Washing is never clean!

[Peachyscream]

I have a 2 year old. She's obviously a messy eater and quite petite so the mealtime bibs gape around her neck.
My washing machine is rubbish. It works but it doesn't get anything clean!
For example, yesterday she had an apple whilst I was grocery shopping. She had yellow stains on the neckline and on her jacket. I scrubbed it with vanish bar soap, put vanish stain remover spray on it, left it a bit and then put it in the washing machine. Used detergent and in the machine I also put a scoop of vanish oxi powder.
The stain is STILL THERE. I've just bought her some summer clothes (basic tshirts, leggings, dresses) and everytime she wears something there's a stain that just won't budge.
It's so bloody frustrating and I can't scrub every single thing by hand before putting it in the machine.
Any advice?

Rub quickly with a weak bleach solution and rinse quickly

What sort of detergent are you using?
Non bio and/or liquids/pods aren't as effective as bio powder.

It's more likely to be the detergent that's the issue rather than your washing machine

Buy dark clothing...
Powder not gel detergent. Hotter wash, hang out to dry in sunshine.
Don't worry about a few stains is my very best tip though.

For a 2 year old? Who cares. They are supposed to be grubby.
But on a more useful note, I would echo the tip about hanging it in the sunshine for as long as possible, the sunlight will have a bleaching effect.

What detergent are you using and what temp are you washing at?

Have you run your washing machine on an empty hot wash recently?

I soak in Sapisan.

How? How did I get that so wrong?

Napisan

Are you doing quick washes? So many people seem to just do a quick wash (less than an hour) and it doesn't get clothes that clean. Do a normal full on wash 1.5-2 hours and that should help.

Machine shouldn't be overloaded. Yes check if you're doing quick washes what the capacity is.

I tend to avoid white clothes from about 6 months up to - well, never so far with my older two! They just stain so easily and it's a pain to get certain things out.

I've never had an issue with apple (!) though - that does seem to be something unique to your set up. Stains tend to be tomato sauces, banana, berries, felt tip/paint or something that they've picked up from outside.

And yes I keep the stained clothes until they grow out of them, toddlers are always messy anyway.

Could try spraying with Elbow Grease, giving it a quick rub and washing in the machine as normal. Or, hand washing the stain with a bit of fairy liquid before machine washing.

I wouldn't think too much about it though. She's two. Mine was the same at that age and I wasted so much time worrying over stains.

Quick washes are a waste of time, water and electricity. My full cycle for bedding and towels is about 2.5 hours.

Direct sunlight is the best for organic stains (food, drinks, baby poo). It should fade a lot if hung outside or in a window.

Suncream is my nemesis though. I just don't use white clothes!

I always thought a hotter wash will set the stain!
I use a powder, before washing of there's a mark I'll apply a bit of washing up liquid. I wash at 30, not a quick wash, if it doesn't come out it usually does in the next wash.

You need bio washing powder if you're not using that already and at least 40 degrees, a decent length wash. I don't buy whites or light clothing for children (that includes teens). The only white things they have are school shirts. I use bleach for those for bad stains and dry in the sunshine.

I would agree that cool washes are better for stains.

I read somewhere that eucalyptus oil gets sun cream stains out. Pour it neat on to the stain then wash as normal.

We never get stains, even on our nappies. We wash baby clothes on 60 with bio powder, machine needs to be full and we only wash similar sized clothes together to get a good agitation. If you put a big towel or adult jumper in it will get wrapped up and won’t wash as well.

Neat washing up liquid on the stain and give it a rub. Can be left over night if necessary. Ariel cool wash gel gets everything out, it's amazing stuff .

Are you overdoing the stain removal? If my dc clothes are stained with something simple I just put it in the wash without using any stain removing products and it is usually fine. Grease is the one thing I can’t remove! Anyway no judgement on your technique and it might be your machine, but maybe try sunshine for some natural stain removal? I used cloth nappies for ages and only a couple have any marks on them, and that was with ecover, napisan and line drying. Hope you get it sorted!

Washing up liquid left on for 20mins or over night before washing with bio detergent will get rid of grease easily.

Agreed. I use it on all stains, and for washing floors.

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits
This. And not using eco products

Whites biological detergent preferably powder but liquid/tabs will do - at 60 degree wash. Colours minimum of 40 degrees.

If it's not cleaning it's usually because it's not hot enough and/or not using a biological detergent.

Sometimes an additional stain remover will help.

If you have people with allergies, you just will have to wash it twice - once with the bio and then with the non-bio.

Hey everyone thanks for the replies.
I use bio detergent, mostly liquid but sometimes powder.
Yep, I clean the washing machine regularly
I wash at 40, and yes the sun bleaches out some stains but not all.
I feel like I'm using too much products and it doesn't sit right with me but I only started because of the stains wouldn't come out.

The vanish stuff is hard on toddler skin. I would just buy darker clothing, assume it will get trashed and stick it out on the line. Some things need to be out for a week in the sun and rain to get them clear of biological stains.