To ask how to get clothes clean without using biological?

[Vroom5]

I get severe skin rashes if I use biological washing powder, so I use non-bio.

But I've got white clothes and sheets with stains on them I can't get out (mascara mostly), and dresses that will still smell of cigarettes or wine or whatever if I've been to a party (and not from me smoking - from talking outside to people who are, or from a glass of wine or lager or whatever being spilt on the table). I end up needing to put things through the washing machine multiple times.

I tried biological on some whites with stains last year and the clothes were gleaming, and then they gave me a rash that took months to shift. Anyone else in the same boat that's found a washing powder that's non-bio but actually cleans clothes? I'm currently using Fairy, having been told by my doctor it was best for 'curing' the self inflicted rash.

What temperature are you using? Non bio don't work so well at low temperatures. If you want to kill bacteria you need at least 60 degrees.

For deodorising you can also try putting white vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment. It will not make your clothes smell like vinegar.

Do you hang your washing outside? I use non-bio for everything and have no issue with washing not getting clean. Sunlight is great for stains, even in winter.

I always use non-bio (usually Tesco own brand) and haven't had the problems you describe. For stains, I use a Vanish bar, or eco-friendly laundry bleach for whites. But a standard 40 degree wash with non-bio and fabric softener is usually enough get rid of standard dirt and smells. Maybe it's your washing machine that's the problem if it's not getting rid of smells?

I wash all bedding and towels at 60 or 90 in non bio, pref powder over liquid.

You could soak stained items with bio or stain remover then wash on non bio with extra rinse

I never use biological
I spent a small fortune on a Miele washing machine
I swear I could put mud in the dispenser and my whites would come out sparkling

Can you wash in bio to get the stains out, then do a re-wash with your non-bio to get the bio residue out? I have a similar problem and I put bio in for the pre-wash, non-bio for the main wash and also do an extra rinse cycle. The wash takes forever, but the clothes are very clean and my skin is ok using that system

Whoops Cross posted with everyone! I type very slowly!

I use fairy non bio powder at 40c and most stains come out easy peasy. Sometimes add napisan to dc wash if they are particularly stained or do a prewash.

Make sure not to use eco wash setting as that is more soaking and less water/agitation- this leaves more soap on the clothes.

Never had clothes come out smelling bad. Is your machine clean? Do you leave the door open for the machine to dry between washes? Have you cleaned the filter?

Eczema here too, very limited in what we can use for laundry. For stains, dampen the stain with cold water, rub in some normal washing up liquid (sparingly as you don't want a foam flood in your kitchen), then wash as normal. For smells, we add Napisan to the wash. Gentle on skin as it's for washing nappies and it kills sweat smells on teen gym kit.

Use a non bio powder as powders contain bleaches that can help keep whites from going grey. Can you tolerate vanish powder for whites that you put in the machine with your detergent?

Try using bio powder in the pre-wash and then non-bio for the main wash, and add an extra rinse.

Something like napisan or re wash with non bio after.

I use the vanish oxi gold which is working great on my whites, i also put a scoop of the colour version in with colour wash and so far stains are coming out fine, that's washing at 30 with non bio

Fairy does terrible things to my skin despite its claims!! I use Aldi own brand non bio capsules or persil non bio but not the concentrated liquid as that also seems to set my skin off. The Aldi one looks strangely similar to the persil!

Vinegar
Vanish bar or powder soak
Soak in bleach solution
Sunlight

We always use Persia non bio powder - liquids we've found don't work as well.

On stuff that is really stained, I chuck it in a bucket of cold water with a dose of napisan then wash at 60° after. For stained stuff, it really is no good trying to wash on a cooler cycle but you need the stain to soak first.

I've done this with all dc's school shirts and dh's work shirts. Only things that don't come clean are stuff that's not been soaked before and the wash has set the stain.

If I have stuff that's extra smelly then I use non bio, but add Dettol anti bacterial wash stuff to the 1 part of the drawer and do a prewash, with at least a 40 wash.

For stains (teen and fake tan) I do the odd wash with bio powder then wash again in non bio.

I use non-biological powder for the same reason as you, with fabric conditioner and white vinegar mixed together, washing at 30 degrees. I've never had the problems you describe. It sounds like a problem with your washing machine. Is there a blockage somewhere?

Persil non bio powder shifted a turmeric stain off a light pink t shirt this week.

Eczema here too. I switched from fairy to smol non bio, haven't found anything it can't tackle yet including the cloths I use to remove my make up. Not a stain of mascara on them. I know the trend is to wash on cold for a shorter cycle etc. but when you have eczema / allergies you really do need at least a good 60 degree sheet wash to kill all bacteria and make sure all powder/ liquid is properly rinsed out. The good thing with capsules paired with an appropriate cycle is you know you've not 'over' dosed an if you have used any kind of biological pre stain remover - it will have been properly rinsed out so should not irritate

I drench anything that light vaguely stain with Vanish - others just don’t work as well. Then wash with Smol non-bio. Nappisan is brilliant, gentle enough for babies, but gets the most stubborn stains out with just a spoon of powder in.

I use Fairy non-bio on a 40 degree wash, and everything comes out fine.

I use bio d liquid, use laundry bleach ( their own powdered) as needed and use Ecover rub on stain remover.
Buy it online or heath food shops, cheaper than Ecover and washes better, do an unfragraced one too, never any issues

I've only ever used persil non bio and not had too many problems with stains. I tend to use vanish if heavily stained with extra rinsed as vanish can flare my skin up.