How do I wash clothes correctly?

[Jobseeker19]

Embarrassing to say but I just wash and hope.
After a few months some of the baby pink and white clothes are grey even when I seperate. I thought this was the same for everyone until I was given second hand clothes that were still vibrant.
What is the correct way to wash clothes? On what cycle? Using which type of detergent?

Thanks in advance !

I separate into whites, colours and darks.

Doesn't really matter what detergent you use imo, I buy own brand powder.

I tend to put everything on a standard 40 degree wash except wools.

Powder is better than liquid for whites, as it contains a bleaching agent.

I do whites, mixed light colours and dark colours. I use bio powder as powder contains bleaches that help keeps white white. I use fake vanish powder in with the whites. 40⁰C for most items

I read on here that you should use powder for whites. It contains phosphorous ( think that's correct) which helps make whites look brighter. Liquids and tablets do not contain this, or if they do not in the same amounts.
If you can, peg whites outside in the sunshine so that the sun can help bleach them and keep them white. Non bio does not clean as well as bio.
White nylon pulls colour from other clothes. Unfortunately dh was unaware of this and a lot of my once white underwear is now grey. Dh is banned from washing any of my white clothes. He also has the knack of shrinking things.
I think it is very difficult to keep clothes which are mixed, for example an item which has white sleeves and a black body, clean and crisp looking. The black tends to fade and the white tends to look mucky.I
Wash similar coloured clothes together.

Whites - I use ecover washing powder (half the quantity they. Recommend) and oxy white stuff and no fabric conditioner. 30 degrees. Put outside on line if possible. If not, on aired next to a dehumidifier.

Lights - just a washing egg on 30. Unless there's socks in the load in which case I bung in a small amount of washing powder. Dry as above.

Darks - usually contains all the knickers and socks so I wash with powder (half quantity on 30 degrees and dry as above.

Towels or bed linen - same as lights.

I wash shower curtain with net washing puff thingy every now and then. I use soda crystals rather than powder.

Anything else generally goes in without any detergent.

I use eco washing powder, no fabric conditioner.

Ignore that last random line. Don't know how that got there!

I separate out colours:

Whites & lights
Darks
Pinks/reds/purples
Towels/bedding

My "specials" work dresses, bras that DH is not permitted to touch

Always use detergent for whites, for your whites and I always add a scoop of oxi clean for whites in.
For colours, seperate into lights and dark and use a colour wash, all dark colours wash inside out, really makes a difference.

i wear black clothes. Hope that helps.

Final point from me - don’t overfill your machine.

I just do lighter colours
And then darker colours seperately
I do think this works. Mine don't go grey or faded from washing
I like to use comfort fabric conditioner cos I do think it makes a difference to the clothes and also the smell

I separate and use bio powder or tabs for whites but also colour catchers are helpful to avoid mistakes particularly with stripes.

I seperate into dark and light.
I use a Persil whites bio and Persil colours bio with fabric conditioner. Generally at 30 degrees. Hang on heated dryer.
Towels and bedding at hotter temp and no conditioner on towels. Those get tumble dried.

@Ionlydomassiveones

Separate by colour Always use biological detergent unless wool or silk Colours - 40 degree wash Whites - in our house, bedding towels and tea towels - 60 degree wash Wool or silk - hand wash detergent on delicate setting. Dry quickly.

This is exactly how I do it too.

I separate into whites, colours, darks. Towels and bedding separately.

I use detergent for whites on whites
Detergent for colours on colours
Detergent for darks on darks.

I dont use fabric softener as it does slowly ruin clothing. I do use dettol laundry cleanser in each wash too which gets rid of milk smells etc. .

@AlisonDonut

i wear black clothes. Hope that helps.

Same here. Just don't wear white or very pale clothes. Far too much hassle.

This is what I do and I’ve kept my clothes in decent condition:
Whites: Wash @40c with powder
Dark clothes @30c on a quick
cycle with Liquid
Underwear, socks etc @40c for about an hour wash with Liquid
Light coloured clothes @40c for about an hour with Liquid
Towels @ 40c for about an hour with powder