Why not to economise on washing powder

jobbingmusician · 25 October 2005 at 11:21PM

This thread explains why you should not try to cut back on the amount of washing machine powder you use.

WARNING - this thread gets a bit revolting. If you don't want to know the yukky results of too little washing powder, don't read the greenbits.

As I explained in an earlier thread on dishwashing tablets, cutting back on recommended amounts is actually a BAD idea, and won't save you money. Darling Husband (DH or OH) is a retired domestic service engineer, and has explained interesting facts to me that the world in general doesn't seem to know (it's not just me being naive, honest!)

If you are getting clothes out of the washer with little black specks (on light cols) or little grey specks (on dark cols), this may be caused by the fact that you are not using enough washing machine powder.

Here comes the revolting explanation.....

W/machine powder is designed to break up grease, including LAST CHANCE, LOOK AWAY NOW! the small deposits of human fat and grease we all leave on our clothes. If you under-dose the machine, these little bits of grease don't get flushed through the system, and build up as a revolting yellow sludge in the machine. (I did warn you). This sludge also stinks. Apart from depositing little specks of grease back onto your clothes (remember those little specks I mentioned earlier?) it will block the pump of your machine, get into the bearings and ruin them, and ruin your clothes. Getting rid of the gunk means a whole expensive strip down of the machine. _pale_

Having your machine stripped down to solve this problem is really expensive, so make sure you always put the recommended amount of powder into the machine - don't try to save money by 'economising'! Hubby says he's seen LOADS of machines like this, so it does seem to be a common problem!

Hope this helps!

Magentasue · 25 October 2005 at 11:32PM

Years ago when my children were babies, a washing machine engineer said y machine was in brilliant condition. At the time I used Ecover powder or half measures of cheap powder but I did lots of boil washes because of all those nappies. He said that always doinglow temp washes would cause the sort of problem you describe.

No nappies now but I save all my whites for a 80 degree wash once a week.

moneysavingplumber · 26 October 2005 at 12:15AM

I quite often cross paths with domestic appliance engineers and am always keen for a bit of advice. One did tell me that correct dosage was crucial, although not quite so graphically, although it's hard to upset me in such a way being a plumber! He also seemed to think that the very well-known water softening tablets that are supposed to descale the element if you add one to every wash are only actually useful as a bubble bath. Does your hubby concur with that idea?

Becles · 26 October 2005 at 7:54AM

Don't do what my MIL did either!

She bought a box of concentrated powder after using big box powder for years. She decided the small dose of powder didn't look enough to clean the clothes, so she put a big box sized scoop of concentrated powder in the machine. She switched it on and went to the shops.

When she came back, it had bubbled so much, the bubbles had come back up through the soap dispenser tube and spilled out all over the kitchen floor :eek:

She's gone back to big box powder now :rolleyes:

economiser · 26 October 2005 at 8:48PM

We found that the combination of soft water (I can't speak too highly of water softeners) and occasional high temperature washes have kept our latest machine spick and span internally. We used to have trouble with gunge but not any more.

Ticklemouse · 26 October 2005 at 9:15PM

I never have trouble with gunge. I use a mixture of washing soda and a small measure of Ecover liquid. I do mostly 30 or 40 deg washes and use vinegar in the final rinse. My machine doesn't smell, my clothes don't smell or have bits on.

I occasionally do a hot wash and now live in a soft water area, but used to live in a hard water area.

littlemissfrugal · 26 October 2005 at 9:22PM

Ive never had this problem though i think i use the right dosage - was persuaded by a washing machine engineer to buy some stuff to de-clog the machine - just some tablets you put in the dispenser and do a boil wash once a month - is this to stop the same sort of thing or have i been had

Sarahsaver · 26 October 2005 at 9:39PM

Wash your undies at 60degrees or above, as I heard that fecal matter is still present after a 50 degree wash. Enjoy your supper

Mado · 26 October 2005 at 10:17PM

Sarahsaver wrote:

Wash your undies at 60degrees or above, as I heard that fecal matter is still present after a 50 degree wash. Enjoy your supper

erm... Thanks for that...

SnowyOwl_2 · 26 October 2005 at 10:37PM

Sarahsaver, lovely thought! Have often wondered why people boil wash towels which get used after you're clean...then put undies through the machine at a low temperature. Would have thought it obvious that this is the wrong way round. I know lots of delicate fabrics won't withstand a boil wash and handwashing would be too painful at the appropriate temperature...so what do you do?

Me...I am a user of M&S cotton kecks, they don't mind a hot wash at all.

Think I will do a boil wash every now and again anyway, as the machine is probably a bit gungy inside despite my vinegar doses.

sooz · 26 October 2005 at 11:05PM

just to add to your general horror, any of you with black mould growing on the door seal....it can be lethal [you an try to clean it with cif, but would be advised to wear gloves and a face mask :eek: ], and is not so cheap to replace. boil washes every now and then, and a boil wash empty with soda crystals helps to get rid of the grease that causes the mould, but if you already have mould, it's too late. also always leave the washing machine door slightly open, it needs to breathe and dry. if your seal holds water, wipe it out with a cloth after every wash

Why not to economise on washing powder

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