What setting do you put your washer on and what powder do you use??

[andirobobo]

Boring I know, but I am interested as I have been doing the same for years, and the DH had the audacity to question me!

I generally use a 35 minute wash and have been using the Aerial gel (as it was on offer). My machine has numerous settings that vary from 2 hours to 3 hours, and I honestly cant see a difference when the clothes come out.

DH complains that his work shirts dont smell clean and the armpit area doesnt look clean - I argued that he needed new shirts! They are deep blue uniform shirts BTW. I generally dont do full loads as the machine can regulate the amount of water needed.

So what do you MNers use? Do I need to wash them longer or is he just a sweaty betty that needs to shower more often!!

[bigchris]

forty degree wash, takes one hour twenty minutes
use all in one liquitabs - whichever are on special offer

[IdrisTheDragon]

I do a 40 degree wash. Don't know how long it takes - maybe 1.5 hours? I use fairy non bio.

[bran]

I do a 40 degree wash, I don't know how long it takes. I generally do a 60 degree wash for bedding, towels and dh's shirts (although he generally does his own shirts). I use Waitrose tablets (powder not liquid) for everyone except DS, I use Filetti for him as he has eczema. I also do an extra rinse for his clothes.

[Laugs]

40 degrees.
1.5 hours ish.
I use Simply Pure unscented (un-everything) eco tabs. They really annoy me though, as often don't rinse out properly. I am washing one load for the 2nd time today as it's come out covered in white powder.
(Any suggestions for better unscented products/ scented ones that you're not allergic too??)

[EldonAve]

40 for most stuff
60 for shirts, towels, beddings
sometimes 90
use surcare, extra rinse every time

also use bio powder to clean the machine - wash empty at 90

[norksinmywaistband]

Thirty degree wash
ATM Tesco colour powder

[bodeniites]

55 minute wash and whatevers on special offer usually Bold,Daz or Ariel

[CMOTdibbler]

For not really dirty stuff I use the 30 minute express wash.

But things like sweaty work shirts need a full 1 hr 50 (or whatever) 40 degree wash with a bio liquid. Sometimes a scoop of OxyAction is needed for shirts too

I use the Ariel gel, colour or regular as needed.

[belleymum]

Used to wash everything on a full wash at 40 degrees (except bedding at 60 degrees) with Bold or Ariel gel.

Then my machine started smelling awful even though I did a 90 degree wash once a week.

Apparently the liquids and gels contain no bleaching agents which promotes gunk build up.
I now alternate with a powder and wash most things at 60 degrees.(after a major clean with soda crystals to remove the smell.

I never use the short programme as there's usually food on absoutely everything.

[JetLi]

40 degrees for most stuff - with the underscore of it's a nice day as the cycle leaves clothes wetter and if I dry them outside they need less ironing. 60 for bedding. I use whichever non-bio stuff is on offer at the supermarket.
Since the baby I have been pre-treating stains as well - BF poo stains being a bugger to remove. Vanish bar is doing the trick on that score. Occasionally I add Napisan.
My machine is always on extra-rinse because I am prone to eczema. Seems to help.
Once a month I do a descale treatment with a powder from the supermarket. I never use the drawer and always dose directly into the drum. Plus I don't use fabric softener either.

[andirobobo]

Interesting to see most use the lower temp washes.

I may just take all his work shirts and wash them together on a 60 degree was (no hotter as they are blue) with some oxy stuff and see how it goes! See if he notices a difference or not!

[Tortington]

i had a perfectly lovely washing machine - then ds got a flat and i gave it to him and bought a washer dryer.

the washer dryer spins like the mother of all spins - so much so that on a normal spin - just a normal spin things are so creased it takes ages to iron

it has become the bane of my life and i hate it

so i now wash everything on a wool wash

i use liquid stuff in the pretty bottles becuase

a) it looks nice in my cupboard
b) it fits in the cupboard unlike large boxes
c) it doesn't leave residue

[ChristieF]

I'm not a great believer in the 30 degree wash. Only use for jumpers etc. When you wash you need to kill bacteria as well as clean. It's the bacteria that smells. I wash everything at 40 degrees except for towels and bedding which go in at 60 degrees. Stains just aren't removed at low temperatures and I have two pongy teenage boys. No way their underpants and socks go in at a low temp. It seems to me that MRSA, e-coli etc. can survive low temps. You know for a fact that hospitals boil their laundry to within an inch of its life.

[southeastastra]

30 deg half and hour and use tesco own liquid stuff. things get clean, even dp's ugly red work shirts.

[southeastastra]

and none of us have got ecoli even my stinky 16 year old

[ChristieF]

I also find that you have to choose your washing machine carefully. We've had one that took an hour and a half to do a 40 degree wash! Why? Deliberately chose this one for a short (55 min) 40 degree wash.

[sayanything]

30 degree wash, without prewash - takes about 45 minutes - with supermaket-brand tablets.

I was horrified when my MIL put in a wash at 90 degrees while she was staying with us; then I wept when I saw that the wash included a couple of cashmere jumpers and my favourite silk blouse.

[pleasechange]

I used to do everything at 30 in an attempt to be more eco-friendly and to cost less, but really, you cannot get things properly clean at that temperature. Particularly towels. I now do everything at 40, but it's interesting to read that many people do towels at 60. I think I'll start to do that, as they never seem to smell clean otherwise

[bibbitybobbityCAT]

40 minimum.

Whites go on a 50 degree wash (get me and my fancy machine).

Towels, bedding and dh's work shirts go on 60.

I use persil colour powder on darks and coloured clothes, fairy non bio on the dcs clothes and bedding, persil bio on things like white towels and tea towels - and the bath mats which go in a separate 60 degree wash of their own.

Never do a quick wash.

I am extremely fussy about laundry and once got a lot of on Mumsnet when I said I had 16 different "types" of wash!

30 deg is just not warm enough to get cotton shirts clean imvho.

[jazzandh]

DH shirts go in with other light stuff 40 deg 55 mins "easy care" wash, but he isn't particularly smelly.

Towels (huge load of the things) on 60 deg cotton wash about 1hr 25 mins.

Most other stuff on easy care 40 deg wash.

use non-bio powder, but add napisan (MIL tip) for added cleaning power sometimes.

[clarea1]

Like bbcat, i am fussy about laundry and never use a 'standard setting' i always customise to what i am washing. I don't think much of the 'power wash' type liquids (small and mighty imo is rubbish!) and i prefer good old powder!

I wash dh's work shirt at 40 for 1.5hrs with extra rinse as they are dark blue. They do get mucky and sweaty - alot!

I only do a short wash for odd bits like my Kipling handbag or if we have been out for a meal and just briefy worn clean clothes.

[inscotland]

Depends on what I am washing!

Hardly used stuff goes on quick wash which is about 40 minutes and 40 degrees.

Normal day to day laundry - 40 degrees which takes about 1.5 hours

Bedding and towels go on a hot 60 degree wash.

For day to day washing I just couldn't do a quick wash as it won't completely wash things - just rinse through iykwim.

[purepurple]

I have a very uncomplicted washing machine that has 4 settings
60 degrees long wash
40 degrees medium wash
30 degrees gentle wash
30 mins quick wash
I do whites at 60
coloureds at 40
and nearly cleans for 30 mins
woollens/handwash go on the gentle cycle
I use Aldi non-bio liquid and Aldi fabric softener
sometimes i treat stains( I work with children) with Aldi stain remover
I am perfectly happy with the results
Most stuff doesn't need ironing, as i hang it upto dry on hangers

[VictoriousSponge]

i always alter spin speeds

[ChasingSquirrels]

40 degree cotton or easy wash, takes around 45 mins (never timed it).
use tesco basic value powder.

nothing gets clothes clean (grease stains etc out) here so I don't bother with expensive stuff now.

apart from the stains issue, everything looks and smells clean.