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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

Research white goods appliances as well as most other consumer goods and issues and read the latest reviews and best buy recommendations. Which? Online offer a 1 monthy trial for £1 - Which? reviews of washing machines & appliances with top performing Best Buys and Don't Buys.

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5 Comments

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sue cooper sue cooper
#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.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#2. December 31st, 2008, at 5:38 PM.


Sue: Tide is advertised as “protecting colors” (American spelling). This implies that it doesn’t contain bleaching agents as it is those that fade colours.

Generally there are two types of detergent, ones with bleaching agents which help keep whites white by bleaching them but fade colours, and detergent without bleaching agents that protect colours but don’t keep whites quite as white and don’t kill bacteria and black mould or get rid of grease well at low temperatures.

I suggest using a detergent without bleaching agents for colours and one with bleaching agents for whites and the monthly maintenance hot wash.

Carol Carol
#3. January 29th, 2009, at 7:17 PM.


I started to wash at a lower temperature last year and found i had a nasty smell from my washing and a black mould grew in my seal I cannot get rid of it and now my washing is going grey even with persil and a HOT wash I have tried everything to get rid of it , bleach , calgon , cleaning solutions , soda crystals and repeated boil washes I have given up trying now but feel manufacturers that recommend a lower temperature should be stopped !!
It is not environmentally friendly to have grey smelly washing so what now ? a new washing machine ! hopfully delivered soon before people start to talk about me !

Cherrytree07 Cherrytree07
#4. March 7th, 2010, at 9:30 AM.


My colours & jumpers with sewn in shirt colars are coming out grey!! I have a beco which I purchased in January. This never happened with my old machine. How can I stop this and how can I restore the white colars without ruining my new jumpers?

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#5. March 9th, 2010, at 4:51 PM.


Cherrytree07: If a garment is made different types of fabric or a mix of white and colour you may be restricted as to how you can wash it. If the main part is coloured but a false shirt collar or t-shirt is white then if you wash using detergent with bleacng agents it will keep the white bit white but fade the colours. But if you wash it in a colour friendly detergent it will protect the colour but not keep the white bit especially white.

 

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