My washing isn't bloody clean. What's going wrong?

[Limth]

When I do a coloured mixed load at 40C my washing no longer comes out clean.
It doesn't smell particularly clean - it doesn't smell dirty but doesn't have a nice, fresh fragrance.
More importantly though, it isn't actually clean - there are still tea stains on a cream T-shirt; some sauce stains on napkins that would've come off previously.

Has my washing powder gone the same way as everything else in life these days and is now just actually fucking shit?
If not, what else could be going wrong?

If its just the Surf is now shit, what washing powder do you recommend? Or what else should I be doing or adding to actually get my washing clean?

For context:
I regularly do a maintenance cycle on 90C with some Dr Beckman.
I use biological powder (Surf).
I add Napisan to the white washing and that comes out well.
I don't use fabric conditioner.
I don't overfill the machine - always ample space at the top of the wash load.

It's really pissing me off.

If you never ran the wash cycle, then the clothes would be dry when removed from the machine?

lenor outdoorable northern solstice. My bedding still smells of it two days later

The spin on my machine is really good, and I sometimes have to double check that the clothes have actually been washed as they don't always feel very damp!

That cleaning stuff looks fairly heavy duty, but it shouldn't produce soap lather, so if it is it means it's disturbing soap scum build up in the machine.

I would first try to test the water pressure - you can do this by turning off your supply tap to the washing machine, then remove the hose, be careful water will be inside it. Let the tap run into a bucket or container marked with ideally 5L and time how long it takes to fill up 5L. If you don't have one you can do 2L instead, it's just less accurate. Your washing machine manual will say the rate it wants but every one I've had has always been 10L / min.

If your water pressure is low all over the property that's something to call in a plumber or your landlord about.

Once water pressure established as OK, and the other checks e.g. the filter are done, I would try repeating the service wash until you see at least a reduction in the bubbles. It might produce some bubbles of course because it's agitating the water, but loads probably means you have a lot of soap scum in the bowels of the machine.

I also found with my old machine that I'd get stuff smelling less fresh from certain load types and other load types or brand new clothes would be fine, and I think it was that the darker stuff was getting left longer before we'd wash it so it was dirtier, and it needed a more heavy duty cycle to sort of "strip wash" it to reset it back to the point where a standard wash cycle would get it clean.

Is the heating element broken? If it is you might just be washing everything in cold water. Put your hand on the door window when its halfway through a 60 cycle. Is it warm?

Scent boosters make my washing smell lovely, even on short cycles.

Have you taken a damp cloth to the rubber seal round the outside of the drum? Sounds obvious but mine gets full of build up/fluff and doesn't smell fresh if left untended to.

Or add oxy for stains, ordinary washing powder at a sensible temperature doesn't touch a lot of stains. If an obvious stain I give a quick soak in Oxy or add a bit to the wash if not.

Surf is a fairly low tier detergent and powder is a very basic format, it’s old fashioned tech which is dying out. You’d do far better with pods or a liquid, even a supermarket own one. But if this is a recent change i.e. you used to be happy and now things are no longer working then as pp have said, your machine probably needs a good clean out and overhaul. Powder can clump at various points, so it’s worth giving it all a thorough clear through.

I did this for my brother when I was staying with him, he lives alone after too many failed relationships, as he was telling me not to bother using his washing machine gave him smelly clothes - honestly it looked like a primordial soup was forming in the drawer (he used pods since his ex left so didn’t even open it lol) - I’ll never offer to do that job again lol… but did enjoy sending him pictures whilst he was at work 🤣🤣

I’m always doing this 🤦‍♀️

Also are you using colour catchers? I discovered they can shed without you noticing and block up your filter. Cos this happens gradually you don’t notice. Apparently you should always pop them in a washing net . £135 call out charge later !

Is the cycle 40deg and over an hour long?

Sorry, I thought you meant does it produce bubbles during a normal wash cycle which it does. To be honest, I'm not sure if Dr Beckman bubbles - I just shove it in and set it off.

I don't use colour catchers.

A chemical engineer working on laundry enzymes once told me not to use liquids or pods, that powder is always best. Her words really stuck with me. And I've always found liquids and pods useless.

Oxy is a good shout, thank you

Apparently DP fixed the water pressure the other day so its not that.

But I have loads of suggestions to be getting on with here. Thank you.

First step, filter cleaning!

Recently or while ago? Powder is really only effective on whites at high temps because the most effective thing in it is bleach. It really isn’t best. Pods work so well because they keep each compound separate until needed which allows combinations that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

Do long washes. I do the longest for my machine for everyday clothes. It takes 2.5 hours. Aldi powder.

I'm aware this is a bit "Prince Andrew" remembering the exact date 😂

But it was actually Halloween 2023.
I remember because I went to a seminar at work with a misjudged witch-themed jumper on and didn't even sweat 😬

Because the filter is so low on the machine it’s impossible to put anything underneath it . I have to put an absorbent waterproof pad beside it and old towels or floor cloths. There is a lot draining out!

It's fine. I use it on gym kit.

I always used persil powder. Bio. Proper cottons long wash not quick wash. Bio kills off actual stink in dirty clothes

Ds white washable nappies were all still properly white with no stains after 2 years use as well, a nappy!
He’s also allergic to loads of things and not this powder