I've bought liquid Persil Top Loader Sensitive - let's give that a shot!  Was tempted to buy their "high performance" one - but what additional chemicals it might have, who knows?

I washed the washing machine physically using a pot scrub and a bottle brush to get inside the agitator (it had some sort of schunge in there ).  I washed and rinsed all the removable parts.  Then I put through a hot empty wash.  When filled with hot water I put in some vinegar (about half a bottle) and a good handful of baking soda.  Not working off any recipe here but knew there was enough baking soda/vinegar when the water starting fizzing slightly. 

Would be interested in home made washing powder recipes - I'm going to Bin Inn tomorrow.

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

ButterflyMum wrote: I make my own works great and cheaper.    i hate the smell of store bought ones they too strong. plus daughter has senstive skin.

Same!  You can play around with the recipies but equal amounts of grated sunlight soap, washing soda and borax/baking soda does the trick. Smells great, cheap as chips and eco friendly! And gets stains out (most of the time).

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!

I use eco store and it is fine with my washing. Now I don't wash nappies on a daily bases I may look at something else.

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!!