OS Washing advice needed!

Janebo12

Hi all

I've been lurking on the forums for a while now, and have decided to take the plunge and get some much needed advice.

How do you get stains out of your washing other than with soaking? I have tried in-wash stuff such as vanish etc, but nothing is getting properly cleaned. It's not a particular sort of stain, just general day to day children's mess. (I am currently using Ariel tablets on a 40 degree wash).

Also, I have seen that some of you use vinegar in your wash - is that in place of softener (I don't use softener due to DD2's eczema), how much do you use and is it in the final rinse? Does it leave a smell? (sorry if I'm sounding a bit dense here!!!:rotfl:)

BTW, loving all the threads on here and picking up loads of tips - keep up the good work!

Here's hoping!

Regards
Amanda

tattoed_bum

i use smartprice soap on some of the stains on my sons clothes just damp the area rub in some soap then stick in the washer as usual ,or try some oxy crystals or soda crystals in the machine with your usual powder,
use the vinegar as you would the softener ,i doesnt leave any smell at all ,

on saying that i dont use softener very often and i havent noticed any difference in my washing

V.Lucky

I use Napisan for stains, soak them in it, or add to the wash works a treat and doesn't cost that much.

Butterfly_Brain

I use good old fashioned Fairy Household soap -Yes you can still buy it!
I get mine in Wilkinsons they stock a wide range of OS cleaning products

broclo

I tend to cover it from all directions as I hate it when you pre treat and you still have a stain.

I chuck anything slightly stained in a bucket with some soda crystals, then rub the patch with household green soap if still remaining, then chuck in the mchine with a bit of crystals aswell as ordinary washing powder. Then if there is a hint of a stain it always dissapears on the washing line.

Used ace bleach once...never again...sent everything yellow toned!

Janebo12

Thanks for your replies!

I just hate it when you've done a load of washing and still stains left behind. :mad:

I will try your tips - here's hoping for some sparkly clean washing...

Regards
Amanda

Chuzzle

This is probably really really silly but are you using the correct wash cycle? I used t use the daily quick wash for all my family washes. I have since read on a white goods forum that the quick wash is only for something that hasn't been warn next to the skin and isn't stained. I thought I was using less electric and therefore saving pennies, whne in reality I was washing more than once to get rid of stains. I now use Ariel white powder for whites, Ariel colour for the coloureds and I wash them on the correct cycle for the white cottons or coloured synthetics etc and the stains come out first time. Admittedly my washing now takes AGES to do but I only need wash them once. I also wash my whites at 50 temp and coloureds at 40 temp. The machine goes on overnight to make use of the cheap electric.

HTH

patchwork_cat

For grease use soda crystals and for dirt and grass stains use borax. These can both be added to the wash or used as a pre soak or even scrubbed onto wet clothes then washed. Collars or other grimy areas try fairy soap (or green soap if you can find it). If you have specific stains try and identify them, personally I find tomato ketchup the worst! If the whites are just looking grimy as someone said you could try napisan, but that bleaches so watch on colours.

Janebo12

Hi again

Thanks for all of your replies -I have got myself a shopping list together for soda crystals, borax and green soap, amongst other things.

I doi try to use the correct cycles for my wash - but I am conscious of how much electricity I am using, so use quick wash cycles only when something needs a bit of freshening up. It is hard though as I have 3 children 7, 4 & 2 and a mechanic for a husband, so the machine is on every day (sometimes twice when needed!).

Some great advice on here though, which I will definitely try :T

Thanks again
Regards
Amanda

Justamum

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

I used t use the daily quick wash for all my family washes. I have since read on a white goods forum that the quick wash is only for something that hasn't been warn next to the skin and isn't stained. I thought I was using less electric and therefore saving pennies, whne in reality I was washing more than once to get rid of stains.

Used to do that myself! I realised after a while that it was essentially giving clothes a quick swish in cold water, and not actually washing them!

I agree with rubbing soap on stains - it works a treat. Also my DD1 sometimes has whiffy armits on her school shirts, which doesn't always disappear after washing. Wetting it and rubbing soap on works well, and I also discovered that using diluted surgical spirit sprayed on before washing gets rid of the smell too (about 50/50 water/surgical spirit I think I've got - I'm using it to clean glass atm too!)

BitterAndTwisted

I don't have a quick wash option on my washing-machine as I expect it's too old to have one. I always wash my clothes in cold water because I'm a miser who fears the electricity bill and I think my clothes come out fine. These days, when we generally only wear an item for a few hours before laundering means they don't actually get that dirty, they just need freshening up. I only ever use half the dosage of detergent that the manufacturers recommend as well. Different story for bedlinen and towels, they go on a 40 degree wash usually but now I've thought of it, I might give them a try on cold water as well.

Do they still make those Vanish stain sticks, like a little bar of soap? I use one for shirt collars and pre-wash stain removal but that wee thing is almost finished now and I don't see them in the shops any more