I actually want to know how to wash whiter

[sergeantmajor]

After years of watching ads where housewives wonder how to get their wash whiter, I find myself staring at my greying bed linen and wondering the same thing. How can I get my White Company bed sheets to be worthy of the name? Have tried: Biotex pre-soak and long hot machine wash, but the sheets still look pretty dismal.

[rootypig]

pigletjohn how often would you do the hot soda crystal wash for maintenance? I have a new washer, very hard water.

[PigletJohn]

get it clean once, then maybe monthly. If you have white cotton towels, you can use them in your washer-cleaning schedule. It may be helpful to add crystals in every wash, they improve powders in hard water.

You will know if the machine has sludge, because the maintenance wash will make it foam up.

I use a water softener, so I don't get this in my own home.

[sergeantmajor]

Really good tips here, thank you. Off to create a sparkling new world...

[happyyonisleepyyoni]

All good advice but line drying is the real key as the uv light from the sun is a great fabric bleaching agent.

[Pipbin]

I have been saying recently that the liquids and tablets don't was nearly as white as they used to.
I have a white bra that is only a year old but it chewing gum coloured now.
I shall try drink outside as soon as I can be bothered we have a sunny day.
As soon as the liquid runs out I'm going to invest in some basic powders.

[MadameLeBean]

Lidl "formil" powder - huge box for cheap and lasts us 6 months or more!

[e1y1]

Ever so slightly off topic, but here goes. I like line drying, but I really don't like the smell. Is there something wrong with me? As it's practically the first thing people mention about liking line drying.

I live in the clean-air hills of Lancashire, North West, so don't think it's the area.

Sorry for not being much use to the thread, just thought I would stick my two pennies worth of being completely meh on the smell of line dried laundry.

[CakeExpectations]

Dr Beckmann Glowhite sachets. They're the dog's bollocks.

[bishboschone]

Only wags it with white .. Not lights .. Just white . It won't discolour ... And use a bio powder with bleach in.

[rollonthesummer]

Those of you who only put completely white items in your white wash, what do you do with eg white/pink knickers or cream tops? Do a separate wash with just a few bits in?

One poster mentioned that she put washing powder in the drum to stop the drawer getting gunked up-do you all do that?!

[rollonthesummer]

Can you put a bit of bleach in the washing machine or will it send your next wash bleachy?!

[Giraffeski]

I do whites, light coloureds and dark coloureds.
And nappies, towels ad infinitum...
Second what everyone else is saying about powder and drying outside, and I do do maintenance washes with soda crystals every six weeks or so, otherwise the nappies start aggravating DDs eczema, which is a sure sign that the detergent is starting to build up.

[rollonthesummer]

What's a maintenance wash? Soda crystals? In the drum or drawer? 60 degree or 40? Short wash or normal?

[Giraffeski]

Soda crystals in the drum, 90 degree wash. Sometimes put some towels in if I have them ready, sometimes do it empty.

[Giraffeski]

Oh and long wash, but my machine has a 90 degree wash setting so I just use that, don't press Eco wash or quick wash button though.

[RandomMess]

The one time my whites went yucky was because there was a blue sock stuck in the pump...

I always use colour catchers now just in case. Usually get a couple of uses out of them.

[bishboschone]

Yes .. Whites , colours and darks .. It's the only way to keep whites white .

[Catsmamma]

yes....absolutely no non whites in with your whites.

and a sixty wash, and line drying.

I do use tabs and gel doodahs, but I keep meaning to go back to powder.

[rollonthesummer]

Is bio or non bio powder best?

[PigletJohn]

in the Which tests, the Bios seem to come out on top. Aldi Almat bio is a Which Best buy. The Colour formulae are non-bleaching, so fade less, but then Whites are less brilliant. The liquids are not so good for whites, as non-bleaching, but work better at cool temperatures as they do not need to dissolve.

We have been habitually using Persil non-bio, because it used to be thought that it was better for irritable skin. However the latest story is that non-bios are no better for the skin, but sometimes it just helps to change to a different brand if the perfumes or formula for your current brand do not suit your family.

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

I was wondering this today as my washing never seems to come out clean. I wondered if it was my machine or my powder. I'm sick of seeing stains on everything (have 2 small children so stains are inevitable but nothing seems to come out clean after a wash).

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

Also my washing never feels soft, when it's dry it feels 'crispy'.

[CMOTDibbler]

I use half the amount of Lidl Formil powder, and a splash of Napisan in shirt washes.

For the washing machine, a 90', no powder wash for the towels once a week (white towels) to clean any residue out. An occasional 90' with a couple of dishwasher tablets in to deal with any grease.

I may be a slattern in many ways, but my whites are lovely

[PigletJohn]

try the hot service wash with washing soda crystals and no powder or fabsoft just in case you have a soap residue. Clean out the pump filter and soap drawer first.

Indoor drying is not good for softness.

[KatherinaMinola]

I agree about powders, but find that they leave a powdery residue on clothes sometimes, which can't be good for skin. How to avoid?

When you say soda crystals in the drum, do you mean in a dosing ball thing or just directly scattered into the drum?