Washing powder v liquid or tablets

tiff

We've had a problem with the outlet pipe that takes the water away from the washing machine. Hubby had to take it apart and it was clogged with gunk, some of it had dried and then shifted to block the pipe which meant water backed up and flooded the floor.

Is this gunk powder residue? Just wondering what I can do to prevent it happening again, its such a pain having to move everything out to get at the pipes.

MATH

I use liquid cos I was finding the powder wouldn't dissolve on a super-quick 4 min wash cycle. I've also changed to non-bio cos my machine mixes the hot and cold taps to give the correct wash temp and hot water as opposed to cool water heated to hot kills enzymes apparently rendering bio useless for me.

Liquid also leaves a gunk behind. It is a sort of gel like snot:eek: (hope yall had breakfast);) If you use liquid run a hot wash every month or so to flush out the machine or it will start to smell. It's much easier to clean out tho than the powder residue because it doesn't set hard. HTH

LearningToSave.

hey nice to see you tiff!!!!
how much powder etc do you use? my mum had this exact problem but called a hotpoint engineer out(her and my dad wouldnt have a clue!) and when he came he cleared it out and asked us how much powder she used......she was using the recommended on the box doseage.well mr hotpoint said that that doseage is a ploy by the companies to get us to buy more and you only need half that,saves you and your washing machine.
expect you already knew that and do that anyway

Claude_2

I use liquid because I do most of my washes at 30 degrees and I'm not sure powder dissolves completely at that temperature or in a quick wash. (well, my mother told me that in her machine it doesn't )

littlereddevil

Some powders are worse than others. I find Persil particularly bad.

squeaky

Fabric conditioner can loaf about too.

AussieLass

Sorry don't know the answer to that but just going by the last few posts I've noticed that everybody still uses hot water. I have never used hot water to wash our clothes in. My mother use to when we were little, and had the old type but I think it's been about 30 years of mostly everyone using cold water only for washing here. I've never bothered with the "cold power" types that are made for cold water either. I just use to use what was on the best special - powdered or liquid.

I've been making my HM powder for the last few months with washing in cold water with vinegar/water/EO mix as a softner and been really pleased with the results. I spray DH's greasy jeans first in solution of washing soda/water mix first before adding.

tiff

Hi LTS Nice to be back.

Might have to switch to liquid then but its more expensive. Most of my washes are on a 29 minute cycle at 40 deg, probably not long enough to dissolve properly although the washing comes out fine. I'm also wary of changing to non bio because the last lot I used didnt make the whites white and I hate grey whites! Fussy moo eh lol

tiff

AussieLass wrote:

Sorry don't know the answer to that but just going by the last few posts I've noticed that everybody still uses hot water. I have never used hot water to wash our clothes in. My mother use to when we were little, and had the old type but I think it's been about 30 years of mostly everyone using cold water only for washing here. I've never bothered with the "cold power" types that are made for cold water either. I just use to use what was on the best special - powdered or liquid.

I've been making my HM powder for the last few months with washing in cold water with vinegar/water/EO mix as a softner and been really pleased with the results. I spray DH's greasy jeans first in solution of washing soda/water mix first before adding.

I dont think we get a choice with our machines in the UK do we?

Str4berr3

MATH wrote:

I use liquid cos I was finding the powder wouldn't dissolve on a super-quick 4 min wash cycle. I've also changed to non-bio cos my machine mixes the hot and cold taps to give the correct wash temp and hot water as opposed to cool water heated to hot kills enzymes apparently rendering bio useless for me.

Liquid also leaves a gunk behind. It is a sort of gel like snot:eek: (hope yall had breakfast);) If you use liquid run a hot wash every month or so to flush out the machine or it will start to smell. It's much easier to clean out tho than the powder residue because it doesn't set hard. HTH

WOW! does your W/M really do a 4 minute wash?

benedictadams

Hi everyone

Am nearly at the end of my sainburys basics washing powder (which i have been able to make last so costs about 5p a wash)

However i spend 50 of my hard earned pence on another box

Does anyone have any recommendations?

eg would Stardrops work in the machine?

if there a way of making the powder last even longer (use about half of the instructions already)?

Any help would be gratefully received