Washing powder or liquid which doesn't have an overpowering smell?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

We currently have Persil - big box powder, plus non bio liquid. Everyone is complaining about the overwhelming smell - I can't smell my perfume, all I can smell is bloody Persil. I used to use the Ariel little pillows, which were fine, but they have changed the recipe for those, and have added Febreze or something, and they stink too!

Any recommendations? I just want the clothes to smell clean, rather than of Starflower and Rhubarb or Ylang Ylang and Snowdrops, so would rather keep clear of specially scented stuff. I also want it to get stuff clean, so no to Ecover, soap nuts, washing balls or anything lentil weavery and hippyish.

[gymboywalton]

oh how odd! i use persil big box precisely because it DOESN'T smell! i use that and a tiny bit of fairy softener-everything smells clean but not overpowering.

[cardibach]

I use Aldi's own and no conditioner. Clothes just smell clean.

[SoupDragon]

I use the "pure" versions of fabric softener which tend not to be overly fragranced. I used to use Tesco or Waitrose non-bio washing powder which I didn't find overpowering. At the moment I'm using Method "air" liquid which seems to be lightly fragranced and gets stuff clean.

You do get used to the smell of whatever you use though so you stop noticing it after a while. Anything new seems to smell to start with.

[Branleuse]

ecover liquid

waitrose essentials

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I have just had a bit of a sniff, and the big box seems less of a culprit than the liquid stuff. I like the Method stuff (have the bathroom cleaner) so perhaps I'll give that a whirl. Sadly we don't live near an Aldi - their soap powder is a WHich? best buy.

[gymboywalton]

all the liquids are horrendously scented. my dh has a rreal thing about strong smells-really can't abide them and persil bix box is the only one we use.

[WellyMummy]

Waitrose do a washing liquid, opaque white bottle with a pink lid which has no fragrance. Surecare is also unfragranced.
The only downside to using unfragranced products for your wash is that they don't smell as 'clean' to other people.

[wowfudge]

Liquids don't clean muck out of your washing machine and you'll find things going smelly before long - and not in a good way. I find the branded powders are much more strongly scented than own brands. You can also cut down how much you use and use half powder/half soda crystals.

To the pp who said Persil doesn't smell - you've got used to it so don't notice it any more.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I wash whites, bedding and towels with the big box powder, and clothes with the liquid. The liquid does seem to smell a lot stronger. I also do a 95 degree programme once a month, with nothing in the machine to clear it out.

I need to find an Aldi...

[Konserve]

ecover bio powder washes fine, but is sometimes difficult to find.

[WankerDeAsalWipe]

We use surcare powder because of DH's allergies it has no perfume at all. Now when I walk down the washing powder aisle it makes me wheezy as the smell is overpowering. Waitress do an unsecured one too which is fine.

[WankerDeAsalWipe]

Unscented

[LadyPenelope68]

Fairy Powder and Fairy Fabric conditioner, just smells lovely and clean and not perfumed at all - I can't stand perfumed washing stuff!! Plus, only use half the recommended amount of powder, still gets everything really clean.

[YeOldeTrout]

I suspect any supermarket value range. Lidl own powder (Formil?)

I dislike stinky perfume on clothes, too.

[throckenholt]

I hate smelly washing powder - I really notice it. I use ariel actilift - either it doesn't have much of a perfume or I have got used to it (but I don't think I ever noticed anything much with it).

[unweavedrainbow]

We use Fairy non-bio tablets (the ones made of compressed powder). They don't smell of much, just clean really. We only use half the recommended amount as well-it gets clothes clean and a box lasts twice as long!

[allinahuddle]

All the cheap ones seem to be less heavily perfumed. Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains, Farm Foods, B & M non-bio are all okay. No real perfume smell at all. If you don't have an Aldi nearby, try any of the other cheaper shops.

[Gatekeeper]

Ariel bio powder - not the one with febreeze. Smells clean without being overpowering. I HATE strong detergent and fabric softener smells and have used ariel powder for donkeys years for just this reason

[RealHuman]

I do an extra rinse cycle. My clothes just smell like hot cotton.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Agee Ecover. The normal one is very slightly scented, but doesn't leave a smell on clothes. They also do an unscented one.

[MedSchoolRat]

Ecover is really expensive (I think?) compared to Boggs-supermarket own brand value stuff.

[Missingsleepandthecat]

I agree with Sir, just make sure you dry thick things like hoodies throughly because sometimes if they are a bit damp and you cant tell, they get a strange sour smell so we recently found out

[ButtonLoon]

I really can't stand scented stuff. I use Ecover a lot of the time but needed a bio powder and have been using Waitrose Essentials Bio Colourcare and it's fine, very little scnet.