Washing powder or something that actually works

[StopInhalingRevels]

I'm finding that all my washing is coming out unclean. Stains don't seem to be coming out. It's not the machine. I've been working my way through various powders after being told powders are better than pods or liquids. None seem to be any good anymore.

What do you use to get your laundry clean on a normal wash? Don't care about "lovely smells" etc, I just want things to come out clean and not have to scrub with vanish every time just to get marks out.

We use absolutely basic Lidl capsules, non bio for DD.
I put a scoop of Lidl own “vanish” powder and run a full length 40 cottons cycle for DD’s clothes (at nursery) and comes out clean. That takes about 2.5hrs.
Some paint and ink staining but that’s inevitable for nursery clothes.

I wash my clothes and DH’s separately, 30 quick wash. That’s also fine.

Do you run maintenance programme on the machine regularly?

I pour extra warm water into the detergent drawer whilst it's filling up. I agree, they need plenty of water to get clean.

Do you use the prewash? (cold) People used to soak in a bucket of cold water with napisan, because if you use warm water straight away it sets the stain. Using a prewash (which is cold) with stain recover in the prewash drawer is just as good though. There should be a prewash button to select. It just goes straight onto the normal wash after that

Remover not recover

I don't use the eco wash, but the full time one. The shorter or eco washes don't clean as well, and cost more anyway. I use Aldi Almat or Ariel, and if it's whites I might add a scoop of vanish. Not always though. Don't overfill the machine-my son used to do that -ram it full-and it never smelled clean.

The eco wash on my machine is longer than the others rather than shorter. I suppose it relies more on agitation to get the clothes clean.

There is an AMA on here by someone who works in the lab at persil or some such. Have a look for it because I remember it had loads of useful info in it, but it was a while ago.

Found it! https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

Oh wow I love that thread!

No, that absolutely does work or if you have a window where sun hits it all day, either in a conservatory or something, hang the item on the curtain pole or drape it over the furniture in the conservatory

Got out various tea stains, tumeric stains etc that way

Yes recently I was surprised that a tea stain on a white t shirt didnt come out on a 60 cottons wash. I must have semi set it instead

Its been hanging for 4 days in the sunshine and only yesterday has it finally disappeared.

I really should have pre washed it, bar of white household soap and cold water, same for blood or anything with a deep stain

Persil colour pods.

See I've done this with two of DDs pale pink sweatshirts where they've got fucking stupid blue paint that I've complained to the nursery three times about now that has permanently stained so many of her clothes and shoes paint on, seems kind of inky mottled stains now. I washed. Then I vanish gel pre treated and washed again. Then I soaked in ace bleach for colours, and have put them outside to dry in the sunshine on all three occasions.

Nothing.

(And yes, I know nursery clothes aren't the be all and end all, but it would nice if they didn't let them cover themselves in permanent staining paint so the clothes definitely get ruined)

I use Fairy but quite like Surf. On the topic of powder I wish they’d bring back Biotex!

Powder that is. Used to use gel liquid. Ace bleach is good, as is vanish soap/powder and drying in sun.