Spot Check: The Best Washing Machines For Tough Stains 

So, you’ve just splodged pasta sauce on your favourite shirt. Disaster! Or is it? The latest washing machines are primed and ready to save the day. Equip your laundry with a next-gen washing machine packed with clever cleaning settings, employ a few tried-and-tested stain removal tips, and you’ll be busting stains like a laundry superhero. Here’s how:

Which Washing Machine Is Best For Stain Removal?

Sometimes scrubbing and soaking are not enough, particularly when beetroot juice or hamburger grease is involved. That’s when you need a particularly talented washing machine to do the heavy (stain) lifting for you. 

The latest models don’t just cycle through laundry loads on autopilot; they use smart technology that helps to lift and remove all types of stain – while being gentle on fabrics. 

“Washing machines are made for both general and targeted cleaning,” says Peter Simic, The Good Guys Buyer – Laundry.

“For example, many machines feature a pre-wash function for particularly stained or soiled clothing, and flush water through before the main cycle. This basic clean allows the main wash to focus on getting the garment totally fresh.” Here’s the top tech – and tips – you need to treat common stains.

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"The latest models don’t just cycle through laundry loads on autopilot; they use smart technology that helps to lift and remove all types of stain – while being gentle on fabrics."

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Stubborn Stain #1: Red wine

If the things we love hurt us most, then an overturned glass of red is a stab to the heart! As with most stains, it’s best to treat red wine splodges straightaway. First, cover the stain with a paste made from baking soda and water. A more abrasive and acidic alternative to soap, baking soda is great for lifting stains and can even neutralise odours. White vinegar, toothpaste or baby powder will also do the job. Once the stain has faded, rinse and put the garment in the capable hands of the ASKO 8kg Style Front Load Washer, which features a dedicated program for stains. Washing in cold water is recommended. Some protein-based or pigmented stains can lift better with heat but, for many, it can permanently set a stain.

Stubborn Stain #2: Tomato Sauce

Everyone is a perfectly tidy pasta eater until they’re wearing something white. Begin by rinsing the stained area with cold water from the inside out, so as to not make the stain bigger. Next, apply a small amount of clothes detergent, soap, or clothing stain remover and soak. Finish with a cold-water machine wash or – better still – a pre-wash and a wash cycle for optimum results. Taking pre-wash a step further, the Samsung 9kg Front Load Washer feature combines soak and wash steps in one, making it the go-to appliance for pasta (and other) disasters. 

Stubborn Stain #3: Coffee

For both tea and coffee mishaps, hit the stained area with the ever reliable baking soda and water paste, and let it sit for 15 mins. Rinse, then put the garment through a regular cold wash. Repeat the washing process if you need to. To help you reduce the need to rewash, an auto-dosing machine like the Bosch 9kg Front Load Washer can help. The i-Dos feature dispenses detergent based on load size and fabric type, and is designed to hit a stain with its perfect dose of kryptonite.

Stubborn Stain #4: Grass

Start with a cold-water soak to help lift the dirt, then treat with a stain removal spray or baking soda and water paste. Scrub gently with a brush. Leave the garment to soak a little longer before putting it through a cold machine wash. The machine wash stage is important in removing those final brown and green traces, and can be boosted with the auto-dosing function of the Miele 8kg-4kg Combo Washer Dryer. The high-tech TwinDos auto-dosing not only dispenses the right amount of detergent, but strategically dispenses two types of detergent at optimal stages of the cycle. 

Stubborn Stain #5: Grease

Water and oil aren’t a good mix, which makes the task of washing grease-stained items a bit trickier. Hold off on the water and begin by covering the stain with dry cornstarch or baking soda to help draw out the oil. After a few hours, blot the area with a dry towel and load into a warm-to-hot wash cycle for best results.  A hot wash can damage some fabrics, which is where the LG 8kg Front Load Washer and its AI Direct Drive technology comes in. It can do the thinking for you by weighing the load and assessing fabric softness to automatically pick the right temperature and cycle. 

Ready to blitz every stain that comes through your laundry? Visit us in-store or online for expert advice and a huge range of the latest washers and dryers.