What is happening to my washing?

It sounds as if something like bleach has got onto the fabric. This could be some ingredient in the washing powder. What kind do you use?

I'm nearly at the end of a big pack of Surf but I just buy whichever is on offer!

Hmm. Puzzling. Is it a really good quality shirt? If so, you could try taking it back and explaining that it hasn't stood up to normal wear and washing.

I have found that at times powder does not all dissolve in lower temp. washes and can then land on the fabric as I have had the odd time when there has been telltale powder left - I now use a liquid which I put into the usual drawer in the machine. The stuff I have for doing dark washing has always been a liquid.
Such a nuisance that happening on a good garment.

But its not a one off Bags it seems to happen every few weeks and not always with new things. It has to be something to do with the stuff I put in the machine or the way I am using it. I can't try using something different as it doesn't happen often enough for me to know if it has worked or not. I could stop using the water softeners but would then be risking damaging the machine.

movedalot That happened to one of Mr A's shirts a few months ago - I was mystified and came to the conclusion I must have somehow dropped a bit of bleach on the work-top above the washing machine and then put the shirt down on top of it, as I do occasionally use bleach there to get stains off white things.
I only use liquid detergents, a special one for coloured things, and never water softeners or fabric conditioners.

Thanks Jane but I don't use bleach in the utility room very often so I'm sure it is not that.

All further suggestions welcomed.

I fear this is why they have special powder for "coloureds" - they put whitener in the whiter than white powder and not in the "coloured powder". This is a theory - can anyone confirm?

I would try without water softening tablets.

Think Jess might be right because somethings say not to wash using a powder containing bleach. Or, they could be trying to make us buy lots of different powders - but they wouldn't do that would they?

Not half, kitty never in a million years.

Have you tried turning dark garments inside out, which is recommended for denim jeans to avoid permanent lightened creases? I've not had the problem with dark clothing, but then again I wash them inside out as a matter of course.

Thanks Moomin but they seem to lose the colour all the way through.

YOu're not being a bit heavy handed with the powder are you? A washing machine engineer once told me I was the only woman he had ever met who put the right amount in - i.e. less than a tablespoonful. Not half a cupful.

Have you used Vanish powder cos I did and it took some colour out of one of my favourite polo shirts.

I use a general powder and add a vanish type powder when necessary. I've never used water softener tablets but my washers seem to last as long as anyone else's. We live in an area with really hard water. I think most people use too much powder and conditioner. I always dilute conditioner 50/50 and use very little soap powdyer as * jess* said.

vanish powder does bleach. It is strong stuff. Great for pans with stuck on food! I'd only use it on stained whitish laundry.

Movedalot I have had a problem with various deodorants and anti-perspirants causing bleaching of coloured tops. It happens especially if you dress before the deodorant is dry. It is not just under the arms as any part of the top can get caught as you are putting it on.
This might not be your problem but I ruined a few new tops before I realised what it was!

I think the suggestions to ditch the water softener is one to try.

I live in a hard water area and would certainly not stop using water softener. As has been said previously I think some undissolved powder has got onto the garmet and bleached it - if you read the instructions on the packet it does say not to let undissolved powder get onto clothes.

Thanks all. I think Jess might have got it right and I will try that first. I have a scoop which came out of a pack of vanish and I put in 2 scoops with every wash. I will also buy one of those packs just for coloured clothes as I have never tried them and thought they were just a marketing thing. I just wonder why it happens now when it never used to? You'd think by now that an old dear like me would have known how to do her washing!

Washing powder for whites has bleach and optical brighteners not a good mix for coloureds. I do not wash at 30 degrees anymore after finding delicate tops with stains caused by washing liquid, detergents do not fully dissolve at 30 degrees.

Request for help on a similar thing! I bought some Vanish stuff that you add to the drawer along with your usual stuff. My usual stuff is a liquid that also goes in the drawer, i.e. not directly into the drum.

I did as instructed,(i.e. both vanish powder and usual liquid put in the drawer) and ended up with a gloopy residue in said drawer!

Should I perhaps try putting one or the other directly into the drum, and if so, which?

I had the same problem with tablets, especially when those nets you put in the drum were on vogue, because the tablets didn't disolve properly. So I stopped using tablets and powder which sometimes didn't disolve in the drawer (Persil gave me £50 for a pair of ruined trousers) Then the same thing happens with the squidgy tablets on quick washes leaving gunky globs. So now I just use the liquid you put straight into the drum in it's little pot (even when the instructions say use the drawer) No problems.

I would agree - my washing machine has a drawer for powder etc. but I use the squidgy things and put them directly into the drum under the clothes, as per the instructions on the box. If I use Vanish powder I throw that in the drum as well. I do put the conditioner in its drawer, though!