| What is the pre-wash cycle for on my washing machine? |
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This cycle is ideal for soaking and washing heavily soiled items. You would usually put detergent into both the pre-wash section and the main wash section of your detergent drawer and the machine will take the detergent in two stages so your clothes are actually being washed twice. You can also add your stain remover powder to the pre-wash section of the drawer as this will start to loosen and break down any stubborn stains.
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| How do I wash waterproofed clothing? |
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Most of these types of garment cannot be washed using a standard detergent based laundry powder as the detergent will break down the protective water proofed layer. There are proprietary products on the market for this type of garments although ordianry soap flakes will work just as well. Take care if using them in your machine as they can suds up. Follow the dosage instructions as per the manufacturers recommendation.
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| How do I reduce creasing on my clothes? |
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Avoid over drying your clothes, particularly in the tumble dryer as this can make creases very sifficult to remove. Easy iron fabric softeners are great for releasing creases from cottons and linens as well as a slower spin speed in your machine.To help ironing out tough creases you may wish to try our Dr Beckmann Easy Iron which is an easy to use spray which can be directed straight at creased areas on your garments.
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| How do I remove a disintegrated tissue from my wash load? |
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This is a problem that all of us have experienced at one time or another! Usually, simply re-washing the wash load or setting the programme to rinse will be enough to remove the bits. Alternatively, if the garments are suitable for tumble drying, this method is very effective at removing bits of tissue and also fluff from dark garments, particularly if you also add a fabric conditioner sheet such as our Glo Care Tumble Fresh.
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| Can I use fabric softener on towels? |
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In theory, too much fabric softener on towels can reduce the absorbency of the towels. However, towels which are not dried in a tumble dryer can feel quite rough and harsh so a small amount of fabric softener will help this and not impede the absorbency too much.
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| How do I stop my white underwear from going grey? |
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As the majority of lingerie is made from man made fibres such as polyamide,nylon etc and these fibres are very susceptible to dye, it is essential to wash these items seperately, preferably in a hand wash. You can also use our Dr Beckmann Lingerie Whitener to help restore underwear which had already turned dull and dingy to restore that as new whiteness.
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| Are any of your products approved by the Vegetarian Society? |
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Our Miracle Acdo Soft and Gentle non-bio laundry powder is approved by the Vegetarian Society as it does not contain any animal derivatives and is vegetable oil based. It is also suitable for Vegans.
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| Can I use Stain Devils on my carpet? |
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We do not generally recommend the use of our Stain Devils on carpets as they have specific instructions for use which would make them unsuitable for treating carpet stains.
However, you may wish to try our Dr Beckmann Stain Slayer which will remove numerous difficult stains such as tar, candle wax, pollen and chewing gum from carpets, upholstery and laundry and gives excellent results!
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| How do I remove stains from suede and leather? |
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Suede and leather are specialist "fabrics" and as such they need to be treated with products which are specifically for them.
I would recommend that you consult a professional dry cleaner who specialises in the cleaning of suede and leather items.
Stains on leather furniture can be treated using specialist products which can be purchased from all reputable furniture stores.
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| What is the difference between a colourcare detergent and an ordinary detergent? |
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The difference between the two is that a colourcare detergent does not contain oxygen based bleaching agents, which help to maintain the brightness of colours and reduce fading of dark coloured garments.
Other detergents which contain bleaching agents are generally recommended for whites.
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| Top Ten Tips for Stain Removal |
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1.Treat stains as soon as possible – fresh stains are always easier to remove as they have not yet set into the fabric. Dealing with marks immediately also guarantees that you remember what the stain was so you’ll be better prepared to treat it!
2.Be wary of using hot water, as heat can often “set” a stain.
3.Pre-soak dirty items overnight before treating spot stains.
4.Do not soak wool or silk; instead use a specialist ph neutral detergent to protect the delicate fibres.
5.Always treat a stain from the wrong side of the fabric.
6.Never rub - always dab. This is to stop stains from spreading and to also reduce the risk of fibre damage.
7.Always work inwards to the middle of the stain to avoid spreading the mark further. Alternatively, place a clean cloth under the stain and work the stain and stain remover onto the cloth underneath.
8.Always pre-test a stain remover for colourfastness as a faded area on a garment is as unsightly as a stained area!
9.Always check wash care label instructions as some fabrics are not suitable for stain removers, which contain enzymes.
10.For those really tricky stains, Dr Beckmann Stain Devils range is just what the laundry doctor ordered. With six Stain Devils in the range; cooking oil & fat; curry & sauce; grease, lubricant & paint; tea, red wine, fruit & juice; ballpoint ink, felt-tip & mud and grass & make-up, there is a Stain Devil for every possible smudge, spillage or mark which might crop up.
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| Top Ten Tips for Better Washing |
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1.Always follow the garments wash care label and detergent instructions.
2.Sort garments into whites and colours, then into groups by fabric types.
3.Empty the pockets, remove buckles and shoulder pads, close all zips and hooks.
4.Try to avoid over-filling the machine as it reduces the effectiveness of the wash and can cause over creasing.
5.Always follow the manufacturers instructions for the laundry detergent and your washing machine.
6. To avoid streaking and scuffing of jeans or corduroys or fading of T-shirt designs wash the garments inside out.
7.Remember that delicates need special care and silk and wool are best washed with a specialist ph neutral detergent.
8.If handwashing, remember not to wring, just squeeze out the water gently to avoidover creasing and miss shaping.
9.If machine washable, place delicates in a pillowcase or net bag to prevent them from being snagged in the wash.
10.Always remove your wash load as soon as the cycle has finished.
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| But how do I test for colour fastness? |
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More and more garments are manufactured using non-colourfast fabrics. As such, it is essential to pre-test most laundry additives prior to use to avoid colour loss. To avoid costly mistakes you may wish to follow the instructions below:
Test in an inconspicuous area of the item to be treated e.g. The hem, under arm, inside pocket, zip placket. Dampen the area with water and apply a small amount of the stain removal product.
Allow the product to soak in for up to 10 minutes.
Blot the area with a white cloth. Check for any colour tranference onto the cloth. If any colour appears on the white cloth the item is not colourfast to the product and is not suitable to be used.Then allow the test area to dry out. Check for any colour loss before rinsing thoroughly.For Dr Beckmann Colour Run Remover follow the colourfast test instructions exactly as directed on pack. If in doubt seek further advice from our consumer services department at helen@acdoco.com
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| What is the difference between biological and non-biological washing powders? |
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Biological detergents contain enzymes. Non-biological detergents do not contain enzymes and are often preferred by people with sensitive skin. The range of ACDO washing detergents include both bio and non-bio powders and liquids to suit all consumer needs. Bio's are usually more effective on heavily soiled items as the enzymes will break down the stains quicker and more effectively.
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| What does biodegradable mean? |
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This is the process by which the 'active' substances in a product are broken down into smaller, harmless compounds, making them less hazardous to the environment. It is not to be confused with Biological. All of ACDOCO's products fully comply with legislation in terms of their bio-degradability.
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| Are powders more effective than liquids’? |
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Powders are often more effective on heavily soiled or stained items. Liquids are often more effective for delicate items and light duty washing.However, todays laundry detergents are sophisticated enough to cope with any type of laundry load and a lot of laundry liquids will remove heavy soiling very effectively.
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| What is the difference between ordinary detergents and 'concentrates'? |
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Concentrates require less of a dosage level, therefore packing is often smaller and less space is needed for storage. With less packaging and chemicals the environmental impact is minimised which make them ideal products to use to help the environment!!
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| What are Enzymes? |
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Enzymes are found in biological washing detergents and assist with the breakdown and removal of certain types of protein, starch and fat-based stains. As enzymes can be killed off at high temperatures it is recommended that biological laundry detergents are used in 30º and 40º wash cycles and ideally in cold fill washing machines.
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