Please clear this up for me once and for all - bio washing stuff

[FreshWest]

I've read here that bio washing detergens "don't work" at higher temperatures.
Please can somebody clarify what aspect doesn't work, the cleaning part or the bio part? I'm very confused. I use bio liquid and most washes are at 30 or 40. However I wash my towels and bedding at 60, does this mean I'm wasting my time or does the hotter wash still kill germs 'n' stuff?
I feel like I'm going in circles trying to find the answer on google.

If anybody knows please share and there's in it for you.

Yes Maryz you can use cheap "thin" scentless bleach from the cleaning aisle of the supermarket - it should contain instructions on it for use for bleaching clothes.

I have bio liquitabs for coloureds/delicates, and a big box of powder which I use for whites - it's the only sensible way.

Also loving e1y1's work on here.

Put the whites (big sheets) in the wash today with the green bio powder (for bleaching properties) an took care to turn down to 40 degrees (for the enzymes)

Maryz I have used smart price bleach on clothes before, but don't forget about them as too long = disintegrated clothes! I used it with success when I accidentally dyed XH's white trousers pink

Wow I didn't think this thread would be so popular. I'm so glad I'm not the only one perplexed by this! Lots of for e1y1 as promised.

I guess I should stick with bio in that case but maybe switch to a powder. I generally wash on 40 anyway and not really a separating kind of gal so things are just chucked in together. Except dark jeans. And dh cycling stuff.
It's only bedding and towels that get washed at 60 and they're never filthy, just in need of a wash iyswim. I also tumble dry these (controversial I know) to make sure any bugs are properly dead.
Thanks again. This may be the most popular thread I've ever started

Freshwest I have to ask, does your name have a Pembrokeshire connection?

Great thread!

I cleaned the washing machine drawer the other day and couldn't believe how much gunk and mould had accumulated so have stopped using powder and bought the liquid capsules that just go in the back of the drum.

But reading this fan y going back to powder.. Somebody mentioned just putting it in the drum rather than using the drawer, is this ok?

Oh my goodness this is the thread for me!

Do I need fabric softener? Really? If not, what can I use to make things soft? Not bothered about smell.

Can you just put powder in the drum or does it need to go in a ball dispenser thing?

I've got aldi bio powder should I use that for whites and lights and get the colour powder for colours and darks?

I like to wash towels and bedding really hot, what to use? Bio or non? They're white btw.

Should I have non bio powder too? What's non bio better for?

Thank you!

One more question, the bleaching agents in powder - what do they DO? Is it just brightening or is there another function. Cos if its just brightening (which I don't really care about) then I might just keep using my liquitabs and not have to rearrange my cupboard to accommodate a box of power!

Apologies of this questions has been answered, I keep re reading this thread and may need a lie down in a minute

Oh and I'm confused, do I wash bedding at 40 with bio then a hot wash? Will stains not come out at a high temp?

How can I be so confused about this?!

clary yes it does! Named after one of our favourite places, though live a bit too far away to be there as often as we'd like.

OK, I knew about the bleaching agents etc. We use Ariel bio liquid plus Oxiwhite Vanish powder on DS's school uniform shirts at 40C. Good combination or not? They don't seem to be too grey yet and have survived YR attached to a dirt magnet

For the coloureds we use normal Vanish plus liquid. I often wonder if this will fade them in time... or whether better just to use bio powder and skip the Vanish, just spot-removing stains with Stain Devils? (Oil on my work tops is a bastard if I don't use the SDs, and I have v greasy complexion)

For maintenance washes the drum gets Bio powder at 90C; I guess from the above info that the bio would be useless but the rest of the ingredients would be what cleans the machine?

and for e1y1

on the question of enzymes, which will be denatured by heat...

unless, like me, you have a (rare) hot-fill washing machine, your wash will always start cold. There will be a period, while the heater is working, when the water comes warm but not yet hot enough to stop the enzymes working. With some cool washes it may never get that hot.

If you're doing a maintenenace wash, to remove the sludge which is mostly soap and softener, a hot wash and washing soda will clean it away. I see no point in trying to reduce the soap residue by adding more soap. Give it a hot hot wash with no powder and see if the water goes grey and foam. If it does, that's the soap residue dissolving. Do it again until it stays clear. the washing soda is good for cleaning away soap sludge, and also grease residue.

Liquids seem to lead to sludgier machines, but my opinion is that it's because they are mostly used at lower temperatures.

If you use liquids for delicates and colours, and powder for hot white washes, it seems to me that the machine seems to stay cleaner.

YY to putting the powder or liquid into the drum, it prevents soap sludge and mould in the drawer and its aperture.

Ahhh Freshwest we were there 2 weeks ago on a glorious sunny afternoon with the tide racing in and giant waves - bliss.

Wish we could live nearer too

Maryz You could try sing a bleach pen on the small stains - should have them in big supermarkets. Or just use Vanish to get the stain out as per their irritating adverts! Though e1y1 said upthread that Vanish is basically just slightly more concentrated washing powder.

Thread of the week! I'm going to print this off and read it properly when the DC have gone to bed, then stick it on the fridge .

Btw, I find Ace bleach good for clothes stains - better than Vanish!

A bleach pen? Such a thing exists? My life is now complete. [I am serious.]

who knew?

And you can do arty-farty things with it.

Belated thanks to e1y1 for answering my question!

I'm back in the UK now and the laundry detergents aren't as good. I'm so curious as to why - the US leapfrogged over the UK wrt this, the UK used to have the better laundry washing products.

I just wanted to thank @e1y1 for this info, even this many years on. I noticed that on Dettol anti-bac laundry liquid bottle it said "harmful to aquatic nature for many years" or something to that effect and I didn't like that warning and was researching detergents for smelly stuff, of which Halo seems to be the answer. Very few other detergents/ additives have that "kills aquatic animals" warning but not sure if that is an opt-in statement or legally required. I'm sure the best bet is Eco detergents, but I just don't think they would clean as well, although I could be wrong. Thanks again.

I separate washing into white whites (sheets and towels 60 degree), semi whites (tea towels etc 60 degree) and everything else ( 40 degree) and use homemade washing powder (soda crystals, borax, grated soap and some bio washing powder). It works for everything.

I used to like Aldi liquid for the perfume but am trying to minimise the plastic that comes into the house.

Some time ago there was an AMA ( Ask Me Anything) and one of the people posting was a washing machine / detergent scientist . It was most interesting , here is the link
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA