Whites coming out of washing machine looking grey, coloureds losing their colour
If your laundry is coming out of the wash looking dingy and grey, or the colours are fading too quickly the first thing you need to look at is the type of detergent you are using and its quality. There are plenty of cheap detergents around, and many environmentally friendly alternatives. However, environmentally friendly detergents may not match the quality of results that normal quality branded detergents can achieve. Which? tests can help you work out which are the best detergents and they even have at least one detergent they advise that you avoid buying.
Different washing machine detergents work in different ways. Some Washing machine detergent contains bleaching agents which helps keep whites white, but at the expense of fading colours. Other detergent claims to be friendly to coloureds and not to fade them but it achieves this by not using any bleaching agents, this means whites may not be kept as white. You don’t just use one detergent do you?
Apart from using a good quality washing machine detergents you also need to use the correct amount. Many people are convinced that you only need to use half what the manufacturers say but my experience is that you need to use the proper amount. Using less can cause a build up of grease and grime in the washing machine as well as poorer wash results ( Washing machine smells – causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines ).
Not using enough detergent can also cause limescale problems. Washing machine detergent contains ingredients that protect the washing machine (particularly the heating element) against limescale. Not using the proper amount may appear to save money in the short term but may well end up costing much more.
Proper wash temperatures
Also make sure you are washing garments at the proper wash temperature as recommended on the fabric care label. Be careful of mixing loads with different wash temperature recommendations and exposing some garments to too high a temperature. If you have noticed poorer wash results after starting to wash at lower temperatures you may need to go back to the recommended temperature for the garments in question ( Washing at 30 degrees )
Finally make sure you are not overloading the washing machine. Overloading will reduce do effect of the detergent and rinsing. (
Am I overloading my washing machine? )
Other related articles -
Grease marks or spots on laundry
Related Which? Tests
- Which? Laundry liquids
- Which? Laundry liquids: FAQs
- Which? Laundry liquids: Eco-friendly choices
- Which? Laundry tablets: Features explained
- Which? Laundry Tablets FAQs
Written By - Washerhelp on December 10th, 2008 with
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Carol
Cherrytree07
#1. December 29th, 2008, at 8:23 PM.
I purchased an expensive Whirlpool Duet, and am using HE liquid tide, I do have hard water and may not be using enough, in my old machine I USED TIDE WITH BLEACH IN HOT WATER AND ALL WAS CLEAN, now, not so clean, and my towels come out stiff and hard.. I wonder, am I missing the agitator? or my powdered tide or is my dryer tooooooo hot? Gosh..give me back my old old machines and Tide.