What do you add to your washing machine for your whites?

[WhatKatyDidNxt]

I’m trying to keep my whites white. I split my washing into whites, colours and darks. But my whites are sometimes off white. So do l need to add Vanish or something like that?

What kind of detergent do you use?

It depends on what’s on offer. Persil or Surf. Currently using Smol biological

So always use biological powder as it has bleaching agents in and will keep your whites white. I personally think Ariel or Daz are the best. I also use ace for whites (about £1 in b n m or home bargains) and try to put the washing on the line on sunny days too. My work shirts are white so I'm obsessed with keeping them as white as possible 😂

I just use biological powder and the hottest temperature the fabrics can stand (so 60 degrees if all cottons). I like the smell of Lidl Formil powder and it's really cheap. Line dry in the sun whenever possible.

I dont do this now but the contented little baby book recommended Napisan to wash all white baby clothes vests, baby sleepsuits bibs etc

Bio washing powder with bleaching agent for whites. Separate colour preserving bio prefer for darks.

I use detergent powder. Anything on offer etc.

In the softener section of the drawer I use distilled white vinegar (I use with ever wash)

I also shave off some bits from the bar of vanish soap and put directly in the drum with the whites. About a teaspoon.

I don't have much white washing and always try and wash/dry on a sunny day as the sun helps to bleach too.

Does non bio not help whites stay white? My daughter suffers from eczema so I’ve always used non bio but get so frustrated that the whites start going grey.

Daz and Napisan.

I use Daz, and at least a 60 degree wash.

All my bed linen and towels are white. Occasionally I'll throw in a Dr Beckmann whitening.sachet.

I don’t add anything but I am really strict with the sorting, it has to be all white with nothing else on it to make it into the white wash. I then hang them on the line and don’t have any issues. All of DPs shirte are still as white as when I bought them.

Bio washing powder and a sunny washing line work wonders!

Dr Beckman Glo white, every so often. All my bedding is white. I've had it years. It's still in really good condition and my friend recently commented it's very white, so it obviously does the job.

Bio Powder and a scoop of Astonish powder .

White towels and flannels here .

@radioband no non bio doesn't contain bleaching agents and doesn't keep things white.
My son had sensitive skin but was fine with bio detergent i just added an extra rinse to my washing machine mm programme.

I use Daz or Formil with a slug of Napisan. We have white towels, and after years and years of use they are still brilliant white

Bio powder not liquid and I use a scoop of vanish and dry in the sunshine.

Ooh this is the first thing (or one of the first things) to lead me to MN. I use Daz or Persil (prefer the smell of Daz though), Napisan and warm or hot water depending on what the fabric is. Even if I do a hot wash every other time I do a load of whites it keeps things from doing that progressive greying that used to drive me mad.

The smell of most powders is too strong for me so I usually use half powder and half Ecover liquid (always with a dash of Napisan), but as long as some bio powder is used it keeps things white.

Anything really grey or dirty gets a soak in an oxy powder (own brand seems to work fine) and hot water before it goes in the wash. Oxy added to the wash seems to help if I run out of Napisan.

For items that aren't 100% white (eg white tea towels with a coloured stripe) I try to keep them to a separate wash if I can, or I put in some colour catchers in a lingerie bag. Off-whites, cream, beige etc go in a separate wash.

Usually someone comes on these threads to say that the enzymes in bio powders are meant to work better in cold water but I can say without a doubt that a hot wash is more whitening. I blame my eco-devotion to cold washes and Ecover (plus a bad experience with bio powder back in the day) for everything going grey over time.

DH has eczema and I worried that the bio powder wouldn't suit him but over time his stuff has crept into a bio wash and he's never reacted to it, but an extra rinse is also an option.

(Sorry, I didn't realise I'd have so much to say about whites.)

I use more bio powder than for coloured, astonish powder bleach as it’s not tested on animals & the extra rinse button.

I solved this problem by not having white textiles anymore.

Bio powder and a scoop of vanish/stain remover. Every now and then when whites aren't looking very white I

Sorry posted to soon! I use Ace for whites or a whitening treatment. Always dry outside in sunlight if you can as the sun helps re-bleach them

I use Vanish now and then, and normal washing liquid. Like a PP I use a colour catcher (actually half of one) in a lingerie bag if the load is slightly mixed. My whites are always nice and white. Talk about things you never thought you’d say