Does Hotpoint Anti-stain Really Work?

[dascot]

Glenfield - firstly, I don't think the program on your machine is the "will remove 20 stains" one, as they are advertising that as new now with their current range.

I think these anti stain programs are a bit of a waste of time really - if you use the correct programs with the right amount of (bio or non-bio) detergent (yes, even without additives) then clothes will come clean and stains won't be stuck in. Sure, the manufacturers like a gimmick, and why not when people will pay for it. When you say you're not sure how people years ago cleaned - have you asked anyone? The majority of people stuck with the normal standard programs and actually didn't use lots of additives.

 

[dascot]

The other point I would make is that to me, when a manufacturer advertises their anti-stain machines with examples of cleaning by one of them and a non-anti-stain machine showing the stains still visible... well, that'd put me off buying one of them because I'd think the machine without anti stain wasn't doing its job properly.

As a slight aside, why is it acceptable (or necessary) for loads of laundry to now take 3+ hours? I note that the Hotpoint anti-stain (suspect others are similar but haven't looked) will take around that time, for a 5kg max load.

 

[aquacycle]

Whilst I appreciate the added "stain" cycle (long wash, vigorous tumbles), I feel the current marketing angle of said program is a complete gimmick.

My mother made a good point the other day when the advert came on. She said "oh wow, a washing machine cycle that removes stains, never seen THAT before! Isn't that what a washing machine is meant to do?". I came back with "how, exactly, is it anti-stain? Do they give you a bib when you buy it?".

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

electron1100 - I notice once again 60 or 90 is bought up - this cycle is designed to effectively remove all the stains that would come out at 60 or 90, but wash only at 40C. As that's a better temp for coloureds, bright coloureds (and darks if soiled with anything white??)

I agree a good method to wash whites, tea towels etc is to soak them, or give them a good 60 or 90 wash. I usually put them on no2 a 60C wash which works by holding temp for a whole hour, with the heater coming on and off.

Dascot - did you read the description (about 3rd line)?
This is one of the latest washers from Hotpoint, sold alongside (and made alongside) their current round door machines. Its programmes, and programming is EXACTLY the same as the round door machines. Just like all the other HE, HY, HF square door models (designed so they can be matched with a square door dryer, or if you prefer a traditional square door look, as some don't like the round door - lead to numerous people moaning - even on this site).
Therefore the anti-stain advertised on TV, is the Anti-stain which this machine has, and its been around for about nearly 2 years. (Still quite new - but the adverts advertise the machine as new, with Anti-stain technology).

Meanwhile as Electron1100 the reason for standard programmes being so long, is all due to the Governemnt, not just Hotpoint, but nearly all will sadly now be over 3hrs. This is due to the requirement to be energy efficient A+, A++ etc (Means a reduced temp to that that is chosen), while still delivering an A class wash (Meaning longer cycle time, due to the reduce temp and the fact that no longer a temp hold can be performed).

The Anti-stain cycle is only for 5KG because this way the drum is loosely full (52l), better movement of the clothes, as opposed to tightly compressed on the 7KG full cycle.

Yes Aquacycle - in my opinion its good to have an effective stain removal wash.

 

[dascot]

Yes, I did read your post, and I looked on the Hotpoint website. When I looked, and selected anti-stain, there were only round door machines showing up. If that's not the case, then feel free to ignore my previous point. 2 years isn't 'new technology' though.

For your other points I would say:

5kg - if the drum is too tightly packed at 7kg to tumble and remove stains, then it shouldn't be marketed as a 7kg machine. Simple. And actually, if anyone felt the desire to do so, it'd be interesting to see what happened with a legal challenge if 7kg of clothing couldn't be cleaned in a 'normal' cycle.

Long cycle times - it isn't necessary for them to be quite so long, and they can't blame it all on energy legislation. At least a part of it is a pi***ng contest between manufacturers for bragging rights to have 'best economy' or 'lowest water use' etc. How often, if ever, do people use the cycles that were used for energy label measurements?

I still maintain that this 'anti-stain' (for all manufacturers) is a daft and unnecessary cycle.

 

[ozzie908]

Other factor for long cycle times is...

Lower wattage heaters, I believe we have lost 1000 watts on most heaters as the power cords have got thinner over the years and the heater use less thus making the washer eco friendly. So if you want it hotter you need to wait longer.

Austin

 

[launderess]

My AEG Lavamat Has A Stain Cycle Or At Least Setting

Have never used it but apparently you add whatever product for stain removal to a special section of the dispenser drawer. Then at the proper time machine will dispense said product into the wash cycle.

 

[ozzie908]

If I remember correctly...years ago we had stain buttons on.

some washers and all it did was make the machine fill with cold instead of hot and as it took longer to heat that was all the enzymes etc needed.

What happened to those enzymes that were in detergent back then where are they now? and they say products have improved???

Austin

 

[launderess]

Enzymes in Laundry Products Have Improved Over The Years

Early enzymes were limited to mainly protease and worked in a very limited temperature, pH and chemical range, usually around body temperature (98F to 110F, or warm water). Modern "Frankenzymes" not only have been developed to cope with a variety of stains (protein, fruit, starch, sugar, residues, cotton, etc..) but can do so in water as cold as 84F to warm as 120F.

Between these an other developments IMHO stain cycles are hardly necessary unless other reasons require.

The Tide "Coldwater Free and Gentle" in my detergent stash cleans in cold or warm water just as well as Persil does in hot to boiling. The only reason to increase wash temperature to hot or boiling is to increase the bleaching power of oxygen bleaches, IMHO.

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[MrX]

It depends which Persil you're referencing too.

The liquids and powders will all do an excellent job at 30º-40ºC (or even cool/cold water in the cases of the liquids although, a little heat's definitely better for the washer!)

I don't think boil-washing is very necessary at all unless you're trying to actually bleach clothes which shouldn't really be necessary unless you're restoring whites that have been greyed / are dingy and you really need that oxidising action to do it.

For normal laundry, cool/luke warm water and a cocktail of enzymes, sequestrants, surfactants and other modern high-tech detergent components do the trick quite nicely when it comes to removing stains.

For example, I was washing some really badly stained table mats today which had ground-in tomato stains, tea stains, mayonnaise, pesto and coffee stains.

I just pre-treated it with Persil small and mighty bio and their "stain eraser ball" (just a flexible rubbery ball that you use as the dosing measure and throw into the drum). You basically measure the dose and just pour a bit on and use the end of the ball to squidge it into the stain.

Did that and left the items for about 2-3 min and started the wash. Did a 40ºC relatively short wash with an optional soak which just holds the clothes in the wash solution for an extra 20 mins or so with very occasional tumbles.

They came out absolutely perfectly without any stains left at all.

Seems the detergent uses:

Subtilisin,Pectate Lyase, Amylase & Mannanase and has quite a few complex chemical ingredients for anti-redeposition agents and four surfactants amongst other things.

Also, that approach to removing stains doesn't tend to fade colours where as harsh bleaching approaches definitely will.