to feel annoyed that my son came out of school with pen all down his top

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

which didn't come out in the wash?

He said that it was the whiteboard marker. Is my washing powder shit? Was he mistaken and it was a permanent/semi permanent marker?

Just feel annoyed cos I spent a fortune on new uniform for the two kids this summer. He wore it ONCE and it looks ruined now.....

I was thinking of speaking to the teacher and asking what types of pens they use in class and explaining what happened. Would the teacher think I was mad?! DS is in Yr 2 by the way - surely an age when the might still be likely to get pen on their clothes???

Tesco non bio is not the best, I read a Which? report into washing detergents, it scored only 50% or thereabouts and was one of the worst performing. Persil non bio was rated better (obv. more expensive tho, I buy it in bulk size at Costco whenever there's an offer on). If you could use bio then Ariel or Daz scored well.

I'm a saddo laundry pedant. My DCs uniform is pale yellow and gets dirty every day.

I use fairy or persil whichevers on offer. So far this year t shirts are still white compaired to when I used the cheaper non-bio.

REallywoundup: I can't belive that!! Emulsion paint?!? Beggars belief...did they not warn you that they had to bring in old clothes and shoes that day???

You see, Habbibu, I need to be more a washing pedant as BubsMaw describes herself. Had forgotten that you don't need to boil with bio. And anyway, if it's not pure cotton wouldn't it shrink if I boiled it?

BubsMaw: not sure bio would work on ink stains anyway, would it, thinking about it. I thought the enzymes in it worked on organic stains only???? (distant memory from biology class)

I find strong sunlight really good. Bleaches tomato sauce stains right out on the washing line. But it didn't touch the bloody pen marks today!!!

I don't know.....what's wrong with pencil and paper? I bet our parents never had this pen problem when we were in infants! In fact, IIRC, the first time we saw anything other than a pencil for writing in school was when we were given the exciting task in 3rd year Juniors of getting our parents to buy us a fountain pen. I remember buying a bottle of ink and everything.....(I'm only 37, not 57!)

Yes you're right about bio for organic stains. I was meaning general washing performance e.g. keeping whites white and darks dark, general stain removal. I got 2 free copies of Which? magazine when I took up their trial membership, I only wanted to look at their car seat crash test results then cancelled membership straight away. In the 2 copies I saw slow cooker tests, the laundry detergent test, and I can't recall anything else!

I have a stain devil for removing pen, I only used it twice it worked once but not the second time.

If all else fails you could keep the clothes (shirt?) for going under a jumper in winter.

Don't tumble dry if there is a stain as it sets it. (Apparently)
I have got stain devils for pens and another for greasy stains. All ready to go.

Just wanted to note that whiteboards and pens are also used for maths. All the children write answer for the teacher to see - thereby avoiding the problem who just sit there and don't listen/join in...

BTW DD had the same problem on her brand new sweatshirt. She just had to wear it like that for the whole year.

I don't see why all whiteboard pens aren't washable! I'm a teacher of young children and end up with marks on my clothes from the kids daily.

It doesn't get any better when they're teenagers. You can add GCSE art materials and chemical burns to that.

where do you buy this stain devil that removes pen marks?

We used to buy Tesco own brand washing powder/liquid didn't realise how rubbish it was till I got bored of the smell and tried a different one. I am more disappointed if my kids come home clean after a day at school. I am then concerned at what they have done all day.

Retailers listed on this website...

www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/products/stain-removal-products/stain-devils-ink-stain-remover/

You are an angel, BubsMaw :)

My DT's go to school in pen marked polo shirts! I've given up and they have to wear logo ones which add up.

Aha, Cece! Now I have been dragged out of the dark ages! Yep, I can see how the use of whiteboards can be better than pencil and paper then. Mind you, DS said that the class was told that the ink for the pens cost the school £700 (after a couple of naughty kids wasted the ink somehow). Makes a pencil and paper seem a much better idea (presumably the teacher wasn't grossly exaggerating!)

DS confirmed that they use mini whiteboards, so I'm expecting many more pen marks this year. Will have to stock up on some stain remover.

I did end up mentioning it to his teacher by the way, but it was by accident. The TA came out to ask me about some other matter so I thought I'd ask her if the pens were supposed to be washable and if she has any ideas on the best way to clean the tops, and she called the teacher over. I was a bit becaause I don't want him to think I'm a moaning minnie, but he just said "oh that's wierd, the pens say Washable on them, I would have thought they'd come out fine in the wash."

So to sum up.....I have shit washing powder.

Mungo8, DS2 has eczema and the Tesco non-bio seems to be one of the few that doesn't irritate his skin too much. I'll have to get on the Allergies board and investigate alternatives maybe. Thanks.

I use tesco non bio at 30° and have always found it effective for daily washes. I must have a brilliant washing machine stain devils are great, and ace bleach (really good for milk stains) is good too.