Help! All my whites are turning grey!

[thepixie]

We got a new washing machine when we moved, because our old one didn't fit in the space in the laundry. So we bought a new water efficient front loader. BUT all my whites are turning grey now. Badly. I used to just chuck everything in together and put it on cold wash, and I never had any problems with our old top loader. I'm not sure what the problem is here. The front loader doesn't seem to have a cold wash, the lowest temp seems to be about 40 degrees. The Bear also isn't quite sure if the cold and hot taps are on the right connections ITMS. I suppose I could start doing whites and darks wash but I'm lazy
Any ideas people?? I don't want to keep having to bleach all my whites!

[Olive]

ours is connected to the cold water and the machine heats it up, i never mix whites and colours! my inlaws do and when shes washed my whites they too went grey, id stop mixing

[Phteven]

Never mix your whites. Give them a pre-wash soaking and they should be fine. Drying in the sun also helps.

[~clover~]

Vinegar can bring out the white. Maybe a good soak, then use some vinegar in the wash. (& yeah, stop mixing...I do it too..)

[Meo]

ITA on the not mixing whites with colours. If you went from a top loader to a front loader, did you change detergents too? I know you're supposed to use "lower foaming" detergent with front loaders, so that may be the variable that's causing it. Also, hot (even warm) water makes dye run! Which is why it's especially important to sort your washing You could try adding some salt to your wash for the coloured stuff (about 1/2 a cup) as that will help to "set" the dye, but don't do this if you use your grey water for the garden.

[thepixie]

I think you're right, this machine doesn't actually seem to have a cold wash, they are all at least warm. I did have to change detergents but I have used various detergents in the past so I'm thinking it's the warm factor.
guess I just have to get over my laziness and separate my whites! thanks for the help ladies