My washing smells like NOTHING

[Ladyoftheapple]

Someone please tell me where I am going wrong. For years I have been washing and for years my washing has smelt like nothing or even slightly just off 🤔 this is whether I line dry or tumble dry, if I tumble dry, it has that funny tumble dry smell but nothing else.

I wash on 40 degrees, sometimes hotter if the washing is extra dirty.

I put in plenty of non-bio detergent and fabric softener. I just use a regular Tesco fabric softener which smells lovely in the bottle but nothing once I've washed and dried. My Nan uses the same one and her washing smells lovely. I've had new washing machines and tumble dryers due to previous ones breaking and that made no difference

Please save me

It might do to you but OP wants to smell of it
It's like going on a recommend a perfume thread and saying perfume all stinks

Also

NOSE BLIND

people really don’t understand how that works.

Only if it goes above that first plastic "level" in the conditioner compartment. So you can pour it in but not to above that level. Otherwise yes it will drain into the drum when you close the drawer and be washed out of the clothes along with the detergent, instead of going into the drum near the end of the cycle

So this is what I've found. Change up every 6 months or so to keep from going nose blind. At the minute I use sainsburys own powder - Jasmine I think ? and that purple fabric conditioner and beads. smells gorgeous and not too overpowering. I also put the powder in the drum rather than compartment. Someone told me it's better for the machine but I find it makes clothes smell better too

Same here! My DCs complain too - in our house washing is supposed to smell of clothes, not fake flowers!

Could you be “nose blind”? Where you get “blind” to a certain scent? Maybe try changing the washing powder and see if you can smell it then?

If your washing is constantly coming back smelling like old washing/socks/something fuggy, you've probably got mould in the drum and need to do an empty wash with at least a cup of vinegar in the drum (I use extra). I also clean out the folds of the rubber seal with a piece of kitchen roll with more white vinegar on it. If that doesn't work, drain out your bottom panel where the filter is then repeat the vinegar cycle (for PPs who have this issue rather than OP).

If your washing is constantly smelling of nothing, it's likely hard water or limescale so again the white vinegar will help for a while but long term the issue probably is your water.

I hate overpowering smells, but I do find that a few drops of scented oils on a felt tumble dryer ball give a nice and gentle smell.

My top tip if you end up stuck in an Airbnb with manky conditioner smells is to cover the pillow case with a worn t-shirt.

I wish my neighbour's washing didn't stink of fabric conditioner. I can smell it in my house when their machine is on. 🤣

Surely that’s the point as clean doesn’t have a smell being clean means you’ve removed a smell?

But there's also clean smelling things
Like soap. That cleans you but leaves a scent and you would say someone smelled clean
Dove smells "clean" to me
I have perfumes called "clean laundry"
The scent of wood polish reminds me of clean or washing up liquid

Go for Surf or Bold if you want your washing to smell powerfully of detergent. I actually do quite like it but prefer the scent of Ecover.

Oh this never ever occurred to me. Every so often I ask a visitor who I think will tell me the truth about the house smell but how can you be sure?!?!

Agree with other posters, it's unpleasant being downwind of people dipped in laundry detergent/softner. Much better that your laundry has no smell. Same with perfumes. Going for walk around other people is a real assault on the senses with laundry detergent/perfume/candy floss vapes/ cigarettes/car fumes/dog poo.

Much much better that it smells of nothing.

Scented laundry makes me the feel really sick and gives me a headache - it’s that horrible artificially smell that some people (wrongly) think smells clean. Absolutely hate it and can’t understand why some people think it’s nice.

I use Ecover too

Yep, Persil wonder wash really leave a strong laundry smell. Perfect if that's what you want.

Fairy in wash scent boosters are your friend, I swear by them.

This is strange...Tesco non bio and fabric conditioner smells nice to me. Like someone else said maybe clean your washing machine? Fabulosa do these little bottles of washing machine cleaners you can run through your machine for about £1

This can happen when you don’t clean the machine and also overload it. X

Persil wonder wash was £5 at Morrisons today, I went to sniff it after this post!

My washing doesn’t smell of laundry products either. I don’t mind, it smells clean but I have wondered why some people’s smells of detergent and mine doesn’t. I use persil non bio box powder for towels, bedding and my husband’s stuff and persil silk and wool liquid for most of my clothes. No fabric conditioner so I assume that’s why.

Maybe you go nose blind to the smells? I loved the smell of a new brand I tried all the washing smelt so nice but now the washing smells like nothing to me again! x

Same. Such artificial overpowering smells 🤢 but I guess people get used to it... can't be good for you either.

I think people do become nosey blind because other people's laundry absolutely stinks to me 😂 I used eco unscented stuff.