Alternative to Soap Powder?

msgnomey

I use Adl! washing tablets, one for a wash and they work fine

heavenleigh

Do you have a dishwasher?
Short term of course but i have used dishwasher tablets in the washing machine before!
Also used washing up liquid and bodywash, just use a very small amount, wont do much harm in the short term.

babyshoes

Ben84 wrote: »

Unfortunately, washing with too little powder can cause lime scale to build up in the machine. Also the clothes seem fine at first, but they tend to get stale smelling over time I discovered.

A good splash of vinegar (brown is fine and often cheaper and/or more readily available) instead of fabric conditioner (in the conditioner compartment of the drawer) will help with both problems. If you are concerned, do an occasional hot wash with a big glug of vinegar in each compartment of the drawer to really clean out the pipes. A couple of old towels or similar in the drum will stop it being a complete waste of heating and water, but don't do a big load of dirty washing.

If limescale is a real problem in your area, another option is a commercial washing machine descaler - they can often be found in pound shops and are basically a stronger, more concentrated alternative to the vinegar in the method above.

For the moment OP, I suggest simply rubbing a very little fairy or similar onto dirty spots pre-wash, and washing without powder until you can afford to buy more.

Butterfly_Brain

I buy Asda smart price washing powder £2.80 for 50 washes and just use an egg cup full, with the same amount in soda crystals because we live in a hard water area. I pretreat any stains and I only have to buy washing powder and soda crystals every 2 months now and it really doesn't break the bank.

red_devil

as said you can get cheaper stuff so no need to try and save money.

Ben84

babyshoes wrote: »

A good splash of vinegar (brown is fine and often cheaper and/or more readily available) instead of fabric conditioner (in the conditioner compartment of the drawer) will help with both problems. If you are concerned, do an occasional hot wash with a big glug of vinegar in each compartment of the drawer to really clean out the pipes. A couple of old towels or similar in the drum will stop it being a complete waste of heating and water, but don't do a big load of dirty washing.

If limescale is a real problem in your area, another option is a commercial washing machine descaler - they can often be found in pound shops and are basically a stronger, more concentrated alternative to the vinegar in the method above.

For the moment OP, I suggest simply rubbing a very little fairy or similar onto dirty spots pre-wash, and washing without powder until you can afford to buy more.

Our water is exceptionally hard, to the extent that I boil a completely clean just descaled kettle once and there's a visible white film inside it. I usually descale it every 20-30 boils - and I'm not just being fussy, it really needs it by then.

Anyway, I forget not everyone has liquid chalk for tap water, so maybe I worry about it more than most other people need to. However, even under these adverse conditions I do find using the recommended dose of washing powder (about one to one and a half coffee mugs, depending on type) for very hard water does keep the scale from depositing in the machine. So, the formulation works, but it gets expensive and results in a lot of powder down the drain to cause pollution. Still, better than burning out the washing machine heater.

Ben84

heavenleigh wrote: »

Do you have a dishwasher?
Short term of course but i have used dishwasher tablets in the washing machine before!
Also used washing up liquid and bodywash, just use a very small amount, wont do much harm in the short term.

Dishwasher powder/tablets and gel contain strong chlorine bleaches and I'm not sure I'd trust them not to degrade fabrics and change the colour of things. I use dishwasher gel to kill mould, and to bleach the toilet brushes. It's certainly not mild stuff.

Sambucus_Nigra

Just get a cheap bag of soda crystals and use a spoonful each wash. Should last a fair few weeks.

zippychick

we do have an older quite recent thread about the same kind of thing


what about soda crystals?

ill merge this later on

ZIP