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 use Lidl stain remover power (it’s a bit like Vanish) and it’s amazing. Ds has regular nose bleeds so bedding is washed frequently and it always gets the stain out. Only thin*it won’t shift is suntan lotion,

@minipie thank you! Will try this.

All clothes get washed in cold ( my machine does cold, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75 and 90 degrees) unless someone is sick then I do 40 deg. Everything is lined dried all year round.

Sheets , towels and whites only go on at 60 degrees with an added scoop of Vanish.

All loads washed in Aldi powder, no fabric softener.

I have a 10kg Hotpoint that went to the same Militant school as your Samsung, it too has an auto clean function, it shouts at me when it needs sprucing up for Machine Parade School inspection.
It weighs the load before it starts, If I overload on the two fastest programmes, 60 minutes and 30 minutes, it won’t start, it makes loud clicking noises until I remove some of the load. Contrary little bugger it is.
My daughter has the Samsung washer with the little door in the door, the first time I heard it after it finished I thought Alexa was playing up and put the music on.

Wash synthetics and Lycra at a low temp, high heat turns them grey and weakens the rubber in the elastic. 30c. Or 20c if the label says so.
won’t wash at anything less than 30c unless it’s new out of the packet bedding or clothing like shirts baby clothes, then I’ll wash at 20, they just need the stiffness taking out of them.
My method is Whites.
Light coloureds. Sometimes I’ll do the whites and lights together if not a full load of each.
Dark coloureds: dark blues, greys, greens etc.
Black. Mostly at 40 unless otherwise stated on label.
Towels and bedding get washed at 60.
Prefer Persil or Daz powder but I’m using Aldi pods at present, no issues so far.
Line dry where possible even in Winter, if they are still slightly damp when they come in they’ll soon dry inside.