... to be losing the plot with fabric conditioner?

[purplelass]

Why does everyone's laundry smell so much nicer than mine?!

I give fabric conditioners a good sniff in the supermarket but when I used them on my clothes, they just smell blah... what ones genuinely smell nice and last a while?

I can't wait to be able to put my clothes on the line - that's the smell I'm after when I'm having to dry indoors but just can't seem to do it!

I use fairy tablets with comfort intense the blue sky one, I had the same problem before I started using these products now my clothes smell so nice and fresh!

I've always wondered this! I remember a guy at university always smelled wonderful. He said it was Persil, but that never worked for me. I'm going to try @mummyto1girl's suggestion. That said I had a sample of that Unstoppable stuff (the balls) and they were lovely. I just have doubts as to the environmental factor of adding this to even more manmade chemicals for the laundry.

Same! I stopped using the 'quick wash' function on the washing machine and found stuff smelled so much nicer for longer. Obvious now, I know!

I stopped using the quick wash and put in the new perfume lenor and it smells lovely but you have to hang things to dry for aaaages and lots of rotating from radiators to airing cupboard etc. It’s a faff!

I don't like the smell of any fabric conditioner on mine or others' clothes. Haven't used it for years. In fact I now use a wash egg instead of washing powder as I can't stand strong powder scent either

I find that washing on the line takes all the scent out so I tend to dry on airer

My son has bad eczema so we only use non bio and no fabric conditioner. I'd love to know how to get nice smelling clothes without irritating his skin!

I don't use it, I just use washing capsules and it smells nice.

OK, Comfort Intense on the shopping list and a longer wash for the things I want to smell nicer! I'll give it a go... thanks

Lenor silk tree blossom. If they made it as a perfume I would wear it all the time, my house smells fab at the moment!!!

This is what works for me, I get poor smell factor if I miss any out!

Use branded washing powder, not cheap stuff. I buy the massive boxes on offer.
Don't overfill machine - leave a space at the top.
Always take washing out within a couple of hours of finishing. The sooner the better.
Dry on an airer which has plenty of room so clothes get airflow.
Dry away from cooking smells.
When certain fabrics get overloaded do a "strip wash" like with cloth nappies on these items only.
Full length wash, quick wash only for small number of items.
Sometimes do a wash with vinegar instead of fabric softener.
Only buy small fabric softener bottles and change scent every time.

Things I'm not sure if they help but I do anyway:
Run hot wash function periodically.
Spoon of soda crystals in every wash.
Leave washing machine door ajar between uses.
Use washing powder, not liquid.

Fitzsimmons try a cup of white vinegar in place of FS.

My mums allergies are activated by the chemicals in fabric softeners. It makes me laugh when people say how nice the smell is, its not created by 9 Swiss virgins rubbing lavender twixt their fragrant fingers.

Here is a list of just SOME of the toxic chemicals found in commercial fabric softeners:

Alpha Terpineol: can cause central nervous damage and respiratory problems
Camphor: causes central nervous disorders, is easily absorbed through skin
Chloroform: a carcinogenic neurotoxin preferred by Ted Bundy
Benzyl Acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer
Benyl Alcohol: respiratory tract irritant
Ethanol: on the EPA’s “hazardous waste” list, can cause central nervous system disorders
Ethyl Acetate: a narcotic on the EPA’s “hazardous waste” list
Limonene: a known carcinogen that irritates eyes and skin
Linalool: causes central nervous system disorders and depresses heart activity

Enjoy!

When did you last do a service wash to clean your machine?

I find my clothes smell better for longer immediately after Ive run a good long service wash with nothing in the machine.

@ReinettePompadour
When did you last do a service wash to clean your machine?

A what now? That'll be never then, how do I do one of them?

Every time i use fabric conditioner it seeps down into the washer as soon as i put it in, so not effective at all. Anyone know why it does this?

You should do a service wash fairly regularly, it helps get rid of any soap scum or fabric conditioner slime. Often musty smells are the result of mould and bacteria living in these residues. Just a hot wash cycle with nothing in the machine helps. White vinegar in the drum is good for getting rid of detergent build up. Best to use is citric acid, you can buy a box of crystals from Wilkinsons for about three quid. Empty the box of crystals into the drum then put on a warm wash. This also helps descale the element.

I like the smell of our washing with Sainsbury's 2-in-1, either lavender and jasmine or rose petal and peony, simple tastes, I suppose!

Thanks @TheChiefBMS - guess what I'm doing now this evening?

"Ethanol: on the EPA’s “hazardous waste” list, can cause central nervous system disorders"
Guessing Jog22 doesn't drink wine or gin because of all the hazardous waste that is in it.

I put my clothes on the line all year round, apart from rainy day, but I am South West so more than enough dry days around here.

You get used to your own smell really quickly, whatever conditioner you use, you won't notice after a couple of wash.

@sleepyjane I asked the question in here a while ago and it turned out I was putting too much FC in the drawer. Could that be your problem?

I use Lenor emerald and ivory flower or Lenor gold orchid, alternating between the two. I sometimes use regular Lenor if comfort (big blue bottle) as between them, they're often on offer. They make the laundry smell great. I sometimes use white cotton ironing water too. I only use ariel box powder and always wash at 40 degrees normal length cycle.

Every month, I do an empty long wash at 90 degrees.

Every six months or so, I do a 90 degree wash with a whole box of soda crystals (about £1.50 from wilkos or the supermarket) and then the same with a bottle of white vinegar.

When it looks manky, I take out the drawer and scrub it and the machine part of the ceiling of the drawer.

I do all of this because without it my machine can smell stale and I use it pretty much every day, so I like to treat it well! It's a Miele and visit a fortune so I must do my best to look after it!

What is a service wash?! Just looked at my machine and can’t see a button or cycle for it? Is it just a normal wash cycle with nothing in it??