Mumsnet Talk

That's just it really. I've tried the big brand names (Persil, Fairy etc) right down to the budget lines (Aldi). I've tried adding softener and not adding softener. I've tried quick wash, regular wash and almost boil wash! I've tried adding loads of powder/conditioner and I've tried adding the recommended dose. And STILL I can't get my clothes to have that lovely, washing powdery smell!

Anyone?

I use loads of softener. The smell goes if you tumble dry it though.

Hmmm, I think it's just that you can't smell own washing, a bit like you can't 'smell' your own house. I always think other people's washing smells fab.

Do you really want to put so many chemicals on your clothes that people will be able to smell you in the air five minutes after you've walked past?

I appreciate people do want their clothes to smell nice but I find it totally overpowering when people smell of their washing powder.

I've been told it is the fabric conditioner that adds the smell.

I am always quite jealous of people's nice washing smell too but as DS has eczema, there is no way I can use softener and we have to stick to non-bio and extra rinsing etc. That said, although I like getting a whiff of it, I do think it would get on my nerves if the smell was constantly there.

keep swapping your washing powder and conditioner as like your perfume you get used to the smell.

I also use soda crystals which for some bizarre reason seems to keep the smell in better.

Fragranced ironing water is another option (can be bought at supermarkets) but not one I have used (I won't don't really iron)

I've taken to putting a slosh of fabric conditioner in an empty squirty bottle and diluting with water and spraying it around the house instead of air freshener/ febreeze. Gives the house a genuine 'freshly washed clothes smell' if thats what you are actually after.

I think it depends on your washing machine. These modern ones don't use enough water in my opinion so in effect when clean washing smells very strongly of washing powder it simply means that it hasn't been rinsed out thoroughly and/or they've used far too much (you only need to use half the amount the packet says you need!).

(Know this the hard way after having a child suffering from eczema which got drastically worse after buying a new washing machine which sold itself as "Eco", low energy etc!). I have to do double and triple rinses on ours and there is a setting to also add extra water in the rinse for eczema sufferers so the manufacturers KNOW that rinsing is inadequate. You can also read about all that on the Which? website)

Basically when I do extra rinses on my laundry get very little washing powder smell on the clothes. If its a load which doesn't contain Ds's clothes then I do a normal rinse and notice the difference straight away.

I'd say your washing machine sounds like its rinsing the powder out better than the ones that your nice-smelling friends are using!! I know which I'd prefer!

try cleaning out your machine e.g. drawer and the bit drawer fits in, rubber seal, filter, etc and do a hot wash with soda crystals or white vinegar - should make the machine fresher which should make your clothes smell fresher

Further to my post - I can actually smell my next door neighbours washing on the line in summer before I've even seen it hanging there. It does smell nice but as others have also said it begs the question as to what chemical residues are being left on our clothes to smell so strongly.

Thank you Zappo! I didn't state I wanted others to smell ME five minutes after I've walked past - got perfume for that! - No, I simply meant that when I take our washing out the machine I would like it to smell all lovely and washed, like everyone else's seems to. A faint whiff would be lovely!

So, for the record I DO NOT WANT TO SMELL OF WASHING POWDER! [GRIN]

ooops - caps lock was on...

maldivemoment I'm sorry. Thankyou for taking my comment with good humour.

I did realise what you meant ( I was being a bit tongue in cheek as I hate really strong smells!)

I like pp have a family with sensitive skin so my washing doesn't smwll of anything at all which is not necessarily pleasant either!

It's a brand new machine!!!!

Hatgirl - what does one do with sodacrystals?

Zappo

Recently had the yucky mildewy smell in our washing machine. (we live in a hard water area, and although I do use an anti-calcium produce mildew can be a problem).
Anyway I discovered that not only does the machine have a "tubclean" function, but that it advises you to run this programme with chlorine bleach periodically.
I tried this with some trepidation (bleach in the washing machine ???) but have to say the results are amazing. The mildew smell has gone, and the washing smells of fabric softner once again.
Don't know if you can do this on all washing machines, but I am a born again washing machine cleaner. It really makes a difference.

I love the smell of fairy powder and fairy fabric conditioner. I find powders are nicer than the gels or liquitabs! Try not to overload the drum either.

Another believer here that you get used to a smell you are exposed to all the time.

I now only use Ecover washing powder and it has a lovely fresh but not overpowering smell.

I now find that most of the fabric conditioners smell too overpowering,perfumey and chemically to me,because I am accustomed to a 'gentler' smell.

Fairy fabric conditioner smells amazing.

But I do agree that you stop being able to smell your own clothes after a while, a bit like perfume.

So maybe you need to just try a new detergent/conditioner for a bit?

The ones with the essential oils give me thrush so if you're sensitive don't use them

Sensitive skin sufferers: have you tried those washing balls from Lakeland that reduce the need for washing powder/softener? Someone I know with dreadful skin problems swears by them. Will try to link later. Sadly they're no good for the OP as they are odourless.

I can only see the refills on the Lakeland site, here

I wash the toddlers and baby's clothes with eco balls. I can even skip the rinse bit sometimes because there's no chemicals to rinse out. They come out smelling of water I suppose but I think that's nicer than fabric softener.

The best smell is when the washing has dried on the line on a cold day.

Id miss the fresh washing powder smell im afraid!

I have a eczema sufferer and family with sensitive skin so we always stuck to daz powder and comfort sensitive but decided to be really adventures this month and try persil liquid wash and lenor orange blossom sensitive softener, they both smell amazing.

I definitely agree with the argument that you can't smell your own washing just like perfume. My sister looks after my dd when I work so often ends up washing a few of her bits and I always comment that it smells nicer than when I wash it. She says that she can't smell it at all and always notices my laundry smelling nice! I'm sure your washing smells just peachy OP

Persil non bio is the only one that leaves a smell on our clothes. Have tried all sorts of different powders, Eco wash balls etc. I found the Eco balls did nothing for baby stains so gave up.

Nothing better than clean sheets straight form the washing line smell - yum!