Washing Machine Powder/Liquid advice

Roodles

Hi,

I am having real problems finding a washing powder or liquid that works! My Fiance's t-shirts still smell after washing and was wondering what other people find works really well as it is really expensive to buy powders and liquids to try them out.

I must add it has to be non-biological as i am allergic to biological ones. i have tried persil small and mighty and fairy non bio so far.

All help welcomed !!!

Katyag

Im not so keen on the Persil small and mightly, I love Persil normally but wasnt impressed with that kind.

I like the Bold Gel Brrrrrillant stuff, you know the kind you can use as low as 15 degrees. You get in in non bio too. Lovely smell.

Fabric softner helps with the smell too, I love the orange Comfort kind.

thriftlady_2

I'm pretty rubbish at laundry but if you pop over to the Old Style board and ask on there you'll get more answers and probably find some existing threads on the subject.

FairyElephant_2

Forget all the branded stuff and go for good old-fashioned washing soda crystals! My DH used to have really filthy & smelly work clothes, which most brands stuggled to get clean, but I have found that these work great.

I have sensitive skin too and always used to be careful which brands I bought, but I have no problem with the soda crystals, and they are much cheaper. I usually use one washing tablet (manufacturers reccomend 2), and one or two small scoops of washing soda, depending on how dirty the load, and that always does the job.

HTH,

FE

sarymclary

Have you considered using a stain treatment spray on the problem areas prior to popping his tshirts in the wash? I use a cheap brand, or a supermarket own brand on the 'pits' area of my sons' shirts, and it definitely does the trick. It doesn't seem to affect our sensitivity with anything else included in the wash. The only other option might be to wash your OH's clothes separately from your's with a biological solution, which helps to break down the enzymes and bacteria in body fluids, which is what is causing the bad smells to persist.

I have heard that mixing baking soda with water to a paste, and spreading that over the area prior to putting in the wash can help.

Have you tried using neat washing solution applied to the area prior to popping in the machine?

Another tip would be to ensure you don't overfill the washing machine with each wash, allowing the clothes being washed to get the full benefit of the detergent and wash cycle.

newcook

I add a capful of zoflora in with my wash - smells lovely for ages!

lizziebell*80

If there is a debate about whether to use liquid or powder, after speaking to someone who works for one of the large companies that makes both types of products they said to me that powder/tablets are better than liquids as they contain more of the bleaching agents etc as they cannot remain stable in a liquid product so the washing should be cleaned better using powder. I didn't ask if this was the same for bio and non-bio though, but since then I have used powder tablets (Daisy ones not big names as comparing the ingredients and amounts showed they contained the same stuff) and the cleaning is better than liquids I was using - liquids tend to have more perfume in them too (probably why I liked them )

bugsaboo

In my macine all my washing started to smell, started off just being as though things weren't clean and ended up smelling mouldy and mildewy. I thought we'd have to bin the machine but when doing some research I found that liquid on low temp sticks in the machine and leaves a film which grows mould and makes everything smell and gelk is worse. So now I use powder, Ariel as my hubby has sensitive skin and its the only one that he isn't allergic too. Also washing soda down the machine on a 95 degree wash once a month and vinegar is very good too. you're supposed to use white vinegar but I just put malt in mine and it was fine!
HTH. I didn't know about the gels/liquids but I have to say my machine is fine now and I really thought it was the end for it a couple of months ago!

Gingernutmeg

Have you tried giving the machine a clean? I agree with bugsaboo that it might help. My washing just wasn't smelling quite right so I got the drawer out, gave it a good scrub, scrubbed what I could of the bit the drawer sits in, then ran a boil wash with a cupful of soda crystals, followed by another boil wash with a cupful of white vinegar. The machine now smells much better, and the washing smells better too. I try to do this fairly regularly but I'd got a bit behind with it, but it's well worth doing as it clears all the gunk and goo out of your machine.

emlou2009

i bought some soda crystals today after reading this thread, i hope they work! i also find that non bio no matter what the brand seems to be rubbish. i had been putting a scoop of oxi clean in each wash but its so expensive.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I know you say it can't be biologiacal, but my ds has exzcema and Sainsburys basic biological is the only powder that doesn't aggravate it. He finds that the worst thing is fabric conditioner any sort so I don't use it on his washing. Can you do your husbands washing separately? That is what I do with my ds's. Gets rid of the teen smell.