To ask you about laundry

Do all you fragrant laundry people not use perfume?

I don't mean all the time, I mean that when I want to smell nice I use perfume. That I can vary as I wish.

I'm another who prefers my laundry to smell of fresh air, or not much at all.

Try a half load of towels, usual detergent, no fabric conditioner and half a small cup of white vinegar on 40 degree wash.

White vinegar also works wonder on smelly gym kit, musty stuff of all types

I use powder, no fabric conditioner, ensure that washes are temperature relevant so wash white towels on a 90 degree occasionally, or bedding on a 60, run extra rinses for dark items as different fabrics rinse differently and residue can be noticeable on some dark items, do an additional spin after the wash has finished (makes a big difference to drying) and use far less powder than recommended. I also ensure the load has room to move, so not cramming the machine too full. A wash is moved straight out of the machine after finishing, even if I have to wait to line dry / put on a rack and the washing machine door and detergent drawer is always left open. Maintenance clean / very hot empty wash for washing machine and dishwasher once a month. Last washing machine lasted 19 years, so hopefully doing something right!

I bought those balls this month in a big long tube they’re doing in Tesco, it seemed way cheaper than usual. Honestly, amazing. I even walked in the room and thought what is that smell? Then remembered I’d bought them!

Oh we absolutely do a monthly boil wash with drum cleaner. 1st of the month is the washing machine, dishwasher, water filters, etc.

Surprisingly, most people use too much washing powder/liquid and make their machine sludgy and smelly.

A Miele rep once did a demonstration using pepper and a bowl of water. Add a small amount of product and the pepper disperses to the edge. Add more and nothing else happens, but over time the excess residue builds up.

You need to stop smelly bacteria building up in the machine.

Don't use conditioner. Use calgon tablets or supermarket equivalent for softness & decent washing powder - aerial or Persil. Add it to the drum not the powder drawer.

Ignore the instructions on the powder and don't wash at less than 40 degrees unless wool or delicate fabrics.

Run a hot wash - as in 90 degrees or a tub wash once a month.

Leave the door and powder drawer open when not in use. Once the weather is good enough dry outside wherever you can.

Have you checked you are using enough detergent? Try measuring it out for the size of your machine using the heavily solied dosage. Under dosing is really common, people tend to just shove a scoop in.

It's good that your washing smells of nothing at all. I find the smells of detergent/scent beads etc absolutely disgusting. They make me feel sick.

*using not ysing!

I disagree with ysing expensive detergent. I use a supermarket own brand liquid and less than recommended as my machine adapts the amount it needs depending on the load weight and programme chosen. Once a month I run an empty 95° wash using a cheap bio powder (as instructed by an engineer from the manufacturer). My machine is 17 this year and my laundry smells fab!

Try unstoppables fairy fabric conditioner.

I find this too! I was thinking we're maybe ready for a new washing machine as our is about 7 years old. I have to have a fairly small load and use a lot of a branded liquid to be able to smell anything x

I just smelled my bedding. I have three sets and they go in a weekly rotation, so these were washed 3 weeks ago, and have been in the bed since friday - they smell fresh, mildly soapy.

After washing my bedding is, in winter, hung in a room with a dehumidifier and then finished off in the heated airing cupboard. We don't use fabric softner, and currently the detergent is persil pods. Nothing fancy. I do think one important thing is to not fill the drum too full. I only ever fill it 2/3rds so that there's plenty of room. And all my washes go on at 30.

Clearly i love my laundry process!

Buy the best brands of detergent and fabric softener and be generous with them.

This, I kept wondering why my washing didn't smell like others. Anyone I asked told me to use way more detergent and fabric softener than the pack stated.

I've recently started using the pink lenor outdoorable fabric softener and the smell is noticeable even when dried indoors and you only use a small amount.
The laundry anti bac cleanser things do smell, but for me a bit too strong and a bit like car air freshener. I use them if DS has vomited/had a stomach bug etc. Also on car seat covers. Not sure I'd want it on all of my clothes and bedding

Are you just used to the smell of your laundry, so you don't notice it? Bit like how 'home' smells of nothing but other people's houses smell different.

I never did, ever. Until I started using Fairy washing pods and Fairy fab con

I use dettol laundry antibacterial, I don’t use softener. The dettol stuff smells lovely!

laundry cleanser on its own on a hot wash - not with anything in it or detergent either ⬆️

I use fairy non bio pods plus fairy conditioner and our laundry smells fab whether dried on an airer inside or on the line. I use a washing machine cleaner / hot wash whenever I think to - so prob every 6-8 weeks or so, which keeps the machine itself clean. It’s on at least once a day. Also don’t leave clothes in for long once the cycle has completed and always leave the door open a little when empty to air it.

I'm afraid that I have. I idea.

However, we have recently started to use a laundry service who wash & iron DH's shirts and bedding. They smell absolutely lovely.

I have complimented them on the freshness but not risked how they manage it in case it turns out to require blood sacrifices Id never have the strength to give them up.