Ask a Persil laundry expert anything: stains, smells and washing-machine mysteries (plus your chance to win a £200 VEX gift voucher)

[LibbyMumsnet]

A few weeks ago, we asked Mumsnetters whether some families had cracked laundry while the rest of us were making life unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.

More than 100 replies later, we learned that some of you are impressively organised while others just shove everything in the machine and hope for the best. The thread also produced plenty of questions. What actually works on stubborn stains? Why does a sports kit still smell like a wet dog after washing? Are very long wash cycles genuinely necessary? And why the washing machine has been saying “10 minutes remaining” for the past half-hour. (Yes, why do they lie?)

So we've invited an actual laundry expert to answer your questions.

Helen Lyon is Global R&D Lead for Laundry Capsules at Unilever and, in partnership with *Persil Ultimate Non-Bio Capsules, she'll be answering your questions about stains, fabrics, detergents, washing machines and the everyday realities of family laundry.

About Helen
Helen is the Global R&D Lead for Laundry Capsules at Unilever. She has spent 23 years developing innovative laundry products, leading teams that bring new detergent technologies from concept to market. She's passionate about creating products that deliver outstanding performance while supporting a more sustainable future. As a mum of two young children, she also knows first-hand that family laundry is rarely straightforward and is passionate about finding ways to make everyday life a little easier for families.

So, what would you like to ask a laundry expert?

Post your question on this thread by 31st August 2026 for your chance to win a £200 VEX gift voucher (T&Cs apply).

*Keep out of reach of children. LEARN MORE www.keepcapsfromkids.eu ©A.I.S.E.

we are an exzema family.
we discovered that bio powder works fine for us if we use less then it states on the box and we use the long cotton cycle that has an extra rinse.
we usually buy lidl/aldi or own brand or fancy persil/ariel if on offer.

Do the limescale tablets make a difference in a hard water area? Do they increase the lifespan of your washing machine?

I would like to know if stubborn viruses like norovirus are killed in a 90 degree wash? And if not, what can we do to kill them when doing laundry?

What is your best t for getting rid of food oil stains please

I’ve managed to get the yellow stains out by leaving my tops in a bucket of vanish for 2 days before washing. I dissolved the vanish in boiling water then topped it up with cool water. For the worst ones I made a sort of vanish paste and rubbed it in with an old toothbrush then soaked them.
I’ve done changed to secret clinical gel deodorant and it doesn’t cause the same problem.

@chickenpotnoodle
Absolutely agree on challenge of keeping especially kids socks white (never sure what they do to get so filthy) - key is to act fast so I tend to pre-treat the stains first or soak in a bit of Persil Bio/Non Bio liquid, leave for a little bit to work & then put in the wash with other whites.

@OrdinaryGirl
So glad you love the Heaven Scent capsules - will pass on your kind words to all in the team who were involved. We think its really important to provide an amazing fragrance experience even for those people who like a more delicate fragrance profile.

Fabric conditioners contain 'quats', which form a very thin layer on fabric fibres to make them softer, reduce static and help protect against wear. Historically, the oils and fats used to make these ingredients could come from either animal or plant sources, as the resulting molecules are very similar in composition. The quats used in UK Comfort products today are plant-derived.

@AFingerofFudge
I will give a huge shout out to my colleagues in the Comfort team who developed Comfort Botanical - a completely new, transparent fabric conditioner that just so happens to work wonders on towels!

@sharond101
First I would take care of the stain quickly to prevent it from drying into the fabric. Carefully remove as much of the stain as possible & then pre-treat with a good quality Persil Bio Liquid detergent.
Allow detergent to work for a couple of minutes & then wash in the machine using Persil Ultimate Stain removal capsules for perfect results.

@GentlemanJack
I would always check the manufacturer's recommendations on how best to clean and maintain your machine. Liquid detergents are particularly well suited to the colder, shorter wash cycles that many people use today, while powders can be a good option in longer, hotter wash conditions. In terms of machine longevity, using the correct dose and carrying out regular machine cleaning will generally have a much bigger impact than whether you choose a liquid or a powder.

@FairViewRosie25
Your engineer is right! A 15 minute cycle should have around 5-7 minutes of 'washing' time, with the remaining time being the water fill, water heat, rinse, spin and drain. It's a super R&D challenge to develop a product which can work fast and clean your clothes when the time is that short, but very proud that my colleagues across the office cracked it with Persil Wonder Wash!

@JacknDiane
Fragrance is one of the most important drivers of preference in laundry, and we test our products with thousands of consumers to make sure it's as lovely as it can be. For those looking for something more subtle, I would definitely try Persil Ultimate Pure Heaven Scent capsules which feature a gentle fragrance

@chickenpotnoodle
We design and test the capsules to dissolve even in quick and cold washes, and on the back of pack, we talk about the two key steps that extensive testing proves to give the best results - ensuring the capsules is placed at the back of the drum, and ensuring the machine is not overloaded. This helps the water get to the capsules so they fully dissolve.

@nopiesleftinthisvehicle

I would recommend trying our new Persil 4in1 Colour capsules - these contain a colour & care technology, a fabulous cellulase that revives colours & smooths fibres plus removes bobbles to make your clothes look vibrant.

Is the original powder better for your clothes and the machine than the many different liquids that are available ? My washing machine mechanic suggested this.
Also, is it much worse for the environment putting the liquid in a plastic coating? It just seems unnecessary as not difficult to measure.

@Rhymetyme

Here at Persil we agree that 15 minutes is plenty of time with the right product, hence we developed (clears voice for sales pitch) Persil Wonder Wash!!! Our first laundry detergent designed to excel in your shortest cycles, achieving an effective clean in just 15 minutes :) I would say lots of people in the office are now doing most of their wash loads on the short (15-40min) cycles and finding great results - now they are using the right product :)

A top tip to remove sun cream stains from clothes is to use a laundry detergent that’s designed to cut through oils and grease. Many sun creams contain oils to help moisturise the skin and replace moisture that’s been lost through exposure to the sun.

Look for a biological laundry detergent like Persil Ultimate Stain Removal capsules which now contains lipase. Lipase is an enzyme offers brilliant stain removal on these sorts of stains and is great at tackling modern oil stains like hamburger grease, mechanical grease, and so on.

Remember to check the care labels on your clothes before treating stains, and wash at a warm but not hot temperature – hotter temperatures can cause oily stains to set into the fabric.

@aggga8

I might be a little biased, but Persil Ultimate capsules and Persil Wonder Wash MAX Active Clean are both great options. One of the big changes we've seen in recent years is the rise of synthetic fabrics, which are brilliant for activewear but can be surprisingly good at holding onto odours (that lingering gym kit smell!). It's actually been a major focus for a lot of our product development, and a surprisingly fascinating bit of laundry science with a lot of cool stuff coming through

@racheltravel17

In my experience, Domestos Power Foam is great for cleaning up the areas where mould and grime commonly build up, especially the rubber seal, detergent drawer and around the washing machine door. Just remember to follow the usage instructions, and if you want more tips and tricks, have a look at our Cleanipedia website. It's packed with helpful advice for keeping your machine fresh and clean and all things cleaning.

@Haleyscomets
Our Persil detergents have been developed to get clothes brilliantly clean in a single, short wash, but a tough, dried-in blood stain may benefit from a pre-soak to rehydrate it and start to work it loose. Soak the garment in cold, salted water for a few hours before washing as usual.
Make sure the entire blood stain is out before washing your garment with hot water otherwise you risk setting it into the fabric. All our products achieve excellent results at cold temperatures so if in doubt, when it comes to blood stains use a cold wash. An enzyme-rich biological formula such as Persil Ultimate Stain Removal capsule would pack more punch, but shouldn’t be used on certain delicate fabrics such as wool and silk – so always check the washing label of the item.

Do eco washes at 20 or 30 degrees really kill bacteria and viruses and get things properly clean?

Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a question for this AMA, and a huge thank you to @HelenLyonPersil for all her helpful answers!

We’re pleased to announce that the winner of the prize draw is @Cannesdo - congratulations! 🎉

Why wasn't my question answered?

Well, that was a waste of time for most posters.

Congratulations winner - great thread !

I can't find an answer to mine either. Cheers for that..