet the technology means liquid formulations can't contain bleach) and biological is better at dealing with stains because it contains enzymes, which digest the stains. Colour care powder is better for colours because it doesn't contain bleach and so keeps colours brighter. It doesn't matter whether the colour care detergent is a powder, liquid or gel but generally liquids work better than powders at lower temperatures.

According to Which, the new Ariel gel is one of the best (the best? I can't remember) detergents on the market. I think washing machine repairmen recommend regular use of a powder too though to keep the machine pipes clean.

That's enough from me. what a crashing bore I've become. My laundry's clean though.

[hazeyjane]

Oh no Norktasticninja, i have just switched to Ecover, and washed everything in the liquid, are you telling me the whole house is going to start smelling like armpits?

Does anyone know of a decent eco, non bio (dd's have eczema and asthma), that doesn't smell rank and cleans things?

[MadameCastafiore]

I used Waitrose Sensitive Non-Bio for years and then had to use some Persil Biologocal when we ran out and couldn't get to Waitrose and you know what - we have cleaner clothes than we have had for years - they are sparkly and smell much nicer.

I would never go back to a non bio now!

Our washing machine repair man we used to have said never use the tablets or the liquid - use powder but half of what they say you should in terms of scoops per wash.

[HerBeatitude]

LOL at laundry expert Fayrazzled. Why not use liquid etc.? A friend of mien was told to stop using powder because it was clogging her machine up, who is right?

[hazeyjane]

aah thankyou Mrs Magnolia, I think that my local Waitrose sell that one, in fact I might have used it, I can't remember why I stopped.

[blithedance]

I use Simply too, it's fine (but then I am not doing the "window" test with white sheets every day )

[MissMoopy]

Persil non-bio or Fairy for dd and whatever is cheap for me and dh!

[SarfEasticated]

I am happy to use eco for normal stuff, but there are somethings that I like to 'look' clean - white socks, and most of dd clothes. I realise I am fighting a losing battle as they are very cavalier about dirt/food/paint at nursery, but i just want a fighting chance. I get quite attached to her clothes in a hormonal mother bear kind of way, and want them to last

Thanks for you research Fayrazzled must try to look at Which website and try not to get sucked into a life long subscription...

[serant]

I use aldi, there own brand, it's great for all the family & whites are kept white, the price is good too..

[GrimmaTheNome]

A scoop of the vanish oxy stuff (white tub) in the whites once in a while does seem to help.

For really filthsome clothes soaking/prewashing in Biotex can help.

Mostly I use Ariel tablets cos they arent messy and dont need stupid bags or plastic containers. Wait till sainsbos does a 2-for-1 and buy loads (for some reason asda only seems to do the little boxes).

[notimetoshop]

I like the smell of Ecover.

But at the moment I'm trying that new gel because we have a tiny kitchen so anything that is tiny appeals.
It seems really good.
Tend to use non bio because DD has sensitive skin, seems better now she's older, but did use Surcare for ages. Expensive though.

[onepieceoflollipop]

I agree with serant - it is fab (green box). I also add a small scoop (approx tablespoon) of washing crystals. (a tip I got on here)

It works by softening the water so you can use the amount of powder one would normally use for soft water/lightly soiled clothes.

I dab armpits etc with neat white vinegar as it kind of dissolves sweaty smells. I have an old vanish stick (looks like a solid deodorant) that has lasted for years that I put on food stains etc.

Also don't forget that drying clothes outside as often as possible often gets rid of any lingering stains once the item is dry.

[SparkyToo]

I use Persil non-bio tablets that go in the bag and spray any stains with vanish before washing and haven't really had any problems - would highly recommend.

[clarea1]

Wizz Oxi spay is fabulous... the best 99p ever! I've yet to find anything that will get tomato sauce type stains out tho....