What will make the water in my washing machine work better with the soap?

Try Calgon

Try putting a half a cup of baking soda in with your deturgent. It doesn't cost very much.

Water softner powder from Sainsburys. I live in a hard water area and I use it all the time. Not expensive either -three pounds. OK

Try a little white vinegar !

A water softener would help but will cost you. try running a boil wash with no clothes and or a washing machine cleaner from the supermarket, if your machines dirty it may be the cause. Ask which powder your neighbours use maybe you could change if they use one with no problems.

Use 20 mule team borax (as directed on the package) in addition to your liquid detergent. That should help boost the effectiveness of your detergent if you have hard water. You could try (in the interim since most people have it on hand) adding 1/2 C. baking soda with your detergent....I do that. I have soft water, but the baking soda also boosts the effectiveness of liquid detergent. *I haven't used powder detergent in years...I rarely use hot water to wash my clothes and it is my expert opinion that the powder won't dissolve fully unless you use hot water, which creates issues of cleanliness and white specks on garments. Good luck!

I was recommended to use a couple of tablespoons(50ml) of ordinary dishwasher salt with the washing powder. It softens the water. Therefore, you can use less powder and also save money (the salt is a lot cheaper than washing powder). Additionally it also prevents a build-up of residue in the drum, as I can verify, as I have recently had the drum out to replace the element, and was surprised at how clean it was!

Calgon tablets are a short answer but over time are expensive. Buy a water softener and everything will work better the heating the boiler the washer and any other appliance that applies heat to water kettle, steam iron. In a hard water area this will save you a small fortune long term and you can take it with you if you move. No electric to operate so kind to the environment

try a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Soda crystals with each wash. (Cheap to buy at supermarket detergent section around 55p for 500g) I only wash in cold water and have never had aproblem with clothes not coming clean. The crystals also keep the fabric softener residue building up in the pipes so helps keep washing machine clean.