Washing machine

[Aimzxo]

What's your best tips on keeping your washing machine clean and cleaning your clothes? I don't feel like my washing machine is cleaning my clothes like it used to, I empty my filter regularly, my draw is clean and my seal is clean, am I missing anything? X,

What detergent do you normally use? And at what temperature? In what way does clothing not seem clean?

I use a mixture to be honest, usually use surf or bold liquid, wash them at 60, I'm never sure whether to use liquid powder or tabs, white socks don't come out very clean or white don't get me wrong I know white socks don't stay white forever but I just think they look grubby and on clothes marks just aren't coming out like they used to so I'm having to use stain remover on things I wouldn't normally and sometimes white clothes are coming out dirtier than they went in, they have random grey splodges on them that weren't there when they went in, I put in whitener but it still does it

Use washing powder rather than liquid or tablets/pods. My machine has never been so fresh since I went back to powder (and it’s SO much cheaper too!)

Persil washing powder is brilliant for whites. I have been using Ariel powder but the difference in cleanliness is noticeable by using persil powder and I wash at 60 - despite the adverts a cool wash is not good enough in my opinion.

Are you using biological? Aren’t they made to work at lower temps? Meaning you are killing the very stuff in the detergent that are meant to work on stains etc. 60!! 😮 I don’t thInk I’ve done. 60 wash for 20 odd years!! I’m 30 for all clothes except pants, socks and whites. These go in on a 40 as do bedding and towels.
Re whites. Do you do a white-only wash or put them in with others? Also line drying helps keep whites white.
Washing at 60 must be costing you a fortune and fading your clothes fast.
Consider reducing your temps!

Have you done a hot maintenance wash?
I use powder as it keeps the drum cleaner

Thanks for the tips ladies I will start to use powder, what's a hot maintenance wash? I thought the hotter the temperature the cleaner the clothes will be 😟 ill start washing at 30, yeah I only wash whites with whites and a line dry whenever it's not raining, I'll give persil a try, thankyou :) xx

A regular maintenance wash (90⁰C or thereabouts) helps clean the interior of the machine. You normally do it while its empty.

I wash at 40⁰C except for towels and bedding that I sometimes do at 60⁰C

I reckon switching to powder will sort this as it sounds like you wash at a hot enough temperature already.

I had the same problems as you - clothes not being cleaned properly and sometimes coming out with weird marks on them when I only used liquid or gel. Now I only use powder and I never have any problems. And that's with normal clothes washed at 30 and towels/sheets etc washed hot.

I'll never use liquid or gel again!

During lockdown one I got Tesco non bio powder as a substitute. I have stuck with it as it really cleans our clothes, lasts for ages and is a great price. I wash at 30 on a quick cycle.

Every so often I shove soda crystals in the drum and put the machine on the longest/hottest wash to clean the drum/pipes.

Do you clean out the rubber under the rim just inside the washing machine, with mine I clean it regularly each week as grubby water seems to gather there.

I add a bit less liquid detergent than recommended (directly in the drum) and then also add a tablespoon or so of soda crystals in the drawer where you would put powder. Helps clean your clothes and your machine. Also do an empty hot wash with a larger amount of soda crystals from time to time to keep it clean. My machine has a specific cycle for that.

The grey spots are residue from liquid apparently.
I use powder (whatever's on offer) and everything goes in at 40 except bedding and towels which are 60 or 90. I've never been able to get my laundry clean with liquid or those squishy pods people buy!