Boring thread alert - washing detergent recs?!

[User24689]

Hey all. Just getting a bit fed up with my DC constantly getting stained clothes. DS(2) regularly gets muddy or gets food down him, or gets paint on himself at playgroup despite all my best efforts with bibs/ aprons and the like. DD(4) seems to wear a white school polo one time before it gets stained with her lunch or bloody whiteboard markers which have ruined about 10 of them!!

Just noticed that a sweatshirt of DS's I bought last week has mud stains on that didn't come out in the wash.

Are there some detergents that are just really good for these types of stains? Should I wash at a higher temp? Use stain remover first?

Any tips most welcome!!!

Washing up liquid rubbed into stains. Soak muddy stuff in stain remover before washing in bio powder. I like surf, ariel, persil, bold (only if they are on offer, I don't like to pay full price)

Lidl Formil is as good as any branded powder. For white clothes that are stained I use Napisan to soak first & then wash in the machine.

Something like Ariel bio if you get the liquid rub it into the stains, leave it for 15 mins before you wash at 30 or 40 (don't go above that or the bio/enzymes wont be as efficient. Also a hot wash would set some stains). I double or triple rinse to avoid skin irritation. The difference between the regular Ariel liquid and the one marketed for colours is optical brighteners.

Some people say use powders not liquids (mainly because of the bleaching powder) for the health of your washing machine. But powder clogged my pipes up. And I don't have trouble with my washing machine with liquids. Although I do a 60 degree wash (towels or sheets) at least 3 times a week.

Powders contain bleaches that liquids dont which also assists in removing stains. Liquids caused gunk in my machine and causes marks on clothes. Powder keeps the drum cleaner

Thanks so much everyone!! I've been using tablets so I think I'll switch to powder. I'll try the other tips for the stains too.

Triple orange bio detergent.

It is made up of citrus oil, coconut and washing soda.

It smells so lovely

I find liquids and gels work best.

Personally I think this washing at lower temps is a "false greenery" (trademarking that phrase )

Because yes washing at low temps generally is better for the environment but only if clothes aren't stained or more than "wear" dirty because if they are, to wash at lower temps and get them clean people end up using more chemicals which I'm sure defeats the object of using a lower temp.

I have ocd so cleaning stuff is my "thing" but I'm also allergic to bio detergent. I wash most things at 40°c using non-bio gel.

If there's a stain rub in some fairy liquid first, use fake "vanish" if a bad stain.

The key is to not wash the stain in.

If it's a bad stain/something that's hard to get out like grass or blood then don't take the chance it'll come out with a normal wash but use stain removal prior to washing.

Whites benefit from an occasional wash using whitener sachets

Sheets and towels washed at higher temps.