Clothes Washing Products

Well I don't know if it's just me, or what.  But ever since they've changed the washing powders to 2x strength (supposedly) and half the box size, my washing has been coming out with stains still well and truly attached. 

I use Surf and have recently tried Fab.  I use Napisan soaker in a bucket for big stains, before every wash.  Getting exasperated here!  Locked in a cycle of soak, wash, dry, soak again etc, with some clothes just going around in a never ending cycle.

What products do you recommend that actually WORK?  I'm about to go strip my washing machine with a hot water wash, baking soda and white vinegar - but I'm sure we already did that not so long ago. 

BTW our water supply is from our farm - is filtered rain water so I'm presuming it's not that hard or impure.

HELP!!

I use ecostore too & haven't noticed any problems with stains etc.

How annoying though - as if you haven't got better things to be doing with your time

I generally use the persil sensitive 2x concentrate, we have a big machine so generally quite large loads and don't put in more than it says to and have not had any problems. If i remember to I might put some sard wonder soap on something that I think will stain but not generally. I think persil is a bit more expensive but just try and stock up when it is on special. I have been trying ecostore on the nappies just out of interest but thinking that persil still gets the stains out better. Oh and we live on a farm too but use well water so not sure if that makes any difference.

Thanks guys.  Have been wondering about the Persil Concentrate.  It's worth paying more if it actually WORKS.    I usually don't chop and change brands very often as I have sensitive skin - but if I go for a "Sensitive" powder then I am usually OK.

We've just had a new house built and with that we have had new filters applied to our water system.  Wonder if the filters make the water hard?  Going all scientific here!  But I feel like a D grade housewife for not at least getting the clothes clean!

we get those huge 5kg bags of surf washing powder from TWH.... its normal strength, but i use half a scoop of that, with half a washing powder scoop of Frend OxyAction Max (white container, half the price of Napisan and works better IMO) and my clothes always come out stain free. and look great. used to use the Reflect, and again found it great. i dont bother paying huge amounts of money for washing powder when the cheapest stuff works better lol.

i continusouly have probs with 2x strength stuff aswell, but its more a case of it doesnt dissolve aswell in our machine (its a new machine, but just doesnt like 2x strength) so yeah.... thats my 2 cents lol.

I use Drive, and love it!

Interesting we use surf and I've noticed clothes aren't getting clean either.

Thought it was just me, think I'll have to switch brands.

We use ecostore but I'm having problems with it. The nappies come out fine... It's the baby spillage. The new formula she's on get all over her clothes which is ok, but if I use cloth flats it sometimes comes out of the machine still caked on . Don't know what else to try though

mucky_one you should be able to reach down the agitator and unscrew it then remove it From the machine

mucky_one wrote: to clean the washing machine out..how do i do that? i know its a dumb question but hey im 20 and mum always did washing at home....

Don't worry I'm the same... I didn't know you had to run the washing machine through empty sometimes.. Mum must have done that stuff when we weren't there.. I used to help with the washing, but Mum would already wash it and we'd hang it out/bring it in and "help" fold it