Washing powder?? Little ones clothes not coming out clean!

[AmItheonlyonewingingit]

Hi,

We've been finding our toddlers clothes don't come up as clean as we would like after a 40degree wash with Lidl Formil soap powder. Especially anything light coloured. Stains don't even seem to be bad, just the odd food spill or nappy leak, not fully coming out of clothes.

Is it the washing powders not good enough? Would a different brand perform better? Or should we was hotter? Reluctant as would actually prefer to wash on 30 for the environment.

Anyone have any tricks or advise or recommendations? This is our first child so first time washing messy toddler clothes!

Thank you in advance

Are you using biological powder?

Sunlight is the best thing for getting food and poo stains out, either dry things outside or on an airer in front of a window. I also find soaking things helps, so they go into a tub with water and napisan until they go into the machine and this helps stop the stains setting.

Yeah we are using biological, should we use non bio do you think?

We haven't been soaking, but might give it a try. Haven't a space to dry in the sun, did try putting out in the sun (just laying on towel on the table) , but that was after it was dried so didn't achieve much.

So frustrating when they still lol a bit grubby after a wash

Are you overloading the drum?

Treat stains by soaking or spraying with stain remover.

Try another powder or liquid. Ariel make a liquid that claims to remove stains even on a cold wash.

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/275060426

Rub cheap washing up liquid into stains before putting them in the wash.
Don't overload the drum.
Persil bio is best ( I find) for getting out stains.

Ariel excel gel, vanish spray to spot treat before the wash. My washing always comes out good (my ds goes to forest school, he comes home filthy every day). Do you soak stains soon after happening? I do laundry every day, so nothing gets to set for very long before its washed.

what wash cycle do you use?
the long cotton cycles are good (plus usually save water&elec)

Thanks some great suggestions, we don't presoak, so that's definitely where we will start and yeah think we will get a better soap powder or gel. We just need to get into a better routine with it I think. We've sort of just been doing what we do with ours, definitely needs a different approach.
Thanks everyone

Powder is better than gel for stains as it contains bleaches. Pre treat stains before washing in bio powder

I wash my children's clothes on 60c (mostly). It's the only way the get properly clean. I have been using more 40c washes as they get older though.

If you can, have a bucket of cold water with Napisan or Vanish powder mixed in on the go. Pop stained items in to soak until your next wash. I have an old cooking spoon that use to give it a swish/plunge when passing ever now and again.

I do this when my 2 dds wear white socks to school in warmer months. Can't stand grubby, greying white socks! So they wear a clean pair every day, the pair that's been worn gets popped into bucket and washed 1 or 2 x a week depending on what else I have to wash.

Lidl Formil came out top in Which? Testing so it's good stuff and of course much cheaper than the bigger brand names. I do supplement with vanish oxy action if needed, and have a vanish stain spray to hand too.

Also bright sunlight. It got rid out a faint red curry stain from a white T-shirt of mine that refused to budge despite immediate soaking and using stain devil curry remover (which I do rate, it removed 90% of the curry splatter)

40° kills he enzymes before they get to work. I use vanish spray, 30 degrees with biological powder, and very rarely get stains which need sunshine.

40° kills he enzymes before they get to work.

yes.
but most washing machines are cold fill. plenty of time for the enzymes to work before it gets too hot. and then the 'soap' part of the powder takes over.

I switched from a more expensive brand to Aldi Almat non bio. I’m really pleased with it. I pre-treat stains with Fairy washing up liquid which I rub in. I wash at 40 deg. It’s very rare for a stain not to come out.

I used to have to soak my kids clothes vanish at that age.

Bio is better than non bio, powder is better than liquid. I wouldn't wash them hotter than 40 because then the clothes shrink.

@pinkbalconyrailing

40° kills he enzymes before they get to work.

yes.
but most washing machines are cold fill. plenty of time for the enzymes to work before it gets too hot. and then the 'soap' part of the powder takes over.

I know, but since I started washing at 30, I have fewer stains 🤷‍♀️ and I have double the mess now

Best thing is to make a little paste from the powder and rub into stains. Bio powder is better than capsules or gel and don't overload the machine. Line dry as tumble drying will mean any residual stain essentially dyes the fabric.

Yes to washing up liquid directly onto
stain. Also the powder-water paste is good.

I use Formil liquid. The purple top for the coloured and the green for the white wash. If there are stains I pre treat with Vanish.
I am very proud of the results especially the whites. (is that sad?😀)

I highly rate formil. (Lidl powder) effective at all temperatures and nice clean smell- none of this blast you back with 'tropical sunburst' or anything.
However Lidl customer service have just confirmed that they don't have anymore of the green or purple boxes and don't know when they'll next get it in 😡 and guess what? They've replaced it with 'tropical' and 'lavender' infusion stuff. It's just so annoying when they discontinue a perfectly good item...
Speaking of which, the in cistern bleach blocks are nowhere to be found either. I'm scared to ask... 😞