Biotex Stain Removing Powder or an effective non-bleaching equivalent?

JB50MSE

Today 13/12/21 I phoned Unilever's Consumer Careline https://www.unilever.co.uk/ on 0800 010109 (the manufacturer) as I can't find Biotex Stain Removing Powder in the shops, and they told me they've recently stopped selling it in the UK, apparently due to lack of demand. It's the only effective product I've ever found with which I can soak coloured clothes, sheets, towels etc. and I've been buying it all my life. Most other products contain bleaching agents or brighteners which cause colours to fade, and don't work on many common stains. Most of my clothes and household textiles are coloured or partly coloured, so Vanish or anything else containing bleach fades them. I don't use it every time I wash, only if something is stained, but it's a product I always have in my home.

If anyone else also finds it useful, please contact Unilever and ask them to BRING BACK BIOTEX!

In the meantime, please does anyone know of any effective NON-BLEACHING stain-removing product with which I can soak COLOURED clothes, towels, sheets etc. with hot or cool water without damage or fading?

Grumpelstiltskin

I used to get mine from Sainsburys then it disappeared from there.

A  few months ago I stocked up from Amazon but it appears to have vanished from there.

There is some on E Bay at the moment

221b

I've just emailed Unilever to ask why they're no longer selling it - it's the best stain remover I've ever used, and you're right everything else just bleaches fabric - fine if it's white, but not if you're trying get to get a stain out of a coloured garment or piece of upholstery.

So disappointing to not be able to find it.  I think it basically suffered from woefully poor marketing, against the might of Vanish Oxi-Action pink tubs and the like.  Biotex's box looked the same as it did in the 1980s, and probably should have got their act together.  It was Which? Magazine's Best Buy as well.  

I too would be interested if anyone has found a suitable replacement - I have heard Napisan might be, but I've not tried it myself...

afaict it's a Danish brand, bought out by Unilever.  Their Danish website looks quite modern-branded, but although it mentions washing powder, there's no sign of the stain remover, sadly.  I would have even considered importing it if necessary.

I see some ne'er-do-well is flogging 540g packets of it on eBay for £69.99.  *dislocates eyes round back of sockets*

Frshopping

How do we contact Unilever?  Would like to complain.  Beats any other stain remover for mud & blood without damaging fabric.  Always difficult to get hold of, now gone   Gonna complain to Sainsbury too

JB50MSE

JB50MSE said:

Today 13/12/21 I phoned Unilever's Consumer Careline https://www.unilever.co.uk/ on 0800 010109 (the manufacturer) as I can't find Biotex Stain Removing Powder in the shops, and they told me they've recently stopped selling it in the UK, apparently due to lack of demand. It's the only effective product I've ever found with which I can soak coloured clothes, sheets, towels etc. and I've been buying it all my life. Most other products contain bleaching agents or brighteners which cause colours to fade, and don't work on many common stains. Most of my clothes and household textiles are coloured or partly coloured, so Vanish or anything else containing bleach fades them. I don't use it every time I wash, only if something is stained, but it's a product I always have in my home.

If anyone else also finds it useful, please contact Unilever and ask them to BRING BACK BIOTEX!

In the meantime, please does anyone know of any effective NON-BLEACHING stain-removing product with which I can soak COLOURED clothes, towels, sheets etc. with hot or cool water without damage or fading?

This is my original comment, with Unilever's website and phone number, for anyone who would like to complain to Unilever!

Frshopping

Thanks JB50MSE  I have sent them a plea

ClaireEg

I have just moaned to Unilever - the only thing I've tried that gets period blood out of underwear and sheets. Men in charge again I presume.

Frshopping

I did the same weeks ago, and did not even get an acknowledgement!

LADack

They are selling it online from Dutch Food so assume it might be available in Netherlands.  I havnt tried buying online as not in the UK. While it is priced at 10.79 euros it is for 50 grms. It is the best stain remover product ever. Cant believe there is no demand. Vanish is useless. Can anyone who buys from Dutch Food let us know how you get on? thanks

adam42

Came here from my search engine looking for Biotex. Shame!

Does anybody know what Biotex actually is? Is it maybe just a concentrating biological washing powder (hence all the enzymes)?

JB50MSE

adam42 said:

Came here from my search engine looking for Biotex. Shame!

Does anybody know what Biotex actually is? Is it maybe just a concentrating biological washing powder (hence all the enzymes)?

I'm not a chemist, sadly, so I don't know the detailed ingredients. The Biotex description on its box includes, "Bio-tex contains amongst other ingredients : Anionic surfactants 5-15%. Enzymes, non-ionic surfactants, perfume, polycarboxylates, soap, zeolites <5%. Biotex powder is phosphate and bleach free. On colours, the bleach-free formulation is safe and effective. Recommended for removing grass stains, fruit, blood, grease, chocolate."  I use Biotex for soaking fabrics (not silk, wool, leather or flame-resistant fabrics) which are stained with food, cooking oil, blood, smoking, sports and many work and life stains! After soaking, I wash stained sheets or clothes as usual and like magic the stains vanish. Biotex actually works, unlike any other so-called stain removers which don't work, or which ruin the fabric, in my experience. It also removes stains without bleaching (or lightening) fabrics, so it does not fade colour-fast coloured fabrics, which is unlike any concentrated biological washing powder I have ever found (and I've tried many)! I can only imagine that the apparent lack of UK demand indicates that people these days throw stained clothes, towels and sheets away, instead of soaking and washing them. Throwing stuff away must surely be worse for the environment than using them for for years and occasionally soaking them in Biotex when necessary.