White marks on clothes

maman

Just a quick question: I am a convert to using white vinegar instead of softener. So far, I've just used up what I had in for cleaning taps etc but I need to buy more. Does it have to be white vinegar? What's the most economical way of buying it? Where do other OSers buy theirs?

david39

We noticed the white-streak effect a few months ago, using Persil and Ariel liquid detergents (which we had bought for years with no problems). We tried various of the ideas mentioned above, but could not get to the bottom of it. Ours is a fairly new machine, so we did not think there would be anything wrong with it.

Eventually, we changed the washing detergent (bought some of Aldi's bottled stuff) and it was fine (cheaper, too). We use it all the time now and have not seen the white-streak effect since.

I think that there must have been some change in the composition of the leading brand formulae that means the suds don't fully rinse away or the detergent doesn't dissolve properly. Strange that it happened with both brands around the same time.

Farway

maman wrote: »

Just a quick question: I am a convert to using white vinegar instead of softener. So far, I've just used up what I had in for cleaning taps etc but I need to buy more. Does it have to be white vinegar? What's the most economical way of buying it? Where do other OSers buy theirs?

I, and others on here just use the cheapest "value" malt vinegar, the brown sort you put on your chips

And no, we do not smell like a chippy

PS, but not the old stuff your pickled onions were in

BitterAndTwisted

I haven't used the vinegar coloured with caramel in my wash but I certainly would in a pinch. It's best to check for it in any Asian or Chinese/Thai supermarkets if you have one locally as they often stock vinegar in 2 or 3 gallon plastic containers rather than the half-pint sizes my local supermarket stocks.

paybacktime2008

Sorry to say this happened to me just before the washing machine died!

LJM

mine has been doing it where it hasnt been rinsing or emptying properly and my w.machine is on the way out as having probs with it atm

pigeonpie

paybacktime2008 wrote: »

Sorry to say this happened to me just before the washing machine died!

tapping in to my deepest fears :eek:

I bought a Dr Hoohaa's (can't remember the name) washing machine cleaner stuff at sainsburys, cleaned the in tray section, bunged the stuff in and ran the machine empty on 60. The jeans will get rewashed tomorrow and we will see.
If that fails, will try soda crystals. It has been sadly neglected, other than cleaning it and cleaning the filter (without which it stops spin drying).
I have a big stash of persil as got some on a bogof so don't want to change if don't have to. For cotton, I'll try to put 1 1/2 tabs in the wash. I know 2 tabs caused major soap sud issues
thanks everyone so much

meritaten

I have to say that british washing powders dont dissolve well at 30 degrees. I have found this to be the main cause of powder marks on clothes.
try it for yourself if you have a cooking thermometer
try using a liquid or a cheaper powder - I use the Aldi one and it has never left a powder mark behind when i have done a quick 30 wash.
oh and even the cheap happy shopper one coped with a 30 wash and it was only about 70p for the small box.

Pink.

Hi pigeonpie,

I hope you have managed to sort it. If not there are more ideas on this thread that may help:

White marks on clothes

I'll merge both threads later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

maman

Farway wrote: »

I, and others on here just use the cheapest "value" malt vinegar, the brown sort you put on your chips

And no, we do not smell like a chippy

PS, but not the old stuff your pickled onions were in

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I haven't used the vinegar coloured with caramel in my wash but I certainly would in a pinch. It's best to check for it in any Asian or Chinese/Thai supermarkets if you have one locally as they often stock vinegar in 2 or 3 gallon plastic containers rather than the half-pint sizes my local supermarket stocks.

Thank you both. I've just felt a bit strange about putting something brown in with clean washing! I'll give it a try when I can dry outdoors (if it ever stops raining again).

I read somewhere today that white washing can look dull/grey because of not using manufacturers' recommended amount of powder. Anyone agree?