When it comes to whitening clothes there are so many options you can try. You can do pre-washes, post-washes, and you can buy specific clothes whitening products…
But wouldn’t it all be so much easier if you could just purchase a washing powder, or detergent, that was specifically designed to clean and reinvigorate white clothes in just one wash? It would save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
It just so happens that these items do exist. So, read on to discover the best washing powders and detergents for white clothes right now.
Best Washing Powders and Detergents for White Clothes in the UK
1. Presto! 3 in 1 Laundry Capsules White
Type: Pods
Scent: Fresh
If you’re looking for a really simple way to clean your clothes, remove stains and transform your dull, greying white clothes into bright and sensational smelling garments, then look no further than Presto! 3 in 1 Laundry Capsules.
The 20 small capsules that come in the box resemble the 3 in 1 pods that Ariel makes, except these pods come at a bargain price!
It’s so easy to use these capsules, all you need to do is make sure your washing machine is empty and pop a capsule, or two, into the washing machine’s drum, then add your dirty clothes.
What’s even better is that on the back of the box you get some seriously detailed instructions that tell you how many capsules to use depending on what type of water you have (soft/hard), what size load you plan on using and how soiled your clothes are!
This handy little guide stops you from overusing washing products, so you’re keeping your washing machine and clothes healthier for longer.
Another excellent point about Presto! 3 in 1 laundry capsules is that you can bulk buy this detergent. Typically, you can purchase four boxes at once and it works out cheaper than getting individual boxes.
So, given the fact that you’ll be managing how many capsules you use per wash, you’ll actually be able to get a lot of washes out of this multibuy bargain.
Of course, there are a few downsides to this product too… A couple of users have noted that they did not find Presto! as tough as other cleaners when it came to taking out dirt.
Ohers noted that when they used more capsules, their clothes came out with some soapy residue marks. This meant that clothes had to be washed twice, which was an inconvenience.
Further to this, Presto! requires a medium to high heat temperature to work effectively. So, if you plan on washing your laundry on a 20℃ wash, you might not get clean clothes.
You also can’t use these capsules when you hand wash your clothes or on a quick wash cycle.
Finally, it’s really important that you don’t wet or pierce the capsules before you pop them into your washing machine because this causes problems! However, it’s very rare to see capsules split open in a box, so if you’re careful there won’t be much waste.
2. HG Whiter Than White Special Detergent For White Wash
Type: Powder
HG’s Whiter than White powder comes in a 400g tub and you should be able to get around six washes from this pot, this includes hand washing clothes too.
It’s specifically designed with yellowing and greying clothes in mind, as its aim is to reduce the yellowing effect the sun has had on clothes. It can also remove dirt and poor odours from white laundry!
It’s really simple to use this product because you just need to pop your clothes in the washing machine/tub and add the correct amount of powder in. You can do this by using the measuring cap that is part of the tub’s lid.
Sadly, this product does have its weaker points… the first being that you only get six washes out of the small pot.
While this may not be a huge problem for those of you who don’t have a lot of white clothes to wash, for individuals who have lots of white clothes to clean this would very quickly become expensive.
In addition to this, a number of users have noted that they saw little to no difference in how white their clothes were after using the HG product. While others noted that they saw great results but they had to pre-soak their white clothes in the HG product before moving onto the real wash.
Finally, some users mentioned that although the lid acts as a measuring cup too, it would’ve been nice to have a scoop to measure out the powder.
3. Miele UltraWhite Powder Detergent For Laundry
Type: Powder
You may associate Miele with ovens, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, amongst many other home appliances. But did you know Miele makes a fine washing powder too?
Miele’s UltraWhite Powder Detergent for Laundry is an excellent alternative to your general high street brands.
Not only does this 2.7 kg box of powder last a long time, but it’s great at removing tough stains and whitening laundry. Plus, you don’t need a Miele washing machine to enjoy all of these benefits.
The best part about this washing powder though is that you don’t need to run boiling hot cycles to see transformative results. This powder works wonders at almost every temperature from 20-95 ℃.
So, not only will you have laundry that smells delightful, your whites will be glowing and stains will be removed, but you’ll actually save a penny or two on your energy bill.
The only negative is that this product is quite expensive in comparison to other brands. That being said, you do get 49 washes out of one box, and the doses you need to use are a lot smaller than other brand’s doses. So, it does balance out in the end.
4. Daz Washing Powder Whites and Colours
Type: Powder
Scent: Fresh
If you’re looking for a long-lasting cleaner that you can use to hand wash clothes, then a box of Daz Washing Powder for Whites and Colours is what you need.
Daz’s Washing Powder is great at getting tough dirt off grubby white clothes and the washing powder makes clothes smell very fresh.
This mammoth box of washing powder weighs in at a whopping 4.225 kg and you can get 65 washes out of it. This is an astronomical amount of washing powder.
However, given the fact that this is a washing powder, and not a pre-measured out capsule, this number is likely to increase/decrease depending on how much product you decide to use. It’s very easy to overload a scoop with powder.
On that note, the box does come with some good instructions to help you measure out your washing powder.
Although a major downside is that if you don’t have a powder scoop readily available, or you’ve lost the scoop, you may not be as accurate with your doses.
Daz’s box of washing powder not only washes whites and brings them back to life, but this powder can be used in coloured clothes washes too. So, it means that you don’t have to invest in two separate detergents for your various piles of laundry.
However, another issue with the product is that the box that it comes in can break very easily. This means that products can spill out if you’re not careful.
5. Ariel All-in-1 Pods
Type: Pods
Scent: Ariel Original
Ariel’s all-in-1 laundry detergent pods are designed to make light work of tough stains, even on white clothing, and even at low temperatures.
These laundry pods are an easy way to clean all manner of fabrics thoroughly, whilst still protecting them from damage and keeping whites bright, even if you wash at low temperatures.
The film is 100% water soluble even in cold washes to stop all the inside of your washing machine getting clogged up.
These pods can be bought in large quantities helping you save money. However, it is worth remembering that Ariel recommends you use two pods if you are washing more than 6 kg of laundry.
Users love that the pods have a strong, clean smell that sticks to your clothing without being overpowering.
The packaging has a good childproof lock system to keep your little ones safe, however some people with reduced fine motor control might struggle.
What Helps White Clothes Stay White?
Most people who regularly wash laundry will be aware that you need to separate out your whites from your colours to achieve the best possible results.
However, even with the most thorough laundry separation, whites can still end up stained yellow or dull and grey.
Pulling once bright white clothes out of the washing machine to find them grey and dull is frustrating; but it can be avoided and you can take steps to restore their whiteness.
Laundry boosters
An easy way to keep whites bright and refresh dull laundry is to use a whitening laundry booster, such as Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White. Just adding a scoop to a load of white washing can achieve great results.
White vinegar
If you’d rather not use another detergent or chemical, white vinegar can lift some grey or yellow tones out of white fabric too. Simply adding half a cup of white vinegar to the whites when they go through the washing machine can make a world of difference.
Pre-soaking clothes
In the case of particularly stubborn staining or discolouration, the best solution can be to pre-soak them before running your regular washing machine cycle. Simply soaking white clothing in hot water mixed with a cup of bicarbonate of soda.
Drying clothes outdoors
Another way to keep white clothing bright is to dry them outdoors. The sun’s rays have a natural bleaching effect that will help reduce staining and discolouration.
What’s the Best Way to Wash White Clothes?
When it comes to washing white clothes, the exact steps you should take will depend on how dirty the garments are, what type of fabric they are made with, and a range of other factors besides.
Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to achieve great results every time.
Pre-treat stains as soon as possible
You will always achieve better results if you pre-treat stains on clothing as soon as possible, and this could not be more important than it is with white laundry.
Remove any food or dirt on the surface of the clothes carefully, without rubbing it in more. It can be easier to use a paper towel for this.
Once you’ve dealt with the excess, apply a stain remover and water to the stain, and rub it in either with your fingers, a clean brush or a clean cloth. You should then wash the garment as normal as soon as you can.
Separate laundry
When it comes to actually washing your whites, you need to thoroughly sort and separate out the laundry.
Whites should be washed completely separately from colours, even beiges or pastel shades as even these can bleed into true white clothing.
Once you’ve separated by colour, you need to think about the material. Separate out delicate fabrics like silk and lace, as these will need to be washed on a cooler, more gentle cycle than sturdy cotton does. If you aren’t sure about a fabric, check the care label.
After separating by fabric, you want to divide up the laundry piles based on how dirty they are.
Lightly soiled whites that just need a refresh can just be washed on a quick cycle to protect the fabric, whereas heavily soiled or stained whites will need a much more intensive wash.
Choose your detergent carefully
Ideally, you want to use a detergent that is specifically formulated to get stains out of white laundry without risking the fabrics. Better yet if it is a detergent that can do all this at wallet and environmentally friendly low temperatures.
Your choices might be a little more limited if someone in your household has allergies or sensitivities, but there are options out there.
Once you’ve picked a good detergent that is designed to get stains out of your whites, you want to make sure that you are using the optimum amount of detergent.
If you use too little, the laundry will not clean. Use too much, and your washing machine can develop a build-up of grime that attracts dirt and mould, staining your clothes even more.
How to Choose a Washing Powder or Detergent
Here are a few points to consider when choosing a washing powder or detergent to use:
- Think about the ingredients in the product – are you, or is someone in the family, allergic to a particular ingredient?
- What is your budget?
- Do you have a particular preference? (Branded or unbranded products, for example).
- How much time do you have? (Capsules and tablets are usually quicker to use, for example).
- Would you like to use a number of cleaning products or just 1? (For example, Daz Washing Powder for Whites and Colours can clean both coloured and white clothes, or would you be happier buying a white clothes cleaner and a coloured clothes cleaner?)
- Would you be happy using bleach-based items?
- Is an eco-friendly product worth considering?
Conclusion
If we had to pick just one washing powder and detergent for white clothes to recommend, it would be Presto! 3 in 1 Laundry Capsules White because they’re so simple to use and they’re an excellent price!
The fact that Presto! comes in capsule form means that all the hassle of measuring out washing powder is taken away, and it makes the cleaning process a lot quicker, especially if you’re short on time.
In addition to this, it’s really handy to know that Presto! can be bought as part of a multi-buy option, because this way you know that you’ll always have enough cleaning supplies at home.
However, if you don’t mind measuring out your washing powder, you could also buy a box of Daz Washing Powder for Whites and Colours.
This is another good option because you can get loads of uses out of it and you can use it for coloured clothes as well, so you can save time and money by getting this item.
Bethan has a passion for exploring, reading, cooking and gardening! When she’s not creating culinary delights for her family, she’s concocting potions to keep her house clean!
