Does Hotpoint Anti-stain Really Work?


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Thread Number: 49572
Does Hotpoint Anti-stain Really Work?

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Post# 716718 11/21/2013 at 04:59 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes Well as you all probably know by now, sadly the WM31 is no longer living here, due to an uneconomical repair it was sold on to a new person, who has apparently done it up, using parts from another WM31! (who knows maybe on Ebay one day, or maybe its been on Ebay already?) I now own a Hotpoint "Experience" HE7L492(P) and must say its brilliant, OK its got the square door design, but has all the updated programmes and programming, and is really built well compare to the older WML square door models. This means I have the Anti-stain programme - they claim it can remove 20 stains in one wash. I've put it to the test several times already, and I will do more videos in future testing stain removal of different stains, however the only stain which doesn't seem to come off in the cycle is Tomato & orange. They're both Fruit stains I presume the cycle isn't hot enough. I emailed Hotpoint about this and the response I was given was pretty much a Joke, they said I need to run the Pre-wash cycle!! (It doesn't even have a Pre-wash cycle!) Surely if they claim it can remove 20 stains (Including Tomato), then it should do this without the need to Pre-wash? Maybe I have to try it with Ariel? Anyway, the cycle does remove all other stains very well, thanks to the long wash tumbles, and heating in to various stages - as you'll be able to see in the video below (I've chosen Super wash which does extend the main wash by about half an hour, but still Tomato remains!!) The description of the video on Youtube is as follows: "In this video you get to see Prog 1 for the very first time / and officially the first On YouTube of the Anti-Stain Wash. The cycle is very similar to Prog 7 (Baby), just at Whites water level and much longer. It sets out to remove 20 stains by heating in stages of 10C. Starting of with slow tumbles to sense the load. Then 2 long fast tumbles at Cold - this rhythm continues during heating to 20, then heat to 30, then heat to 35, then 40, then Holds for the rest of the wash. The Main Wash is about 2hrs-2 hrs30 depending on load size (so around 2hrs30-3hrs in total) however with Superwash (as in the video) the wash duration increases to between 2hrs30 & 3hrs00 (so about 3hrs10-3hrs40 in total) There is also a shuttle rinse, 2deep rinses (or 3 shallow rinses with Superwash) and a 1400 cotton final spin. Normal cotton interim spins also take place on the cycle. Unlike other cycles - on this cycle - Superwash does not Increase the wash water level. And as with Superwash always, the initial fill through the centre compartment (at the beginning of the cycle) doesn't happen, it fills straight away through Main wash. In this load - Chef Whites Detergent: Persil Advance Eradicil Powder disinfectant. Comfort pure I hope you all enjoy this video :)"

Post# 716741 , Reply# 1 11/21/2013 at 07:13 (3,801 days old) by hoover1100 (U.K.)
Checkrate/Likes *Well* I've never used a machine which can't remove 20 stains in one wash, so if it doesn't work then I'd be sorely disappointed!

Post# 716762 , Reply# 2 11/21/2013 at 09:21 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes *hoover1100* Bet you've never washed 20 stains in one wash, all extremely ground and dried in have you? I'm not talking about every day stains like mud, sweat, deodorant, bit of food, bit of (Brown) stuff out your bum. I'm talking about Oranges, Red Wine, Chocolate, Butter, Grease, Car Oil, Coffee, Tea, Lipstick, Burger sauce, Guacamole, grass etc. OK the average household doesn't have these stains on their clothes, so the cycle is pointless, a normal cycle is perfect. In fact boiling wont remove all 20, and washing at cold wont remove all 20 either, this cycle gives a perfect balance in my opinion, and works well on everything except Tomato. My Old Hotpoint never removed even easy to remove stains without 95 and still that's too hot for many.

Post# 716786 , Reply# 3 11/21/2013 at 11:40 (3,801 days old) by Hoover1100 (U.K.)
Checkrate/Likes *Tough stains* Actually I quite frequently wash clothes and kitchen whites heavily soiled in dried on ragu sauce, red wine, tea/coffee and fruit juices, grass and ground in mud. These have always been completely removed on a 95c wash, and almost entirely removed at 60c, especially if they are pre-treated first. Sometimes really bad tomato or fruit juice based stains may leave a feint mark, which is usually removed by the sun on the line, but you mention in your first post that tomato stains are still present after this cycle, so that's no different to the results I get in my machines. If stains aren't coming out at 95 I'd be re-evaluating my choice of detergent or the quantities I were using.

Post# 716790 , Reply# 4 11/21/2013 at 11:49 (3,801 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Is the temp fixed at 40 for this cycle?* or can it be raised to 60/70 ? I ask because in all my years in the kitchen I have never used a low temp to wash whites as it defeats the purpose of having them. Chefs clothing is made to be washed hot or you won't get greasy stains out no matter what powder is used... Austin

Post# 716810 , Reply# 5 11/21/2013 at 12:51 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes I was showcasing the machines programming, not going into a debate whether or not this is right to wash chef whites at 40. It certainly isn't right, I was just demonstrating the cycle. Yes you can use 90 for Chef whites, and I do, but Anti-stain is designed for Coloureds to protect the colours (yet effectively remove stains). It only allows 40C cant be adjusted up or down, ie if you choose 30 its still 40, and if you choose 90 its still 40. I wash my chef whites on Programme 2 a dedicated Whites wash which is at 60C and holds the temp for a whole Hour using an intensive rhythm. Or put them on a cottons standard 90 programme. hoover1100 - you cant (well you can) put coloureds on 95 or they fade very quickly, however you can put them on 40 and the colour stays brighter for longer, this cycle designed for colours (and those that cant be boiled), to keep them looking good, but remove various tough stains. Also boiling some stains wont get rid of them, as some are best removed in lower temps - blood for instance, boiling causes it to set, I know, I've done it in the WM31, leaves a horrible patch where the stain was.

Post# 716814 , Reply# 6 11/21/2013 at 13:02 (3,801 days old) by lavamat_jon (UK)
Checkrate/Likes It is interesting how different manufacturers are introducing anti-stain cycles, and the different approaches are interesting - perhaps even more interesting is the correlation between these and the prevalence of mainstream cold water washing - it is almost an admission that the super-eco cold water cycles with liquid don't work on anything but lightly to medium soiled laundry! However - I have yet to encounter something that one scoop of washing powder and perhaps the odd scoop of stain remover won't remove on a 2 hour cotton cycle - and I very rarely need to go above 60 degrees. That is without pre washing or resorting to the soak facility on my machine. You never saw anybody walking around with dirty clothes 10 years ago when most washing machines only had the basic 4 cycles! Jon

Post# 716818 , Reply# 7 11/21/2013 at 13:05 (3,801 days old) by logixx (Germany)
Checkrate/Likes So, it's like Whirlpool's Clean+ function? Clean+ also adds a stain treat product through the prewash compartment once the temp gets higher. I haven't used it on my washer, though.

Post# 716820 , Reply# 8 11/21/2013 at 13:08 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes Yes that's true jon, but yet again the mention of 60 degrees, this cycle is only 40C and designed for extreme soils (without stain remover needed). Probably is a marketing gimmick, but why not, if it gets them sales. Yes not sure how many people years ago cleaned, but they all used high temps for stains, hand washed in the sink, and more often than not used lots of additives.

Post# 716821 , Reply# 9 11/21/2013 at 13:09 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes yes Logixx - but no additives (just detergent), and only a 40C cycle.

Post# 716824 , Reply# 10 11/21/2013 at 13:14 (3,801 days old) by Hoover1100 (U.K.)
Checkrate/Likes *Stained Coloured* No ofcourse I would not wash coloureds on a 95c wash, infact, it's very rare that I wash anything above 60c. However coloured clothes simply do not require vigorous stain removal, the stains do not show up anywhere near as much as on whites. A tomato sauce or motor oil stain will not be visible on a black tshirt, and even on a lighter colour will be removed enough so as to make it invisible to the naked eye. All my machines have a hot fill, yet I have never experienced a protein based stain such as blood setting even on a boil wash with incoming water at 60c, perhaps because I only use biological washing powder. Plus, tumbling clothes around for almost 4 hours isn't exactly going to prolong the brightness of the colours. Removing stains has been the job of washing machines since they were invented. I do find it pretty amusing that Hotpoint are making out they have reinvented the wheel by bringing out a washing machine that removes stains!

Post# 716828 , Reply# 11 11/21/2013 at 13:22 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes *OK - fe* Thats fair enough, I use nonbio which is probably why. I also agree tumbling for 2hrs isn't so good for coloureds after all - but still better than boiling them in order to remove tough stains. I read the manual - and it says its designed to give a results thats better than A class. And coloureds shouldn't be mixed.

Post# 716834 , Reply# 12 11/21/2013 at 13:42 (3,801 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *History Lesson ....* If you really want to sort ya difficult stains out, get yourself a decent biological powder and select a multi fabric soak wash - its what we did back in the 80`s if you had a Servis Quartz, a little later for the Hotpoint Microtronic or Hoover Computer Control...Bucket or sink otherwise just pause your programme, All of these advanced multi-plus stain release programmes are for the Laundry Needy and Desperates, I mean how many different tumble rythms/temps for multiple stain removal can one machine have!!! Great if you dont want to think but its nothing new!!

Post# 716890 , Reply# 13 11/21/2013 at 17:22 (3,801 days old) by mrx ()
Checkrate/Likes Try it with a new bottle of Persil Small and Mighty Bio. They've added Pectate Lyase which is an enzyme that should tackle those kinds of stains. You may need to use a small amount of raw liquid on the stains themselves and let them pre-treat for a few minutes before washing for absolutely best results if they're really bad. That being said, either Persil or Ariel bio powder usually shifts those kinds of stains without issue in my experience.

Post# 716897 , Reply# 14 11/21/2013 at 17:34 (3,801 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes Indeed its nothing new chestermikeuk, I will be giving chef whites a soak in future before washing (especially with tomato stains). Looks like manufacturers were at it back in the day too though - Servis wasn't exclusive to have the mix soak, Hotpoint's had that too? MRX - currently I've that big box of Professional Persil powder (You only need half in a household washer)- Persil Advance, it is powerful and better at removing stains than normal Persil, and it does remove tomato even on the Anti-stain wash (and also on the Whites programme). One thing to consider though is normal households wont use professional detergent, but most households wont get so dirty!! I will try small and mighty next - thanks for the suggestion.

Post# 716906 , Reply# 15 11/21/2013 at 17:56 (3,801 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *"Exclusive"* Servis developed this type of wash / soak programme in the Servis Quartz in collaboration with P&G who formulated and launched the new "Ariel Automatic" to work with the Servis Multi Fabric Wash, Hotpoint and others followed!!

Post# 716909 , Reply# 16 11/21/2013 at 18:03 (3,801 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Servis & Ariel....*

Post# 716925 , Reply# 17 11/21/2013 at 19:26 (3,801 days old) by thelaundrylab (Hampshire UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Everyone has different methods...* I always add a pre-wash cycle to shift heavy stains when needed, with a good dose of decent detergent as Mike Quotes. Tends to do the trick for me ;)

Post# 717004 , Reply# 18 11/22/2013 at 03:38 (3,800 days old) by electron1100 (England)
Checkrate/Likes *A Sunday Soak* By the end of the week I soak all my T towels over night in the machine (on the A program pre-wash), Tomato based sauces are the worst stain I have come across to remove in these last years, at present I am using Ariel pods which work, but are no better than any other detergent at removing stains so once these have run out I will go back to Tesco bio powder. I don't even bother washing used engine oil or grease etc without using a de-geaser first, most of the hand cleansers do the job as they are designed to be washed out in water I then add the rest of the whites and either do a 60 or 90 cotton wash. I must agree that the way this has been advertised is a joke, but other manufacturers do it with various named "stain" cycles Mikes mention of the "mixed cycle" is a very good one for soaking I had the computer 1100 which had this. when I think back to the programs that appeared on the 80s Computer machines not so much has changed, back then you had good engineering allied to advanced electronics which is in my opinion is a better combination But anyway we are where we are now and manufacturers are constantly trying to juggle wash/rinse performance with rules laid down by the tree huggers Good luck

Post# 717013 , Reply# 19 11/22/2013 at 07:06 (3,800 days old) by dascot (Scotland)
Checkrate/Likes 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.

Post# 717014 , Reply# 20 11/22/2013 at 07:12 (3,800 days old) by dascot (Scotland)
Checkrate/Likes 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.

Post# 717038 , Reply# 21 11/22/2013 at 10:08 (3,800 days old) by AquaCycle (West Yorkshire, UK)
Checkrate/Likes 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?".

Post# 717057 , Reply# 22 11/22/2013 at 12:38 (3,800 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)
Checkrate/Likes 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.

Post# 717236 , Reply# 23 11/23/2013 at 08:52 (3,799 days old) by dascot (Scotland)
Checkrate/Likes 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.

Post# 717268 , Reply# 24 11/23/2013 at 12:11 (3,799 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)
Checkrate/Likes *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

Post# 717285 , Reply# 25 11/23/2013 at 15:35 (3,799 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *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.

Post# 717291 , Reply# 26 11/23/2013 at 16:45 (3,799 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)
Checkrate/Likes *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

Post# 717333 , Reply# 27 11/23/2013 at 21:57 (3,798 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *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. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Launderess's LINK

Post# 717469 , Reply# 28 11/24/2013 at 17:00 (3,798 days old) by mrx ()
Checkrate/Likes It depends which Persil you're referencing too. The liquids and powders will all do an excellent job at 30�-40�C (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 40�C 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.

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