"Dave Baker" wrote in message
...
It's begun to strike me that my old Hotpoint washing machine doesn't get
collars and cuffs as clean as it did 10 years ago when it was new. Maybe
it's
my imagination or maybe it's just that all my shirts are old and f**ked.
There
are no obvious operating problems so I'm wondering if the water isn't
being
heated to full temp. Years ago I used to use a 40c setting with perfectly
good
results but lately I've started to try 50c with no great improvement. How
do
you measure the water temp inside the machine while it's performing a
cycle? A
hand on the glass door would be a rough and ready guide so I'll try that
next
time I do a wash just to make sure it isn't stone cold but an accurate
check
would be handy. Even with a thermometer on the outside of the glass I
can't see
one being able to get a proper reading of the temp inside.

If it isn't machine then perhaps it's time to try a different soap powder.

Go through a boil wash, empty of clothes, using citric acid to get the
lining of detergent off the drum. Then use good quality powder in washes.
Give it a try.