Owners of American Top Loaders please come and talk detergents

[LimaCharlie]

Sorry for boring topic but I'd love some answers.

We inherited an American top loading whirlpool washing machine and it just doesn't seem to get the washing clean.

I've tried all manner of detergents and can't seem to get the same results as a conventional washing machine.

The best stuff I've found has been a detergent for handwashing and top loaders from Waitrose which is fine for whites but it seems to drain the colour out of darker clothes - always used to use bio for whites and colour for the rest of the wash.

Any ideas please? Is there any special sort of detergent that I should be using?

I used to have one - don't overload it, put everything in loosely and arranged around tbe paddles, and put plenty of powder in over the top layer. Never ever used the bleach dispenser - this seems to be an American thing. I did wonder if the bleach was a special laundry one and not what we use in the loo etc. Hope this helps.

Thanks Polly maybe I've been over-filling it by merrily chucking everything in as its so vast