please talk to me about your lovely smelling laundry

[ramalamadingdonk]

exciting stuff....

my daughter pointed out that our laundry doesn't smell. I use Lidl 2 in 1 Bold knock off. it cleans fine and it takes away the smell of dirty laundry. but she's right, we don't get that lovely comforting smell that hits you when you walk into some people's houses and they are doing laundry

I've done a bit of research and I am thinking Surf or Daz. I prefer powder to liquid but will change if it smells better. but should I use a fabric softener as well? why don't the people that make laundry detergent also make fabric softener so the smells double up/don't clash?

if you have lovely laundry, what do you use?

Another vote for Asevi. Either the standard blue bottle, or the blue+silver bottle that's like a perfume/scent booster. Lasts for ages, can still smell it on clothes I've had in the drawer.

I also mix it up and change to the pink or green bottles so I don't go nose blind to it.

Persil or Ariel powder, Asevi and drying outside wherever possible, even if it's just a few hours to "air" before bringing it in to dry.

Fairy non bio gel (it’s the only one that doesn’t make my dds eczema flare up) it’s a nice fresh & light scent.
I use a little bit of the fairy fabric conditioner (white one) for mine and dhs clothes, I don’t use it for the kids stuff.

I quite like the fairy scent boosters too but stopped buying them, as I felt it was overkill & not the best for our skin.

The washing always smells best when it’s been drying in the sun, but alas, that is not possible in winter.

Have you done any research to find out what ingredients make the laundry detergent smell stick for long periods of time?

I use Tallow and Ash. Their scents are subtle but long-lasting. You can get a variety pack of samples from them on their website, with a free laundry bag.

To me, the only decent laundry smell is line dried washing. It’s heavenly and I look forward to it every spring. Other than that, I wouldn’t use anything.

Also if I had the money I would wash everything in the fairy manuka honey scent boosters, I love them!
Surf deep sea liquid is nice too

My laundry smells of nothing because I do not use strong smelling soap or detergents.I use the soap impregnated sheets which dissolve in the water and never any conditioner.I used to be hooked on conditioner years ago until I saw the gunk that accumulates in the machine drawer that conditioner causes.A washer engineer told me it is a fact that conditioner ruins washers.I also think it ruins fabric after time.But each to their own.
I can't stand those TV adverts for it as well, all those women getting into raptures sniffing it.

How's that relevant? OP wants her laundry to smell

It's like going on a thread where someone asks for a recommended dog breed and saying "I hate dogs"
You wouldn't do it in normal conversation

How do you clean your tumble dryer?

I would like to know that too. does she mean the filters?

🤣

Drying with the dehumidifier makes it dry with a fresh smell rather than a heavily scented smell.

Clean hygienic clothes should smell of nothing. I prefer to smell of my Chanel perfume than unnecessary laundry product. I can’t believe people actively want to smell strongly of Bold or Lenor.

If

@Screamingabdabz
So smelling like chemicals is a no go, but you also like to smell of chemicals?

Threw away half a box of Daz powder I'd bought cheap in Home Bargains, it wasn't doing what it should.

Went back to Persil liquid, thinking it just smelled soapy. Hand washed pyjamas in it and kept waking up because of the strong scent. Washed them next day in white vinegar but it hardly touched the smell.

I went on to the Waitrose site to read the awful reviews I expected, but they all loved the scent! Must just be me, so I gave one bottle away and just wash the kitchen doormat in it. Oh and the smell lasts 14 days it boasts.

If you love scented laundry this is for you. Why don't they invent an ozone smell rather than perfume?

Anyway here's the link, as it's not the regular Persil.
Persil Ultimate Active Clean Laundry Washing Liquid Detergent | Waitrose & Partners

I used Surf for years but it got so expensive I switched to supermarket own brand (any - tried most of them) and was relatively happy with those until I got some Persil on offer one week, it made such a difference and I won’t go back. False economy using cheaper stuff, for me anyway!

I like the smell in the house, it's such a comforting smell. but yes, I do prefer the smell of lovely laundry to Chanel perfume. I have always thought Chanel is overrated, especially No5 which is horrid

Actual Bold 2 in 1, white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. Read the dosing instructions on the powder and adjust for load size, dirt level and water hardness.

Leave machine open between uses

Clean machine out regularly (cleaning cycle on hot until any suds disappear, check filter - mine had a big rusty nail and a dead shield bug in it the other day 🤢)

Don't overfill machine. Wash bedding and cleaning cloths, and anything still smelling musty at 60. Take washing out ASAP after it finishes. Run proper cycles, not quick washes unless you only have a couple of things to wash.

If your water supply is in any way dodgy, don't start the washing machine and dishwasher at the exact same time or start the WM then go and run a bath/shower. Stagger one machine. They run on timed fill so you'll get too little water.

The Lenor bead things must be awful but they do add a really long lasting scent - I buy them when I see them on offer. However the Lenor powder is totally rubbish! (Don't know if this is sold in the UK but it is where I live. Glad I didn't buy the giant 100 wash box!)

I know it's not really that big of a deal but it makes me feel like a fully competent adult to fold laundry and put it away when it smells all lovely also getting the DC after childcare and giving them a big cuddle when they smell all clean is great.

@ramalamadingdonk my nan had an air freshner in her bathroom and it reminds me of that, the smell knocks my socks off and not in a good way 😂

Your laundry probably does smell nice. You just don’t notice it because it always smells like it.

I prefer the smell of washing too 😁

I use Clothes Doctor basil and mandarin leaf detergent and conditioner and I think it smells lovely - it's just like Jo Malone lime basil and mandarin perfume. When I first bought it, I thought it was very expensive, but you use such a small amount that it doesn't work out any dearer than the Persil capsules I used to use.

My favourite are the threads where the OP asks what to use to make their house smell nicely scented and you get pages of people saying "Open your windows" as if the OP hadn't realised that was possible to do. 😁

it's an old fashioned cloying smell isn't it