Detergent question ..

Ebe_Scrooge

To throw another variable into the mix, there's often confusion between bio/non-bio and colour/whites detergent.  My wife still thinks that non-bio automatically means it's for coloureds :-(

Bio contains enzymes to break down the dirt, meaning it can be used at a lower temperature (hence saving electricity).  Indeed, if you use bio at a high temperature it's pointless, as the high temperature kills off the enzymes, meaning it won't work as designed.  The downside is that some people find the enzymes irritate their skin.  So you use non-bio instead, but that needs a higher temperature to shift the dirt.

Coloureds vs whites - the stuff for whites contains a bleaching agent (might be actual bleach, might be something that's just similar).  So it's great for keeping your whites white, but it'll make coloured fabrics fade.

So bio vs non-bio is completely unrelated to coloureds vs whites detergent.

All that aside ..... since most people wash most stuff at much lower temperatures these days than they used to in the past, it's always a good idea to run a high-temperature "maintenance wash" every so often to keep the machine clean.