Clothes that do not get clean in the machine
Short answer: If clothes do not come out clean, the machine is usually too full, the dose is wrong or the programme is too short. Those three things cover almost every case, and they are easy to fix.
An overfilled machine
Clothes get clean by moving through water and detergent. If the drum is packed, the laundry cannot tumble, and the water does not reach every layer. Place a hand on top of the laundry in the drum: there should be room for it. Read more in why clothes do not get clean in an overfilled machine.
The wrong dose
Too little detergent does not clean, and too much does not rinse out, leaving residue that holds on to odour. The right dose depends on water hardness, the load and how dirty it is. Follow the pack instructions and adjust for your water. See how to dose detergent correctly.
A programme that is too short
Quick programmes are designed for lightly soiled clothes. They wash for less time and rinse less well, so sweat and skin oils stay behind. Use a normal programme for sweaty clothes, underwear and sportswear. The quick programme is fine for clothes that only need freshening up.
The machine itself
A machine with buildup in the rubber seal or the detergent drawer passes odour to every load. Wipe the seal after use and leave the door open so the machine can dry. Run an empty wash on a high temperature now and then to clear residue and bacteria.
Stains
Stains need treating before the clothes go in the machine, not by the wash itself. A normal wash rarely removes a stain that has set, and heat can make it permanent. Treat the stain as soon as possible. See stains on bamboo clothing for advice on the most common ones.
See the range
Underwear and basics are washed most often and need a good wash the most. With enough for a full week, you can run full loads instead of half loads, and the clothes get a rest between wears. See the basics in bamboo underwear for men.
Washing
Bamboo clothing does best with a moderate temperature, a gentle programme and no fabric softener. Turn items inside out and dry them hanging. That way they last longest and stay soft. The rest of the rules are in the washing guide.
Wash sooner after wearing
Dirt and sweat that have sat for a week are harder to remove than fresh dirt. Do not leave sweaty clothes crumpled in a basket. Hang them up until wash day and wash them within a couple of days. See bamboo T-shirts for men.
Sort the laundry
Heavy items such as towels and jeans in the same load as thin shirts give an uneven wash. The heavy items soak up water and detergent, and the light ones take more wear. Sort by weight and colour so each load gets a suitable programme and comes out properly clean.
When nothing helps
If you have fixed the load, dose and programme and clothes still smell, residue from earlier washes may be stuck in the fabric. Run a wash without detergent to rinse it out. If that does not help, it may be the water or the machine that needs checking.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my clothes not come out clean?
Most often because the machine is too full, the dose is wrong or the programme is too short. Fix those three things before looking for other explanations.
How full can the machine be?
There should be room for a hand on top of the laundry in the drum. Then the clothes can move freely, and water and detergent reach every layer during the wash.
Does more detergent help?
No, too much detergent does not rinse out and leaves residue that holds on to odour. Follow the pack instructions and adjust for the hardness of your water.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
