To ask you about laundry

[Surfingonthewaves]

I just can’t get that lovely, fresh laundry smell after washing. I have used branded detergents and fabric conditioners as well as own brand gels and pods.

I don’t have a tumble dryer, I use either out in line or dehumidifier.

I don’t want to buy those very expensive scented balls as I think my clothes will smell ‘perfumey’

My washing machine is reasonably new (under two years).

Why does my laundry smell a bit meh or of nothing at all?

Could be the machine - I used to have beautiful smelling laundry with my old machine but my new one (also under 2 yrs old) just doesn’t work even tho using the same products

I find the only thing that gives my clothes a nice smell is laundry cleanser. Dettol do one,
Fabulosa and several of the supermarkets but it does help give my clothes a nice smell. And I use Fairy fabric softener which helps but only a little bit as too much is bad for your clothes and towels.

I think you need to pay for it.

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

The purfumey smell really depends on which scent you go for.

You could just try and get certain things smelling nice, like bedding.

Do you clean your machine regularly and run a hot wash with nothing in?

Are you washing all of your clothes in cold water?

My mates washing smells the best. She uses fairy tablets (not gel pods) and blue lenor.

I use non bio and blue lenor. Smells lush!

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.

Do you use ‘laundry cleanser’ on its own and run on an empty machine or put it in with the clothes and detergent?

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.

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

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

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

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'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

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 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!

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

Try unstoppables fairy fabric conditioner.

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!

*using not ysing!

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.

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.

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.

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.

I’ve just found this in the cupboard- I’ll use this on a hot empty cycle tomorrow

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

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!