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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Washing powder

28 replies

Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 16:26

Now I've been on MN for a few years now and always have read that the way to keep your washing machine clean and healthy is to use powder.
Soooooo... we've got a new machine and that has been my plan BUT I can't find colour washing powder anywhere - is this no longer a thing??? Do people use one powder for everything? Is so, which?
The last time I used powder it was one for whites and one for colours. Please help (I know this is a VERY boring topic but would like to help this washing machine live longer).
Thanks in advance 😊

OP posts:
1990s · 25/04/2023 16:27

Lidl and Aldi are your friends 😃

Original poster
Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 16:28

@1990s their own brands??? Or do they sell main brands???

OP posts:
fizzyfood · 25/04/2023 16:32

Tesco own brand do a colour powder and I have seen persil colour powder in the past.

Achdinnae · 25/04/2023 16:40

Washing powder has been in very short supply for some months now. I finally got some in Aldi.

Original poster
Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 16:42

I am so out of date with the issues of powder. I've been using liquid but have suffered from a dirty drawer so was trying the powder as that is what the wise people of MN recommend.

OP posts:
AntoniaMacaronia · 25/04/2023 16:46

I didn't know that was a thing, I just use the one powder for everything. This box is Ariel but I'll be going for an own brand next time, times is hard.

dementedpixie · 25/04/2023 16:46

Daz says its for whites and colours as it no longer seems to contain bleaches
I am using an asda colours powder
Dies Persil not still do a colour powder too?

Ylvamoon · 25/04/2023 16:49

I just use one (bio😳) washing powder.

Rawrrawr1 · 25/04/2023 16:49

I used fairy powder for ages but recently.swapped to Aldis own non bio and it works well on everything (I have a Samsung washer) one thing about powder is that it can clump in the box so I have a metal storage tin that I keep it in...stops the condensation

Chewbecca · 25/04/2023 16:51

I just use the persil powder in the green box for everything. I only buy when it is on special offer though, the price varies wildly.

JamMakingWannaBe · 25/04/2023 16:53

Bio powder for whites.
Non bio liquid for colours.
Both from Lidl.

dementedpixie · 25/04/2023 17:14

I just bought Bold powder today from home bargains. I refuse to pay full price for washing powder so will swap between brands. I dont notice much difference between branded and unbranded tbh.

YouNeverSeeTheRealMe · 25/04/2023 17:16

I use the same powder for everything (doesn't everyone do that?) I use Asda's own make, as it's the only one that suits my very sensitive skin

Caspianberg · 25/04/2023 17:24

Just use bio persil or Ariel large 100 wash box ( whatever is on offer). Use same for white and colours. No fading of colours and whites nice and white. No stains.
Only buy a separate wool wash

Original poster
Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 17:25

Thank you all. I shall experiment 👍🏻

OP posts:
ShinyPikachu · 25/04/2023 17:32

I use the same powder for everything but use Ace for Colours or Ace for Whites if it's a wash that I think needs something "extra" (i.e. badly stained or if the whites are looking "tired" and need a boost).

TheOrigRights · 25/04/2023 17:41

Have used for years.

Washing powder
1990s · 25/04/2023 17:58

Own brand :)

whirlyhead · 25/04/2023 18:02

My 20yeae old washing machine died recently and I always used liquid derergent in it. I just used to run a washing machine cleaning cycle every 3 months and leave the door open, all of which helped it live longer. I asked my appliance man about detergent and he just said to not use the gel capsules, everything else is fine.

BertieBotts · 25/04/2023 18:03

The normal one is apparently better for your machine as it contains weak bleaching agents. The colour one is just if you want to prevent colours from fading, but honestly I don't think it makes a huge amount of difference.

Stickycurrantbun · 25/04/2023 18:07

I never knew this. I've been using liquid capsules in the drum for years.

Original poster
Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 20:37

We leave it open on a night when we've used it but it's an integrated machine in the middle of our kitchen so we can't leave it open all of the time.

I'm going to try to be more committed to running a cleaning cycle 🙈

We live in a hard water area so I'm not sure if that has made a difference. I'm trying not to go down the 'additional' products in each wash route.

OP posts:
Walkacrossthesand · 25/04/2023 20:38

@Caspianberg, I've been dutifully using 'colour' detergent (no optical brighteners ie bleaching agents) for my coloureds and 'ordinary' for my whites, for years - do you truly find that dark clothes don't fade with repeated washing, with standard detergent?

Slimjimtobe · 25/04/2023 20:57

I have my washing machine for over six years and its not one of the top brand machines

I wash twice a day and either use the green Almat box of powder from Aldi

or the lavender scent from Lidl

both are great and then if I need stain boost I use napisan (for whites)

1990s · 25/04/2023 22:12

Hopeful16 · 25/04/2023 20:37

We leave it open on a night when we've used it but it's an integrated machine in the middle of our kitchen so we can't leave it open all of the time.

I'm going to try to be more committed to running a cleaning cycle 🙈

We live in a hard water area so I'm not sure if that has made a difference. I'm trying not to go down the 'additional' products in each wash route.

Clean your filter, and maybe your pipe it drains through (underneath sink). I found a lot of smelly gunk that way and my washing smelled much better.

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