Which washing detergent actually works?

DFWJane

I have terrible trouble getting our clothes clean. The main stains we seem to attract are cooking grease, curry, baby poo, orange pureed vegetables and tomato sauce.

I need to keep costs low but it is becoming a false economy when I can't find anything that works. I have tried shops own brand then bought some Persil gel tabs on offer - they were useless. Then I splashed out on that new Ariel bbbrrrrrilliant stuff, still stains left on the clothes. I also use a pre wash spray on stain remover, the latest ones being asda's own and vanish. I do most washes at 40 degrees but my machine will do 30 and I'd like to make use of this too.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd be most grateful. I am prepared to spend out on something which actually works and will have to cut back elsewhere (some of the above foods, perhaps!). Powder, liquid, tabs, i don't mind.

On a plus note, I have found that adding a small amount of more expensive conditioner to a bottle of shops own economy range a great success. The same cannot be said for the washing powders though.

basmic

Have you tried soda crystals?

I always swear by Ariel biological detergent. The biological powder or tablets will keep your whites truly white, but I've used Ariel Excel Gel, and it is good. I recommend you give Ariel tablets a go -I usually use just one tablet, unless I want shift a stubborn stain or doing a big load.

A._Badger

I can't say I can see any significant difference between the two best brands - Ariel and Persil - and if neither of those do what you want then dare I suggest the problem is actually not the detergent you are using but your washing machine?

I have a 1,000 year old Bosch and it seems capable of dealing with the sort of stains you mention, at 40 degrees, even using Tesco's own-brand detergent.

Maybe the powder isn't the problem?

Wirenth

I always pre-treat greasy stains with a coating of fairy liquid, leave 24 hrs (don't rinse it), then put in the washing machine. It manages to shift most stuff, including bike oil. However, I never wash clothes at less than 40C.

tattoed_bum

i have found the cheap smartprice soap is quite good on stains ,just rub a wet bar of soap on the stain before popping it in the washing machine ,it works on my 6yr olds school tops and he gets everything on them

milliemonster

I have found through trial and error, different washing machines, different detergents that the only thing that really gets bad stains out is by washing them at 60 or above, I do most of my dark washes at 30 or 40 but the lights with stains in always at 60 or more, I know it uses more electric, bad for the environment etc but so does having to do repeat washes when stains don't come out!!!!

painted_lady

I find ariel the best and the smell stays on the clothes longer too, I also find they dont get right clean washing at lower temperatures. If there are any bodily fluids on I would wash at 60 anyway to kill all the germs.
It doesnt save me money and energy when I wash at 30 or 40 because I end up washing again, unless of course the clothes arent stained.
Also, do you use biological or non bio? Non bio wont bring food stains out because it doesnt have the enzymes to break down food.

demonicangel

Sunshine is the best way to get rid of tomato stains.

As for powders, I find Ariel or Tesco own brand the best for getting rid of most stains.

SunnyGirl

I'd second what some posters have said about washing lights/whites at 60 degrees. I do all the time, especially when the children were babies, and the stains always come out with no pretreatments. I use Daz powder, tablets or liquitabs. HTH

DFWJane

thanks for your replies, I will try some of these things.
I always use bio now, even with a baby, it doesn't seem to bother her.
My WM is not even a year old so I think the problem is more us being so messy and the particular stains I am trying to shift - leaked orange poo on a white babygrow being a favourite! I'll try 60 degrees for lights too.

Olliebeak

I'm a SmartPrice soap powder fan, but anything stubborn I find that a squirt of washing up liquid for greasy stains, and a good attack with a bar of soap plus nailbrush for other stains works well. I always did the soles of my kids socks with the soap/nailbrush treatment before washing them (as kids we always had to wash our own socks at night as the washing machine monster used to eat them if we left them for mum to do ).

For kids white school t-shirts with unidentified stains, I think I'd go for the kill - attack with everything (one at a time) and possibly an overnight soak in weak bleach solution before a good wash at 50/60.

......... and I'd just love to know what they put in baby food that results in that 'orangey stain' on bibs and white tops :rolleyes:.