I’ve spent 40 years cleaning clothes professionally – the products I swear by

Grace Wise, 56, has worked with dirty washing all of her professional life, joining the NHS as a laundry assistant when she left school at 16. After being made redundant from her post four years ago, when the work was outsourced to an external contractor, Wise set up her own laundry service in December 2022 to complement her sister’s cleaning business. Her regular clients keep her so busy that she can often be found working through six loads of washing every day. Here, Wise details the laundry essentials she can’t live without.

Best all-round detergent

Ariel Original Powder – £16.25

I’ve tried dozens of detergents, but I always come back to Ariel, it’s the one I use at home. This is a biological detergent, meaning it contains enzymes that break down dirt and grime. It’s a great all-rounder, and tackles food, drink, and make-up stains with ease. I much prefer powder to liquid detergents, because it works out cheaper per load and comes in recyclable packaging.

Best non-bio detergent

Aldi Almat Non Bio Washing Powder – £3.89

If you’re looking for a non-biological detergent that’s gentle on sensitive skin, this supermarket buy is a great pick. It lifts stains like baby food and coffee, and gives an excellent clean, even at low temperatures, without leaving any powder residue behind. It also comes in a liquid form if you’re not a fan of powder.

Best detergent for whites

Miele Ultra White Powder Detergent – £18.89

Whites stay beautifully white after a cycle with this magic powder, which was originally designed to go in Miele washing machines, but will work in any model. It’s powerful stuff, great for lifting stains, but that also means it will lift colour too, which is why you need to stick to using this in white washes only. It’s pricey, but if you want to keep your white laundry sparkling, it’s a must-buy.

Best pre-treatment stain remover

Dr Beckmann Power Brush Stain Remover – £3.20

There are two ways to treat stains: by pre-treating them before washing and by adding a stain remover to the washing cycle. This pre-treatment product comes with a brush applicator that works the formula deep into fabric, without making a mess. Simply apply it to stains, scrub it in for a few minutes and leave it for 10 minutes before popping it in the machine, and stains should lift beautifully. It works just as well on dried-in stains as it does on fresh spills, too.

Best general stain remover

Pink Stuff Oxi Powder Stain Remover – £3

Suitable for use on colours and whites, I add a scoop of this to most loads of washing to ensure everything comes out super clean. This lifts stains without dulling colours, leaving fabrics fresh and vibrant. I especially like that it comes in a generous 1kg tub, which lasts over 30 washes.

Best laundry bag for delicates

BAGAIL Mesh Laundry Bags – £7.99 for five

If you’re the kind of person who ignores instructions about handwashing delicate items and throws everything in the machine, you need a mesh laundry bag. They’re most useful for washing delicate fabrics like nylon, wool, silk or lace, as these fibres are more prone to pilling, stretching and snagging. They’re also a lifesaver for lingerie, as bras are easily damaged in the drum and their hooks can catch on other garments.

Best odour remover and fabric softener

Hexeal High Strength White Vinegar 5L – £10.25

People hate the idea of washing their clothes without fabric softener because they love the smell and believe it’s the thing that makes their towels fluffy. But fabric softener will ruin your towels because it leaves a chemical coating that builds up on textiles and traps odours. Instead of fabric softener, I add a mixture of half a cup of water and half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of a wash, and the clothes always come out smelling fresh. You have to be careful to add it to the fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle, because if you add it at the beginning of the wash, the enzymes in the washing powder and the acid in the vinegar cancel each other out.

Best tumble dryer hack

Nooril Wool Tumble Dryer Balls – £6.98

Nothing beats air-dried clothes on a sunny day, but that’s far from practical for me, with the volume of washing I do. I love these woollen balls for the tumble dryer because they help separate clothes and allow hot air to circulate better, resulting in a quicker drying time. Not only that, but your clothes will come out less creased, eliminating the need for ironing.

Best clothes steamer

Fridja f1200 Professional Vertical Garment/Clothes Steamer – £159.99

It may surprise most people to know that, despite my job, I hate ironing in a domestic setting. In a professional laundry, there are industrial presses to do the heavy work, but at home, there’s no room for those gadgets. Then I discovered this steamer, which has been a game-changer. This vertical steamer boasts a 2.2L water tank that makes quick work of shirt wrinkles and can even add crisp creases to suit trousers. It’s so good, I haven’t used my iron in 18 months.

Best washing machine cleaner

DP Soda Crystals – £2.35 for 1kg

I know people who have never cleaned their washing machine, but wonder why their clothes can end up smelling rank. It’s not rocket science! I run an empty 60-degree wash with 500g of soda crystals in the main drum every 30 washes to eliminate gunk and clean out any bacteria. Leave the door of your washing machine open after every cycle to allow the machine to dry, to reduce the chance of mould and mildew accumulating.