Please talk to me about laundry like I’m an idiot

[Goostacean]

Eldest just about to start school, and I struggle with stains on the kids’ clothing/ knowing which temp or cycle to use etc. After ruining a brand new dress by getting an unidentified stain on it, I’d love to be a bit more in control of the laundry.

We have a new Samsung WW90T534DAW_WH washing machine that does auto dosing so I’ve just switched to using Ariel detergent liquid instead of pods.

What does everyone find most effective for whites / darks / food stains / other stains / silk or cashmere (bane of my life…)?

I do at least know the leave the machine open to air, so that’s one small mercy 😂

When you see a stain rub some washing up liquid directly on it and leave it over night then wash as normal the next day. Use a bio detergent, I like Ariel cold wash gel.

Okay, so when should I use bio vs non-bio?

I use bio for everything.

Non-bio is for sensitive skin, children etc.

Personally I use bio for whites, non bio for colours and delicates.

I can never remember the rules around hot/cold etc and stains setting.

I just don't buy/ wear whites/ lights. Stick to patterns. Don't wear wool/ silk etc.

Life's so much easier when everything can go in a mixed 30c wash!

Since there are knowledgeable people on this thread...

Can I ask how to get what I assume are sweat/ grease stains off football tops? Loads are ruined!

Washing up liquid is the best for stains ,all stains but especially grease. Big blob, leave over night and wash with bio the next day.

Hello any tips for collars and sleeves on white shirts?

Again, washing up liquid rubbed on and left over night. Nothing better ime.

I’ve started putting a jug of red hot water in the drum with a bit of disinfectant and spinning it round before putting a wash on, when it starts up, it drains that water then starts to fill. It’s solved the fusty smell, even after 3 days the washer no longer smells.

YYY to @Loocheeyar wrt Fairy Liquid for stains.

I'm in the US and the equivalent is Dawn. I use it for all stains.

I use bio powder for whites, and liquid for everything else.

Powder contains bleaching agents which will fade colours over time.

There was a thread ages ago in AMA about laundry detergents that was very good...

Dylon colour catcher sheets are a game changer. You can mix loads of darks, whites and brights of similar materials with no issue at all.

I normally use two in a load and recycle then into the next load unless they are saturated in color. Can't recommend them enough.

Don't ever use fabric conditioner. It doesn't soften the material it just coats the fibres. Also fabric conditioner stops towels and sports clothes longer term absorbency for sweat and smells.

Separate whites, coloureds, darks and wash the largest load that day.

Always use powder. Never use fabric conditioner.

Wash everything at 30 - cheaper & better for the planet and clothes last longer.

Dry everything on the washing line, weather permitting.

If you have a tumble dryer (and, these days, the wiggle room on your energy bill to use it) plastic knobbly dryer balls really cut down the length of time it takes to dry things like towels and it makes them nice and fluffy without fabric conditioner. Don't use them for drying more delicate items though.

Also, if it's a very big load and the towels still feel a bit wet coming out of the washer, I give them an extra 10min spin cycle in the washer first before transferring just damp towels to the tumbler.

I wear a lot of white tops, and I only wash whites with whites, absolutely no other colors, no matter how light, included. It really works to keep your whites bright.

The only whites I wash by themselves are the summer sheets. I wash light colours and dark colours separately, but the whites go in with the the light colours (and they are all sorts of colours) and they still come out very white and bright. As I am in NZ the washing water is almost cold, but everything is clean and is dried outside all year around.

Yes! This is my tip too.

Products with optical brighteners will list them in the ingredients.

Powder detergents are excellent (I love Persil), but I'm always wary about using them on dark colours. Persil, for example, lists optical brighteners and oxygen-based bleaching agents in the ingredients... this means that anything dark will fade (well, it'll be mildly bleached).
For colours, I use a product that states 'colour care' or doesn't use stain remover/bleaching agents, etc. Otherwise clothes look tired very quickly or I'm reaching for the Dylon to refresh them!

^ my comment above was responding to the question about how to tell whether products contain optical brighteners!

This is such a good thread!

Does anyone have any tips for avoiding pale brown/washing machine stains? Or getting them out? I've stopped using fabric conditioner recently to help, but clothes still seem to be coming out with these stains.

I've also done a hot wash cycle to clean the drum. I may need to do this more often as I do 10ish washes a week

Also, how to clean a pale coloured Smiggle backpack? 😣

Does anyone have any tips for avoiding pale brown/washing machine stains?

Daffodil You may have a build up of gunk around the seal. Get a damp cloth and wipe it around the seal in all the grooves and get it right under the seal as it can get grim under there. If you find gunk, keep going till there’s none. Leave door open after every wash and do regular 90 degree/tub clean cycle to avoid this build up.

The backpack, I would try washing it inside a pillowcase on delicate cycle, cool or cold wash.

Interesting thread. I think there is a trade off between “perfect laundry technique” and convenience.

So for example I divide clothes into lights and darks but don’t separate whites and blacks as I cba with 4 different loads. (I have a large machine so can put lots in together)

I use pods not powder as they are easier.

I do spray stains (Vanish spray) and rub in to loosen before washing, but am never organised enough to do this in advance of washing time.

I wash wool and cashmere on cold wash in the machine, low spin, delicates liquid. They come out fine but do shrink after multiple washes. Handwash might well be better but I will never get round to it.

I wash at 40 (except delicates) because 30 doesn’t do enough IME. If something is clean enough for 30 then it doesn’t really need washing. The label “If it’s not dirty wash at 30” makes me - if it’s not dirty don’t wash it!!