Cheap Washing Detergent: Recommendations or False economy? General weekly shop saving tips.

brila

I buy the big 8ish kg boxes of washing powder from Amazon (usually advertised as 130 wash).  I just buy whichever brand is cheapest.  Currently using Ariel which cost £12.89 (with free delivery).   I bought this in February 2022 and I have about a third left in the box.  I do a wash pretty much every day using half a scoop and this does the job. 

Longwalker

Im allergic to most soap powders so was stuck with Persil for years, half scoop per wash. But since the supply problems in NI have made it nigh on impossible to buy at a price Im willing to pay, I switched to Lidl. I wash at 40 degrees, husband is a builder, Im a messy cook - it works well and Im not allergic - yayyyy

I dont skimp on the Fairy. Its often on offer so I stock up then. Im not allergic, it lasts forever 

Dishwasher - Lidl own brand bog standard tablets, salt and rinse aid. We live in a soft water area, but my dishwasher asks for salt so I make sure I dont buy all in one tablets - we were using them and my cutlery was getting ruined. Everything back to being clean and sparkly 

Im also a great fan of The Pink Stuff - their kitchen degreaser is fab and smells nice, the paste cleans just about anything and everything - all from Home bargains/ B+M etc The degreaser works on clothes as well , great for me - Im a messy cook

Bleach is any thick bleach going. We use very little as Im on a septic tank. Actually I use as few products as possible because of the tank so what I do use needs to work

Never use conditioner in the wash, a dash of vinegar in with the towels and extra water for the wash, they stay soft even if dried on the airer inside  

Longwalker

Scrimps said:

For the people that use low washing machine temps, do grease stains come out ok? Both my boys love mayonnaise and often get it on their clothes, I've started using a vanish stain stick but not sure it would still get oil stains out at a lower temp.

Also not sure lower temps gets things hygienically clean...sometimes they don't wipe very well! so I figured pants need a higher temp and stronger wash?? 

But I do notice our clothes get a bit tatty and don't look or feel as nice compared to people who use branded products, fabric softener, and tumble driers...none of which I do. (I get hand me downs for the kids, they come to us nice and soft with in tact elastic but within a couple of washes in my house they're quite scratchy and often yet a bit tatty and faded looking)

My daughter is the same, three kids, and the clothes look a mess after a couple of washes, she doesn't sort her wash, just throws everything in together. Is that something you do?

Childrens clothes are often delicate - sports tops in particular - and need to be washed on a delicate wash

When the kids are staying here, I sort their wash. I  might have stuff in the laundry basket a couple of weeks before I wash it - waiting to make a load up.

Towels/tee towels/face clothes/sheet/ pillow cases - 60 degree cotton wash

Jeans, trakkies, hoodies, dark socks and dark knickers and underpants  - 40 degree cotton

Colours - like shirts, polos, t shirts - 30 quick wash

Lights - usually granddaughters tees and dresses,- 30 quick wash
Whites - white socks and light socks, knickers and white underpants - 40 cotton wash

Then Im moving into delicates, bras, flimsy Childrens clothes, cotton jumpers , wool jumpers etc, these are the bits hanging around till I have enough for a load/half load. And I use the appropriate settings 

Elastic goes if washed too hot. Bras turn yellow for the same reason. They turn grey if washed with anything coloured. White socks will turn if washed with a colour. 

I dont use fabric conditioner, I rarely use the tumble dryer - only in an emergency. 

jfdi

I picked up a 12.7kg tub of Kirkland washing powder when I last went to Costco, just over £20 I think. Used about 2tbspn in a 10kg load on 40’ eco-wash, and have to say the whites came out cleaner and brighter than I’d seen them in years.
And it’ll last me all year, I think!

Spendless

I prefer fairy WUL. I buy when on offer/found at a reasonable price. I don't own a dishwasher. I usually have a Fairy I'm using plus at least one in the cupboard. 

I'm also happy with Aldi Almat laundry detergent. I find the majority of our grease stains will come out if rubbed with WUL first. Any brand  has done the trick so far, if Mr S does fetch home anything other than fairy then I allocate that to laundry purposes.

Blood stains I've lifted with a good soak in cold salted water.

I've yet to find a good solution for make up stains/eyebrow tint or fake tan though, all of which DD can get over her stuff!   

New_in_the_fens

I haven’t used fabric softener in years and don’t miss it. It isn’t needed - just adds an artificial smell!

I use Ecover washing liquid and washing up liquid- and order it in 5 litre bottles from Amazon. I’ve just done the subscription order - cost me under £20 for one of each - the WUL lasts more than six months and the washing liquid at least five. And we probably use the washing machine more than necessary!

In fact, more and more stuff is now on subscription - vitamins, pet food etc. easy to manage and defer when required and usually with a small additional discount. With a visit to Costco every 3-4 months, my weekly shop is now only ever food. 

Scrimps

Longwalker said:

Scrimps said:

For the people that use low washing machine temps, do grease stains come out ok? Both my boys love mayonnaise and often get it on their clothes, I've started using a vanish stain stick but not sure it would still get oil stains out at a lower temp.

Also not sure lower temps gets things hygienically clean...sometimes they don't wipe very well! so I figured pants need a higher temp and stronger wash?? 

But I do notice our clothes get a bit tatty and don't look or feel as nice compared to people who use branded products, fabric softener, and tumble driers...none of which I do. (I get hand me downs for the kids, they come to us nice and soft with in tact elastic but within a couple of washes in my house they're quite scratchy and often yet a bit tatty and faded looking)

My daughter is the same, three kids, and the clothes look a mess after a couple of washes, she doesn't sort her wash, just throws everything in together. Is that something you do?

Childrens clothes are often delicate - sports tops in particular - and need to be washed on a delicate wash

When the kids are staying here, I sort their wash. I  might have stuff in the laundry basket a couple of weeks before I wash it - waiting to make a load up.

Towels/tee towels/face clothes/sheet/ pillow cases - 60 degree cotton wash

Jeans, trakkies, hoodies, dark socks and dark knickers and underpants  - 40 degree cotton

Colours - like shirts, polos, t shirts - 30 quick wash

Lights - usually granddaughters tees and dresses,- 30 quick wash
Whites - white socks and light socks, knickers and white underpants - 40 cotton wash

Then Im moving into delicates, bras, flimsy Childrens clothes, cotton jumpers , wool jumpers etc, these are the bits hanging around till I have enough for a load/half load. And I use the appropriate settings 

Elastic goes if washed too hot. Bras turn yellow for the same reason. They turn grey if washed with anything coloured. White socks will turn if washed with a colour. 

I dont use fabric conditioner, I rarely use the tumble dryer - only in an emergency. 

Yes, I do the same as your daughter 😳 sort of

I do sort most stuff...as in it 'tends' to group as you described anyway so I can do towels etc on a hot wash, but its going to be sunny and I've only got enough for 1 or 2 full loads it all goes in on a 40 degree mixed...I will try harder,  thanks for the tip.

Longwalker

You dont need sun to dry clothes, a good windy day and they will dry quicker

If I waited for sunshine in NI, I wouldn't get clothes dry at all.

newlywed

Spendless said:

I've yet to find a good solution for make up stains/eyebrow tint or fake tan though, all of which DD can get over her stuff!   

Cheap make up remover works for make up marks… and on carpets too.

rubbing Alcohol works pretty well too.

cant comment on tint or fake tan tho sorry.

Scrimps

Longwalker said:

You dont need sun to dry clothes, a good windy day and they will dry quicker

If I waited for sunshine in NI, I wouldn't get clothes dry at all.

Yeah sorry I should have said dry