Can’t get rid of a single stain?!

[Shleepymummy]

I have 2 pre school children and mess ends up on clothes- mud, food.
Every single item of clothes recently appears to be permanently stained and I can’t work out what I’m doing wrong.
For obvious stains I wash the clothes instantly or as quick as I can (as soon as I get home if out). I’m using stain remover spray, Persil brand ‘tough on stains’ detergent and 40 degree wash. And yet stains aren’t coming out- little faded yes but not out out.
Today for example, my daughter got some chocolate flake/sauce on her pink tshirt. Was just two small drops. Son got vanilla ice cream on white tshirt- left yellow circles. As soon as I got home I pre-treated stain, and washed clothes in machine. Just taken them out and the marks are still there. Surely it can’t be that the second something is on clothing- it’s ruined. I use bibs at home but I can’t believe I have to put a bib on my child whilst at an ice cream van?!
Am I missing something- doing something wrong?
Thanks

I soak stained clothes in cold water overnight with either an egg cup full of bio laundry powder or a good squirt of Elbow Grease. Then into a full cotton wash cycle at 30 degrees with an extra rinse (2.5 hours in my machine), using bio laundry powder and no softener. Finally, line dry outside where possible (or on an airer by a window if its raining or very cold).

This regime gets rid of pretty much every stain my family manages to acquire including sheep poo, mud, blood and grass stains.

I always wash at 40⁰C so I don't think its temperature that's the issue.

You are using the wrong wash programmes
for stained clothes. DD’s get washed on a 2.5hr cycle with powder detergent and stain remover, and for bad stains we pre soak in cool water first.

Always dry in the sun if possible, and don’t tumble dry as it sets them in.

Liquid or capsules aren’t as good (I use them on mine but they aren’t dirty), same as quick wash. I love a quick wash but it’s not the thing for stains.

If I were you I'd switch to washing powder and use a cycle that is at least 2 hours.

Stains need heat and agitation, with a decent detergent.

Pre treat with vanish bar.
Long 40 wash (over 2hrs)
Powder not liquid - and this needs to be correctly dosed to your machine/water
Boost with a scoop of vanish power
If stain still not removed put item in a 60 wash

Rinse stain with a dab of fairy liquid and cold water
Vanish bar is much better than the powder

Didn't read the full thread, but I had a child that was a stain magnet. I love in the states and assume you don't have the stain remov products we have, but found Spray n' Wash does the trick 95% of the time. More importantly, STOP USING ANY TYPE of DRYER SHEETS. They contain wax which puts a coating on the clothes and the stains seem to adhere with it. You can do a few washes with vinegar to help remove the dryer sheet buildup. If you must, I occasionally use 1/6 to 1/4 of a dryer sheet for one load during the dry winter months for static. I never use them on Linens or towels. They're much more absorbant without a dryer sheet. I'm finding when I forget to spray a stain many times the stain comes out in a regular wash.

When my DD was nursery age I constantly had a bucket of napisan on the go which I'd chuck stained clothes in. It worked really really well. I'd leave them in there overnight or longer and then wash as normal with persil non bio.

I'm actually wondering about reinstating the system as there are stains and grease splodges in DD's clothes (now 7) that I can't shift.

Are you sure your machine is working OK? I don't even pre-treat. I just wash on a full wash at 40 degrees with bio powder and dry on the line and all my stains come out.

Only thing I treat differently is blood which I wash the stain off in cold water first.

Bio powder and a longer wash. The liquids/capsules are rubbish for stains, and the short cycles are only meant for lightly soiled clothing.

I am well known in my family for being able to get any stains out of clothing. Depending on the stain I use either washing up liquid and hot water (greasy stains) or Ecover spot stain remover (best spot remover I have ever used). I wet the stain and rub in what ever i am using, often using my nails to get it right into the fibres. Leave to soak for a short while then wash normally. I mostly use a short wash at 30 degrees using Ariel liquid wash. Drying outside in the sunshine also helps.