Detergents work to effectively remove soil and prevent lint and soil from redepositing on clothes. Follow directions for the proper amount and measure, don't guess. Extra detergent is needed for large loads, extremely dirty clothes, or hard water. Likewise less detergent is required for small loads, lightly soiled clothes or soft water.
More laundry problems are usually caused from using too little detergent rather than using too much.

Household liquid bleach

It is identified by the words "sodium hypochlorite" in the ingredient listing and  is the only bleach that disinfects. It is also the most effective bleach for stain removal and whitening. This is the bleach of choice for whites and colorfast garments.
It pays to do the bleach-safe test when you think a garment should be bleachable. Laundry studies confirm that about 52% of all washables are actually safe with household liquid bleach.
Other laundry studies show how liquid bleach is safe for fabrics, when used as directed. This bleach does not wear down fabrics any more than detergent alone, washload after washload.

   Extra Large       1 1/2 cups
   Standard large  1    cup
   Medium            3/4 cup
   Small               1/2 cup
   Handwashing    1/8 cup for 2 gallons of sudsy water

Color-Safe Bleach

 It is, quite simply, a bleach that is safe to use on washable, colored clothes. These bleaches, available in powder and liquids, remove stains and help keep colors bright. The powdered bleaches also have enzymes to break up tough protein stains, which is why they make an excellent presoak.
A color-safe bleach is not a diluted bleach. The gentle bleaching action in liquids is from hydrogen peroxide. Powders commonly use sodium perborate.
These color-safe bleaches also have optical brighteners. This ingredient is like an invisible layer on fabrics. It reflects light, making colors appear brighter and whites whiter.

Adding bleach to your washer 
Many washing machines today are equipped with convenient automatic bleach dispensers for household liquid bleach. If a washer is not equipped with a liquid bleach dispenser follow either of these two methods:

Prewash Soil and Stain Removers

These products are formulated to help get clothes stain free. Their special detergents and enzymes penetrate stains and break them up, helping detergents work more effectively to wash stains away.

 Fabric Softeners

Fabric Softeners help reduce static cling, minimize wrinkling and soften clothes. Rinse-added softeners are added to the final rinse cycle. These can be added automatically in washers equipped with a fabric softener dispenser. Otherwise, diluted softener must be added manually to the final rinse. Dryer sheets are convenient to use with one sheet added to the dryer along with the clothes.

Colorfast Test for Chlorine Bleach and Oxygen Bleach:

"In all cases, wherever the use of either liquid bleach or color-safe bleach is recommended, be sure to conduct the appropriate colorfast test before applying the product."

Colorfast Test  For Chlorine Bleach

Solution: Combine one part liquid bleach with five parts water

Procedure:
- Apply one drop of solution to an inconspicuous area of the garment and allow it to saturate the fabric. Blot if necessary to ensure penetration.
- Let the sample stand for one minute, then rinse and blot dry.
- Visually evaluate for color change.

  Colorfast Test For Oxygen Bleach

Solution: Undiluted color-safe bleach.

Procedure:
- Place a drop of color-safe bleach on the colors to be tested in an inconspicuous area of the garment. Blot if necessary to ensure penetration.
- Let the sample stand for one minute.
- Rinse thoroughly and let the dampened area dry thoroughly.