BORING WASHING POWDER QUESTION

[stickyj]

Ok I use that Bold gel stuff cos it smells lovely. Have used Tesco daisy tabs, Bold and Ariel non bio. My washing doesn't come out clean! i have just done a white wash, well light, and there's yellow marks on a white blouse, brown marks from just dirt on white towels.

Anyone got a 100 per cent washing powder, bio or not that works please?

Powder always works better than a liquid
bio are better for stains
you might need something like vanish to get stains out

I always go with Ariel-use tablets not gel, find that liquid never gets stuff clean. Am sad enough to have several different types of Ariel, eg colours, whites, delicate skin etc...

Ok so I use Vanish spray too sometimes. You reckon Aeriel, bio or non bio?

Ariel Bio, Which? magazine says it's the best

Ariel Actilift powder works for me. I always do whites on a higher temp as well.

Definitely Bio. I have white towels that I've had for years. I always wash them at 95 with bio powder, perfect every time. Same with Ds's shirts.

are you doing cool washes?

My washing machine is ancient but I can do a 90 white wash. I thought that if you washed really hot it sealed the dirt in? I'll try some Aeriel bio, honestly there's always neck and wrist marks on ds's shirts and my white towels are gross.

Do you regularly clean your washing machine filter?

neck and wrist marks is skin oil and skin cells. A laundry spray and hot wash should clear it.

If you have a cold-fill machine, it will be washing the items in cold, then cool, then warm, then hot water as it slowly heats up, so I don't think the "heat setting stains" will apply.

Always bio and always powder.

Ariel is good, but I have started using Aldi's own and it is excellent (and I am a laundry freak).

ariel bio powder and 40 is perfectly enough for us. brilliant whites

persil powder is on offer at the moment in Morrisons for under £6 for the 50 wash size (less than half price). I usually use Ariel/Persil and buy when it is on offer as I never want to pay full price as it is extortionate!

If powder is so much better, why does anyone ever buy liquid?
Are you over-filling the machine, OP?

We use Persil Non Bio powder as DH seems to be allergic to almost everything else but we don't have a problem with stains. If it's a proper stain like red wine on pristine White table cloth (yes I'm looking at you granny) stain devils remover on stain plus normal wash otherwise just powder.
Personally don't wash over 40 deg.
Ps I have a DS aged 4 + a DH who should use a bib so I know all about grubby!

Sainsburys Biological is a miracle worker and their yellow fabric conditioner is fab

people use liquids because they work OK at low temperatures, which saves energy, and they generally don't contain bleach, so are better for colours (not so good for whites) and they do not leave white powder traces on black garments.

However if you mostly do cool washes, the machine needs an occasional hot wash to clean out all the sludge that builds up in cool washes. White coton towels and flannels in particular can stand up to a very hot wash and will come out better from a powder. It also kills bacteria so is useful to do with bedding if someone has been ill, or grimy articles. Many white items that are not 100% cotton, such as those with elastic, or white shirts with non-cotton collar bands or stitching, or polycotton mixes, will not stand up so well to the very hot wash, though, and may pucker.

ecover bio washes well and has a nice subtle smell.
for jeans and clothes I don't want to fade I use a liquid.

On recommendation from other NMs, I've just changed over to Lidls own 'Formil' (I think its called) tablets and find they're excellent. I used to use liquid but read that long term it's not great for the washing machine...

Oh!
I thought that liquid would work better than powder as it wouldn't have to dissolve and thus start working immediately

I normally use Persil Non Bio because nearly whole family are pathetically allergic to anything else, and I do cool washes for environmental reasons, then once in a blue moon I use cheapo biological powder on a hot wash to get stains out then re-wash them in the Persil. Convoluted, non?

people use liquids because they work OK at low temperatures

regular Bio powder is well suited for washing at 30, so how low are you thinking?

Just realised I said "NMs" when of course I meant "MNs"

Oops!

I think the main reason between some people buying powder vs liquids (and vice versa) is dosing preference.

Some technical type clothing (e.g. hiking/waterproof gear) only advise you use liquids to wash them.

As on the stain removal/whiteness front, powder is definitely better as powders contain bleach whereas liquids dont, they cant manufacture bleach into liquid, dont know why though.

Bio also tends to better on stains.

And absoloutely yes to the higher temps. This washing at lower temperatures is great for the enviroment/bills, but not so good for our clothes or washing machines - think back 20 years ago, dingy whites/smelling and broken down washers were a lot rarer than these days.

I usually have 1 of each type of powder/liquid sad and may have a detergent fetish

HTH :)

Always use Bio (usually Ariel). It "digests" stains.

And rub a Vanish stick on grubby collars and stains before putting the item in the wash.