Frequently Asked Laundry Questions

Add a half to a whole scoop of Distinctive washing powder directly to your wash load or via the dosing drawer. The amount you will need is dependent on the level of soiling and water hardness. The softer your water the less detergent you need. If you live in a hard water area start with one scoop and then adjust accordingly.

Formulated for high-efficiency and standard washing machines, it cleans efficiently and infuses fabrics with our beautiful fragrance.

The first thing to note about fragrances is that if you have allergies you are not necessarily allergic to all fragrance compounds. Even as a severe eczema sufferer it's much more likely that you have an allergy to methylisothiazolinone (MI) and its relatives, such as methylchloroisothiazolinone which is actually preservative content.

All liquids, tabs and even most detergent sheets will contain chemical preservatives as it is the only way to solubilise and preserve all the ingredients in a liquid solution. without chemicals like these liquid solutions would very quickly be tainted and discoloured after being exposed to the air.

It is only a dry powder that doesn't need these chemicals. Kept dry, a powder will last for a very long time and whilst fragrances can be lost as evaporation to the air, if the product is kept airtight the integrity of the active enzyme content and the fragrance will just not be an issue. 

SDS - Distinctive Candlelit Cabin

SDS - Distinctive Opulence of Amber Washing Powder

SDS - Distinctive Relaxing Essential Oils Powder

SDS - Distinctive Washing Powder - Energising Fresh Man

Sodium Percarbonate – An oxygen-based bleaching agent that helps remove stains and breaks down into oxygen, water and natural salts.
Sodium Chloride – Purified salt that helps control flow and pH, while also helping to soften water.
Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate – An anionic surfactant that helps lift and remove dirt and particulate soils.
Sodium Carbonate – Washing soda that helps soften water and control pH.
Sodium Silicate – A builder that helps with wetting, emulsification, degreasing and preventing dirt from settling back onto fabrics.
Alcohol Ethoxylate – A non-ionic surfactant that helps clean and emulsify oils and dirt.
Maleic Acid – Helps prevent loosened dirt from redepositing onto fabrics.
Sodium Sulphate – Helps create the right conditions for enzyme activity and keeps the powder free-flowing.
Silicon Dioxide – Helps keep the powder free-flowing.
Protease Enzyme – Breaks down protein-based stains, helping to clean effectively at lower temperatures.
Fragrance – Gives laundry the distinctive, long-lasting fragrance the product is known for.

Distinctive is a professional formula designed to deliver outstanding cleaning results at low temperatures. You can wash every type of textile/fabric that is machine or wet cleanable with Distinctive washing powder. Although we contain enzymes they are in at such low levels that as long as you use less than half the amount of powder for natural fibres (wool and silk) are fine too.  Make sure to select handwashing's setting if you are machine washing any delicates. 

Not necessarily. Modern biological washing powders use highly refined enzymes that help break down stains and can rinse effectively from fabrics. The protease enzyme used in laundry is similar to an enzyme naturally found in saliva, helping to break down protein-based dirt.

If you have sensitive skin, choosing a well-rinsing laundry detergent and following the recommended dosage can help minimise detergent residue on clothing.

Fragrance can cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction in some people, particularly those with sensitive skin. Distinctive was developed with sensitive skin in mind, and our formula and fragrances have been carefully selected and tested to ensure they are as gentle as possible. Plus did you know its more often the preservative content used in liquids and fabric softeners that causes allergy than fragrance!

Distinctive doesn't contain fabric softener because we believe you don't need it. Softeners can leave residues on clothing and inside your washing machine, while their ingredients can also be less friendly to sensitive skin and the environment.

Distinctive is formulated to clean your laundry thoroughly while leaving it beautifully fragranced—without the need for a separate softener.

Hanging laundry straight to dry helps minimise creasing and makes ironing quicker and easier. For the best results, hang clothes while they are still damp and iron once dry. We advise air drying inside or outside whenever possible as tumbling can cause premature fragrance loss. 

A pre-wash is an extra washing step that helps loosen dirt, stains and everyday grime before the main wash. It can be particularly useful for heavily soiled laundry, giving your clothes a deeper clean without needing to use more detergent in the main cycle.

An optical brightener is a light-reflecting ingredient used in some laundry detergents to make whites appear brighter. However, these UV-reactive dyes can build up on fabrics over time, potentially causing faded or worn-looking patches, particularly on coloured and dark clothing.

If you want a whiter than white look to shirts, t-shirts or white sports kits for example, then we would recommend adding a scoop of something like Vanish or Glo white, to your wash and doing a white only load.

With old tired whites, only a whitening agent or bleaching product will work to make the fabric appear whiter.

Ideally No, you wouldn’t wash your jeans with wool jumpers:

Wool garments shed fibers and require a very gentle, hand wash cycle, with minimum spinning and very little heat. You can wash woollens using Distinctive, but you would want to put half as much detergent in as you would for other fabric. The biggest cause of damage to wool is heat, either through water temperature or through drying. You should never wash wool hot or tumble dry, as it causes the fibers to shrink. Select 20 degrees ideally. 

There is no way to reverse this change.

Acrylic blends are a man-made alternative to wool. They wash and wear really well. They can cope with normal washing at 40 degrees and higher spin speeds, but might still shed.  If you are only washing for 1 person they would wash fine with your jeans but ideally you would be better pairing jeans with t-shirts or towels and bedding.

Pure cashmere and wool are always best washed on their own to prevent fibers shedding and collecting on other garments.

Distinctive’s enzyme formula is designed to work between 20–40°C, giving brilliant results even on cooler washes.

20 degrees is considered very cool for washing and you wouldn't run your bath at that temperature. But our enzymes will wash wonderfully at temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees. They do need a little warmth and not ice cold water.

For particularly delicate garments, gentle hand washing or soaking is often the safest option. Use a small amount of Distinctive Washing Powder in cool water and allow the garment to soak without vigorous agitation. Always check the garment's care label first.

We wouldn’t recommend washing all dry clean only garments at home. Some delicate fabrics and structured garments need specialist care. However, simple items such as some blouses, ties and underwear can often be gently hand washed using a small amount of Distinctive Washing Powder.  

Please note most curtains/blinds/lampshades etc will soak clean using Distinctive in a bath or sink. 

In many cases, yes. If your washing machine has enough capacity, curtains can often be washed at home on a cool, gentle cycle with a low spin speed. Distinctive is also used by specialist cleaners for wet cleaning curtains and other soft furnishings. This method requires soaking in our formula with no agitation at all. Please ask if you need further help. 

Fill a clean sink with cool water and add a small amount of Distinctive Washing Powder. Gently submerge the garment and allow it to soak, avoiding rubbing, twisting or vigorous agitation. Rinse thoroughly and follow the garment's care instructions for drying.

Add a small amount of Distinctive Washing Powder to a sink of cool water and gently place your delicate garment in the solution. Leave it to soak without agitation. If you are soaking clean hardy fabrics like cotton blinds then leave to soak for a few hours. If you are soaking delicates like a silk blouse or ties then only leave for 30 mins and rinse carefully with cool water. This gentle method is ideal for delicate garments that can be washed with water rather than using dry clean solvents.

If your washing machine smells mouldy, the most likely culprit is mould and detergent residue building up in the drawer. Remove the washing machine drawer regularly and clean it thoroughly, paying particular attention to the roof and compartments where black mould can develop.

Mould can contaminate the water flowing into your drum and leave your laundry with a musty smell. Avoid leaving wet washing sitting in the machine or basket, as damp conditions encourage mould and stale odours.

Using washing powder instead of liquid detergent and avoiding fabric softener can also help keep your washing machine cleaner.

Muddy laundry, particularly sports kit, can also cause stale smells and may need an additional wash.

Not usually. Our products are designed to handle standard spin speeds. For best results, simply follow the care instructions for your specific item. Be aware that delicates always need a cool wash and low spin when washing.

Distinctive does not test its products on animals or use animal-derived ingredients in manufacturing. We also monitor our supply chain to ensure our raw materials come from suppliers who do not test on animals, as far as we are aware.

Where animal-derived ingredients could traditionally be used, such as musk and ambergris, we use synthetic alternatives. Our Protease ST-12T enzyme is produced through fermentation using a vegetable-derived feedstock, with no animal material used during production.

Distinctive Fabric & Room Spray can be used to freshen fabrics, rooms and soft furnishings, leaving behind a beautiful fragrance. Simply spray lightly onto fabrics or into the air as needed.

Prefer a softer scent? Simply top up your bottle with cool, boiled water to dilute the fragrance to your preferred strength. Give the bottle a gentle shake before use.

Yes, our luxury boxed soaps are crafted with nourishing skin loving butters and oils and no preservatives in hard bar form.  We use less than 2% fragrance oils, perfect for sensitive skin types. Ask us for the ingredients list if you haven't tried our soaps before and have any known allergens. 

We hope we’ve answered the most common laundry questions you might ask us?

But if not please email info@distinctivewash.co.uk or connect with Distinctivewash on any of the social channels.